Silly question: Do you still enjoy yourself if it is crowded??

[LisaZ1113]

I ask because last december, we went at the beginning of the month, and found it to be fantastic, both weather wise, and crowd wise..

We loved it so much that we are waiting a month after our wedding so that we can go on our honeymoon at that time again next year.

BUT, based on recent posts it seems to be much more crowded than normal..
Now I'm getting nervous!

 

[cvjw]

We still enjoy ourselves during a crowded period, but not nearly as much as during slower times. DW just loses some of the magic for us when it is wall to wall people everywhere. We generally go in slow seasons, so it is frustrating when we can't go on the rides and attractions like we are used to.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I can't say if you'll have fun, but I enjoy it whether it's raining, hot, cold, crowded, etc. I just do different things. Having been to WDW over 30 times, it doesn't break my heart if I can't ride a certain ride I love, eat at a place I enjoy, etc. If it's crowded, I'd make extra sure to get up early, follow the tips about avoiding EMH days, go the morning after EMH evening, go to MK later in the week (it does help)-there are lots of tips to avoid the crowds. I plan on the buses to be crowded and expect to have to stand-then if they're not, I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

[Crystal_27]

We are really going to test your question when we travel in 2010 (December 18-January 1). In general, though, all crowds make me frustrated - - I like my personal space and the more crowded something is, the less personal space I have. However, because I've gone to Disney so many times, I've developed a "tried and true" method of park touring that helps me avoid crowds as much as possible (or so we think - LOL). Also, because I own DVC, my vacations aren't ruined if we can't ride a certain attraction or eat at a certain restaurant - - I know that said attraction or restaurant will be waiting for me next time.

With all that said, for our 2010 trip, I am going to have to mentally prepare myself because, even through there are going to be a huge amount of crowds, the tradeoff is that we will be celebrating Christmas at one of my favorite places in the world. Also, for the 2010 trip, we will be doing other things besides just Disney with the hope that distancing ourselves from the crowds here and there will allow us to better cope with them when we do have to deal with them. We'll see - - I'm sure I'm going to need a lot of "woo-saws" to get me through.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We actually like when it is crowded because we can people watch and really get a variety of folks. We know we'll be back sometime to do this or that attraction, so we don't wait in lines longer than 15 minutes.

The only way we'll do a parade or fireworks is from the back of the crowd.

 

[DebbieB]

I've gone the past 2 Junes and even though it was crowded, we worked around it successfully. You really have to have a strategy, I don't believe in "winging it". Get there early, use fastpass for the major attractions, head to the back of the park first, avoid evening EMH.

I was there last week and didn't have a problem, didn't think it was crowded. We picked our park days based on which park had EMH (avoid), stay away from MK on non-MVMCP days, go to DHS on non-Fantasmic days. There were alot of complaints about MK on Monday last week, that was a non-MVMCP day and evening EMH. Receipe for huge crowds. We were at DHS that day, which was a non-Fantasmic day, it wasn't crowded at all.

 

[dvcdisney]

I think it would depend. We absolutely loved it when we used to go in Sep/Oct (before they offered Free Dining). But now that we go during busier times (Spring Break and last two weeks of August), it does seem a little less magical.

In the same way, although I love Disney, if we went during Christmas, I think all the magic would leave quickly when we're shoulder to shoulder with people. If I had to deal with extremely large crowds, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be enjoying myself. I was already cranky this past August when I encounter so many inconsiderate people, it was enough for me to consider not going back in August (never thought I would think this way about Disney).

 

[Sandisw]

We have to go in the summer (I teach) so for most of our trips it was crowded and hot.

But, we still had a great time. We just knew that the parks would be a morning thing, the resort an afternoon/relax thing, and then back to the park at night. The last few trips, my children (who are older) decided not to do the night trip back a few times so DH and I were by ourselves.

I think that if you go in with a plan on how to deal with the crowds, expect to take longer to do things, and just go with the flow, you will have a great time!

 

[WolfpackFan]

Well we just got back Saturday and last week was very crowded IMO. We did not enjoy ourselves as much because of the crowds. It seemed like every time we went to MK it was wall to wall people. I attribute a lot of this to early closings and MVMCP. Folks who didn't do MVMCP had fewer hours in the park. There was only one night that us regular people could do MK at night. I refuse to pay $50 extra per person just so we can have a few more hours in the parks for which we've already paid for. We've already decided we will not do WDW this time of year again. Frankly, I'm not sure when you can go anymore and not have big crowds but next year we're trying September. Maybe that will be better.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

We usually go Easter week. Needless to say crowds are large.The thing we have learned over the years is that if a park has morning EMH stay away. We go to another park which is much less crowded due to everyone trying to get the EMH.The other thing is go to the park that had late hours the night before. You usually have a pretty good day until around noon. Either way we always leave the parks by 1pm to go enjoy the resort until later in the evening. If you plan your parks and make use of fastpass you will be fine. Just plan to have everything take longer than any normal person would tolerate in most circumstances.You will have fun just bring your patients.

