The quick version 5/28-6/5/07-crowd report

[jcpuppy.com]

sorry, not into the flowery reports like some folks(tho I enjoy reading them) I wanted to give folks a heads up about CROWDS, so here is my fast version of a TR
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tiring but good trip. Did I mention CROWDS!!! YUK we will never go this time a year again!! wait times were like 80+ minutes on the big rides. even as an example yesterday we emh am hours at mk, we got there about 930(it had opened at 8am) and fast passed space mt, thunder mt(by the time we got there about 1030 was already lined up outside the starting gate!!!! we rode that one earlier once during our trip. In fact 90% of the rides we rode once and that was with using fast pass. simply too long waits. we had no desire to wait more than 20-30 minutes to ride. Our last day we usually ride once each persons requested ride. splash was listed at 40 minutes(really was about 30) so we did that for DD. POTC was lined up several people wide all the way out the building. we started in it and gave up after about 5 minutes and realizing that the line was really as long as it was(about 40 on the board I think it was longer). So, I got to ride that 2 times the whole trip(when waits were closer to 20 minutes) we got EE one time and that is because we fast passed it, even with fast pass the lines were long. Hubby and I both commented we felt sorry for folks who had a once in a lifetime trip and had to deal with the lines and crowds and hardly get to ride rides. We also commented we would not have bought DVC if that had been our first experience. Yes I admit I am spoiled, as we usually go in sept
we did disneyquest twice..first time had a line at rope drop, but we made our pirate game and got to try the space game upstairs..mom played with us and had a great time. overall she was well behaved and she rode most things with us even at the water parks..not bad for 72.

concourse steakhouse---didn't like that..very loud(did I mention how crowded things were?) we didn't have a very good waitress, it wasn't horrible, worth trying again, just a different steak maybe
Cellier was the BEST...I absolutely love their food and had the best meal there.
Konas was very good..hubby's favorite..again it was loud, but the scenery helps take your mind off that(that was a without kids meal)
we had breakfast at the land one am. That was good but disorganized...we had one person tell us we could have a sandwich and a baked good and the other said no. I think we could as they gave us that at the bakery in disney for breakfast tuesday

Our castle dinner was actually pretty good, better than the lunch I had there 2 years ago. The waiter knew his job but was a stuffy and wouldnt let me get a child's salad rather than an adult salad(I don't like my food so fancy) I liked the godmother singing around the room, that was fun and just the one stupid princess in the lobby(I am NOT a princess person). we did get a good family pic with that.
I didn't do the Boma meal with DS..things were too hectic with the crowds, so we gave that idea up and ate at cape may instead as a family. wilderness canyon..was eh...we waited like 40 minutes for our table(with ressies) same almost as cape may...truly irritating. at WC the food was mediocre to me. I have no big desire to go there again. I think hubby liked it tho.
Hubby loved the hoopdedoo food and show as usual. Mom also watched and said it was one of the best meals. I was ill so hardly ate, show was good.
Pizzasafari was probably the best counter lunch meal. we were on the DDP and just our one meal at Cellier saved us a ton of money. Used wisely the DDP is the BEST thing
I was bummed only got the land ride once and we only got norway once..our schedule just got plain screwy with the lines and such, so that didn't help. If I had known things would be so bad I would have done more commando planning. we only got the resort pool the last day..that was a real bummer. we did get both water parks..blizzard has a great family raft ride, but typhoon is the better overall one. without being a big water person you would like typhoon especially. Mom had a good time...she rode several tube rides and the lazy river...really quite good of her

DVC folks will want to know..my check in --I was waited on quickly, fellow was a little slow, but good natured. I did have to use concierge the next day for our show tickets and that was a half hour wait..long line made longer by a newbie(not the cm the guest) the CM was quite patient as I would have punched the guest at one point if I had been their CM

Overall the parks were not as clean and well tended to as I am use to and many of the CM's were obviously tired or hassled simply because of the crowds. I can't imagine what July and Spring break must be like and hope to never find out!!! I do think they did a good job with what they had to work with, and folks who have never been in slow times like Sept will have no clue what i am talking about
We did take crowd pics, which i will add in a few days when I get them back

The magical Express was on time and we had no problem with our luggage. we were late arrivers about 9pm at MCO, but our luggage made it to our room by around 1030-11pm
The unmagical express home was amusing. I loved our driver and even tipped him. While some folks may be bothered by accents, I enjoyed his and his way of saying phrases and he tried so hard to make sure he had conveyed all his messages correctly. He was also very helpful to the ladies getting off the bus. Good fellow

Now I sit home and cry, missing my beloved MouseHome
hubby and I only trip for Sept, so i will try and cheer up

 

[dawgsgirl]

Well, everyone has a different opinion. We were there 5-26 thru 6-3. We used TGM, went early, and used FP. We were surprised at the lack of crowds and got lots done. Sorry you had a bad crowd experience. Maybe it will be better next time!

 

[jcpuppy.com]

Well, everyone has a different opinion. We were there 5-26 thru 6-3. We used TGM, went early, and used FP. We were surprised at the lack of crowds and got lots done. Sorry you had a bad crowd experience. Maybe it will be better next time!

Yes I am sure people who planned and did things commando(or what I call commando) would have no troubles, but we have never had to race early to the park, we never had to use a fast pass until this trip. We are totally spoiled by the time of year we usually go. We have NEVER seen thunder mt , space or potc lines way outside their buildings before. We have always ,easily ridden rides multiple times.
It is very important that people who are first timers especially follow your advice for this time of year. We read folks here saying that it was a little busy this time of year or like you said how you got lots done etc..., but that is because of the planning you did, not because it wasn't crowded. People will be in for a sad surprise if they don't plan. When we get our pics back I will be able to show the crowds.

 

[dawgsgirl]

Look forward to seeing your pix. We too have been spoiled by going during low crowd times. We did not really do commando, but several days went early and then back for a nap, and out again in the evening. Maybe TGM's advice was better than I thought!! I'm taking my mom in Sept., so I'm more worried about the hot weather and hurricanes than crowds!!

 

[jcpuppy.com]

Okay here are a few shots from our trip. Mostly taken from the transit authority

the line in this pic is from space mt, taken I believe just before noon on 6/5

note it goes on the OTHER side of the transit tracks

you can see a general overview of the crowds, same time frame

again, I am not saying it couldn't be worse, just that folks need to be prepared and plan wisely for this type crowd or they may be disappointed

 

[ladylee]

Sorry you had such a bad time. We were there at the same time and must have hit the right parks at the right time because we thought the crowds were okay. We did come on a few rides that had long lines, we just said we'd do them later and moved on to something else. When we went back the time was down a lot. We did use fast pass, but we just think that we should always have one while we wait for another-just how we do it. Our method requires more walking, but I'd raher walk than stand in line.