Just got back...seemed a bit crowded for May

[GoofEeyore26]

I just got back last night after six great days at the World.

I will say the crowds were larger than expected. TouringPlans had all our days at 8s (except one 9 on Saturday). I'm not sure what these numbers really translate to (capacity wise, wait times, etc.) so i can't say if they were right. That said, here were my observations:
Ride wait times at the parks during the peak times (11:00-4:00) were around 40-60 minutes. Headliners being on the higher side and at points hitting 80 minutes (but not lasting long at that length). Shows such as Nemo, Indian Jones, Beauty and Beast, etc. did fill to capacity (standing room) every show we were at. TSM fast passes were gone by 12 on a non-EMH, non-Fantasmic day (7PM park closing). While it was crowded for Wishes, there was a fair amount of space on Main Street to watch if you got there right before it started. DHS was a made house on Fantasmic night - there were 2 showings (we went to the earlier) and it was standing room only 40 minutes before the show. Soarin and Test Track had 40 minute waits during night EMH at 11:30.

All in all the crowds didn't ruin the experience. We got to the parks early and were able to walk on (10 minute wait at most) most rides before 10:30. After that we got fast passes for rides to avoid lines (return times about and hour and half to two and half hours later) and just walked around the parks.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and i'll try my best to answer them.

 

[rodeo65]

Glad you had a great trip GoofEeoyre, and thanks for the info! We've got 9's for our tip in June and I'm a little worried. You mention the waits at peak times. Did you get to the parks for rope drop or enter later in the morning? If you were there at RD what were the crowds like for the first few hours? TIA

 

[GoofEeyore26]

Glad you had a great trip GoofEeoyre, and thanks for the info! We've got 9's for our tip in June and I'm a little worried. You mention the waits at peak times. Did you get to the parks for rope drop or enter later in the morning? If you were there at RD what were the crowds like for the first few hours? TIA

We went to MK, AK and DHS for rope drops. The crowds at RD and for the following few hours (till around 11) were fantastic. We were able to ride all the rides we wanted to pretty easily. For example at MK, we rode Spash, Thunder (twice), POC, Jungle Cruise, Buzz, Laughing floor all before 11:30. At DHS we rode TSM (got a fastpass), RnR (twice), and ToT by 11:00.

 

[paxsarah]

I just got back last night after six great days at the World.

I will say the crowds were larger than expected. TouringPlans had all our days at 8s (except one 9 on Saturday). I'm not sure what these numbers really translate to (capacity wise, wait times, etc.) so i can't say if they were right.

The page that's the source of the numbers also gives their definitions in terms of peak wait times at each park: http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14

 

[GoofEeyore26]

The page that's the source of the numbers also gives their definitions in terms of peak wait times at each park: http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14

Ahh...Didn't notice that. Then i would say it definitely was not the 8 that was predicted.

 

[Disney-Kim]

In all honesty your wait times didn't sound that different than what I would have expected for mid-day....so heres hoping that our trip is just what we expect....like other years...we will not be disappointed.

 

[GoofEeyore26]

In all honesty your wait times didn't sound that different than what I would have expected for mid-day....so heres hoping that our trip is just what we expect....like other years...we will not be disappointed.

I guess it was more that the parks just seemed crowded...lots of people everywhere, tough to walk through some places but i guess they weren't on the rides?!?!

 

[CoachG]

We just got back from our trip (apr 29-may 6) and I thought the crowd levels were very reasonable to manage. Our first night there we got fastpasses for Soarin at like 6:30 pm - I have never seen them available that late. We hit RD at MK and did all of Fantasyland in an hour and hit RD at DHS and was able to get FP for Toy Story Mania and ride the ride from the standby line all by about 9:40 (park opened at 9) because we had about 15-20 minutes to kill before going to see the cars at Luigi's garage.

It did seem that the parks started to get more crowded around 1:30-2:00 and they were very crowded on the weekend so usually we left the parks after the morning to avoid the afternoon crowds (and heat) and spent most of the time on the weekend either at our resort or downtown disney. I was really worried with the crowd projections of 8s and 9s but it didn't seem to us that the crowds were bad at all.

 

[wilde_oscar]

Headliners being on the higher side and at points hitting 80 minutes (but not lasting long at that length).

Ahh...Didn't notice that. Then i would say it definitely was not the 8 that was predicted.

um, an 8 indicates wait times of 75-84 min. and if you read more carefully the crowd calendr indicates wait times on major attractions at mid day. So how is 80 min not the wait the was predicted?

