Park Crowds So Far

[klrobinson999]

Please tell me this week will be more manageable. We arrive tomorrow

 

[bizeemom4]

Please tell me this week will be more manageable. We arrive tomorrow

Yes. This week will be quieter. Last week was pleasant and this (Jersey) week is horrid. I always come for 2 weeks for my birthday. Last week of October is great and then Jersey happens. You should be fine.

 

[missnic]

We were at MK rope drip yesterday morning and it wasn't bad. Left for Epcot around 1 and it was a madhouse. We really only went for lunch at Biergarten but it was still insane leaving around 7. Monorail line was past the coffee stand. Thought about going back to MK but the full trams coming in took care of that idea.

 

[Disneytam]

We were at Disney from Nov.1 until the 5 when we moved to Universal until the 9. The first day at Disney was nice, we spent it at EPCOT and the F&W was not that crowded. That's were the good news ended. The rest of the Disney days was just wall to wall crowded! Not used to those crowds and didn't like it at all. We went to Universal on Monday and were very happy with the lower crowds. We stayed at PBR so had front of the line but never saw huge lines any where. The club level at PBR though was the most crowded I have ever seen it! Between over hearing guests talking and talking to guests most of them were from NJ.

My husband and I usually visit Disney the first week of December and the crowds are always much more manageable.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We are going next year for jersey week. Just myself and DD12. Going 11/2-11/11. We don’t want to do August again because of the heat, dodging hurricanes and we want to see some Xmas decor. I would prefer December but i don’t want to pull her out of school and she doesn’t want to miss a week.

I plan to go in with a good plan. RD, AM EMH, midday breaks and evenings in the park. I’m hoping for the best. We’re doing 9 nights which helps in spreading things out.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I always find it interesting how many differing opinions you get from people who are in the same parks on the same days and how one thinks it was ok and another thought it was insane.

 

[tzolkin]

Trying to get into the park was impossibly difficult. By the plaza, they had the bypass open. They were channeling people out that way but they also had the hub closed and forced everyone entering the park to go towards tomorrowland terrace. CMs began yelling do not stop! But the traffic flow in front of those of us trying to cross the path couldn’t get thru because people leaving kept walking (understandable). It was horrible. You’d take a step, get wedged in, get another step, stroller grid lock, etc.

That was definitely the craziest I’ve ever seen it.

We got sundaes just before the fireworks and found a space near the tables with a good view. The CMs were screaming trying to direct traffic right up until the start of the show and we wound up just staying there for about an hour because there was really no way to move.

 

[Jetta8300]

We were there the entire week, Monday-Saturday 11/6-11/11. We HATE crowds, and We thought it was very manageable and didn’t have any issues, or experience and rudeness with “people using strollers as weapons”. Lol. We were hoping for cooler weather as it was HOT, like 88 degrees Monday-Thursday without a cloud in the sky. But we did the right parks at the right days, did rope drop, went back to the hotel mid day, and came back later. Thursday at the MK, which was a Christmas party day, was downright DEAD for the most part the entire morning. We walked onto everything right up until noon at the MK...4 straight hours with no waits.

The only thing we waited more than 20ish minutes for the entire trip was the Frozen ride at Epcot. We waited about 45 minutes for this at rope drop but we were glad to have the test track fast pass.

We used our First 3 fast passes early on and booked more fast passes for headliners by refreshing the app. We even got a FastPass for both Flights of Passage (had a 210 minute posted wait) and the Navi River ride and waited less than 10 minutes for each, which was Friday (supposedly the busiest day at any park the entire week). The worst part about the week for us was the heat, not the crowds.

We did experience some frustration when the monorail broke down at 7:20AM with an 8am MK opening TH 11/9, and after waiting for 25 minutes everyone had to ride the boat. But we still walked on every single thing that whole morning after arriving. Definitely go to MK on Christmas party days. doing the right parks on the right days was KEY.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We were there the entire week, Monday-Saturday 11/6-11/11. We HATE crowds, and We thought it was very manageable and didn’t have any issues, or experience and rudeness with “people using strollers as weapons”. Lol. We were hoping for cooler weather as it was HOT, like 88 degrees Monday-Thursday without a cloud in the sky. But we did the right parks at the right days, did rope drop, went back to the hotel mid day, and came back later. Thursday at the MK, which was a Christmas party day, was downright DEAD for the most part the entire morning. We walked onto everything right up until noon at the MK...4 straight hours with no waits.

The only thing we waited more than 20ish minutes for the entire trip was the Frozen ride at Epcot. We waited about 45 minutes for this at rope drop but we were glad to have the test track fast pass.

We used our First 3 fast passes early on and booked more fast passes for headliners by refreshing the app. We even got a FastPass for both Flights of Passage and the Navi River ride and waited less than 10 minutes for each, which was Friday (supposedly the busiest day at any park the entire week). The worst part about the week for us was the heat, not the crowds.

We did experience some frustration when the monorail broke down at 7:20AM with an 8am MK opening TH 11/9, and after waiting for 25 minutes everyone had to ride the boat. But we still walked on every single thing that whole morning after arriving. Definitely go to MK on Christmas party days. doing the right parks on the right days was KEY.

Did you use a certain site to pick your park days?

We are going the same week next year and have the same touring plan you do (RD, midday break, PM park).

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

Went yesterday (did four parks in one day). Overall, crowds were manageable. MK and Epcot were busy (Epcot being SLAMMED in World Showcase), HWS and AK weren't too busy.

