UG's "crowd level calendar" - do you think it's fairly accurate?

[jenjersnap]

Okay, the reason I ask is twofold: first, we were at the MK on Saturday, 12/18 - the crowd level, according to the Unofficial Guide, was a 2. Well, by 11 am, as we tried to leave for a meal at Chef Mickey's, it seemed UNBEARABLY crowded. We had done several rides between 9 and 10:30 in Fantasyland and Adventureland with a relatively short wait, but as we tried to leave, I came close to a panic attack at all the people pouring in. DH made a comment at the time "Gee, wonder what a '10' day looks like!". That made me think, it had to have been a higher level of attendance than the author anticipated. Was anyone there that day with an opinion?

Secondly, I am thinking of planning a very last minute trip with my older DS. Consulting the UG, it says late January and early May are both generally 3s. In the experts' opinions, is it true those time frames would have similar crowd conditions? I wonder, if the date above was truly a 2, whether I could take this. I am not good in crowds, unfortunately.

I would love to hear what anyone had to say on the subject! Thanks.

 

[PCFriar80]

Have been going down late January/early February and the first week of May
the last five years and the crowds are relatively light, more so in January than May. January weather is quite unpredictable so that is always a factor with crowds. We've been there when its in the 70's and when it's in the 40's, so water parks and water related rides are impacted. In May the weather is great and the Flower festival is in full swing at Epcot. I'm not familiar with the UG
stats, but I would say these two times of year are generally below average
crowdwise. IMO

 

[aec]

I had the same question. We are going in late Jan which is a three. UG lists early Nov as 2 and early Dec as 1. It doesn't make sense to me that late Jan would be more crowded that either of these times.

We were there in 99 and 2001 during the full week before Thanksgiving and the crowds were definately picking up on the Sat and Sun before Thanksgiving. The UG lists these days as 2.

I think the crowd level estimate is more of a guide. Any one day could be higher or lower due to weather or other factors not considered.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I truly know nothing about predicting crowd levels, so I have no clue what process is used in the UG. My days in January are "3"s except for the Saturday which is a "5". I wonder if your experience had something to do with Christmas falling on Saturday, which put lots of kids out of school on Dec. 17. Maybe that had something to do with large crowds? My DS was out the whole week leading up to Christmas.

I haven't been to WDW before, so even when I get back I won't have anything to compare the crowds to!

 

[aec]

oops double post

 

[aec]

I wonder if your experience had something to do with Christmas falling on Saturday, which put lots of kids out of school on Dec. 17. Maybe that had something to do with large crowds?

Good point - our xmas vacation started with a 1/2 day on 12/17. Two full weeks this year!

 

[jenjersnap]

I had the same question. We are going in late Jan which is a three. UG lists early Nov as 2 and early Dec as 1. It doesn't make sense to me that late Jan would be more crowded that either of these times.

We were there in 99 and 2001 during the full week before Thanksgiving and the crowds were definately picking up on the Sat and Sun before Thanksgiving. The UG lists these days as 2.

I think the crowd level estimate is more of a guide. Any one day could be higher or lower due to weather or other factors not considered.

Oh yeah, I know it's a guide and not written in stone. The weather certainly plays a big part, I'm sure. However, I would think that the UG took things like Xmas school breaks into account as part of assigning these numbers, kwim? They've been doing it for years and must have a pretty good handle on it. This was my first time to WDW since I was a kid so I didn't really know how to interpret the numbers anyway, just interested to know if someone thought that day was definitely higher than "2" in actuality.

BTW, I think a "1" was about right for our visits to the parks from Monday, 12/13 to Thursday, 12/16. It was blissfully quiet and wonderful. Our longest wait was Jungle Cruise, at DS's insistence and that was about 15 minutes not long after it opened at 10 am. Even Friday, 12/17 at AK wasn't bad at all. So y'all might have a huge point about the school break! Plus, that Sat. was absolutely beautiful after a cold week ...

We're going during Pop Warner week in 2005. Hope the low crowds continue for us!

 

[aec]

just interested to know if someone thought that day was definitely higher than "2" in actuality.

Yeah sounds like it was more than a 2!

 

[disney4me4ever]

Don't you think that possibly some of the unpredictability in crowd patterns has been all of the discounted room promotions WDW has been running? IMHO, outside of maybe January, there sure hasn't been much of an "off" season.

Nancy

 

[jenjersnap]

Don't you think that possibly some of the unpredictability in crowd patterns has been all of the discounted room promotions WDW has been running? IMHO, outside of maybe January, there sure hasn't been much of an "off" season.

