Too crowded for me...any time of year

[snowcupid]

The only time I have heard of the park being packed was during Texas Spring break and Christmas. The one who went right after Christmas said they stopped letting people into the park at 9am because it was full. The one who went during Spring break said it was wall to wall people especially at AK - but they went knowing it would be crowded because everyone was off.

We prefer taking my dd out of school for a few days, tacking on to a few teacher/student holidays and a weekend. Yes she misses a couple of days of school, but considering both my husband and dd have anxiety - having the parks not as crowded makes it a much better holiday.

 

[Jennasis]

Fascinating first post.

 

[a11ie]

I don't think I have EVER been to the Parks when they were like that. If you put alittle bit of planning into your Disney vacation, or any vacation, it will be a much better experience than if you just "show up".

 

[tehSAC]

Sorry to be blunt, but your kids sound spoiled to me. Do they not have any patience?

To me waiting in line is part of each attractions immersion into the story. For instance, waiting in line at the Jungle Cruise, looking at the artifacts, listening to the audio, and looking for hidden mickeys is part of the fun. Have you considered Fastpass?

I've been in June, when there was no Fastpass. Yes we waited in line, but to me some of my favorite memories of Disney is waiting in line with my family, and looking at all the details. A local park is just about the rides, not the story. Disney is about total immersion in my opinion.

 

[gwmort]

I get it. I am a bit of a agoraphobe and my wife suffers from anxiety.

There are definitely times when we can be overwhelmed by crowds even in the slowest times of the year (like trying to exit FotlK or Fantasmik). However, what we have learned is that there are a multitude of strategies and planning tools to help you avoid those situations.

I think sometimes the planners on here overlook how daunting it can be for first-timers to try to absorb all of that for their first trip. Most people don't book a cruise for instance, then spend a few months trying to plan every day and meal of their cruise, they just go and have fun. Many people want their Disney vacations to go the same way.

 

[glaserjm]

I LOVE Disney, as do my kids. Been about five times in my 47 years. I have gone at every time of year, even when it was supposed to be slower (but as a Disney bus driver told me on our last visit, there is no such thing as a slow time). I guess, to most, this just sounds like complaining, but please let me explain. We have a local amusement park, nothing extravagent, but it does the trick. There are slow times. And slow days. In fact, my kids ask to go when they don't have to wait in line, and don't want to go when they know it is too crowded. I have been consdering another trip to Disney, but I cringe at the idea of spending over $5000 to spend half of my time waiting in line for a ride, waiting half an hour in a line just to eat, swimming pools with people elbow to elbow, and fighting throught the mass crowds in the shops. And I figured it out. It is only going to get worse. I don't know why this hit me, but there is only one Disney World with everything. Sure, I could go to California, but I want my Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Every year, the population grows, but still only one Disney. So it will always get more crowded than the year before. Why hasn't Disney considered doing another full blow four park location? Spread that crowd out a bit. To tell you the truth, I would even pay twice for everything if they would just limit the amount of people in the parks. I honestly don't think I could do it again.

Either you're:
1) Trolling to get a rise
2) Wanting validation for your decision not to go

I don't think you'll find either here...on a message board for Disney FANS.

 

[sydneysmom]

It baffles me why someone would choose to make their first post a post that basically talks about how much they don't want to go to Disney.

Well, okay, don't go.

But seriously, does this make your day more exciting to slam Disney on a Disney Friendly board?

 

[Spunky946]

You posted because?

 

[scubamouse]

If you don't think it's worth it, don't go. One less elbow for me to run into at the pool

 

[DISNEYWITHCHILDREN]

You know what I find-for most rides you need to allot at least 10 minutes for just to get to the actual ride. Pirates of the Caribbean could have no wait but it's a long walk from entrance to ride, also true for a lot of other rides such as Soarin, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, etc.

 

[nooneshome]

Move along people, don't feed the troll.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I LOVE Disney, as do my kids. Been about five times in my 47 years. I have gone at every time of year, even when it was supposed to be slower (but as a Disney bus driver told me on our last visit, there is no such thing as a slow time). I guess, to most, this just sounds like complaining, but please let me explain. We have a local amusement park, nothing extravagent, but it does the trick. There are slow times. And slow days. In fact, my kids ask to go when they don't have to wait in line, and don't want to go when they know it is too crowded. I have been consdering another trip to Disney, but I cringe at the idea of spending over $5000 to spend half of my time waiting in line for a ride, waiting half an hour in a line just to eat, swimming pools with people elbow to elbow, and fighting throught the mass crowds in the shops. And I figured it out. It is only going to get worse. I don't know why this hit me, but there is only one Disney World with everything. Sure, I could go to California, but I want my Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Every year, the population grows, but still only one Disney. So it will always get more crowded than the year before. Why hasn't Disney considered doing another full blow four park location? Spread that crowd out a bit. To tell you the truth, I would even pay twice for everything if they would just limit the amount of people in the parks. I honestly don't think I could do it again.

~Going to Disney for the first time, can be a bit of a culture shock, if you're not prepared. Maybe you just need to go during a slower time of year and a little planning beforehand goes a long way.

~We go during the end of August every year, and this year, like most years the parks were empty. Right now in September, there are several threads with posters who are enjoying walk-on attractions and empty parks. So, don't give up yet (unless you really want to).

~Also, I don't see the need for another "full blow four park location, lol." Anyway, I hope everything works out. And don't feel bad, Disney isn't for everyone.

