Just got back - very crowded for what we thought would be a slower week!

[momto2]

We had heard from several people who went this week last year how after Jan. 2nd, everything really clears out with little wait times. We experienced the opposite. Crowds were similar to the first week in June 05 (last trip) and the lines were long - 70 minutes yesterday for Peter Pan! That is definitely not a slower week! Yet we had a wonderful time. After all we were in DISNEY!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I think because New Year's Day fell on a Sunday this year and the "official" holiday was Jan 2nd, it made a difference. I know alot of kids who didn't go back to school til Jan 4th or 5th, so alot of people probably took that whole week off for their Disney trip...probably thinking it'd be a slow time to go!

I wonder how the week coming up will be...probably more like the normal
after Jan 2nd crowds.

 

[goodeats]

Yeah, a lot of schools here don't go back until tomorrow (the 9th) since they didn't start until the 23rd. I guess it depends when New Years falls.

 

[slp87]

I agree with the others...I teach and our kids don't start back until the 10th.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yes, we were there from the 27th and just got back last night. On Tuesday of this past week we were at MK and it was the busiest I have seen it, much busier than when we were there last May and October. We still got quite a bit done however. Frankly our least crowded time was in MK on December 30th. We stayed for EMH from midnight until 4:00 a.m. (I guess by then it was actually the 31st!). After about 1:00 a.m. it got much quieter and by 2:00 we walked onto everything. Rode Space Mountain two times in a row, the last time at 3:58 a.m.! What a night. But like the OP I was bummed things didn't clear out more after New Years. Still had a great trip and would go that same time frame again if we ever can.

 

[disney1990]

It seems like lately, the traditionally slow weeks, aren't so slow anymore.

 

[TnTWalter]

weird huh that you had crowds and we did not? It seemed to get more crowded Thrusday and Friday because of the Marathon. We also teetered out earlier in the day when we were at MK [little ones] so maybe time of day had something to do with it...
Trish

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think the school and dates had something to do with it. But it was nothing like the last few weeks have been.
Last year there were really only one or two slower weeks. 2005 appeared to have been a good year for the theme parks, judging by the crowds we saw.

We were in MK last night, and know someone who was at MGM. We all said the same -- it was harder to walk around than during the holidays.
I think the holiday crowds were so heavy people kept moving and were more attentive. Now the crowd is lighter and most stop mid step, block passages and don't pay attention where they are walking.

 

[Disneyhappy]

We are heading down on the 13th. I have been trying to change our ressies to conceirge at the WL for about two months now and it is sold out for our stay the 13th -17th. I was telling this to my sis who lives in Tampa. She asked her friend who is a reservation CM to see if there was anything available. Not only is there nothing available at WL, there are no concierge rooms available at any resort during our stay! The CM said that Disney is scratching their heads trying to figure out why the first two weeks in January are heavily booked when compared to prior years' experience. I sure wish I had my sister's friend. Sis got the woodsview at WL for $125/night including tax to join us while we are visiting! My nephew is best friend's with the CM's son and he gets to Disney parks at least 6 times a year for free with the family. Boy do I wish I lived in FL!

 

[DISNEY4FUN]

Hi Disneyhappy,

We will be there the exact same dates as you. We are staying at BCV. My SIL and nephew will be with us. They have never been to WDW. I hope the crowds are low enough for us to experience all of the highlights in such a short trip. I've redone my schedule a hundred times trying to decide how to beat the crowds.

Have a great trip!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

70 minutes yesterday for Peter Pan!

This is part of your problem. Peter Pan's wait time should never be used as an indicator of how busy the park is. I've seen times when literally every other ride, including the mountains, was a walk on, and Peter Pan was still at a 30 minute wait.

 

[anewvance]

I agree with the huge crowds. I was VERY surprised! It seemed packed, I know it had to do with the marathon but we've been marathon weekend before and it was empty. This afternoon at Magic Kingdom was nuts... it was sooo crowded. The morning started out quiet because of the marathon, people had a hard time getting in.. took us an hour on the bus from All Star Music. But in the afternoon, there was 80 min waits for Peter Pan and we even waited a half hour for it's a small world. Yikes!

 

[Luv2Roam]

We use to vacation down here this time of year, and yes it was dead for us. (We have lived here two years now. My the time has flown.)

It must be busy. I just made an ADR for Cape May for Saturday and took the last available space for a decent time. This time of year most any restaurant should be easy to get an ADR for, even last minute.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I just booked June 4-9 for a family trip to BWV...I hope it is not too crowded.

 

[webray]

We had heard from several people who went this week last year how after Jan. 2nd, everything really clears out with little wait times. We experienced the opposite. Crowds were similar to the first week in June 05 (last trip) and the lines were long - 70 minutes yesterday for Peter Pan! That is definitely not a slower week! Yet we had a wonderful time. After all we were in DISNEY!

You picked one of the worst times to go..marathon weekend. The resorts were all at capacity. Everything was crowded.

 

[momto2]

weird huh that you had crowds and we did not? It seemed to get more crowded Thrusday and Friday because of the Marathon. We also teetered out earlier in the day when we were at MK [little ones] so maybe time of day had something to do with it...
Trish

Trish,
You must have been in opposite parks from us. Because we were there this past June and this past week and the crowds were the same. From what others (not on these boards - just people I know who have went during this week) said, we expected low crowds and short waits. The waits were the same as early June. You must have hit it lucky. I would play the lottery, if I was you

 

[cara76]

we went Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The crowds were aweful.

Monday we got to MK late, we spent the morning at DTD, all we got done was the Parade and Country Bears (DH did HM while DS and I did CB). Too crowded to do anything else so we left.

Tuesday DS and I went by ourselves. Got there at park opening. Crowds were manageable. By noon it was nuts, 70 min wait for Buzz, 50 min wait for Stitch, so many people you could barely move. So DS and I left.

Wednesday we went to AK after Breakfast at Chef Mickeys. It was the most crowded that I've ever seen AK. 60 min wait for the Safari and Lion King was so full to capacitity.

We are going back either tomorrow or Tuesday, hopeing the crowds are better.

 

[dixiedizfan]

We just got back tonight from a week's stay. January 2, Monday, MK was PACKED. So much so that we couldn't stand the crowds and left the park late in the afternoon. We figured it was because that day was still a day off work. Tuesday, EPCOT was packed as well. Wednesday at AK it was so CROWDED we only got to see half of what we wanted. MGM was very crowded on Thursday, etc., etc. While we had gorgeous weather, we found it to be MUCH more crowded than anticipated!

 

[TnTWalter]

wrong parks for the magic hours...maybe that worked to our advantage? The longest line we had was 30 minutes and we FP anything longer....or maybe just pixie dust for our first trip to the world!
sorry for the crowds for you all.
Trish

 

[HugsForEeyore]

We are heading down on the 13th. I have been trying to change our ressies to conceirge at the WL for about two months now and it is sold out for our stay the 13th -17th.

It's all about when the kids are out of school. Jan 13-17 is Martin Luther King Weekend, so anytime there is a three day weekend, everything is really packed. And with so many kids returning to school tomorrow (Jan 9th), of course last week would be jammed. And the Marathon weekend is always completely booked - I gone that week three times, and always had to stay off-site since nothing was ever available on-site without planning way in advance.

So it make sense that Disney is really crowded for the 2 or 3 weeks of January!