Please talk me off a ledge

[Miles215]

long long time lurker here. I own DVC, come at least once a year, know what every abbreviation on this forum means.. yada yada

At Disney now and have to vent. Actually more like need moral support. First full day, Got up first thing Sunday morning for Epcot. Monorail Black going to Epcot breaks. 60 min wait to get a ride. No other option since I’m at CR. Finically get to the park at 930 am, security looks like a refuge camp and by the time we get in its already 60 min wait for test track. Get in line 30 mins and broke. Mexico river ride was a 25 min wait by noon. Nuff said.

Monday the studios were completely slammed by 920. Rnr coaster had a 80 min wait by then. Felt like wall to wall people. Obviously since it’s half I park i just felt so cramped. Go to the super bowl parade (go birds) at mk and while i was lucky to be here for it the park was completely jammed. The monorail line back to CR was 25 mins. Today we tried again at mk. Got there at 830. Hub already jammed with people. Decide to run to Frontierland at opening to knock out splash and big thunder mtn. Both rides down. By the time I get to fantasyland everything is already 20+ mins wait. This is at 915!! I’m at my room right now ready to see what a 180 min wait for avatar actually looks like tonight.

Here’s the thing. If it’s peak season I get it. That’s just how this works. However this is supposed to be the deadest week of the year according to all those planning guides everyone is destroying on here now. The place feels just feels jammed. Everything happens sooooo slow now. Even in the resorts. Is wdw just an over popular under invested in destinatation now? It the cutback in employees causing this or is it a bubble in popularity that will eventually pop when enough families realize that $5k vacation isn’t all that fun when waiting 20 mins at cosmic rays for a $14 burger?

I love wdw. I’m not one of these haters that complains every time disney adds a new offering that is profit driven. But this sucks. Should we be concerned long term or is this the same bad luck everyone seems to have hit the past few months?

Ok thank you for letting me rant. This is therapeutic.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Sorry!

We had that happen with Splash and BTMRR one morning on our August trip. Very annoying. Threw off the rest of the day.

 

[AngiTN]

Here’s the thing. If it’s peak season I get it. That’s just how this works. However this is supposed to be the deadest week of the year according to all those planning guides everyone is destroying on here now. The place feels just feels jammed. Everything happens sooooo slow now. Even in the resorts. Is wdw just an over popular under invested in destinatation now? It the cutback in employees causing this or is it a bubble in popularity that will eventually pop when enough families realize that $5k vacation isn’t all that fun when waiting 20 mins at cosmic rays for a $14 burger?

Here's the thing. The general non-Dis board park guest, they are still loving it. Maybe it's because they don't know they aren't supposed to be having fun. But I've talked to quite a few guests, both here at home (in real life) who have gone once, maybe twice, recently, and they are having a blast. They don't see any of the things that folks on here moan and complain about. So I'm not sure it's going to hit them like folks around here hope it will. At least not now. If they aren't feeling it now, I don't think they will.
I guess our problem here is we aren't the clueless guest, we know what it should be and miss it. All the others, not so much.

As for a dead week, Disney is doing what they can to manipulate guests to come all year, spread them out, so to speak. So there isn't a dead time and the times that were slammed are less slammed. It's working. Be that good or be that bad

 

[bashuck]

So TT/BTMRR/SM breaking sucks, at least you were only waiting in line once when it went down but obviously that is a time of day you don't want to waste time. Looking at the waits right now 110 for FOP / and 90 for SDMT/TT that is decent for early afternoon. We were just there over Christmas so yeah that was clearly worse so maybe that makes your wait times look bette.

 

[AngiTN]

Monorail Black going to Epcot breaks. 60 min wait to get a ride. No other option since I’m at CR.

And this is why I do not care for the monorail resorts that everyone else seems to love so much.
Though, I have stayed at CR a few times for other reasons and when the monorail is broken I've never not seen them provide a bus as replacement.

And next time, walk back to CR. I know, more walking, last thing you want to do. Still better than standing and waiting on that silly monrail

 

[TinkerbellTris]

Disney parks in general are getting much more crowded than ever before. We live in California and only go to Disneyland maybe once every 4-5 years now. And when we go it’s usually a HUGE let down, most rides are broke and or under referb. But here we are in a packed park paying $110 a day for one park. It’s beyond frustrating. We started doing WDW back in 2002 and we’ve been about 9 Times since 2002, with the last trip being 2016. I noticed crowds are not predictable as these books say, and either is the weather. What I’ve excepted is that there is no low season.....it’s either regular or holiday peak that’s it. I’ve began planning my dining and fast pass reservations the moment I book my vacation so that I will be prepared to book reservations the moment the system allows me to. We went in 2016 over mother’s day. I got all the fast passes and dining ressies booked way beforehand, And I never had any issues. I guess if you just accept that it’s gonna be busy, and there’s gonna be crowds so plan ahead.....you’ll do ok. That’s what we do. We experienced rides broke, referbs, 180 minute waits......it’s ridiculous, but I didn’t stand in those lines because upon my planning I designed my day around my fast passes for the big rides my then 17 year old wanted to ride, and we park hop like maniacs too. I do fast passes for the park I want to start off in, as soon as we finish that parks fast passes I get on the ap on my phone and go after whatever fast passes are available and that dictates which park we are headed to next. We do NOT do early morning entry....we have a now 18 soon to be 19 year old college student who needs his sleep(lol) so we head into the parks about 9:30/10am each day. We do however, head to the park open the latest and stay til close. There are days we hit up 3 parks in one day and still make our dining ressies. It’s a balance of craziness.