Nancy

I think it's certainly a possibility, though, as I mentioned, we thought mid-December was truly quiet and we had our choice of discounted rooms fairly late in the game. It's interesting that you mention January as being the only possibility of being off season cos, as the UG mentions, the attendance in early February and early May are supposed to be about the same as off-holiday January dates. I hope some expert out there who has visited at these times recently will give an opinion.

Happy New Year, all!

 

[klh999]

We went in Jan last year. Just stay away from cheerleading weeks, Martin Luther king weekend, and the marathon weekend, I heard those weekends can be crowded.

THere was no one there in Jan , the longest we waited in line was 15 minutes, and that was for the most popular rides (test track, space mountain etc.). The weather rocked. It was not 80 degrees, but considering it was snowing at home, it made 60 seem warm. The pools was heated to a very comfortable temp.

I would go again in Jan in a heart beat.

Please email me at klh999@aol.com, if you have any questions about Jan.

 

[aec]

We went in Jan last year. Just stay away from cheerleading weeks, Martin Luther king weekend, and the marathon weekend, I heard those weekends can be crowded.

What were your dates klh999? We'll be there Jan 20 - 25. There is nothing special going on while we'll be there except perhaps the tail end of MLK is anyone stays for that whole week. I'm hoping that the MLK crows will only be there for the long weekend.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We became FL residents January 2, 2004. I spent a lot of time in the parks throughout 2004. More so in the first quarter than anytime.
To me it really seemed that January started out as it's usual slow self. Each week and weekend throughout the year I could tell it got busier along the way.

The summer I generally did not brave the parks during the day. I opt for morning in the parks, afternoon home, evening parks again. And of course as a FL resident my summer was wisked away by hurricanes. So I spent little time during the three hurricanes in the parks.

Marathon weekend is a breeze. Everything is a walk on. We use to come down for that prior to being residents.

 

[BluOrchid2]

Hi, I was wondering if someone who has this Unofficial Guide could possibly tell me what the attendance level says for the week prior to Easter, 2005. Specifically, March 20-25 2005. Thank you~!

 

[paigevz]

but I was there on the 19th........it did seem a 2 to me...........comparing to later in the week. I did notice the book says to avoid MK on that day. I wonder if the crowd level indicates the general levels at all of the World, and then it may be higher in the park they say to avoid, and slightly lower in the parks they say are the best for that day. The waits you describe certainly seem in the low range..........sometimes many people will come in at the same time, and main street will be more crowded, but they disperse throughout the park after they get past main. I would say, that many schools were out by the 18th.............in January, except MLK, and early May, most schools are still in session, so I do believe you would have low crowds.........but I have not been at those times. Don't know how helpful that was, but just thought I'd throw my thoughts in!

 

[disneygals]

BluOrchid2...I don't have a new guide with the levels, but the week before and after Easter are both extremely crowded.

 

[mel64]

http://www.touringplans.com/GuideUpdates05.html

 

[mel64]

http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm
sorry wrong page before

 

[MinnieM21]

In my Unofficial Guide it says that the crowd levels are a 3 during October 28-31. I know that the MNSSHP is always sold out on October 31 but why would there be more crowds before the 31? I'm planning on taking my second trip to WDW in October '05 and I'm so confused now on what weeks to go. Also, I'm not sure about what parks to avoid for each day because the list for which parks to avoid in October seems very different from December.

Ok I think I just confused myself...

 

[jenjersnap]

but I was there on the 19th........it did seem a 2 to me...........comparing to later in the week. I did notice the book says to avoid MK on that day. I wonder if the crowd level indicates the general levels at all of the World, and then it may be higher in the park they say to avoid, and slightly lower in the parks they say are the best for that day. The waits you describe certainly seem in the low range..........sometimes many people will come in at the same time, and main street will be more crowded, but they disperse throughout the park after they get past main. I would say, that many schools were out by the 18th.............in January, except MLK, and early May, most schools are still in session, so I do believe you would have low crowds.........but I have not been at those times. Don't know how helpful that was, but just thought I'd throw my thoughts in!

Paige, my UG says to avoid AK on 12/18/04 and MGM on 12/19/04 ... ? I wonder if I have a version that was fixed later cos it also says AK is the best park on 12/18/04, so a little contradiction there. We did choose parks around their suggestions. Thanks for the input! We definitely did find that once you moved past Main St., it got much better most days but Adventureland as really piling up before we headed out too. Oh well, all of this is helping me ... know that have everyone has a different definition of "crowded". LOL!