Recent Crowds

[jkstewart1800]

BUB - did you use a touring plan from UG? or anything like that?

 

[bub]

BUB - did you use a touring plan from UG? or anything like that?

I had looked up the best days list on UG, but did not pay for a specific plan. We did use their plans years ago, when we first visited, but in general we know the parks so well and have specific ideas of what we want to ride, so I'm not sure the pre-made plan would work. For example, at DHS we only wanted to do RnRC, TOT, Toy Story. Animation and Fantasmic. Out of 4 days in the parks, we did 2 early entry - MK because it has worked for us in the past, and DHS because it was our last day and we wanted to ride RnRC again. We did two late nights - MK which was worthwhile, and Epcot which was not. The other times we avoided the extra magic hours. The early and late hours were worth it at MK, which is a large park and has lots open. It was great to be out of the hot middle of the day, too. We are used to going to the major attractions first, then getting fastpasses, and moving towards the less popular things as it gets later. I just felt that the crowds made it harder to get much done this year.

 

[phisigprincess]

We got back last night and were there the 3-10. The crowds were insane. We have done the same week of August in the past and this was notably much worse. We were seeing wait times of at least 60-90 minutes for most of the rides. I used the least crowded park days recommendations from the UG every day except for one morning in Epcot. We were already there for the Segway tour and figured we'd stay, even though it was recommended that we avoid Epcot. The crowd level was definitely the heaviest I saw it all week. Use those UG recommendations!!!

To get on Toy Story without much of a wait, you have to be there at rope drop, or at least pretty close to it. The CM working the fast pass machines was telling me that typically the FPs were gone for the day by 9:30-10:00. I got to the machines at 9:15 and my return time was 12:45.

Hopefully the humidity and crowd levels start to decrease for everyone. Just remember to hydrate yourself and if you think you have heat exhaustion (especially in the AK), please get yourself to first aid. The RN on duty on our hottest day said she was treating people for the heat in a constant stream the entire day.

 

[Jeanine3kids]

What is the UG and how do you get there?

 

[bub]

What is the UG and how do you get there?

It's the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, which is a book. There is also a related website, I think it is www.touringplans.com.

phsigprincess - Glad to hear we are not the only ones who thought it was extra crowded last week. I think touring plans can only go so far when there are huge numbers of people, even at rope drop. Luckily, there is plenty to do at Disney not involving the parks, so that helps.

 

[GreyStr0ke]

I went to DHS, Epcot and MK all yesterday and every park was packed.

We started in DHS to do TSM and RNRC before heading to Epcot. The park had been open 10 minutes and the line for TSM was already at 45 minutes. We ended up waiting in the standby line after we rode RNRC and we got out at about 10:40, the Fast Passes being distributed were already for 8pm that night.

By the time we made it over to Epcot, it was 11:30 and Soarin actually had Fast Passes left. we grabbed one for 4:50 and began doing other attractions and walking around WS. Mission Space:Orange had a 60 minute wait while the Green side had 30 minute wait. Test Track was at 75 minutes and the single rider line was 30. Spaceship Earth had a 30 minute wait when we got there but it was a walk on as we were leaving.

When we got to MK it was around 6pm. We pretty much stayed towards the left side of the park so I don't know how bad Tomorrow Land was. We walked through Fantasy Land and the only ride that looked like a real problem was Peter Pan. I want to say it was at 75 minutes. Pooh was about 25 minutes when we waited. Pirates and HM had no waits but Splash and Thunder were both well over an hour.

 

[roxmic]

Just got back a few weeks ago; it was pretty busy! It usually gets much better after kid go back to school!

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

I hope it isn't crazy when we go Sept 5-12. I booked the trip for that time because it is supposed to be off season and because of the great price and free dining

Maybe hopefully the crowds will be smaller in the next few weeks. As soon as I get back I will post right away and let others know!!

23 DAYS TILL DISNEY TRIP!!!

 

[stm61]

I had to call about our reservation today. I explained to the cm that we usually arrive the Sun of Labor Day weekend, but this time half are coming in the Thurs before, the rest of us on Sat, and I was wondering how bad the crowds would be. He said from what he's seen crowds are down due to the economy. I asked if he was basing that on hotel reservations (he's an itinerary planning cm at Poly CL) or on park attendance. He said he's basing it on what he's seen in parks himself and what guests have told him. Don't know if that's accurate, he could be talking to people who usually go at Easter or Christmas or somethng, it seems to not match with some posters are saying here.