 

[PrincessJo]

I hear you. We went in October 2017 in what was predicted to be a slow week and it wasn't at all.

We leave for Orlando in 84 days... to go to Universal Studios. We have discussed going back to Disney again before the end of this year, but I guess we haven't recovered from our October trip yet. We stayed at POFQ and were waiting for 30 minutes or longer for a bus. We are early birds and leave as soon as the buses start running. Well, so was everyone else

Every single time we go to Universal, it seems much more comfortable. We can get there at the crack of dawn, do everything we want by lunch and then we leave just as it's getting crowded. At Disney at the crack of dawn, you have to race hundreds of others to get into line at your favorite attraction. I don't know how much longer I can deal with that. This makes me so sad

 

[rwdavis2]

As PrincessJo mentioned, Universal is a nice break to the crowds and waits at WDW. Especially if you have the free express pass. We don't plan a trip back to WDW until 2021-2022. Last trip was 2016. But probably get a Universal trip in there sometime.

 

[spiceycat]

there are other options - don't think they are breaking Disney rules - you can walk over the MK parking for WDW buses get on BC/YC or BW bus - then go through the building and walk over to Epcot. Or you can take the boat to WL and ride its buses. Now the monorail is faster - so only use these it no choice.

 

[spiceycat]

at times still ride the monorail going to and from the MK - will walk it mostly. expect more problems with monorail - the engines needs replacing. they have replaced the cars (think) at least twice. the engine has not been replaced since the 80's (again I think) (might have been early 90's).

 

[bladiator]

Disney parks in general are getting much more crowded than ever before. We live in California and only go to Disneyland maybe once every 4-5 years now. And when we go it’s usually a HUGE let down, most rides are broke and or under referb. But here we are in a packed park paying $110 a day for one park. It’s beyond frustrating. We started doing WDW back in 2002 and we’ve been about 9 Times since 2002, with the last trip being 2016. I noticed crowds are not predictable as these books say, and either is the weather. What I’ve excepted is that there is no low season.....it’s either regular or holiday peak that’s it. I’ve began planning my dining and fast pass reservations the moment I book my vacation so that I will be prepared to book reservations the moment the system allows me to. We went in 2016 over mother’s day. I got all the fast passes and dining ressies booked way beforehand, And I never had any issues. I guess if you just accept that it’s gonna be busy, and there’s gonna be crowds so plan ahead.....you’ll do ok. That’s what we do. We experienced rides broke, referbs, 180 minute waits......it’s ridiculous, but I didn’t stand in those lines because upon my planning I designed my day around my fast passes for the big rides my then 17 year old wanted to ride, and we park hop like maniacs too. I do fast passes for the park I want to start off in, as soon as we finish that parks fast passes I get on the ap on my phone and go after whatever fast passes are available and that dictates which park we are headed to next. We do NOT do early morning entry....we have a now 18 soon to be 19 year old college student who needs his sleep(lol) so we head into the parks about 9:30/10am each day. We do however, head to the park open the latest and stay til close. There are days we hit up 3 parks in one day and still make our dining ressies. It’s a balance of craziness.

Adopt me please. I come with AP.

 

[shanew21]

And this is why I do not care for the monorail resorts that everyone else seems to love so much.
Though, I have stayed at CR a few times for other reasons and when the monorail is broken I've never not seen them provide a bus as replacement.

And next time, walk back to CR. I know, more walking, last thing you want to do. Still better than standing and waiting on that silly monrail

Wilderness Lodge for the win. Never waited more than 5 minutes for the water taxi and it was incredibly reliable.

The whole point of the monorail resorts is to be closer to MK, but the drawbacks are too large IMO. It doesn't really buy you much for Epcot (maybe Poly since you can walk to TTC) and in this situation when the monorail goes down you're SOL.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

You’re at Disney World!!! Have fun and always expect the worst possible crowds, so you’ll be pleasantly surprised with anything else. And once again, you’re at Disney World!!! The worst day there beats a good day at home.

 

[HopperFan]

Here’s the thing. If it’s peak season I get it. That’s just how this works. However this is supposed to be the deadest week of the year according to all those planning guides everyone is destroying on here now. The place feels just feels jammed. Everything happens sooooo slow now. Even in the resorts. Is wdw just an over popular under invested in destinatation now? It the cutback in employees causing this or is it a bubble in popularity that will eventually pop when enough families realize that $5k vacation isn’t all that fun when waiting 20 mins at cosmic rays for a $14 burger?

