Park Crowds NOW!?

[Russell]

Planning ahead hear, two years from today I hope to be back at Disney World (Lord willing). I've heard the crowds drop quickly after New Years Day. Anyone with a report on how they are right now? I'm planning to leave New Years day 2007! Looking for some good news! Thanks.

 

[Russell]

well i meant to say planning ahead "here" not hear. I hate when my fingers work faster than my brain!

 

[lovethattink]

Yesterday MK was very manageable! Saw mostly 30 minute waits. Getting to the car when the parked closed was a different story. It took us 2 hours to get out of the park and to our car.

 

[dydrmr81]

Does anyone know when it really slows down? We are leaving on Wednesday and are hoping that the parks have emptied out!

 

[Momto8]

Does anyone know when it really slows down? We are leaving on Wednesday and are hoping that the parks have emptied out!

I think it just depends upon when the kids go back to school. We went a couple of years ago and stayed until 1/5 (I think the 5th was a Sunday). Because the kids were still out of school until the following week, the parks were very crowded. I kept thinking the crowds would get lighter after the 1st or the 2nd, but I really couldn't see any difference. I remember that I remarked to the CM when I checked in on 12/31 that a lot of people were checking out, she told me that just as many were checking in that day.

This year because the kids got off earlier for Christmas and go back to school earlier in January (at least they did in the South), I would imagine the parks aren't as crowded as they were last week. We just got back on 12/31 and it was the most crowded I've seen in years for this week.

 

[lovethattink]

Most schools were suppose to go back Jan 6th, but with all the make-up days from the hurricanes, they went back Jan 3rd.

 

[suzannews]

My daughter goes back to school tomorrow, the 4th. Suppose to be the 6th but we are making up 2 hurricane days. We were at the Animal Kingdom today for a few hours, the parking lot was packed but the park was not crowded at all. Safari was a 30 min wait or fastpass in 45 mins so we got a fastpass, got a snack and shopped. By that time, it was time for the fastpass and we walked right on.

 

[Russell]

Thanks guys. I was afraid of that! 2007 the 1st is on a Monay. Our kids go back the 9th but I'm thinking now that the parks will continue to be crowded well into the week of the 1st. Guess I'll go in September instead. Ugggghhhh the heat! But I want to avoid the crowds. September 18th 2007 it is!

 

[4Iowans]

The parks were packed on the 30th and 31st. I thought the 2nd and 3rd were wonderful. We walked on all of the rides at Epcot, no waiting. We got a FP at Test Track to use after we did the 10 min. standby wait.

Magic Kingdom was great on Mon. We did all of Fantasyland from 9 - 10:30 am.

 

[Gary M]

When we were at WDW last month (Dec. 12-19) it seemed like many of the people at the parks weren't from the USA. Many people that spoke English sounded like they were from the UK and many others didn't speak English. I think the declining value of the dollar has made it very attractive to visit America.

 

[lovethattink]

This afternoon and evening Epcot was not very full. We arrived late afternoon and parked in row 36. Walked right up on all that we did.