 

[jfinke]

Not really.

We don't get too upset with missing rides and such, we have been enough times.

We just get frustrated with other people. But, I am the type of person who doesn't understand people who don't use those new fangled turn signal thingys on their car.

 

[disneynutz]

I ask because last december, we went at the beginning of the month, and found it to be fantastic, both weather wise, and crowd wise..

We loved it so much that we are waiting a month after our wedding so that we can go on our honeymoon at that time again next year.

BUT, based on recent posts it seems to be much more crowded than normal..
Now I'm getting nervous!

I guess it depends on if you are a park commando. IMHO fighting the crowds in the parks are not worth it. Transportation can also be a mess.

Look at it this way, because of the crowds, it takes longer to get to the parks, then it takes longer to walk through the park and a much longer wait in que for the rides. so on crowded days, you only have time to go on 8 rides. On days that aren't crowded you may be able to go on 15. Don't forget that Disney charges you the same for admission whether it's crowded or not.

Bill

 

[MinnieGirl33]

We're another family that isn't as concerned with the ride wait times as we make multiple visists per year.

What frustrates me is not being able to manuver. When you have to move through the parks in herds or when you can't really browse in a store because of the crowd...

We like to take our time, to slow down & enjoy but too many people who don't have a clue make it difficult.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I despise the huge crowds, and I think in revent years they have only gotten worse bebcause it seems like all the parks - especially MK have shortened their hourss during peak times. I was shocked last year during President's week, there wasnt longer than normal park hours.

I also don't like, and this may be a VWL issue, not being able to get a chair at either pool. They will never be able to stop it, but during peak times, it is not unusual to have people from the campground come over and use the pools. I'm seriously thinking of doing a trip next January right after the holidays, take youngest out of school, and hopefully oldest can join us.

Since the crowds seem to be heavy all the time recently, I am also considering selling off some points, as it's just not enjoyable, and when the kids don't want to go because of the crowds, that sends a message!!

They keep adding and adding hotels/timeshares, they need to add another park!! Or extend hours - teens love going to the parks at night, one year duirng one of our New Years Trips, MK was open until 3 or 4 in the morning!! We had a blast!!!!!

 

[stacy6552]

Parks crowded, no sweat.

Airports crowded, planes overbooked? Totally sucks.

 

[Hunclemarco]

We actually like when it is crowded because we can people watch and really get a variety of folks. We know we'll be back sometime to do this or that attraction, so we don't wait in lines longer than 15 minutes.

The only way we'll do a parade or fireworks is from the back of the crowd.

My wife and i do this too. Even on Black Friday, where we won't purchase anything... we just watch the crowds in amazement. Seems like it's own sport.

We also go with the same thought in mind that if we don't make a certian attraction at the time, it will be there next time we arrive.

 

[goldwest]

I don't have the experince of many of the DIS board posters but as I am a teacher, I really only have the busiest seasons to choose from. Our favorite time to go is after Christmas into the new year. All of the decorations are still up when we arrive. There are extra events such as more parade times, fireworks etc. Also fewer ride closures for refurbishments. After New Years, the crowds disappear and we can ride more often! (At Disneyland we have had a picture taken in front of the castle on New Years Day 3 times with no other person in the background!) I work at a private school with an extended winter break which allows us to stay into the first week of January.

Most of our trips have been to Disneyland (we are on the west coast) and when there we always use ridemax website for planning. Being morning people is a huge advantage for our family. You can really beat the crowds if you get up to the park right away. I used both ridemax and the unofficial guide for planning my world trip. For the World I really think the Unoffical guide sire and allears site are essential.

 

[Sammie]

I don't mind the summer crowds because the parks are open later, but I did not enjoy the shorter hours of early December and crowds as bad as some summer months.

 

[madthemouse]

Let's keep it simple.

A crowded day or bad day at WDW, is still better then a good day at home. Is it not?

Enjoy the wonder of WDW.

 

[The VWL Five]

Took the words right out of my mouth Madthemouse...

Being DVC members affords us extra opportunities to head to the world. No sweat if we miss something this trip, we'll hit it next time.