Theme Parks are Empty!!!!!

[flip.daddy]

Is it just me, or do the parks seem really empty this week?


We were at Magic Kingdom yesterday when it opened, and walked right onto Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Phiharmagic, and Small world. We were at the park less than 90 minutes and rode all of these attractions with absolutely NO wait time whatsoever.

Were we just extremely lucky, or are the parks empty for a reason? School doesn't start back for another week or so.........at least that's what I thought.

 

[MamaCrush]

May this be so next week!!!! thanks for the report.

 

[DisneyNutinNJ]

Keeping fingers, toes, and anything else crossed this trend continues for at least the next few weeks!!

 

[PolynesianLily]

That's great to hear!
Hope you are having a magical vacation.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

This is the first week of school for some GA districts. I don't mind pulling my kids out of school but I think missing the first week is a big deal so we won't travel anywhere the first two weeks. Some GA districts start next week but my niece in FL doesn't start until the end of August.

 

[GeorgeG]

We haven't been down in over a month, but it could be that because it's been hot, a lot of locals aren't going as often since we can go anytime we want, which means cooler weather options. We may go only one or twice during the Summer. Last time was toards the end of June and we'll probably go once during August.

 

[mom1005]

Here is hoping and praying for the same in 2 weeks!!! I know free dining will bring more people, but hardly anything right now...WOW.

It's interesting too, because didn't UG change their predictions for this week? Today is suppose to be a "9" so will be interested in hearing reports from today.

 

[thudfather]

Has free dining started yet? I didn't think so. People may have made plans for a few weeks from now.

 

[ADP]

I'm here currently (staying at AKV), Although I wouldn't call the parks empty, there is a noticable difference in crowds for this time of year. Test Track had a 100 minute wait yesterday at EPCOT; however, most of the other attractions had short waits.

It has been enjoyable not fighting a lot of crowds, but there are still a decent number of people here.

 

[earljam]

I read somewhere that Florida tourism is down over 50 percent, that translates to empty parks I guess. Disney is obviously hurting for guests, they are offering Free Dining up till Christmas.

I hope this doesn't affect anything long term that would take away from the Disney expierience.

 

[WDWDad]

Maybe Disney will realize that maybe raising ticket prices was a really bad idea. Without free dining, or big room discounts the masses will be staying away. Get a clue Disney, read a paper, there is a recession going on.

 

[ParrotBill]

We arrive August 20 and I hope we see some of this... but I bet the crowds return soon with free dining plans in hand!


Anyone know what is the first day of free dining?

 

[disgram]

We are arriving the 25th and I think that the free dining starts the 24th. Hope that the parks are not crowded when we are there!

 

[W.E.D.]

This is the time period we usually go, because we have always found the crowds at least "manageable". Don't know what it is about the first couple weeks in August.

 

[flip.daddy]

We have been at Wilderness Lodge for a few days and checked into Bay Lake Tower today................needless to say it is AWESOME!!!!!!!! The views are even better than we expected.

We walked right into O'hana last night (no wait). Kona Cafe was empty this morning, and Chef Mickey's wasn't very crowded yesterday morning.

Again, I know this is rare, but we're loving the "emptiness".

I was here in November, December (twice), January (twice), Easter weekend, June, and now, and this is the least crowded of those trips.

Good luck to all of you arriving later this week or next

And again...........Bay Lake Tower is AWESOME!!!!!

Had to throw that in one more time

 

[Caitsmama]

Glad to hear! We arrive tomorrow night!

 

[earljam]

We arrive August 20 and I hope we see some of this... but I bet the crowds return soon with free dining plans in hand!


Anyone know what is the first day of free dining?

August 16th

 

[alleghator]

Two days, anyway. We arrive the 14th and are staying through the 21st. Hopefully there's not a huge upswelling massive influx of people right on the 16th. But, I'm kind of thinking it's going to get much more crowded after our first two days.

 

[BabyPiglet]

We've been for free dining the last two years and it hasn't been crowded at all, btw.

 

[WriteDisney]

Anyone have crowd pics?

Just curious :