Recent observations - crowds/Jersey week (and bonus pixie dust!)

[Scrappygrrl]

Just back from a fabulous week. I have to say crowds seemed a lot heavier than the same week in 2009.
I followed EasyWDW recs. Monday Epcot was one of the recommended parks and it was very busy. Soarin FP gone by 1:30 ish. Test track was 60 minutes all day. Maelstrom and Living with the Land were steadily at 30 minutes all day.
MK was fine Tuesday - light crowds because of 1st MVMCP that night. We hit the park at open at got everything done by 4:30ish. DHS was recommended on Thursday but was mobbed most likely because of Osborne lights started that night, which were fabulous! Went to 6:30 Fantasmic at 6:15 - standing room only, but we were OK with that, but on our way to the standing room area, a woman sitting in her wheelchair in the handicapped area grabbed my sleeve and said "Oh there you are sweetie! Been looking for you!" I was sooo confused by she gestured me towards her and whispered in my ear "there are 3 empty rows here - this is your pixie dust, come sit with us, you are my daughter for the night!" So we did! After chatting with her a bit, turns out her and her husband are snowbirds, and he works seasonally at Epcot! Before anyone gets there feathers ruffled, please know we would have moved if people had needed those seats, but those rows stayed empty the whole time!
That being said, I dont think Fantasmic is all that?!!?

Here is a little video I made of our trip! Hope you enjoy!!

http://youtu.be/dAW169ICAJE


Not as polished as some I have seen but I did my best!

 

[nycdisneygal]

aww what great pixie dust!!

yeah we finally saw fantasmic when we were at DL and did not think it was that great (world of color is better!).

 

[cyndi-rella]

We were just there 11-4 through 11-11 and agree that it was a lot more crowded than we had anticipated. The Thur. that you are referring to when OFL started TSMM was shut down and some woman went completely crazy. Even my 9 yr old DD commented that she had anger management issues. Not exactly sure what they ended up doing with her. We hung out after they made everyone leave the building and just nicely visited with some of the cast members as we were willing to wait in line anyway. We ended up walking away with 6 FP for TSMM.

I will say that I will never knowingly go back during Jersey Week.

 

[JDUB]

Great video. Loved the Jedi Training. Our DS5 loved fighting Darth too! I enjoyed F! but thought the same about all the hype. I would def ride ToT and RnR during the show next trip.

 

[Moon Child]

Good job on the video! Your boys are too cute

 

[AJA]

Loved your video! So glad you had a magical trip, even if it was a little more crowded than expected.

Your boys are adorable!

 

[nkereina]

We didn't think F! was anything to write home about either! In fact, if we ever decide to watch it again, we'll probably just go to the standing room section so we don't have to show up early for seats and so we can make a quick exit

Interesting about the crowd level.. I'm looking at November/December 2013 and cannot decide on a week. We went in September this year and TT never went above 40 mins and Maelstrom and Living with the Land were walk on so your wait times have me nervous. Think Veteran's Day being on a Friday combined with Jersey Week may have contributed to crowds during this time??

 

[iluvtheworld]

I loved your video! Thanks so much for sharing, it looks like you had a fabulous time!

 

[wdwnut61]

Really enjoyed your video

Looks like everyone had a great time

 

[westonkamom]

I LOVED your video!! Your boys are so adorable This just made me even more excited for our trip on the 29th! Thanks for sharing!

 

[bigredbill]

Wow -- great job on the video! What software did you use to put that together?

 

[pattysgirl]

We were also at HS on Thurs the 10th and it was mobbed! the fast passes for TSM were gone as we were waiting in line for them, by 10:30, maybe slightly earlier. My son and I were so disappointed, we checked on the line all day, 60 minutes was the least I ever saw it, and as high as 100 mins. We tried to wait, about 6:45-7:15 but the fastpass line was also so long due to the ride breaking down earlier in the day that we gave up.

We had done Fantasmic on 2 prior trips, so we skipped it. The OFL were pretty fabulous. All in all, disappointed that it was a recommended park on easyWDW, and so crowded.