 

[jkstewart1800]

UG stand for the Unofficial Guide to WDW

they have a website www.touringplans.com and they have books.

I have the BIG UG book
the UG for Kids book
and a subscription to their website plans.


nerd... I know

 

[cc-atl]

I was there 8/3 - 8/7.

It was crowded and very hot but took advantage of AM EMH and was there at rope drop each day but our arrival (8/3) and depature (8/7) days.

Getting their early and using FP allowed us to never wait more than 10-15 minutes for a ride.

Details:
We went to EPCOT the afternoon of 8/3. Got to the park around 1:30pm. We grabbed FP's for Soarin which had a 5:45 return time. We then pretty much walked on to Nemo which suprised me and had little to no waits for the other rides we went on - Spaceship Earth, Imagination, and Universe of Energy. We had the princess dinner at Norway and grabbed FPs for Maelstron before we ate. Turned out to be a good idea because the stand by line was a 45 minute wait at around 7:30 when dinner was over.

On 8/4 we were at DHS for rope drop. We went to TSM 1st (we have young kids and skipped Tot and Rockin Rollicoaster) and were able to walk on. By about noon the stand by line was 150 minute wait for TSM. We walked on Star Tours and Muppet 3d and used a FP for the Little Mermaid show.

on 8/5 we were at MK for rope drop. We rode most of the Fantasy Land rides with little wait and Buzz Lightyear with little wait and then went to Toon town for rope drop and had no wait to see Mickey. That afternoon we went to AK. We saw the parade and the FOTLK. Then by 6pm the place was pretty empty. Walked on to Tricertop Spin. Used FP for Dinosaur.

On 8/6 we were at AK for rope drop. Walked on to the Safari. Walked through the Forest and Jungle treks and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Got great pictures of the tigers and gorillas. We grabbed a FP for the Rapid ride before going on the jungle trek.

Overall DHS amd MK seemed like the most crowded. I loved AK in the late afternoon.

 

[Poohbear123]

Friends of mine were at DtD yesterday, and could NOT believe how crowded it was there! We are all due to arrive on Aug. 22 and we are hoping its not tooooo busy!

 

[ceese]

I was also there 8/3-8/6 and walked onto a lot of stuff. Hardly ever more than 20 mins. even if it said more. We did the rope drop thing so that was wonderful. Got crowded around lunch. If you're going to do Soarin (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) get a fastpass early or go during the light show. We went during the show and still waited 30 to 45 mins but well worth it.

 

[jkstewart1800]

did you all take advantage of EMH(am) or did you avoid the parks on those days?

did either of you all use a touring plan?

did you all avoid MK on monday?

 

[ceese]

our first thing Monday A.M was MK and it was no problem. I did PM EMH at Epcot.

 

[cc-atl]

did you all take advantage of EMH(am) or did you avoid the parks on those days?

did either of you all use a touring plan?

did you all avoid MK on monday?

We took advantage of EMH(am) but left those parks at around 11:30 - noon each day and then went to another park in the afternoon after resting at the hotel. It was pretty crowded however and I am still undecided whether it is best to take advantage of EMH(am) or avoid those parks and go to non EMH parks for normal rope drope.

We created a pretty detailed touring plan. We found it to be very useful in helping us to see all the things that were important to us. For example, without a plan there is no way we would have been able to fit TSM, Star Tours, Muppet 3d, Playhouse Disney, Little Mermaid, meeting the Car Characters, and watching the Jedi Academy show into a few hours in the morning. By getting all the start times for the shows ahead of time and mapping out a plan we were sure to see everything we wanted.

We did avoid MK on Monday.

 

[jkstewart1800]

cc-atl: did you all use UG or ridemax or tour guide mike? for your plan?

 

[cc-atl]

cc-atl: did you all use UG or ridemax or tour guide mike? for your plan?

I used the UG as a start but I pretty mainly created the plan on my own. I used the Steve Soares web site to get the times of the shows and the character visits and then plugged it into excel with a different page for each day.

 

[stnet]

My SIL is at Disney right now. They went to MK yesterday and she said the crowds were not bad at all. 20 to 30 minute waits on most everything. The longest wait was 60 minutes for Space Mountain around 8:30 p.m.

 

[jmskinner]

My SIL is at Disney right now. They went to MK yesterday and she said the crowds were not bad at all. 20 to 30 minute waits on most everything. The longest wait was 60 minutes for Space Mountaid around 8:30 p.m.

Great news! We are on our way over there for a daytrip. DS wants to go to DHS, so we will start there about 1:00 and then maybe head over to MK. I'll post a report when we get home.