We Just Got Back...

[lovinwdw]

We just returned from a wonderful 7 day WDW vacation on Saturday (10/7). We had a great time, enjoyed the F&W Festival & free dining, but boy oh boy were all of the parks CROWDED!!!! If anyone has any questions...ask away

 

[Mbg98]

Do you think it was crowded from the F&W Festival or because of YOAMD promotion?

 

[lersxst]

wow! was it really that crowded? I planned my vacation for the end of October under the impression that this was a low-crowd month but from your comment it might not be that way. Can you be more specific? What were average wait times for popular attractions?
thanks.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

We just returned from a wonderful 7 day WDW vacation on Saturday (10/7). We had a great time, enjoyed the F&W Festival & free dining, but boy oh boy were all of the parks CROWDED!!!! If anyone has any questions...ask away

See I was there Sept 28-Oct 5th and thought the park was empty!!!! I guess it all depends on what you're used to.
ON Epcot EMH there were hardly any lines, and on MNSSHP every flume was going down Splash Mountain empty, literally! We rode Big thunder 4 times in a row and didn't even have to GET OFF the ride to get back on line.
Why do you think it was so crowded???

 

[ADP]

that was the last week of the free dining promotion, plus you had some folks who were taking an extended Columbus day break at the World.

 

[shyjade]

I took this picture at Epcot on Wednesday 9/27 around 3pm...tell me it wasn't empty that week!!! And the standby line for Soarin' that afternoon was 10-15 minutes!

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I took this picture at Epcot on Wednesday 9/27 around 3pm...tell me it wasn't empty that week!!! And the standby line for Soarin' that afternoon was 10-15 minutes!

See that! I knew I wasnt' going crazy!
Hey did it finally rain that day, looks like the ground is wet??? We were there 8 days with not even a drop. Not that I'm complaining!!

 

[shyjade]

Not a single drop! We arrived that morning (9/27) and left the night of 9/30. Never had a drop of rain while we were there (and I was so prepared with ponchos & umbrellas). It was so comfortable that day (the 27th) when it was overcast...didn't even work up a sweat. But by the next afternoon it was HOT HOT HOT!!!

 

[Mickey1122]

We have gotten extremely lucky. Since May 2005, there has been maybe one hour of rain while we were in Disney. (five trips)

 

[wiggles02]

It was really that empty that day 9/27! We went on the Undiscovered Future World Tour and even our guide commented on how quiet the park was. It was overcast in the am, but it was nice while on the tour because we did so much walking. We saw people walking Mission Space when we went behind the stage, no wait. We went to Magic Kingdom the next day and it was a little busier, but we didn't wait for anything. The weather was perfect!

 

[Shiftgreen]

Thats weird we just got back last week, everyday was sunny and mid 80's, every park we went to, TL,MK, and IOA were PACKED. Splash mountain had a 40 minute wait when we went on it, but that was partly b/c POC went down for about an hr. The first time I have been on it since Jack Sparrow was introduced, it broke down on us. All the lights were on, and there were no sound, I closed my eyes the whole time through so it wouldnt give anything away, my wife didnt, we went back on when it was all fiixxed and it was working perfect.

 

[lovinwdw]

Do you think it was crowded from the F&W Festival or because of YOAMD promotion?

I think it was a mixture of the 2. On Saturday night you couldn't even walk around Epcot (WS). it was so crowded! Then, the next few days, we attempted to do MK and it was just too crowded to stand. we went back to MK on Wednesday and it was a lot better.

 

[lovinwdw]

that was the last week of the free dining promotion, plus you had some folks who were taking an extended Columbus day break at the World.

That had a lot to do with it too. we noticed that on Friday night the parks were completely packed! 70 minute wait for Soarin'!!!

 

[lovinwdw]

wow! was it really that crowded? I planned my vacation for the end of October under the impression that this was a low-crowd month but from your comment it might not be that way. Can you be more specific? What were average wait times for popular attractions?
thanks.