We came 2 years ago for Jersey week, and it wasn't nearly so bad (but it was a week earlier - and it usually is the week before it was this year).

 

[MareSINY]

I was at HS on Thursday as well!! We started Thursday at MK which was CRAZY BUSY! It was the busiest we had seen any of the parks that week. We left MK in the afternoon, had a couple of hours of downtime and then headed to HS to see Osborne Lights (which were FABULOUS as usual!) We got the kids dinner at the outdoor QS location across from Fantasmic and kept hearing the announcements about it being standing room only. We've never seen Fantasmic and decided this wasn't the night to give it a try either. LOL We let the kids get a couple more rides in on their favorites and then headed over to see the lights. Did you notice that they were only allowing visitors in from the back end? We had to walk completely around the back side of the street to get in. I was trying to figure out if that was because of first night crowds or if it's something new they're doing. It was really crowded, but so worth it to see those lights, they're so magical and amazing.

 

[Scrappygrrl]

Thanks everyone!
Regarding software to the poster who asked: I used iMovie 09. I was working under the wire (extended family dying to see the video! with more time I would have tweaked some of the transitions both audio and video).

I think it was a perfect storm this year for Jersey week - it was late this year and collided with Veteran's day, along with start of Osborne lights, MVMCP, and last week of F&W. Things worked out fine - only problem was Monday whne we missed rope drop at Epcot and strolled in a 10 expecting things to be hunky-dory since it was a recommended park, and hopping to DHS on Thursday afternoon.

If you are not from Jersey and looking for an off-peak week, this is NOT your week. However, I think it is still a viable option for Jersey families, provided you have a good touring plan.

AK and MK were fine on their recommended days, BTW.

 

[Scrappygrrl]

Oh, and MareSINY - we also had to walk all the way around the backside for OFL. Not sure if that was a "first night crowds" thing or how they always do it. Loved it though, crowds and all.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

Thanks for sharing! I plan on being there for Jersey Week 2012 and am a little nervous about the crowds but I'm just going to have to suck it up because our only other options would be Christmas, Easter, or July. The crowds weren't as bad as those times of year were they?

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Great Video!! I wish I was that talented. What a great thing to show your kids and their families when they're older

 

[MkWzwski]

Here is a little video I made of our trip! Hope you enjoy!!

Not as polished as some I have seen but I did my best!

I love your video! It has inspired me to get going on doing something with our photos from two weeks ago!

 

[Scrappygrrl]

Thanks for sharing! I plan on being there for Jersey Week 2012 and am a little nervous about the crowds but I'm just going to have to suck it up because our only other options would be Christmas, Easter, or July. The crowds weren't as bad as those times of year were they?

I've never been at those peak times, but I don't think it was crowded as level 9/10 days. It was predicted 4/5 but I think towards the end of the week it was probably around a 7. If you hit rope drop and have a plan you'll be fine.

 

[KCSherri]

I was at WDW last week, as well - and I learned, NEVER AGAIN! It probably was the perfect storm of F&W, Osborne Lights, MVMCP, Jersey Week and Veteran's Day - but I have never seen it so crowded!

On the 10th (the opening of Osborne Lights), I spent the morning at Epcot, which was pretty empty (the night before had been late EMH there). I then hit DHS at around 1:00 pm - and altho it was crowded, it was somewhat manageable. I did single rider line at RnRc and managed to ride a few times in a 30-minute period. Tried to get in for Animation Academy, but the line was out the door every time I checked.

As you said, they were ushering guests in at the back end of Streets of America for the lights, and altho it was crowded, you could work your way through.

Friday, I spent the morning at DHS but then headed over to MK at 1:00 pm, as I had tickets for the MVMCP party that night. MK was a ZOO! Wow! BTMR had a wait time of 70 minutes! I was worried about the party that night, as they said it was sold out, but the crowds were MUCH less than what had been in the park that day, so it was fine. I did the Dessert Party for Wishes, which was nice to not have to stand in the crowds along Main Street.

Very crowded - don't know if I will do Jersey Week next year!