Please talk me off a ledge

[magicmountainmama]

We were just there, got home late last night, & it was so much more crowded than we expected. FOP was at 205 minutes for standby on Saturday afternoon. Thankful we had FP for it!

But, at all the parks all week long, we really couldn’t do much more than the 3 FP we walked in with. By mid afternoon, there just wasn’t much left.

I love looking around in the parks, it’s one of the things I love most about Disney parks is how beautiful they are, but everywhere was so densely packed with people that it was impossible to look anywhere except forward so you didn’t run into the back of the person in front of you.

And eating without an ADR...forget it! I’d booked a few reservations in advance, but didn’t book a place for every meal. We ended up ordering room service 2 nights because we couldn’t get into a restaurant anywhere (We were a party of 5 & no Park hoppers, so that may have made it more difficult).

We had a great time on vacation but I don’t see us returning to WDW for a while.

 

[AngiTN]

It is a shame though how the average working family can no longer afford a Disney vacay. As expensive as it is I can’t believe it’s always as crowded as it is, you would think less and less people would be able to afford to go. I’m just grateful that I get to go at all, even if it is crowded.

I think the crowds show just the opposite. That the avg working family can go
DH and I are an avg working family for that matter. Next month we are going with another avg working family
The week after that friends of ours, another avg working family, are taking their 2 kids on their first trip
One of the reasons it's so very crowded is more and more avg families are going

 

[Spencer Wright]

I think the crowds show just the opposite. That the avg working family can go
DH and I are an avg working family for that matter. Next month we are going with another avg working family
The week after that friends of ours, another avg working family, are taking their 2 kids on their first trip
One of the reasons it's so very crowded is more and more avg families are going

I totally agree! My mother is a Nurse, I work in Insurance Claims, and my sister is a Lead Teacher at a daycare. I will contend that we do skimp somewhat throughout the year and we are all three in Graduate school (or were last year), so we get relatively generous tax returns.

However, we are going for the third time in four years in August, staying a deluxe for a week and a half. Prices have gone way up, and families do need to make more selective choices.

I think that is why we see things like people linking arms to run to Pandora at rope drop, or getting otherwise extremely aggressive. When rides and meals are being planned 6 months or more out I can see why guests get more rude (not that is justified). If you take your time and enjoy the atmosphere and stores, it can be a very enjoyable experience.

 

[Spencer Wright]

I need to stop checking these boards, all these posts talking about huge crowds is making me nervous for August!!

 

[Miles215]

Thanks for the replies. It does seem helpless but this is actually for some odd reason making me feel better. It really is a great community here.

Ok so tonight we eat at tusker house. ADR at 430 (only ressie left from when I booked 2 mons ago). Wait 15 mins for our table. NBD. Walk and and it’s at best half full. 3 bussers for whole place. Characters a plenty but our dirty plates were stacked so high I took them to the bus station myself. They turned many people away from dining there but the place was obviously was under staffed and they planned the occupancy likewise. I guess it’s in line with what I’m reading that they balance the crowds with the service.

It is unreal houses with avg income save years or finance trips for this experience. I look around and I’m amazed the walks of life that will make it work. It is a tribute to their dedication to their families to show them a special time. And I guess if your sacrifice that much to come here you convince yourself it’s worth the cash. I’ve been coming here my whole life, I’m very fortunate financially and am so in at this point since buying dvc i have to drink the pixie dust cool aid but I wonder if this was my first time would I ever come back here.