Oh boy the crowds!

[Nayan]

We just got home about an hour or so ago from a 3 day trip. It was so crowded! I've been going this time in May for years and have never witnessed so many school groups! We stayed at ASMu and there were at least 12 tour buses in the parking lot and as we were leaving 5 more showed up. We hit the MK on Wednesday and it was crowded but manageable but Thursday at AK it was so packed we ended up leaving earlier than we normally would. Yesterday it rained at Epcot so the crowd was thin until the afternoon but then it too got packed. So if you're headed over bring LOTS of patience!

One big vent: people with rolling bags. Lots of people with huge rolling bags in the parks. Suitcases and large coolers on wheels. I thought they didn't allow them? But folks had them and blocked many pathways with them. One family had two! Between these folks and all the strollers it was a mess.

 

[laceemouse]

I don't understand the suitcase thing, what are they carrying in them?
I do agree about the crowds, we were there this time last year and were also surprised at how crowded it was. Schools are not out yet, and spring break is over, but we did see a lot of field trips there. Still, there were a lot of other families as well

 

[tmoret]

This is the time of year that alot of schools do Senior trips. Also alot of band/chior trips.

 

[justskip70003]

we are going monday tuesday and wednsday. i am curious if the crowd ratings of 4 for monday, 3 for tuesday and 3 for wednsday will be accurate??

 

[Nayan]

I have no idea what were in the suitcases, but I did see many families with them in the MK. I dunno, I guess it bothered me a bit to see so many of them when knowing the rules say no wheeled suitcases/coolers. If they were for medications I could understand a small cooler but these were actual huge suitcases!

The tour groups were mostly choir/band kids with a few other school groups mixed in. I was really surprised after reading the horror stories on here about 'schoolkids gone wild' how quiet and well-mannered most of the ones we saw were. Even at ASMu where quite a few were staying you wouldn't have known they were there. But I did see almost as many chaperones as I did kids as each group had at least one adult for every 2-3 kids, so maybe that's why.

 

[justskip70003]

can someone with a touringplans subscription tell me what they have may 9, 10, and 11 rated at please.

thank you

 

[6bowmans]

I have no idea what were in the suitcases, but I did see many families with them in the MK. I dunno, I guess it bothered me a bit to see so many of them when knowing the rules say no wheeled suitcases/coolers. If they were for medications I could understand a small cooler but these were actual huge suitcases!

Maybe there was some kind of concert at MK that the kids were participating in. The suitcases could have their instruments in them.

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

can someone with a touringplans subscription tell me what they have may 9, 10, and 11 rated at please.

LOL I just bought the 10.95 subscription for our trip coming up Monday-Friday.

Monday, the 9th: MK 5.3, Epcot (best park) 3.1, DHS 6, AK (worst) 5
Tuesday 10th: MK 4.7, Epcot 3.8, DHS (best) 1.3, AK (worst) 5.4
Wednesday 11th: MK (best) 2.8, Epcot 5.1, DHS (best) 0.9, AK (worst) 4.8

 

[Rahel]

LOL I just bought the 10.95 subscription for our trip coming up Monday-Friday.

Monday, the 9th: MK 5.3, Epcot (best park) 3.1, DHS 6, AK (worst) 5
Tuesday 10th: MK 4.7, Epcot 3.8, DHS (best) 1.3, AK (worst) 5.4
Wednesday 11th: MK (best) 2.8, Epcot 5.1, DHS (best) 0.9, AK (worst) 4.8

Just so you know, DISboards has a rule against sharing info from paid subcriptions, including crowd info from Touring Plans crowd calendar.

 

[justskip70003]

Just so you know, DISboards has a rule against sharing info from paid subcriptions, including crowd info from Touring Plans crowd calendar.

whoops! i am so sorry. i hope i didnt get anyone in trouble. i had no idea.

 

[Havana]

We got home last Sunday and I noticed a lot of school groups also.

I hate those rolling bags! I am surprised I haven't tripped over one yet.

 

[cancersucks]

I understand about not sharing info about TP because you have to pay (which I did, but I can't go "back" to last week now) and I am curious what TP had predicted for numbers while you were there. Are you allowed to share that since the dates have gone by? We leave next week, and I am would like to see how the numbers compare so I can prepare myself (or my husband rather...) mentally!

 

[Vivianne]

We were there the week of April 11th and didn't see any rolling bags which
are intriguing. This is new to me.

What do they have in it? Meals for the whole day? Just curious.

They must switch off when they get on attractions.

I try to carry the minimum in a small backpack so I would dread carrying more than is necessary.

 

[mousejunkie98]

I think on some levels it's a matter of perception; I have friends who have been there all week this week and they keep posting updates about how UN-crowded it is! Yesterday they said they waited no more than 15 minutes all day at Epcot.

 

[justskip70003]

according to my phone app. the longest wait in MK right now is peter pan at 40 mins.

EP soarin has a 60 minute wait

DHS toy story mania is at 55 minutes which is not bad at all

AK kali is tied with the safari at 35 minutes.

i am curious if anyone is there can you comment how accurate these wait times are at 2:20

 

[amber.miller]

We just got back last night from a 10 night stay and the parks were less busy the week immediately following Easter Sunday than they were this past week. I say that because we went last year from May 1-May 7 and the crowds were substantially bigger this year at the same time!

 

[momof2n2]

huh - were you following touring plans recs?
We are here now. Got here 4/30 and are staying until 5/12. We've only been to Epcot [5/2] and MK [5/4] so far but both were not bad at all! We following the touringplans recommendations, used fastpasses and did everything we wanted to do and then some at both parks. All the headliners. Most of the minor attractions. All parades and fireworks.

Now - I do feel like DTD was crowded both days that we have been there. But the parks have been a dream. We even got out after the parade in much better time than the last two trips we've been here.

 

[InfiniteTape]

Yesterday it rained at Epcot so the crowd was thin until the afternoon but then it too got packed.

I was at Epcot yesterday, too. It really started to fill in around 7, which makes sense. MK closed at 7 for Grad Night, plus it was EMH evening at Epcot.

 

[mherb]

We were there from Sun through today. We picked the parks with lowest numbers according to Lines. We never waited more than 5-8 mins for rides. We did RD almost everyday, followed Touring Plans and used FPs when ride had more than 1/2 hour wait.

 

[avgeek81]

I was at Typhoon Lagoon today. I was only there from 10-12 and did all the slides except the family raft ride, then did shark reef, lazy river and wave pool.Everything was 5 min wait except crush and gusher which was the last thing i did and it said 15 but felt less than that. It was starting to get more crowded when i left and there was atleast one school group there. I went over to MK around 1pm. The waits werent bad but it did seem like there was alot of people especially around splash/BTTR. Left there around 5pm to go home.