 

[minnie mum]

Compare and contrast the OPs post with this one:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2990810

'Nuff said.

OP you've either chosen your vacation times poorly or you have chosen not to organize your park touring to maximize your experience properly. I've been visiting WDW regularly since 1975. While I have seen the park crowds increase during this time, I have certainly never experienced anything approaching what you have described. And I think we are still some way from seeing parks being closed due to capacity on a regular basis.

 

[lynypixie]

I haven't been to the parks that much (twice in orlando, once in Paris), always in the end of May, and I recall that I found the waiting not that bad. I live just by a six flags park in Montréal, and the lines are endless, in the heat and everything. We have our anual passes, so my kids are used to waiting in line.

I'll take a 30 minutes line anything compared to six flags lines!

 

[canopynut66]

in October will be our 65th trip of two weeks or more and we love it. Years ago we went in May and found out quick that is busy month as well as June/July/August/ and to middle of September. then it slows down some what. we have tried January and Febuary and March and April and they all have different groups be it cheerleaders/ football teams from highschools/bands/ and then spring breakers as well. we prefer late Octoberto middle of November but there is still crowds and then from third wekk in December is really bad until after New years week is over. so if you do not like crowds of any kind Disney not the place to go. but will say in 65 trips we never do fast pass and ride anything we want to if it to busy we go back and after two tries we go another day.we do not waste time park hopping so when we go to a park we stay there all day or half day depends what we have planned out.gave up the hopping years ago. we also find and learn something new each trip. we do a character breakfast each trip somewhere or maybe two just depends on our mood. we eat mostly outside the parks in resorts so we miss no park time for dining. we quit renting a car years ago and use only the buses. last fall our cousin went and no way would they subject themselves to a bus and we beat them to the resort and had a iced tea and waited on them as we beat them every time. to each their own. we also make short four day trips which my sister and I call girls days out about twice a year but do not count them in our counted trips. and usually go in January or Febuary and middle of December for those. but will not ever catch us there May thru September.

 

[bellaally]

I LOVE Disney, as do my kids. Been about five times in my 47 years. I have gone at every time of year, even when it was supposed to be slower (but as a Disney bus driver told me on our last visit, there is no such thing as a slow time). I guess, to most, this just sounds like complaining, but please let me explain. We have a local amusement park, nothing extravagent, but it does the trick. There are slow times. And slow days. In fact, my kids ask to go when they don't have to wait in line, and don't want to go when they know it is too crowded. I have been consdering another trip to Disney, but I cringe at the idea of spending over $5000 to spend half of my time waiting in line for a ride, waiting half an hour in a line just to eat, swimming pools with people elbow to elbow, and fighting throught the mass crowds in the shops. And I figured it out. It is only going to get worse. I don't know why this hit me, but there is only one Disney World with everything. Sure, I could go to California, but I want my Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Every year, the population grows, but still only one Disney. So it will always get more crowded than the year before. Why hasn't Disney considered doing another full blow four park location? Spread that crowd out a bit. To tell you the truth, I would even pay twice for everything if they would just limit the amount of people in the parks. I honestly don't think I could do it again.

Try Disneyland in Paris I hear that's pretty empty......

 

[lynypixie]

Try Disneyland in Paris I hear that's pretty empty......

I went back in may 2006, and we rode POTC 3 times in a row, and small world twice (it was raining). And we were not there at rope drop! (we actualy decided at the train station where we were going). The most line we've had was to buy the park tickets.

 

[moobar25]

Either you're:
1) Trolling to get a rise
2) Wanting validation for your decision not to go

I don't think you'll find either here...on a message board for Disney FANS.

I think you and 3 pages worth of Disers proved otherwise.

Disney is crowded - even at slow times. If it wasn't crowded then Disney wouldn't be such a worldwide success! Unlike some people I don't enjoy waiting in line to go on a ride - it doesn't make me spoiled it makes me human. The pools can get very crowded - look at the water parks, wave pool & lazy river packed with people. I like my personal space, as do many people, and crowds at Disney are not very conducinve to keeping it. And dining - we waited more than an hour for CMC dinner & LeCellier dinner, thats with ADRs. To top it all off - cost of all of this is not cheap any way you look at it (especially in this economy). That being said - I still love love loveeee Disney and will continue to go as long as I can. I deal with the crowds and the lines because Disney is a magical place where everyone can be a kid if just for a little while. But I find it very interesting how almost everyone here jumped on the OP for posting this. I don't see what the problem is. What is with all the hostility? Everyone is entitled to their opinion & voicing it wherever they want. If you think they're looking to get a rise out of you - then just move on & don't feed into it.

 

[Alby]

Try Disneyland in Paris I hear that's pretty empty......

Well, I went to both WDW and Disneyland Paris in May 2012, and I found WDW much emptier.
DLP is empty in January for sure (due to the below freezing temps), but in Spring and Summer it's really not anymore, and it has a worse crowd management IMHO.

On the other hand, in the first week of May in WDW, with a decont touring plan, I never waited longer than 10 minutes for anything, food included.

 

[Fantasmiss]

There are slow times. If they made ot twice as expensive it would exclude people with less money who're struggling as it is, so I'm sorry but that's a pretty selfish idea. I would LOVE another 4 park Disney World, in Europe, preferably England! England has lots of visitors and there wouldn't be any of that dual language mess they have in DLP.