Pandora AP Previews = Significant Increase in Crowds?

[wmjeffer]

I realize that there is no real way to tell, but I'm curious of everyone's thoughts on how the Pandora previews will affect general crowd levels. We will be there from May 14-20. Expecting AK to be busier for sure, but wondering about other parks as well.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I realize that there is no real way to tell, but I'm curious of everyone's thoughts on how the Pandora previews will affect general crowd levels. We will be there from May 14-20. Expecting AK to be busier for sure, but wondering about other parks as well.

We were in AK on Sunday, the day after the big media blitz in Pandora on Saturday. Crowds at AK weren't affected - at 11:00a on our way to Sanaa, I chose FPs for AK and everything was available except for RoL.

The only impact we noticed was that short-term parking at AKL - Kidani had been converted to Valet parking and Tiffins CMs were reporting one large group had been there for 4 hours - media people catching up while at WDW.

 

[Flynnismine]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've read here, guesstimates are that each 2 hour AP preview time slot will have approx 1800 or so people and I think there are 3 different time slots each preview day. With that said, not sure how many of these folks will be spending the entire day at AK or just coming in for their assigned time slot. Our AP preview is the 13th from 3-5 but we will be at MK until probably 1pm, then hopping over to AK for the preview and then back to MK when the preview is over.

 

[Accident]

I realize that there is no real way to tell, but I'm curious of everyone's thoughts on how the Pandora previews will affect general crowd levels. We will be there from May 14-20. Expecting AK to be busier for sure, but wondering about other parks as well.

So starting next weekend we ahve the ending of wishes, the start of happily ever after. We have a multiday thing for pixars 25th anniversary, we have the start of pandora previews and mothers day... They've also are heavily advertising locally the resident 3 day ticket for the price of a single mk day....

Yes I think the weekend of the 13th is going to kick off a crowded AP holder and locals week.. Where and when those crowds will be is going to be interesting as AP holders and florida residents who tend to know disney well show up.. It might be one of those, throw out the book about when and where the low crowds are and do the opposite of them for nice crowds..

edit to add: at least they are spreading things around.. I think they are starting to get the idea of how MK is too crowded and starting to put in options that might form their own crowds in other place.

EDITED TO REMOVE: I think I passed on bad information about stuff going on for pixar that weekend so I have crossed it out. I can't find anything going on around property for pixar with the exception of the new stage music show at hollywood studios which starts a different weekend.

 

[erionm]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've read here, guesstimates are that each 2 hour AP preview time slot will have approx 1800 or so people and I think there are 3 different time slots each preview day. With that said, not sure how many of these folks will be spending the entire day at AK or just coming in for their assigned time slot. Our AP preview is the 13th from 3-5 but we will be at MK until probably 1pm, then hopping over to AK for the preview and then back to MK when the preview is over.

Actually, 4 slots per day. DVC previews are scheduled for 9 am to 11 am.

 

[HopperFan]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've read here, guesstimates are that each 2 hour AP preview time slot will have approx 1800 or so people and I think there are 3 different time slots each preview day. With that said, not sure how many of these folks will be spending the entire day at AK or just coming in for their assigned time slot. Our AP preview is the 13th from 3-5 but we will be at MK until probably 1pm, then hopping over to AK for the preview and then back to MK when the preview is over.

- Have heard lots of estimates on the numbers and many were less than that, we just don't know.

- There are actually 4 slots because DVC has the first slot in am before AP.

- We are headed to Disney specifically for AP Preview (8 hours) and we will spend all day at AK (we are 6-8 slot).

- So we do add to the normal crowds all day as a direct result of Preview.

 

[Accident]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've read here, guesstimates are that each 2 hour AP preview time slot will have approx 1800 or so people and I think there are 3 different time slots each preview day. With that said, not sure how many of these folks will be spending the entire day at AK or just coming in for their assigned time slot. Our AP preview is the 13th from 3-5 but we will be at MK until probably 1pm, then hopping over to AK for the preview and then back to MK when the preview is over.

I had a nice conversation with some park executives and they had a technical glitch during the signup. I'm pretty sure they are grossly over booked as they heavily stressed to make sure I had my confirmations as they would be needed.

 

[wmjeffer]

Yeah, I think we're going to plan on it being more crowded than the calendars are predicting and be pleasantly surprised if it's not too bad. I figured there would be a number of AP holders making spontaneous trips for the preview (though, I guess some who couldn't get a preview would wait until Pandora officially opens, driving up crowds a couple weeks after we get there).

Thanks everyone

 

[HopperFan]

Yeah, I think we're going to plan on it being more crowded than the calendars are predicting and be pleasantly surprised if it's not too bad. I figured there would be a number of AP holders making spontaneous trips for the preview (though, I guess some who couldn't get a preview would wait until Pandora officially opens, driving up crowds a couple weeks after we get there).

