POLL: How busy is WDW now....

[matcoland]

Just want to see what people think about how busy WDW compared to other years (because of the FTP, etc).

Looking for info from 8/25/03 until present only.

 

[frank albergo]

less busier than usual. We were there 8/24/-830

 

[CamColt]

LOL, Im going to totally contradict Frank.
We were there last week and also went the same week last year. We found it more crowded this year, however having EE back helped. We also arrived at the parks for opening and used FPs when possible. This made it very managable, with very few waits, but in general we found the parks quite a bit more full than they were last year.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

We usually go the last week of aug. but this summer we arrived by Amtrak on wed.8/13 and stayed until Fri.8/22. We stayed a t the Movies. We usually stay at the AS Music. I have to say out of the last 4 summers of going, this summer was totally JAM PACKED!!!!!! I mean packed. I really think the FTP had a lot to do with it. We tried to arrive early , and of courst FP worked great. Although a few afternoons, when we arrived at MGM , all the FP were gone by 330ish. I was really surprised. We did BB and TL. 1st time at TL we loved this place. But by 230ish they announced a storm was coming. I t was the worst rain/thunder/lightning that we have ever seen. We just made it back to hotel when it started and it finally let up around 9- 930ish. We had BAD RAIN almost every day. That was a first also for us. But we just put on the ponchos and made the best. Also I think the food court is better at the Music. The ice/tonic machine were stuck EVERYDAY at the Movies. Also it took for ever to get food. We noticed a big diff. in the food court. But all in all , we liked the movies. We got Dalmation Bldg. Great location. I think better than Fantasia.

 

[matcoland]

The results are amazing....it split perfectly almost...well, lets get some more results and see where we end up.

 

[disneymom&dad]

We just got back from Florida, were in WDW from 8/24 to 8/28. This was the 3rd time in 4 years we have been there during this same week. It was the most crowded it has ever been. Thank God for fast pass and kids who can get up early. By 1:00, we headed back to the hotel for swim, etc. and went back out at night. Blizzard Beach was the most dissappointing, as it didn't open till 10:00 and the lines were too much by 11:30. We had a good time, but only because we have been there enough to know which rides were worth it and which were not.

 

[hopetoseedisney]

Hoping to see more results that lean towards not so busy.....
We're going for our first time in just over a week. Can't wait!

 

[matcoland]

I have seen other posts on this board and some other boards that seem to show the crowds are actually less than normal for this time of year, and at worse average....very few people say it was busier than normal, yet for some reason this poll says differently....we need more votes!

 

[PatriciaH]

DH and I were in WDW 8/23-8/31/03 and I did not think it was busy at all until Saturday of Labor Day weekend. We did stay away from Extra Magic Hour/early entry. I think it was less busy than the February, March and November we were in WDW (non holiday weeks.) We have never been in August before though. September and Early December have been the least busy for us so far.

We have a picture of the walkway in Fronterland because I kept saying to DH this is SO light for a summer month! There are about 20 people in front of us looking from the turkey cart over to Splash Mountain! I will try to post it. We pretty much walked on all the rides. We only used Fast Pass a few times. The pools at the Marriott DD and WL were very light with people until Friday night of Labor Day weekend at WL-then the pool was still fine but a little more crowded around 10pm-11pm.

I wonder what parks/what days people who though it was busy did? I guess maybe we really lucked out with the days I picked and avoiding EE? We did:

MK-8/23
Epcot-8/24
MGM-8/25
AK/TL-8/26
MK/Epcot-8/27
MGM-8/28
AK-8/29 (AK early entry day but still walked on everything!)
Epcot/MK-8/30 (MK very busy)

 

[matcoland]

Cool, thanks! Good to hear....I would expect a labor day crowd but glad to hear other days were less busy.

 

[km39497]

Thanks for the poll. We will be watching and hoping (as you are) for a result of "less busy". The last time we were able to go was 2 weeks after September 11th. Needless to say we are spoiled for good. I remember we rode Splash Mountain over and over, they didn't even bother making us get out and go around. The logs were going down empty. I don't usually buy the photos that Disney takes on the rides. But I had to buy the one of my son and I in our Splash Mountain log.......all alone!

 

[goofy4tink]

We left on the 23rd of August. After speaking to a lot of the CM's there, both at the resort and at the parks, they all said that attendence has been much heavier for my time frame. The resort (Polynesian) CM's told me the resort was pretty much booked up for the next week. And that usually doesn't happen until Labor Day week-end. I guess that FTP has really made the people come down and stay on-site. Hopefully for those of you traveling in the next month it won't be so bad, what with the kids back in school. Have fun. You'll love the Polynesian.

 

[matcoland]

I have this thread bookmarked so as soon as I get there I will write a little note about the crowds.

 

[Boo'sPal]

Just in Epcot today from 11 am until about 3 pm. It was a ghost land! No waits for anything, nice open walkways...it was so great! I can't speak for the other parks though

 

[matcoland]

It's odd that people taking the poll are picking "busier than normal" yet other's say ghost town...I can only assume it is a "ghost town" as of right now and "busier than normal" a week ago (around labor day, etc).