SOOO packed this week!

[JerrodDragon89]

It may not be a popular opinion but I prefer to stand off to the side and use my own camera/phone to take pictures with friends or family with almost no wait.

PhotoPass quality hasn't been that impressive (to me) for insanely long wait time even if it's included with MagicKey or ticket. On ride photos are what I save the most.

I think the Disney Photo's are nice but....3 hours haha....never. Never ever

 

[BriannaRuth]

Yes, we didn't have a single picture taken by a photopass photographer because the lines were consistently long and it just wasn't something we wanted to wait for. Took a couple on our own just off to the side of the castle.

Thursday night when we were in DCA, my daughter and I decided to take our own photos in front of the tree there. There was a photographer but line was WAY long and we were waiting to be seated for WOC dessert party. While we were doing that, a CM came up to us and offered to take the photos for us. He clearly knew what he was doing; he adjusted the settings on the phone to do panoramic, etc. to get the whole tree in. Photos came out great. He seemed to be a custodial CM because he had one of those things that grabs trash or whatever off the ground, but I was wondering if he was actually in some other role because he was extremely personable, well-spoken, and just didn't come across as a custodian. Not that they're not also friendly, but the demeanor just wasn't the same. After he left us, he approached another group and did the same for them. Never saw him pick up any trash

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Yes, we didn't have a single picture taken by a photopass photographer because the lines were consistently long and it just wasn't something we wanted to wait for. Took a couple on our own just off to the side of the castle.

Thursday night when we were in DCA, my daughter and I decided to take our own photos in front of the tree there. There was a photographer but line was WAY long and we were waiting to be seated for WOC dessert party. While we were doing that, a CM came up to us and offered to take the photos for us. He clearly knew what he was doing; he adjusted the settings on the phone to do panoramic, etc. to get the whole tree in. Photos came out great. He seemed to be a custodial CM because he had one of those things that grabs trash or whatever off the ground, but I was wondering if he was actually in some other role because he was extremely personable, well-spoken, and just didn't come across as a custodian. Not that they're not also friendly, but the demeanor just wasn't the same. After he left us, he approached another group and did the same for them. Never saw him pick up any trash

All the manager-types carry the trash grabbers.

 

[LKing]

I was just going to say the same thing. If he wasn't in a uniform (white or other), he was management.

I feel bad for those visiting today. The rain is really bad.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

From what I saw the parks were pretty much empty most the rainy days, great lines on many rides but yes. Sorry to the families who didn't get to see the shows

I went to Universal and overheard normally they have 35, 0000ish guests but only were expecting 5 thousand people because of the rain

Six Flags and Knotts just closed up shop and didn't even open

 

[disneychrista]

From what I saw the parks were pretty much empty most the rainy days, great lines on many rides but yes.

And here is the one problem with using line wait data from previous year to predict what the crowds might be like. Is someone next year will see the low wait times from this year and think the parks aren't busy on Christmas. When in fact the only reason they weren't was because of the rain.

 

[LKing]

Wednesday wasn't your run of the mill rainy day.

 

[evilmommie]

Wednesday wasn't your run of the mill rainy day.

So true! Ark-like!

Some decent rain today as well. ️

 

[LAS2AMS]

I think the Disney Photo's are nice but....3 hours haha....never. Never ever

I wouldn’t have waited over an hour - and I would wait that long for only the holiday castle. Line cutting is pretty much a problem anywhere, especially amusement parks, but PhotoPass lines take it to another level.

There may be only a half dozen people in front of you, but each of those people may eventually have their family join them. Some people may not consider this line cutting, but let’s be honest, most don’t care.

When we got our night photo, we waited about 90 minutes. Shortly before the park closed, the CM announced a few times that in order to be in the photo, your party must be in line together. At midnight, they passed out laminated blue PhotoPass cards that you handed to the photographer; if you didn’t have one, you couldn’t be in the picture. Imagine if they implemented this policy all day long (but obviously you could get a card and join your family ).

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I wouldn’t have waited over an hour - and I would wait that long for only the holiday castle. Line cutting is pretty much a problem anywhere, especially amusement parks, but PhotoPass lines take it to another level.

There may be only a half dozen people in front of you, but each of those people may eventually have their family join them. Some people may not consider this line cutting, but let’s be honest, most don’t care.

When we got our night photo, we waited about 90 minutes. Shortly before the park closed, the CM announced a few times that in order to be in the photo, your party must be in line together. At midnight, they passed out laminated blue PhotoPass cards that you handed to the photographer; if you didn’t have one, you couldn’t be in the picture. Imagine if they implemented this policy all day long (but obviously you could get a card and join your family ).

If its more then 2 then its line cutting

Also like if you all come in and do one photo cool but....nawww on every little group in a big group needing photos. You get One big photo and one special photo is someone is celebrating something but after that move

But also I really just try to make things move for everyone, not a fan of making things take too long. Like even if I talk to a character its under 30 seconds then a photo...takes at max a a min to 90 seconds vs some people will take photos of the characters for mins and talk to them...to me thats rude when there is a line

 

[jmasgat]

Speaking of apps, looks like ART has retired theirs. All the busses have signage directing you to d/l it.

Thanks for this. I just spent 10 minutes trying to find the thing on Play Store. The website doesn’t reflect that the app is gone. Glad I searched this forum.

 

[bluedolphin32]

Last days for MK holders:
Imagine - 12/11/25 (today)
Enchant - 12/16/25 (next Tuesday)
Believe - 12/18/25 (next Thursday)
Inspire - 12/21/25 (Sunday)

We were in the parks Dec 14-19 (Monday through Friday). First December trip and I was surprised how NOT busy it was most of the time. I was expecting the parks to be more crowded than I'm used to, but that wasn't the case. We normally go in August/September/early October. I didn't feel Monday through Thursday were busy during the day. It did get considerably busier in the evenings. But Friday was noticeably busier than the other days and Friday night definitely felt busy and crowded. I noticed even the lines for mobile order pickup were LONG at a few spots Friday late afternoon/ evening, especially Harbor Galley (which I assumed might have been due to its proximity to Fantasmic). The line for mobile order pickup there was winding clear around the building and back towards the canoes, as was the line for regular ordering.

We are planning our first DLR visit for Dec 2026 (been to WDW a handful of times). We're looking at the parallel week to this one, when the middle tier passes expire. 2-3 park days (hopefully 3), and I am overthinking which days to choose. I was leaning towards Tues/Wed/Thurs. I want to be able to see nighttime entertainment - will those shows be running on weekdays that week? That's the only reason I'd consider shifting to Friday. Thanks for sharing your on-the-ground experiences, it is helpful!