Starting to panic a little

[ny3boys]

This is mostly just a vent! We are less than 3 weeks away from our first-and-possibly-only Disney trip and I thought I had it all planned out. We picked the least crowded week that we could, using multiple crown planners, back in the spring when we booked. Youngest DS (6yo) has a primary immune deficiency and has had back to back illnesses for the past month, so I know his system is not even at his best-luckily so far it hasn't turned into anything more serious. I am going to ask for the stroller as a wheelchair tag to keep him a safer distance from people and surfaces in the queues and give him a place to rest when he tires out after a little while of walking. We made a plan on using FP as much as possible also, to keep him in smaller crowds, and in confined areas for less time. But now I am reading on these boards that the crowds have been unexpectedly HUGE this fall. And the regular FP system most likely won't be available to us in 3 weeks when we arrive. We do have magic bands so we can schedule 3 FP+ attractions per day, but we planned on taking an afternoon break so DS could rest and get out of the worst of the crowds and the heat (if applicable- I heard it has been way hotter than normal too, something else we tried to avoid!) and then park hopping later in the day. FP+ doesn't work with hopping. I never thought that we would even be close to requesting assistance other than the wheelchair tag, but now I am thinking it might be better for him, so he can wait in at least a less confined area a little farther away from the crowded queues? Ugh. I can't stand when my "plans" go awry!

 

[afnaechiquita]

when are your exact dates? touringplans.com has the crowds at a max of 5/10 for all of mid-november. most days are 3/10.

i think your plan works well. and if you find while you're there that it's not, you can always adapt your plan to ask for more assistance if you find it's needed.

 

[ny3boys]

we are at the parks Nov 10-15. I know they say low crowds. That is why we picked that time to go. But there are reports, on the DIS resort pages and the theme park pages that the crowds the past few weeks are WAY over what was estimated on the crowd calendars and what the historical crowds for this time of year have been.

 

[Sunnywho]

Have you used the crowd calendars to pick which parks you visit each day?

I think if it's a matter of his health, you should ask at Guest Services if they can provide additional assistance, and let them decide.

Attendance at the parks has been up all year, so it's not something that could have been avoided by going a different month. Weather is usually perfect in November.

If you're park-hopping, one way to deal with that is to get the fastpasses reserved for the second park, and use standby or old fastpass in the morning at the first park when crowds are less.

 

[ny3boys]

Have you used the crowd calendars to pick which parks you visit each day?



If you're park-hopping, one way to deal with that is to get the fastpasses reserved for the second park, and use standby or old fastpass in the morning at the first park when crowds are less.

Well, we had to reserve dining 180 days ahead, so we are locked into some parks at times now. But we are doing our best to work around those into the "recommended" parks if possible.

That was our plan with the FP+. but I just read that they have stopped MB users from accessing the old FP machines, so that really messes up the first parks.

I know it will all work out.

 

[Sunnywho]

Table meals take up a lot of time at Disney World, and having a disability takes up time, and going back to the room mid-day takes up time. If you use the bus system, that takes up a lot of time too. If there's any way to simplify, simplifying is good. When we went with free dining, all the ADRs plus disability issues plus having small kids was too much for us, and we were better off planning our next trip with counter service free dining instead of table service.

 

[ny3boys]

Table meals take up a lot of time at Disney World, and having a disability takes up time, and going back to the room mid-day takes up time. If you use the bus system, that takes up a lot of time too. If there's any way to simplify, simplifying is good. When we went with free dining, all the ADRs plus disability issues plus having small kids was too much for us, and we were better off planning our next trip with counter service free dining instead of table service.

Thanks for the info. My kids aren't too young. they are 9, 8 and 6. We did schedule our ADRs for breakfast/lunch at odd times, hoping that would help. He has some dieatery restrictions and it seemed the counter service places didn't have too much for him to choose from on the kids menus, so I know he will at least get one decent meal per day at the TS places. DS6 isn't really "disabled" he can get around just fine, until he tires out after a while then we will just take turns pushing the stroller, we are very lucky not to have to deal with anything worse (unless he gets sick). We will have a car for most of the trip (my ILS are joining us), so that should help with the busing issue. We may try to go without a mid day break, but likely he (and Grandma/Grandpa and maybe even mom and dad!) would be so exhausted by dinner time that we would not get to stay for any parades or fireworks, and they really want to see the fireworks/laser show.

