Ridiculous crowd!

[DisneyDorx]

We are down here now and the crowds the past two days at MK are absolutely ridiculous. 10? Now way. I can't believe I paid thousands for this. I saw people camping out 3 hours in advance of the 4th fireworks. These guys are nuts!

You can't even walk! I did notice that the exit crowds for the parking lots were like I've never seen before. It must have taken them hours to get back to their vehicles. Kudos to the CM's who have to deal with all of us...

 

[1000HappyWishes]

All those people paid thousands for it, too.

 

[White Rose]

I am lucky enough to be able to go on vacation any time I want (well except Xmas, and Jan-April, and.. oh well you get the idea.)

I would never deal with peak crowds...I'd go some place that was not their peak season....I just do not understand why so many people go the same time. We vacation in Oct and avoid places that have their peak season in Oct...but hey what do I know...I'm a planner..and I do not like to bake my skin and brain in FL suimmers! I know some people can only vacation in the summer - so go someplace not so crowded! I am sure they exsist..somewhere...right?

I could not ever imagine going anywhere during 'peak' season...but on the flip side..that is what creates slower seasons...

My suggestion...go in September.

By the way, the local fireworks display in my town was 25 minutes long...it was actually EXCELLENT! Free..and afterwards it takes 2 hours to get home. (to drive like 4 miles!)

Instead of going to the 'main spot' We go to an empty field a block away, sat on the bleachers and enjoyed the not-so crowded experience...took us 10 minutes to get home. By the time the show started we had about 50 people in the empty field.

If you do not like the crowds. find an alternative.

 

[rutgers1]

If you are going to go at a peak time (I am here now, too), you have to be strategic with the extra magic hours, rope drops, and fast passes. We went to Magic Kingdom tonight at 10pm. It was crowded, but crowds went down after the fireworks. We walked right onto the Little Mermaid ride and waited 5 minutes for Buzz Lightyear. You just have to adjust your expectations on a week like this.

 

[DisneyDorx]

All those people paid thousands for it, too.

Evidently I'm not the only fool!

Didn't think it was possible for so many 'fools' to be in one place...at the same time

 

[DisneyDorx]

Actually we were very "strategic". On the 5th, 0 minute wait for Under the sea, FP Peter Pan, 0 wait on Thunder, and 5 min wait for Belle.. basically while Fireworks display was underway.

 

[stargazertechie]

I agree- strategizing has been our saving grace on this trip. We haven't waited more than 20 minutes for ANYthing.

I was, however, one of the fools camped out for fireworks on the poly beach. 2 hours... in the rain. I looked like a drowned rat but it was SO worth it!

 

[Art 1]

We are down here now and the crowds the past two days at MK are absolutely ridiculous. 10? Now way. I can't believe I paid thousands for this. I saw people camping out 3 hours in advance of the 4th fireworks. These guys are nuts!

You can't even walk! I did notice that the exit crowds for the parking lots were like I've never seen before. It must have taken them hours to get back to their vehicles. Kudos to the CM's who have to deal with all of us...

That's why I stay away on and near the 4th. Not worth it to me.

 

[ConnieB]

We are down here now and the crowds the past two days at MK are absolutely ridiculous. 10? Now way. I can't believe I paid thousands for this. I saw people camping out 3 hours in advance of the 4th fireworks. These guys are nuts!

You can't even walk! I did notice that the exit crowds for the parking lots were like I've never seen before. It must have taken them hours to get back to their vehicles. Kudos to the CM's who have to deal with all of us...

Your tag line says: "Been to WDW a plethora of times..." and you've been a member of DIS for a few months.....

Are you seriously saying you didn't realize it would be busy on the 4th of July? If so.....dude....EVERY major holiday is bad crowds.....do not plan your next trip for Thanksgiving week.....or from about mid-December until after the New Year.....avoid the MNSSHP the last week of October. And really think about the "minor" holidays like Labor Day, Veterans Day, President's Day, even Columbus Day.....if there is a 3 day weekend, avoid it.

If you were just venting....well, consider this......you were in the Happiest Place on Earth instead of at work, or sitting in your inlaws backyard listening to your FIL go on and on about the chemical composition of his pool cleaners....or something equally exciting. In other words....it could have been a LOT worse, lol.

So...after camping out for hours to watch the fireworks, were they at least spectacular?