 

[2 Little Mermaids]

We just got back last night as well. May 3rd evening we went to DTD and it was packed. But we returned May 6th afternoon and it was very quiet so we were able to get our shopping done. MK we played very well for first timers. We arrived at 9am (just after RD) saw Snow White as soon as we entered. Then headed straight to Fanastyland. Lunch then toon town. Took train to Frontierland, Break then Liberty Square, watched parade, Adventureland, back to Ariel's grotto then supper(Cosmic Ray's yum) then left park at 8:15pm. I thought with the little one's I would see how the day went regarding taking afternoon break and watching night time parade or leaving early. We used the fastpasses well. I did find the park crowded when walking around(especially Frontierland) but not so much on the rides. We didn't do Tomorrowland but Space Mountain was closed. The longest wait was 20mins for the Princesses. So hope this help people out. We also did AK and pretty much did the same thing, took advantage of fastpasses. AK also seemed crowded while walking but not as bad as MK. Have fun

 

[Mouseskis]

We just returned from 3 days at WDW last night. I thought the crowds were very normal for May. We have been WDW in May several times in the past 5 years. We were able to do everything we wanted to. It was very warm (also normal for May). The evenings were really nice weather-wise. I wished the parks were open later! To those going in May - have fun, don't worry too much about the crowds - they are no where near summer crowds!

 

[dmanwi]

We were there this past week. Crowds were definitley not 8's or 9's but probably 6-7's.

At Studios on May 3rd a cast member said the crowds were larger than usual and were on the high side of medium.

I found that wait times were not that bad at all for the rides. I did find all of the openings quite crowded and the walkways pretty busy. Restaurants weren't that crowded either.

 

[GoofEeyore26]

um, an 8 indicates wait times of 75-84 min. and if you read more carefully the crowd calendr indicates wait times on major attractions at mid day. So how is 80 min not the wait the was predicted?

You don't have to be so snarky, buddy. I actually don't think i saw more than a 60 minute wait for mountains at MK...the 80 minutes were for Test Track, Soarin, TSM...even at peak times in MK i didn't see anything over 60 so that is why i think the calendar was off. Okay?? Okay.

 

[OB1]

Lots of folks just back - thanks for the updates. Sounds like some good trips. Nobody mentioned the weather. I understand it has been pretty hot in Orlando recently. We are arriving on May 17th and we hope for similar crowds. The good news is we are there Sun - Wed, which are usually less crowded than Fri-Sun. We are ready to leave today, but will somehow wait it out.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I guess it was more that the parks just seemed crowded...lots of people everywhere, tough to walk through some places but i guess they weren't on the rides?!?!

I hate when its like that...its like its clausterphobic....that is weird that the rides didn't seem as busy.
We will be there early each day and hope for the best.

 

[dmanwi]

It was pretty warm for our week - 86,86,87,86,88,91,90.

The 80's were pretty bearable if you scheduled some of the air conditioned shows in the afternoon. Parades were ok if you find some shade which we did. Also on those 91 and 90 days we did a 2pm lunch at Crystal Palace and then went back to the condo for a cool off for 2 hours.

 

[CoachG]

Lots of folks just back - thanks for the updates. Sounds like some good trips. Nobody mentioned the weather. I understand it has been pretty hot in Orlando recently. We are arriving on May 17th and we hope for similar crowds. The good news is we are there Sun - Wed, which are usually less crowded than Fri-Sun. We are ready to leave today, but will somehow wait it out.

Yeah it was hot but since we have three little ones we left the parks in early afternoon and did not return until 5-6 at night. Even then it was still really warm out. The good part about it being that hot was that the nights were very, very nice.

 

[GoofEeyore26]

Lots of folks just back - thanks for the updates. Sounds like some good trips. Nobody mentioned the weather. I understand it has been pretty hot in Orlando recently.

It was hot, but not unbearable - high 80s and 90, 91 our last two days. Nights were very nice.

I feel that most of the money i spent in the parks was on water (darn 2.50 waters!!). We tried to stop in to as many shops as possible while walking the parks and, as someone said, went to shows during the afternoon. One thing, remember sunblock and aloe!!

 

[dmanwi]

We asked for and received for free a cup of ice water at any counter service restaurant. This was even if we weren't purchasing any food. Caseys, Pecos Bill, Pizzafarri, Cosmic Ray's, ect.

The only exception were the stands at Fantasmic - no free water there.

 

[puffkin]

We leave tomorrow

Hoping for similar or better crowds. Has the humidity kicked in yet? Those temps sound fine if the humidity isn't too bad yet (this coming from a Northeasterner who is so sick of 60 degrees and RAIN for the last two weeks ).