I love wdw. I’m not one of these haters that complains every time disney adds a new offering that is profit driven. But this sucks. Should we be concerned long term or is this the same bad luck everyone seems to have hit the past few months?

Ok thank you for letting me rant. This is therapeutic.

- NO dead weeks, if Disney finds a slow one they will try to fill them by offering something. We were there two weeks ago, most crowded I've seen in 6 years, same time.
- The day of depending on any tour numbers are over. They have no idea what is going to happen, they can only tell you what has happened in past.
- The place is jammed, the lines are long, the CMs are tired, most CMS are doing their best.
- Could be shortening of CM hours, reducing some capacity.

POPULARITY is an interesting one and I think MY OPINION ONLY that there are reasons.
- As I said last 6 years, same time ... saw international travelers drop last couple years but two weeks ago they seemed to be the majority.
- I think there are a group of folks who may normally do some international travel that have chosen to spend those big bucks on US destinations due to global climate.
- Many folks who had to cancel their fall trips due to hurricane bumped to this time of year.
- Two big hurricanes disrupting Disney two years in a row ... they may end up losing guests to other seasons, filling the next slower ones.
- Disney has added the Arts Festival to hopefully draw folks in. The will continue to add things to fill the gaps.

I think while many will feel they overspent for what they got and choose another destination next time, there will be plenty of families behind them ready to drop the cash. Unless we see a big drop in the economy I think this is the new Disney .........

 

[disneydreamer1980]

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.

 

[LSUmiss]

long long time lurker here. I own DVC, come at least once a year, know what every abbreviation on this forum means.. yada yada

At Disney now and have to vent. Actually more like need moral support. First full day, Got up first thing Sunday morning for Epcot. Monorail Black going to Epcot breaks. 60 min wait to get a ride. No other option since I’m at CR. Finically get to the park at 930 am, security looks like a refuge camp and by the time we get in its already 60 min wait for test track. Get in line 30 mins and broke. Mexico river ride was a 25 min wait by noon. Nuff said.

Monday the studios were completely slammed by 920. Rnr coaster had a 80 min wait by then. Felt like wall to wall people. Obviously since it’s half I park i just felt so cramped. Go to the super bowl parade (go birds) at mk and while i was lucky to be here for it the park was completely jammed. The monorail line back to CR was 25 mins. Today we tried again at mk. Got there at 830. Hub already jammed with people. Decide to run to Frontierland at opening to knock out splash and big thunder mtn. Both rides down. By the time I get to fantasyland everything is already 20+ mins wait. This is at 915!! I’m at my room right now ready to see what a 180 min wait for avatar actually looks like tonight.

Here’s the thing. If it’s peak season I get it. That’s just how this works. However this is supposed to be the deadest week of the year according to all those planning guides everyone is destroying on here now. The place feels just feels jammed. Everything happens sooooo slow now. Even in the resorts. Is wdw just an over popular under invested in destinatation now? It the cutback in employees causing this or is it a bubble in popularity that will eventually pop when enough families realize that $5k vacation isn’t all that fun when waiting 20 mins at cosmic rays for a $14 burger?

I love wdw. I’m not one of these haters that complains every time disney adds a new offering that is profit driven. But this sucks. Should we be concerned long term or is this the same bad luck everyone seems to have hit the past few months?

Ok thank you for letting me rant. This is therapeutic.

I had a trip like that in Jan 2014. It was the week before this week. But, it was my turning point. I completely changed my touring style. I completely rely on FP+ now & that strategy has worked in even the most crowded times. I was mad at the time & thought I might take a break. But, instead I decided to change my strategy.

 

[LSUmiss]

And this is why I do not care for the monorail resorts that everyone else seems to love so much.
Though, I have stayed at CR a few times for other reasons and when the monorail is broken I've never not seen them provide a bus as replacement.

And next time, walk back to CR. I know, more walking, last thing you want to do. Still better than standing and waiting on that silly monrail

That’s why I won’t stay CR anymore also. Last time I stayed there, monorail was closed for the night after a late night in MK. We were exhausted but had no other choice but to walk. Poly & GF have the boat backup.

 

[Texans_loyal]

Adopt me please. I come with AP.

 

[LSUmiss]

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 actually think ppl complain about this b/c things have gone up so much, but I don’t think it’s true that it’s not adfrodable. You may get less for your money now (like everything), but I think part of why it’s so crowded is b/c wdw has restructured their packages & advertising to appeal to an additional demographic. They advertise 3 or 4 night, value resort packages which keeps the price down. They also let you pay on it for sometimes more than a yr depending on when you book so it’s essentially like putting your vacation on layaway.

 

[Feralpeg]

Crowds are heavy. Disney keeps adding things to draw people in. Festival of the Arts at Epcot is like a mini Food and Wine. Tons of people at Epcot on Saturday. It seemed like Christmas! More marathons bring people. If there is a way, Disney does it. The idea of down times needs to be retired. They don't exist.