Thanks everyone

And then again based on lots of comments there are folks who didn't get in or are hoping for soft openings, who will be hanging around .......

 

[wmjeffer]

And then again based on lots of comments there are folks who didn't get in or are hoping for soft openings, who will be hanging around .......

Very true. We'll try to be prepared for whatever comes our way

 

[HopperFan]

Very true. We'll try to be prepared for whatever comes our way

It's one of those things right now we don't know. I would be prepared for crowds and happy if they aren't there rather than reverse. Like I went to Epcot NYE prepared for wall to wall humanity and inability to do anything while we waiting for night .... but it wasn't and it was great!!

 

[Accident]

It's one of those things right now we don't know. I would be prepared for crowds and happy if they aren't there rather than reverse. Like I went to Epcot NYE prepared for wall to wall humanity and inability to do anything while we waiting for night .... but it wasn't and it was great!!

sound advice.. plan for worst possible crowds and what you find will be enjoyable.

 

[CookieGVB]

So starting next weekend we ahve the ending of wishes, the start of happily ever after. We have a multiday thing for pixars 25th anniversary,

I'm claiming laziness - what/where is the multiday thing for Pixar's 25th?

 

[Accident]

I'm claiming laziness - what/where is the multiday thing for Pixar's 25th?

So I have the anniversary wrong, it's the 31st. I actually can't find anything but I heard of it on the dreams unlimited podcast or somethign with disunplugged.. I know john mentioned it.. It might be the show they had to take down this week and it'll be returning. It might actually be that they were wrong as john mentioned in housekeeping on yesterdays show they had to fix the episode to remove something incorrect from it but never mentioned what was incorrect...

If it's actually correct it was suppose to be epcot but the 25th they did a lot of stuff and the 30th last year they had some stuff.. I see nothing for this year except some things going on with disney channel and not at the parks.

 

[fla4fun]

I will be at the AP preview on the 17th. I booked the first timeslot of the day from noon to 2pm, then two FP+, dinner, and an ROL FP. That will be my only AK day on my trip. I probably won't be going back until December or January when it's cooler out. I figured it would be better to go during the preview than to try to go when it's open to everyone.

One good thing about having an AP is that we can hop to another park if AK gets too chaotic. I may go hide out at DHS . . .

 

[fredflintstone]

I will be at the AP preview on the 17th. I booked the first timeslot of the day from noon to 2pm, then two FP+, dinner, and an ROL FP. That will be my only AK day on my trip. I probably won't be going back until December or January when it's cooler out. I figured it would be better to go during the preview than to try to go when it's open to everyone.

One good thing about having an AP is that we can hop to another park if AK gets too chaotic. I may go hide out at DHS . . .

This is pretty much my plan on the same days as well! My time is 3-5 though, other than that, I am on the same page. haha

 

[CookieGVB]

So I have the anniversary wrong, it's the 31st. I actually can't find anything but I heard of it on the dreams unlimited podcast or somethign with disunplugged..

Whew! I thought I was actually missing running around to something while we're there next week. Maybe they were talking about the Music of Pixar thing they're doing starting Memorial Day weekend in HS?

In any case, I'm kind of glad it's not during our trip. Each time, we say "oh, we're going to just take it easy, and not have to 'do' too many things...", and then there's a quick succession of things that get scheduled while we're there. Still a little bitter over missing out on the AP preview for Pandora.

 

[Accident]

Whew! I thought I was actually missing running around to something while we're there next week. Maybe they were talking about the Music of Pixar thing they're doing starting Memorial Day weekend in HS?

In any case, I'm kind of glad it's not during our trip. Each time, we say "oh, we're going to just take it easy, and not have to 'do' too many things...", and then there's a quick succession of things that get scheduled while we're there. Still a little bitter over missing out on the AP preview for Pandora.

no they had that separate on their list.. I think the error in the show was that there is no pixar weekend along with mothers day and start of pandora preview weekend. so sorry for bringing it up, I can't find anything on it and I should have went looking. I was in the same boat with "great 1 more thing to do on a busy lots of fun things to do weekend".

 

[ceeceegee]

Thought I'd chime in since we are specifically flying down for a "bonus trip" because of the preview. It's my first time as a passholder so I'm all about taking full advantage! Staying at AKL for the first time (thanks AP Discount!) so plan to hang out at the resort a lot. Planning to arrive at AK about 3pm on the 20th for our 6-8pm preview time slot and stay through Rivers of Light. Will likely do a few hours at MK and Epcot too at some point over the weekend, but really going to try to slow down the pace and enjoy AKL.

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

I'm flying down just for the Preview as well and will be there from the 12th-16th.
My preview day is the 15th 6-8p. I plan to spend the morning in Hollywood Studios and head to AK later in the day for the preview.