Very Crowded

[BcIcemen]

We are mentally preparing for pretty crazy crowds during spring break - our MK hours were extended, Universal has early entry at both parks... just hoping that it's still fun for our friends who are traveling with us. And stressing about ILL/Genie+ and how much extra to attempt to spend on these things.

With old FP+, the stress was mostly pre-trip... not really looking forward to the 7 AM phone stress.

From what I have been reading if right at 7 you dont get what you want keep trying and refreshing the app. Some people are saying that "times drop" after the inital 7 am surge. I have never used either so I cannot speak from experince. Good Luck

 

[Sandisw]

From what I have been reading if right at 7 you dont get what you want keep trying and refreshing the app. Some people are saying that "times drop" after the inital 7 am surge. I have never used either so I cannot speak from experince. Good Luck

It has been shared that when people go to choose it right at 7 am, it holds it for about 10 minutes will payment is processed. So, around 7:15 am, there are more spots again because of people who didn't actually follow through with the purchase.

So, definitely is one is trying for an ILL, try again!!!

 

[DVCsloth]

Crowds are the main reason I'm hesitant about adding more points. We were very spoiled our last 3 trips; most everything was a walk on. Our last trip Sept 2021 the weekends were extremely crowded, weekdays were light.

 

[cm8]

We’re here now and not only has it been crowded, When we hopped to Hollywood Studios after visiting MK, all the Genie+ rides for selection were gone! It’s ridiculous that they advertise you can use it in other parks but don’t tell you the rides may not be available due to crowds! Don’t get your hopes up if you’re looking to score some amazing rides after hopping! That was our experience with G+ this weekend. YMMVT!!

 

[McCrae]

I

We’re here now and not only has it been crowded, When we hopped to Hollywood Studios after visiting MK, all the Genie+ rides for selection were gone! It’s ridiculous that they advertise you can use it in other parks but don’t tell you the rides may not be available due to crowds! Don’t get your hopes up if you’re looking to score some amazing rides after hopping! That was our experience with G+ this weekend. YMMVT!!

It was the same with the old FP’s.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

We’re here now and not only has it been crowded, When we hopped to Hollywood Studios after visiting MK, all the Genie+ rides for selection were gone! It’s ridiculous that they advertise you can use it in other parks but don’t tell you the rides may not be available due to crowds! Don’t get your hopes up if you’re looking to score some amazing rides after hopping! That was our experience with G+ this weekend. YMMVT!!

I just left yesterday. If your plan is to hop to HS then you need to grab those Genie+ reservations FIRST. That’s what we did. They are always sold out or sold late into the evening by midday now. I found HS to be a disaster generally this entire trip. Best park to hop from if you ar using Genie and going to HS is probably Epcot since you don’t need genie there really anyway and its not hard to grab reservations after the two hour cooldown.

 

[SMF_mom23]

I got a notice from TP that they had updated their crowd calendar on June 4 at EPCOT from a 3 to a 7. I certainly wasn't expecting it to stay low, but that was a pretty big jump. That's our arrival day and we're heading to AK. The other days haven't jumped much yet, but I'm expecting to see it as the time gets closer.

 

[Sandisw]

I just left yesterday. If your plan is to hop to HS then you need to grab those Genie+ reservations FIRST. That’s what we did. They are always sold out or sold late into the evening by midday now. I found HS to be a disaster generally this entire trip. Best park to hop from if you ar using Genie and going to HS is probably Epcot since you don’t need genie there really anyway and its not hard to grab reservations after the two hour cooldown.

That’s a great idea! We don’t usually hop to HS at night, but you never know what my guests might want to do since who I travel with changes!

 

[Nappy1380]

It's a holiday weekend and also schools in the NE are on midwinter break as well. Be on the lookout for blindingly pale people who you might see later in the week that end up being a nice shade of red!

 

[TinkB278]

I got a notice from TP that they had updated their crowd calendar on June 4 at EPCOT from a 3 to a 7. I certainly wasn't expecting it to stay low, but that was a pretty big jump. That's our arrival day and we're heading to AK. The other days haven't jumped much yet, but I'm expecting to see it as the time gets closer.

Wow! I wonder why they increased it so much? Scared of what things will be like on our May trip.

