More crowded - morning or night?

[Melissa R]

As we prepare for our upcoming trip (STAY AWAY, IVAN!!!), I started wondering something. We usually don't stay in the parks for an entire day, and we're also not usually the type to take an afternoon break - if we go back to the room, we're usually there to stay. Usually, we're at the parks at or near opening and then leave in the late afternoon/early evening. (We're not big on parades, fireworks, Illuminations, etc....although I do think we'll plan to catch Wishes once.)

Here's my question - is it more crowded at night (like a few hours before closing) or in the morning?? Last trip, we found that we could do a bunch of stuff in the morning, and that it got crowded around midday. I'm wondering if the crowds ease off again in the evening, or if it stays crowded. I'm just trying to determine if it's worth dragging our tired selves out of bed in the morning, or if we'd get as many slow hours in the evening as we're used in in the AM.

Thanks in advance!

 

[barb45]

I'd like to know too. We do it just like you do and I have wondered also. A friend of mine said they used to go in the afternoon when everyone was taking their breaks and found it less crowded but I don't know about the evenings.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I would say more crowded at night than in the morning, but the park is the most busiest between 11am-3pm. The crowds do thin around dinner time.

 

[pumpkinfish]

Wow! DH and I do the same thing. We might go to another park in the afternoon, but usually head to other places in the evening. We were at Epcot once at night, and it was kinda misty/rainy...and not busy. We have been to MGM once at night for Fantasmic. We have never been to AK at night. And we have been to MK once at night for fireworks and parade. That was on a Saturday so of course it was crowded.

I think this time we will sleep later some days and venture out for the afternoon/evening to the parks. I LOVE new experiences!

*GASP* 3 more days

 

[bubba's mom]

due to a tiny storm called "Charley", we had our 2 planned days at MK cut to 1 day. we were there for EE and stayed ALL day...till wishes was over. what a loooonnnnggg day.....but, anyhows, i felt the park was really empty in the morning. guess a lot of people can't/won't get up that early!! we were able to do Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Toon Town Fair by about 12:30ish......we walked on just about everything...and what we didn't walk-on, we waited 5-10minutes for! it was wonderful! by reading these boards, i thought "WOW...everyone will be leaving the park for a mid afternoon break and it will be empty"....not sure how many left, but crowds still didn't seem bad. after about 5pm tho.....we waited. not long but longer than earlier in the day. i guess after the heat of the day (?) people came. by closing time, the line for space mtn. was 1/2 way out tomorrowland i noticed the lines were definately longer after that 5pm time than all day! IMHO, i would do the park in morning and afternoon, go back for rest and come back for wishes...if you don't want to leave, take a rest in the park. we did the railroad, took a ride on the monorail, planned to go to tom sawyer island, but it was rehabing.....find things to take a "rest" in the park and you should be good to go for wishes....even go grab a seat on the 2nd level of the RRstation for wishes.....good luck

 

[tjkraz]

It probably varies from one park to the next:

MK - Arrive early and plan to leave by noon, OR arrive around 4pm to stay the evening. A LOT of people tend to leave after the 3:30 parade. Also, avoid evenings when Spectromagic is running. It only runs a couple of times per week, and those nights will be more crowded than others.

AK - Due to the early closing, your best bet is to just get there as early as possible.

MGM - Pretty much the same as MK. Get there early or after the parade.

Epcot - Due to the staggered opening (World Showcase doesn't open until 11am, and most of Future World closes around 7), you should plan one morning and one evening if possible. If you don't have two days to spare, try for a late afternoon arrival. Hit the FW attractions that close early first. Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Mission Space and a couple of others will stay open until the WS closing time.

Also, make note of the Extra Magic Hour parks. If you're staying on-site, you'll have to decide whether to take advantge of EMH or not. If so, be there as close to 8am (preferrably BEFORE 8am), and expect the crowds to be noticably heavy by mid-morning. If you don't want to get to the parks until 9am or later, avoid the park that has EMH.

If you're staying off-site, just avoid the EMH parks altogether.