 

[babydoll65]

This is mostly just a vent! We are less than 3 weeks away from our first-and-possibly-only Disney trip and I thought I had it all planned out. We picked the least crowded week that we could, using multiple crown planners, back in the spring when we booked. Youngest DS (6yo) has a primary immune deficiency and has had back to back illnesses for the past month, so I know his system is not even at his best-luckily so far it hasn't turned into anything more serious. I am going to ask for the stroller as a wheelchair tag to keep him a safer distance from people and surfaces in the queues and give him a place to rest when he tires out after a little while of walking. We made a plan on using FP as much as possible also, to keep him in smaller crowds, and in confined areas for less time. But now I am reading on these boards that the crowds have been unexpectedly HUGE this fall. And the regular FP system most likely won't be available to us in 3 weeks when we arrive. We do have magic bands so we can schedule 3 FP+ attractions per day, but we planned on taking an afternoon break so DS could rest and get out of the worst of the crowds and the heat (if applicable- I heard it has been way hotter than normal too, something else we tried to avoid!) and then park hopping later in the day. FP+ doesn't work with hopping. I never thought that we would even be close to requesting assistance other than the wheelchair tag, but now I am thinking it might be better for him, so he can wait in at least a less confined area a little farther away from the crowded queues? Ugh. I can't stand when my "plans" go awry!

You picked one of the best weeks to go. I'm going November 10-17 and picked that week for the same reasons. We went based on easywdw crowd calendar to pick our days.(11/11 mk, 11/12 epcot, 11/13 hs, 11/14 mk, 11/15 ak and 11/16 epcot) we enjoy epcot as much as mk so we don't usually end our vacation at mk like most folks do. Food and wine will be going on over the holiday weekend and ending on 11/11 and since mvmcp will be going on that night makes no the better park to visit that day.

 

[Nichols4]

Be forewarned... we went that week last year and it was crazy crowded. I thought it was suppose to be a slower time but we had to fastpass almost everything. We usually go Halloween (we leave in 2 days) and it was busier than Halloween.

 

[cmwade77]

First off, FP will most likely not be phased out until sometime after DL CMs and those that they sign in are able to begin using FP+, which a friend that works at DL has been told will not be happening until sometime next year. So, you will most likely still be able to use standard FPs.

Additionally, as suggested, if you find the system is not working for you, go in to Guest Relations and ask what you should do about it. If for some reason you are not able to use standard FP, talk with Guest Relations, perhaps they will be able to reenable it for you as a form of accommodation.

 

[JennyDrake]

Not to discourage, but to help you be prepared--I was there the same week last year. Expect moderate to heavy (but not insane) crowds. Sunday and Monday will be THICK crowds due to the federal holiday weekend.

MK was the WORST. Epcot was thick w/ people but wait times weren't too bad. AK was a jungle....yet DHS seemed largely unaffected.

Use Rope Drop and FP and consider a midday break.

 

[Hoodie]

We were there around that time last year and it was busier than I've ever seen it that week (it's usually the week we go). Expect VERY busy crowds at EPCOT that weekend - it's the last weekend of the food and wine festival.

Now, we were busier than normal because of Hurricane Sandy. "Jersey week" overlaps that weekend and because so many people had no electricity at home, they all bumped their trips up. I think nearly every person I met last year was from Jersey and there early because of Sandy. It's a factor you can't plan around and a one time event. I've also seen the reports that fall crowds are much heavier than predicted. Just be prepared and try to enjoy it, even if you are there with more people than expected. Have fun!

 

[ny3boys]

Not to discourage, but to help you be prepared--I was there the same week last year. Expect moderate to heavy (but not insane) crowds. Sunday and Monday will be THICK crowds due to the federal holiday weekend.

MK was the WORST. Epcot was thick w/ people but wait times weren't too bad. AK was a jungle....yet DHS seemed largely unaffected.

Use Rope Drop and FP and consider a midday break.

Thanks. We don't have park tickets on Sunday. We were going to do Downtown Disney after arrival (late afternoon) and swim/hang out at resort and go to bed early. On Monday is AM EMK at Animal kingdom, so we were going to go there early. Then do Epcot later that day, with our FP+. Hopefully early at Animal Kingdom will get us on the big stuff before the worst of the crowds show up, and maybe there will still be FP to get. Then we can do shows or such when it gets busier. We don't go to MK until Tuesday, so hopefully it will be a bit better then. But still the same plan- go early! We have 8:15am ADR at Crystal palace. The boys really want to do the parade/fireworks, so we may leave and come back later. But I KNOW it will be mobbed for that.