Should I go by crowd level and change my itinerary?

[marriedmarylander]

My crowd levels supposedly in that one post with the crowd level blog, went from 3 to 7 and 8 . I was going to parks on EMH days thinking it was a nice perk and with crowd levels at 3 it won't be too bad (hopefully). Now with crowds at 7,8 I am rethinking this. I'm going May 16-22. DO you think it is going to be horribly bad? Right now I have AK and EP on EMH evenings (we'd go to the park the whole day) , and MK on EMH morning day.

 

[Dementia]

My crowd level jumped from a 3 to a 7/8 as well. That's one heck of a jump! I'm just as confused as you are. I'm going May 23-25 (at MK, EP, MGM, respectively) so I'm as lost as you are as to what's going on...

 

[ms.ojo]

My crowd levels supposedly in that one post with the crowd level blog, went from 3 to 7 and 8 . I was going to parks on EMH days thinking it was a nice perk and with crowd levels at 3 it won't be too bad (hopefully). Now with crowds at 7,8 I am rethinking this. I'm going May 16-22. DO you think it is going to be horribly bad? Right now I have AK and EP on EMH evenings (we'd go to the park the whole day) , and MK on EMH morning day.

Personally I still think EMH mornings are a GREAT perk! As for the evenings, these boards certainly have seen there share of mixed reviews. Not sure there is enough at AK to warrant a full day and evening.....but if you wanted to sleep in, maybe swim and then head to AK around 2, it might work for an EMH night. Problem w/ late night at Epcot is that it's the night BEFORE the early morning at MK. You'd be burning the candle at both ends. But if you just wanted to get into MK from say 8-lunch and then rest, it might be doable. jmho

 

[ReggieB]

I am going around the same time too. To be honest I was expecting it too be a lot busier than when we normally go in October, so I was a little surprised by the low crowd level expectations. However with people now predicting it to be much busier there is really nothing I can or would do. I shall play it by ear, it's beyond my control. Just make sure that we are up and at the parks as soon as they open, and make good use of the fast passes.

It all sounds to me like a good promotional tie in for Chicken Little...the sky is falling in, the sky is falling in..it's going to be really busy at WDW!!!! I'm on vacation with my family, that's the importan thing.

 

[Stitch Inside]

I am going around the same time too. To be honest I was expecting it too be a lot busier than when we normally go in October, so I was a little surprised by the low crowd level expectations. However with people now predicting it to be much busier there is really nothing I can or would do. I shall play it by ear, it's beyond my control. Just make sure that we are up and at the parks as soon as they open, and make good use of the fast passes.

It all sounds to me like a good promotional tie in for Chicken Little...the sky is falling in, the sky is falling in..it's going to be really busy at WDW!!!! I'm on vacation with my family, that's the importan thing.

ITA ReggieB - "in 10 seconds I'm going to cry like a little girl."

 

[marriedmarylander]

I'm also wondering because it's a little too late to be changing stuff around because PS's are booking (or booked already) for a lot of the popular places. We have about 6 days in the parks with two being the arrival and depature and one my DH has to go to IoA so I want to be able to do things and not wait for and hour for each ride. *sigh*

I think I'm going to make a backup itinerary and make double PS's (I only had 3 in the first place and only 2 would change) just in case. I suppose without having park hoppers (I know gasp) that we'll do a quick judge on crowds just based on how many people we see just around (?? I don't know how I"ll do this) or by our MGM Studios visit the first day (which is the recommended park of the day according to the touringplans site.) If it's unbearibly crowded on a recommended day I know to switch to plan #2...

 

[markh]

If your going to ioa, stay one night there and get fotl.

 

[marriedmarylander]

If your going to ioa, stay one night there and get fotl.

If you want to give me the money to do that I will.

Seriously I'm tired of people suggesting that to me. I don't have the money to be spending to stay there. I'm not even renting a car. If I was doing 3 or more days at Universal talk to me then. We originally were going to split our time between both but found it was too expensive for us ($125 in CBR versus about $200+ for a Universal hotel). Plus we only want to do IoA for one day and wasn't that thrilled about going to Universal Studios. Common sense would tell me that packing up, paying extra money, etc just to save some time isn't worth it. IoA based on the size and number of attractions is comparible to several local amusement parks - all of which we've gotten through in 6-8 hours on crowded July Saturdays. Perfectly fine timing in my book. If we don't get it done we don't. It doesn't matter.

My priority is Disney planning not IoA or Universal planning - one day for that and that's it.

Sorry if I sound mad, but really it's not a priority for one night..