 

[HerRoyalHighness]

Wow! I wonder why they increased it so much? Scared of what things will be like on our May trip.

I received all those too. Our entire stay went up. I'm having a sneaking suspicion...wasn't the rumor perhaps May for the Guardian's ride?

 

[Doingitagain]

I got a notice from TP that they had updated their crowd calendar on June 4 at EPCOT from a 3 to a 7. I certainly wasn't expecting it to stay low, but that was a pretty big jump. That's our arrival day and we're heading to AK. The other days haven't jumped much yet, but I'm expecting to see it as the time gets closer.

Ours went up as well, some 5 to 7 and 3 to 7, for end of March. Their blog said it was because crowds have been increasing, maybe delayed vacations due to Omicron.

 

[HibernationTour]

Got back from a Feb 14-17 stay, and I agree it was pretty darn busy. I've seen some folks on FB saying it could be surges of UK travelers, since they couldn't visit for a while and that's where the pent up demand is coming from. Idk if that's true, or how to tell, but man the lines at the British Airways bag check at the airport were insane when we were leaving.

 

[SMF_mom23]

I received all those too. Our entire stay went up. I'm having a sneaking suspicion...wasn't the rumor perhaps May for the Guardian's ride?

That's a good point and could very well be so. I checked the other days that week and didn't think any was particularly high, then I saw this for Tuesday June 7:


They drop down to a 4 on Thursday the 9th. The other days are primarily 5/6 or so, including our day to visit, Wednesday the 8th, at a 6.

Gay Days are during that time period, but they're at EPCOT on the 5th with a crowd level 4. Special Olympics are going on around then, so maybe there is something in that schedule that is influencing TP's predictions?

 

[Doingitagain]

I don't think Touring Plans has inside information on the Guardian's ride. If anything, I would look at Disney daily pricing for days to see when they expect crowds, since they theoretically know more.

It seems Touring Plans does do more of their predicting looking backward rather than forward. Here is their blog for the update: Disney World Crowd Calendar Update For February 2022 – TouringPlans.com Blog

 

[AGP]

We’re here now and not only has it been crowded, When we hopped to Hollywood Studios after visiting MK, all the Genie+ rides for selection were gone! It’s ridiculous that they advertise you can use it in other parks but don’t tell you the rides may not be available due to crowds! Don’t get your hopes up if you’re looking to score some amazing rides after hopping! That was our experience with G+ this weekend. YMMVT!!

I completely agree. I just used G+ yesterday for the first time and it was aweful. We got 2 rides from genie + at HS- slinky dog at 7am. Then when 11am came around, all we could get was star tours at 3:30pm. By the 11am time that was the only ride left basically. There were still shows, but no more rides. What a rip off. At least with fast pass + you got 3 rides! I just did my 7am pick for MK today and my kids wanted splash first so earliest I could get is 11am. And I am watching the tip board and see Thunder is already at 8 pm and HM & pirates are at 3pm… so by 11 when we can make pick 2, there will be nothing decent left. So terrible. And the standby lines are terrible .. so slow…

 

[TinkB278]

They are going to have to make some changes to lightning lanes soon right? Getting two rides per day does not seem right at all.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Pent-up demand.
Guests rebooking postponed trips, including international travelers.
US residents are favoring domestic travel - reluctance to go on cruises or travel internationally due to COVID-related restrictions.

 

[JenboJambo]

They are going to have to make some changes to lightning lanes soon right? Getting two rides per day does not seem right at all.

Agreed! But I doubt they’ll make changes so long as guests are still buying it…..
Haven’t used genie + yet, but planning on it during spring break. Seems more stressful than fast pass…. At least with fast pass it was free so if I didn’t get my ride it was like… meh, oh well….

 

[HerRoyalHighness]

I don't think Touring Plans has inside information on the Guardian's ride. If anything, I would look at Disney daily pricing for days to see when they expect crowds, since they theoretically know more.

It seems Touring Plans does do more of their predicting looking backward rather than forward. Here is their blog for the update: Disney World Crowd Calendar Update For February 2022 – TouringPlans.com Blog

maybe...but they just announced it's opening memorial day weekend. Well, kind of announced. Disney tweeted and deleted.