Suprised at low crowds last week!

[WVParkfan]

Always thought it would be very crowded in August, but it looks like we picked the perfect week (last week) to go to Disney World. I'd rate the crowd levels at a 4 or 5 each day, except for Friday.

The Brazilian tour groups were gone, and most of the parks had very low crowds. Even the CM's commented on the short waits for the rides.

On Monday, we hit the AK for the morning EMH. We were there after rope drop and went to get FP's for Everest. We then walked on to the Safari (no wait at all). Went back to Everest to use Fastpasses, and the wait time was only 5 minutes, so we kept the FP's and walked straight onto the ride. We ended up giving away the FP's later in the day. Went to FotLK and it wasn't full. Walked onto Dinosaur, and only had a 10 minute wait on Primeval Whirl.

Went to Epcot on Monday evening and walked onto the Maelstrom around 5pm with no line. Went 3 more times with no wait. Had dinner at the Yakitori House in Japan, and there were only 2 other families eating there. Watched Illuminations from the front of Morocco, and got a front row seat about 5 minutes before it started.

On Tuesday, we went to morning EMH at the MK and walked onto Space Mountain and Peter Pan. Walked onto Big Thunder when it opened, the Haunted Mansion, and PotC. Only wait was 10 minutes for Buzz Lightyear.

That evening, we went to DHS to see Fantasmic. We were too tired to see Fantasmic, but we walked onto Star Tours, Muppets, Backlot Tour, and Rock n' Roller Coaster. The wait for Toy Story Mania was 40 minutes at 7:00 pm, and the CM said that was a very short wait time.

Wednesday morning, we got FP's for Soarin at rope drop, and then walked onto Test Track. We used the Soarin' FP's, and then went back to Test Track around 10:00 am and walked on again with no wait! We went to the evening EMH at the AK and walked onto everything there, too! Did Kali 5 times in a row.

The only crowds we encountered were on Friday night at the MK's evening EMH. We watched the fireworks and the parade, and stayed until 1:00 am. The Fantasyland lines were packed all night, but it was only a 20 minute wait on Big Thunder, walk-on at the Haunted Mansion and PotC, and 10 minutes for Goofy's Barnstormer. Main Street was packed, but the rest of the park wasn't bad.

We'll definitely consider going the 2nd week of August again. I just couldn't believe that the parks were so empty. It was awesome!

 

[DisneyPsycho]

Thank you for posting such detailed info!! We are going next week and hope to have the same experience!! Posts that just say "crowds were light/medium etc" aren't really helpful.. love seeing exact wait times for specific rides posted!!

 

[stitchfriend]

We will be there next week too. Hope the crowds will be low.

 

[my3sons77]

We were there Friday Aug 13 and you are right. The crowds were not bad at all! Splash Mountain was only a 10 minute wait (then we got off and the line was wrapped around the place ) Pirates was walk on, Haunted Mansion was walk on, it was great!!!

I was surprised though to see a long line for the TTA. We stayed until 2, I don't remeber walking down main Street much. I was delirious by that point

 

[Indio]

Maybe it was light because most southern schools started back last week.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Thanks for the detailed report, great to hear wonderful crowd levels. We arrive Saturday I hope the levels are the same for our trip.

 

[hamm1207]

Thanks for the detailed report! We head to WDW August 31st, and I'm hoping we'll have the same luck with crowds that your family had!

 

[scjo68]

We were there last week, too. It is the most "in season" we have ever been. To us the crowds seemed very inconsistent. Sunday, the 8th was pretty low crowds at AK. We rode EE at rope drop w/ no wait, and while the line was long later, we had no prob. getting FP twice for later.

Splash mountain's line was very long all week after about 10:00. But we used reg. FP and GAD FP so rode it plenty w/ no wait.

Sunday night we were able to get a front row curb side seat on Mn. St. for the Electrical parade 15 min. before the parade. But Wed. night, we could only find space several rows back, in frontierland, 30 minutes before.

 

[JDUCKY]

Certainly shows that it is very worth it to get there at rope drop, esp. for morning EMH.

 

[scjo68]

Thanks for the detailed report! We head to WDW August 31st, and I'm hoping we'll have the same luck with crowds that your family had!

I think you will have very good luck then...even more kids will be in school by that time.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Seasonal black out dates are still in effect for Florida resident seasonal AP holders too. The black out dates end 8/20 so it might increase the crowds a bit.

 

[teacher100]

We just got back. We noticed the same thing about last week. The only thing you needed FP for at AK was Everest and even then single riders was a short wait. The weather was nice (of course I'm from NC and used to heat). It rained enough to cool everything off and encourage people to leave the park. However Monday at Epcot was much worse. Earlier in out trip the FP for soraring at 11:00 were for around 3:00 and at 11:30 on Monday they were at 7:00. There was no wait for Mission Space last week, but Monday it was 50 minutes for orange. I guessed that Free Dining must have started. We had a great time at Typhoon Lagoon Monday afternoon. We got there at 3:00 after they had shut down due to lightening a couple of times and there was not wait on any of the slides. Blizzard Beach Tuesday morning was a different story. Long lines formed within the first hour.

 

[agrundel]

Our family was planning on a trip the first week of September. It seems that the crowds should be low with kids back in school. Do you think this is the case? I hope so. We will also be going in the middle of that week.

 

[scubamouse]

All the people on this thread saying they'll be there next week makes me worry that I'll be fighting you all to the FB at SM :lol

See you there and hoping for continued light crowds!

 

[lovegrumpy]

So hope this is true for next week. We arrive on Sunday.

 

[Satchmo128]

Thanks for the detailed report! We head to WDW August 31st, and I'm hoping we'll have the same luck with crowds that your family had!

We will also be there starting August 31st (through September 9th)!

Looking forward to lighter crowds (and HOT weather!)

 

[janpluto]

We were there last week too and I was just telling someone how the crowds were not bad. We also went the same exact week back in 2009 and there were definately more people in WDW. I have to wonder if Universal Studios had a effect on this year's crowd?

 

[stogeyfish]

Will the Florida seasonal passholders make much of a difference? Over here at Disneyland the APs really can make a park more/less crowded depending on access.

Oh btw, we'll be there on Monday the 23rd and hope that the crowds stay low.

 

[Minnie J]

I hope its that way in the next two weeks. WHen we went in Feb 2010 TSM was a 120 minute wait so you guys are very lucky!!

 

[tialmo]

I am hoping for low crowds as well, we arrive Monday afternoon the 23rd and will be there until Sunday afternoon the 29th. We are quite excited for our first trip to Disney!