 

[ReggieB]

Don't worry, take a deep breath. It'll be fine. Fast passes, morning EMH's, time with your family......Make a list of can't miss rides and just aim for those. People are obviously excited about the new additions and the Happiest Celebration. I think that it is to be expected that there will be a bit of a bump up in crowd levels. Hopefully not too much though!! Have a great vacation...and as I will be there on some of those dates I shall be sending you some calming thoughts!!

 

[markh]

uh, sorry!

 

[marriedmarylander]

uh, sorry!

Sorry Mark - I've been having a bad day... It's not your fault... No hard feelings I hope

 

[Dementia]

Sorry Mark - I've been having a bad day... It's not your fault... No hard feelings I hope

I'm in the same predicament as you Mary. I unfortunately don't have the same options available to me as other people

I'm off site, not at a resort so I don't have all those extra perks like EMH or the water parks.
I don't have a park hopper (we're using the Florida 3 day pass so that's all we can afford) so we can't really leave the park and come back later.
We only get to Disney once every few years so we like to be able to make the most of our time while we're there.

So given those factors, I get a lot of repeat answers that I unfortunately just can't use when I ask the same questions. So, I'm feelin' ya Mary, and can totally understand your frustration...

Let's just hope the info is off and our original plans work out just fine

 

[Lives4Disney]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just try and stick to your plans and if the park you are visiting is hideously crowded hop to another or take a pool break. Just go with the flow and don't stress. You are on vacation. (I will be there May 5 - 10th and that is just a coincidence. I am not even going to worry about it. What comes, comes)

I have not found those UG numbers to be accurate AT ALL on our last 3 trips! I was totally disappointed when I expected a 1 and 2 as they stated the crowd level would be, but the crowds were horrendous. You really never know what to expect. I don't think they really know, either, honestly. If you go expecting a 7 or 8, you may be pleasantly surprised at how light you find the crowds and alternately if you are happily expecting 1's and 2's it is VERY disappointing to find larger crowds.

I totally understand, though. I LOVED when we could go in January/early February. I was spoiled by those low crowds and that to me is the best. Just try and enjoy your vacation. I think these crowd level numbers have gotten a bit out of hand.

Lives4Disney

 

[golfgal]

I have no idea where they get their numbers from, but I am guessing they are looking at the activities that month and assuming the numbers are going to be higher then normal, mostly because of the 50th Celebration. In my opinion, I don't think the 50th is going to be bringing in that many people. First, it is an 18 month celebration, plenty of time to see stuff, second, it is really the 50th for Disneyland, so the average person, i.e. a non-DIS person since we are all above average here, is not really going to think that there will be much at Disneyworld, and third and probably the most influential, Disney isn't offering any inscentive to go to the 50th-no special room pricing, no 5 for 3 kind of deals, etc. The AP code rates that came out are higher then they have been in the past, according to many people here. I just don't think that the 50th is going to draw in that many more people. I wouldn't worry about it too much, personally.

 

[mommykds]

, so the average person, i.e. a non-DIS person since we are all above average here

Ha! I love that.."we are all above average"....You are right, I feel special now!

 

[Took]

Ha! I love that.."we are all above average"....You are right, I feel special now!

I keep thinking of a line from M.A.S.H.: "Oh, Frank, you're so above average!"

Margaret Houlihan to Frank Burns (yes, kinda weird, but there it is...)


Took

 

[cleophus12]

Where do these anticipated crowd numbers come from? Is there a web site? I'd love to know.

 

[marriedmarylander]

http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

Recently there is a blog discussing more crowds expected:
http://www.touringplans.com/CrowdBlog.html

 

[KevinM]

I don't know if this is any indication, but I have 3 co-workers who are going to WDW with thier families in May. None of them have ever gone to WDW before, and all of them basically said that all of the TV and print advertising has them curious. Many of them thought Disney vacations were much more expensive than they really are.

I think a lot of people who have never been there are taking the trip this year due to all of the hype and the Magic Your Way campaign. That could be a good thing - if all these first timers go and find it terribly crowded, they won't return next year. More room for me and you!

 

[marriedmarylander]

I don't know if this is any indication, but I have 3 co-workers who are going to WDW with thier families in May. None of them have ever gone to WDW before, and all of them basically said that all of the TV and print advertising has them curious. Many of them thought Disney vacations were much more expensive than they really are.

I think a lot of people who have never been there are taking the trip this year due to all of the hype and the Magic Your Way campaign. That could be a good thing - if all these first timers go and find it terribly crowded, they won't return next year. More room for me and you!

Some people I know at work also just last week decided they were going to Disney May 6 because of the celebration - the free shuttle from the airport prompted them to go May 6 instead of last week in April. They are taking the kids out of school for the trip.