Soarin' was a 70 minute wait on Saturday (9/30) and Friday (10/6)
Expedition Everest had a 60 minute wait on Thursday (10/5).
we're used to going the 2nd week in September when there are absolutely no lines for anything. So, this was a shock for us. we think we're going to try the first week in December the next time we go.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

We also just got back last night after 8 nights at the WL. We thought the parks were empty. There were no waits for any rides on the night we went to MNSSHP. I really think it is what day you decide to go to what park.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

My whole childhood everytime we went to DW we'd go in July or August because that's when my father had off. Now, going in Sept & Oct, there is a HUGE difference. My friends that came with us this past trip couldn't believe that they had walking room and they both said they NEVER saw the park so un-crowded. I guess it's all when you're used to going. I remember going in July years ago and you couldn't even walk 2 feet in front of you without stepping on someone. Another time that I noticed was quite 'empty' was beginning of May.
On Oct 2nd, we went to MNSSHP and while the parade was going on there was about 10 (I counted) EMPTY flumes going down on Splash Mountain. That's when we decided to hit Big Thunder and like I said we got to sit in the last car 4 times in a row without gettting up!!!
Then we went through Toon Town and we rode Barnstormer another 4 times in a row without moving. It was so cool!

 

[katebeth]

Now we were used to going in Sept. so we thought that is was more crowded then we were used too. The parks were very full, BUT the waits for most rides were not bad at all.

We were at the WL...thought it was pretty crowded...roaring forks was pretty packed at meal times and the pool was crowded every day.

I think it was a combination of the end of free dining, Food and Wine, MNNSHP and Fall break for many schools

 

[ms.ojo]

I think it really depends on what parks on which days. We were also there 9/30 to 10/7. We had a WONDERFUL start to the trip. Great weather all week. No rain at all. Partly cloudy so it wasn't too hot. Every park was walk on for most rides all day. It was just perfect!!!

UNTIL, we went to AK on Friday. What a mistake. Crowds were HUGE and the temps in the 90's and just oppressive. It was a late night EMH and we didn't bother to stay and take advantage of it, it was just too miserable in the afternoon. We all decided the time would be better spent at the hotel pool. I had warned my family it might be crowded due to evening EMH (we usually avoid those) it was just horrible. FPs for Everest were all used up by shortly after 11am!

Our last day was Sat. Originally I planned for us to be at AK that day, but we felt we wanted to have MK as our final taste of this Disney trip. BIG MISTAKE! The park had closed early the last 2 nights for the MNSSHP. It was planned to be open til midnight that night. We thought we could enjoy the morning and be out by lunchtime and avoid the crowds. WRONG WRONG WRONG. It was crowded from the start. We raced to Space Mtn w/ everyone else and had a 20min wait just to get past the first measuring person outside. They were measuring anyone who was even remotely close to the limit. Fortunately a CM was walking the line and handed us our parent swap pass so dh and dd could race to Fantasyland. They had a short wait for Dumbo and were just coming off Pooh as we approached from having ridden Space Mtn. Peter Pan's line was over 30mins so we grabbed a FP and rode Snow White. The place was just packed w/ people so quickly, and again...a VERY hot in the 90's day! We made good use of FP and parent swap passes we had accumulated that morning and a few days previous. But all were in agreement to bail on the park shortly after noon. We just hung around the hotel pool and play area, ate in the Foodcourt, and shopped until our p/u at 5:30pm.

The day just dragged and was so hot. It really put a damper on what was otherwise a spectacular trip w/ a lot of special CM moments and even a Disney Dream FP for our family!!!!

Bottom line, we will NEVER do MK on a Sat, even if it is just a "clean up day" for a few rides. ESPECIALLY after 2 special park events and early closings. Can you say dumb???!!! Yep, we were. Fortunately Wed at MK was empty and we did a lot of rides early on the MNSSHP Thursday night too so we really were all set for MK. Just should NEVER have gone on Sat. have I said that enough????

As for AK....I think it is a VERY hot park, poor airflow and on a hot day it is brutal. The crowds were up for the holiday weekend and evening EMH. DUMb DUMB DUMB. But again...earlier in the week we made better park choices and never noticed the crowds. It was a wonderful week!

 

[lovinpoohbear]

Thought the same. CROWDED!!! 9/27 and 9/28 were great but after that VERY crowded and HOT!! We went last september same week and didn;t find it crowded at all but this year w/ Food and wine fest, MNSSHP and Yom Kippur -some days were more packed then this past april easter week. I kid you not. In april I could deal w/crowds since it was in the low 80's/low humidity but with this heat, it was harder to tour the parks as the kids were cranky! (they only wanted to swim at the pool at Pop!!!)

 

[kidsgobears]

We also just got back last night after 8 nights at the WL. We thought the parks were empty. There were no waits for any rides on the night we went to MNSSHP. I really think it is what day you decide to go to what park.

Do you mind if I ask how you picked which park you were going to on which day? Did you use TGM, UG, combination of the two, or something else (intuition)?