 

[bdcp]

There's a reason we go in early Nov, even when we had kids in school, we pulled them out twice to go. A combination of FL summer heat, crowds and afternoon t-storms are enough to keep me home during that time.

We usually watch the water parade and fireworks from the poly beach. We get there about 30 min early to get a beach chair and relax.

 

[disneylovin24]

If you are going to go at a peak time (I am here now, too), you have to be strategic with the extra magic hours, rope drops, and fast passes. We went to Magic Kingdom tonight at 10pm. It was crowded, but crowds went down after the fireworks. We walked right onto the Little Mermaid ride and waited 5 minutes for Buzz Lightyear. You just have to adjust your expectations on a week like this.

Exactly! Good advice.

 

[disneylovin24]

We are down here now and the crowds the past two days at MK are absolutely ridiculous. 10? Now way. I can't believe I paid thousands for this. I saw people camping out 3 hours in advance of the 4th fireworks. These guys are nuts!

You can't even walk! I did notice that the exit crowds for the parking lots were like I've never seen before. It must have taken them hours to get back to their vehicles. Kudos to the CM's who have to deal with all of us...

Did you do any research for this trip

Seriously though, you sound so surprised. How did you not know the fourth was going to be so crowded when you paid your thousands for the trip?

 

[davedmaine]

Your tag line says: "Been to WDW a plethora of times..." and you've been a member of DIS for a few months.....

Are you seriously saying you didn't realize it would be busy on the 4th of July? If so.....dude....EVERY major holiday is bad crowds.....do not plan your next trip for Thanksgiving week.....or from about mid-December until after the New Year.....avoid the MNSSHP the last week of October. And really think about the "minor" holidays like Labor Day, Veterans Day, President's Day, even Columbus Day.....if there is a 3 day weekend, avoid it.

If you were just venting....well, consider this......you were in the Happiest Place on Earth instead of at work, or sitting in your inlaws backyard listening to your FIL go on and on about the chemical composition of his pool cleaners....or something equally exciting. In other words....it could have been a LOT worse, lol.

So...after camping out for hours to watch the fireworks, were they at least spectacular?

And the apologists are out. Geez, just let the op complain about the crowds; no harm in that.

 

[maxiesmom]

And the apologists are out. Geez, just let the op complain about the crowds; no harm in that.

That poster is not being an apologist. It is a little hard to understand how someone can have made so many trips to WDW and be shocked that they are busy over a national holiday.

Sounds like they have found a way to make their trip work anyway!

 

[stargazertechie]

That poster is not being an apologist. It is a little hard to understand how someone can have made so many trips to WDW and be shocked that they are busy over a national holiday.

Sounds like they have found a way to make their trip work anyway!

I will say there is nothing in my WDW experience that could have prepared me for the experience that was Epcot on the evening of July 4. This is trip #15 (14 wdw and 1 DLR) and the first time being in WDW on the day of a holiday. Not even the week between Christmas and New Years at DLR could hold a candle to the crowds at Epcot.

I've seen the crowd pics. I've been to the parks on "10" crowd level days. Nothing and I mean nothing can prepare a holiday virgin for the sea of sweaty, stinky, exhausted, angry people


Overall with a good touring plan (and a few days on the bus at 5:45 AM) we have done everything we wanted, but it's so different than your average trip, even with mentally bracing for impact

 

[Minniesgal]

Yeah MK a good place to avoid on the 4th of July and a good few days afterwards

 

[maxiesmom]

Overall with a good touring plan (and a few days on the bus at 5:45 AM) we have done everything we wanted, but it's so different than your average trip, even with mentally bracing for impact

That is funny, but so right! You do have to mentally brace yourself to deal with the crowds!

 

[luvgoing2disney]

A few years ago we went down on Christmas Day and stayed till the 2nd. The crowds WERE massive Shoulder to shoulder many times. But I had done my homework and was prepared for it. As another poster wrote we were the bus stop by 6 some mornings and used FP as much as possible and simply dealt with it. Attitude and mentally preparing yourself eliminates stress and disappointment. Just know that you can't do everything and enjoy the experience

 

[HubbDave]

They need a crowd level that goes to 11


The folks at another podcast (Scopa, Newell, etc) had a great episode last week on how to prep for the 4th

 

[Praying Colonel]

And the apologists are out. Geez, just let the op complain about the crowds; no harm in that.

And the name-calling begins. Geez, just let the pp dispense some sound advice about touring WDW during popular holidays; no harm in that.










(See what I did there? )