 

[Jetta8300]

Did you use a certain site to pick your park days?

We are going the same week next year and have the same touring plan you do (RD, midday break, PM park).

There are a ton of sites that have similar crowd calendars (Just google “disney crowd calendars”) but I pretty much follow the same rules. Never do MK on a weekend, Monday, or any day with extra magic hours. Definitely do MK on the day of a Christmas party or an early close. This happened to be Tuesday and Thursday this week. After scheduling our two MK days, then we chose the other parks based on which has the shortest hours, and/or which park does NOT have extra magic hours. And do NOT do Epcot on a Friday Saturday or Sunday. Ever. Especially if it’s the last week of Food and Wine. Our week looked like:

Monday- Hollywood Studios (arrival day)
Tuesday- Magic Kingdom
Wednesday- Epcot
Thursday- Magic Kingdom (MVMCP day)
Friday- Animal Kingdom

It worked out perfectly. None of these parks had extra magic hours these days, and Thursday was a MVMCP night at the MK so it was DEAD. But all of the crowd calendars had these parks recommended these days due to, i’m Assuming, the reasons i listed. We had a VERY pleasant week with minimal waits.

Also schedule your fast passes based on which rides have the longest lines, (like Jungle cruise) not necessarily the rides you want to ride most. Some rides have much shorter wait times.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

There are a ton of sites that have similar crowd calendars (Just google “disney crowd calendars”) but I pretty much follow the same rules. Never do MK on a weekend, Monday, or any day with extra magic hours. Definitely do MK on the day of a Christmas party and an early close. This happened to be Tuesday and Thursday this week. After scheduling our two MK days, then we chose the other parks based on which has the shortest hours, and/or which park does NOT have extra magic hours. And do NOT do Epcot on a Friday Saturday or Sunday. Ever. Especially if it’s the last week of Food and Wine. Our week looked like:

Monday- Hollywood Studios (arrival day)
Tuesday- Magic Kingdom
Wednesday- Epcot
Thursday- Magic Kingdom
Friday- Animal Kingdom

It worked out perfectly. None of these parks had extra magic hours these days, and Thursday was a MVMCP night at the MK so it was DEAD. But all of the crowd calendars had these parks recommended these days due to, i’m Assuming, the reasons i listed. We had a VERY pleasant week with minimal waits.

Also schedule your fast passes based on which rides have the longest lines, (like Jungle cruise) not necessarily the rides you want to ride most. Some rides have much shorter wait times.

That’s usually what we do when we go and i definitely plan on avoiding Epcot on the weekend. I loosely follow TP but they are basically the same rules you mentioned.

I do like AM EMH but we have PH and hop after our midday break.

Some posts of how insane the parks are that week freak me out but i know with a good plan you can still have a great time. I know it’ll be different than our usual late August trips but I’m sure we will have a great time.

 

[Jetta8300]

That’s usually what we do when we go and i definitely plan on avoiding Epcot on the weekend. I loosely follow TP but they are basically the same rules you mentioned.

I do like AM EMH but we have PH and hop after our midday break.

Some posts of how insane the parks are that week freak me out but i know with a good plan you can still have a great time. I know it’ll be different than our usual late August trips but I’m sure we will have a great time.

Yes based off of the days we went to each park this past week, it was definitely no busier than our past October 2010 or May 2011 trips. And the ride lines were not much longer than our past two recent trips in February. The parks “felt” busier probably than February, but the ride lines weren’t much longer. I definitely think it had to do with the park days we chose. I mean Thursday morning was downright DEAD in the MK. I walked on Space Mountain around 10am and we rode Buzz Lightyear 3x in a row, walked on at 11am.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Yes based off of the days we went to each park this past week, it was definitely no busier than our past October 2010 or May 2011 trips. And the ride lines were not much longer than our past two recent trips in February. The parks “felt” busier probably than February, but the ride lines weren’t much longer. I definitely think it had to do with the days we chose. I mean Thursday morning was downright DEAD in the MK.

Thank you!! We will definitely do MK on party day, plan FP for the longer line rides, hit RD and go in with a good plan. You give me hope.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

PACKED out the last three days I was here.

I did Epcot, MK and Animal/Hollywood.

Actually Hollywood Studios had a decent crowd size.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

PACKED out the last three days I was here.

I did Epcot, MK and Animal/Hollywood.

Actually Hollywood Studios had a decent crowd size.

When was this?

 

[Mousey0324]

We arrived today...magic Express was 20 mins. Ended up getting to hotel. Checked in and got our room by 10am. Decided to do Epcot unexpectedly. Wasn’t bad at all. We are going again tomorrow. Expect it to be less busy tomorrow. Don’t think this week will be anything like the last one. Based on what I’ve seen.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

It seems like we are heading into a slow period.

 

[JJ2017]

Traveled back home today. Seeing the awesome benefits of MK on party days I'm already trying to plan out next years trip which is already booked for the same time next year. We will have Wednesday through Saturday as park days and will probably do all four parks. Or two MK, HS and EP. Or maybe try out park hoppers....the wheels are spinning!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

When was this?

Friday Epcot was shoulder to shoulder

Saturday MK (not a party date) was shoulder to shoulder

Sunday my AK / DHD day was moderate and easy flowing the crowds weren’t bad at all...only flight of passage was horrendous as it broke down a few times.