We're here and it's crazy!!!

[annie1995]

Oh well, we'll just have to try another month..........

Try early to mid september! We were there during the free dining promotion and it really wasn't to bad.

 

[disneygirlatheart]

Ok Now you all have me so worried. We are going in July. 110 minutes wait time I can not imagine. I suppose it will be even worse in July!! It sounds as if we wont be able to see all we want to see for waiting in lines. Any tips etc would be great. I know July is horrible only time we can go. I am sorry you didnt have the wonderful trip you had planned. Maybe next time.

 

[Magickndm]

I'll probably get flamed here - putting suit on now - but Disney should limit fast passes to guests who stay on property only!!

So what about locals who don't usually stay over night?

 

[byoung]

I'm sitting here at home not and it's not crowded. I stay away from the crowded times.

 

[eeyore45]

This is like having the goverment print more money during a recession.

I agree... and my poor brain... I was also upset that FP were gone by noon last Oct, and trying to think of a better way that would benifet me - so I realized better leave well enough alone!!

I already know people try to use those darn FP past their "expiration" time, because its touted as a way to hold on to more than one FP at a time - and when people are denied at Soarin getting into the FP lane with an expired FP time - they are SHOCKED - and argue - but are told, about the 'theory' of FP is dependent on returning during the FP return time, not before that time, not after that time - or FP will not work -

and can you imagine, some use their FP DAYS after expiration - and some CM's allow it!! No wonder there is a sense of "entitlement" out there!!

 

[Mr. X]

Hopefully the crowds will be a little smaller come next week. I'm headed down on 4/1 thru 4/8. It's near the end of Spring Break and it's the week before Easter, so maybe I'll catch a break.....

 

[disgal1]

our spring break here starts the week before Easter, and another county is the week after Easter.
Spring breaks start as early as Feb for some colleges and as late as the week after Easter for some high schools.

Our friends went down the week of Feb 27-mar 4 and said they virtually walked on to every ride. No lines or crowds.

My mother in law goes last week of Jan or first week of Feb and again no crowds. The weather can be iffy then though, you have to be prepared for some possible cold temps.

Sept was my favorite time when I lived down there, of course it is hurricane season, but the thing with hurricanes is usually it is only a 1 day problem. But if that day is the day you are flying in or out......well, that could be a mess.

 

[JustEngagedNicole]

I am going on my honeymoon to disney Dec. 18-Jan. 1st. I know that the crowds are going to be pretty bad (I was in the MK last new years eve and yikes!) but it is the only time my fiance can take time off of work. I am teaching so I can be more flexible. Oh well, we have 14 days to soak up all we can - I think, crowds and all, it will be perfect!

 

[Mamu]

Been there during this time of year, actually been there for Easter and I think I would rather be at that crazy place, then the crazy place I'm at now. HOME!

 

[Leota]

I'm with you Mamu. I went last year during a Spring Break Week. Crowded? Yep. But if you use your head, you can still experience alot of attractions without long waits.

I'm going next week & I know it's going to be packed. But I don't care. I'll be in WDW, in the Sunshine & it'll be Magical - just lots of people sharing the Magic with me!

 

[dustysky]

So what about locals who don't usually stay over night?

No kidding, or those who just cant afford or don't want to WAIST that kind of money....

What's next? No one with blue eyes can eat in the park because they take up to much room in the good restaurants?


Not much upsets me but being refer to as less important or worthy because of where I CHOOSE to sleep just ticks me!

Just one more "acceptable" form of prejudice.

 

[poohmomof3]

We've always been lucky enough to avoid the crowded times. However, my SIL went over 4th of July for 10 days and said it was HOT HOT HOT and crowded. They couldn't even fit on a bus July 4th to get to the parks or the fireworks (lines, lines, lines for the WDW buses), so they rested at the resort. Too bad, because that's why they wanted to go then.

You really do have to plan during those peak times, and wonder if the lines are worth it for little ones.

 

[PamNC]

I'm sitting in my unit at Saratoga Springs, and I cannot believe how crazy the parks have been this week. Fast passes for Soaring and Test Track were gone around noon time. Felt bad for the attendant at Soaring - people were really upset at the lack of fastpasses, and the wait time for the standby line was 110 minutes!! Yikes...

I'll probably get flamed here - putting suit on now - but Disney should limit fast passes to guests who stay on property only!! This would alleviate some of the frustration. Yesterday at Animal Kingdom, it took over 15 minutes to get through the gate, used a fast pass for Everest, and when we got off at 11:00am, passes were gone for the day

So, I'm starting to believe there is
NO slow time in the parks anymore. We've come end of August, October, April, January,May, December, and now MArch, and it's still lines, lines, lines....it's just exhausting spending 5-6 hours in a park and do very little for rides/attractions...

My DH and I have always said that fastpass should be limited to folks staying on property. What an incentive! Locals get to go all the time. And, like you said, it's frustrating when the passes are gone by 11:00 a.m. or noon. However, I must say you're there during a busy time right now. A CM told us once that after President's Day through Easter is the busiest time next to Christmas week.

PamNC

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Sorry you feel that way but I disagree. Truthfully its cheaper to go to USO (they're not as big as Disney) You can get a power pass for $120 a yearly pass with some blackout days but mostly around the busiest times of the year. With a regular AP you can get great discounts on the room for $60 more a pass. I got Royal Pacific for $129 a night(sleeps up to 5) cheaper than a moderate at Disney. Don't get me wrong I love Disney. We go about 5-6 times a year. My opinion Universal offers FOTL to attract people to their resorts and theme parks. Went for the first time in July never waited more than 10 mins for any ride.

I love Disney, but I loved the fact when we went to Universal, IOA that we purchased front of the line passes. We zipped around at our own pace and got on every single ride that we wanted to get on, it was awesome!! I know that US has it when you stay at their resort you get front of the line passes, but if you are staying offsite you can purchase the passes in addition to your ticket.

 

[Hedy]

Sorry, I think the limited fastpass thing is a bad idea (competing with a bad idea from Universal?). If you want to avoid crows during Spring Break, you have to get yourself out there early.

 

[DisneyShack]

I am going on my honeymoon to disney Dec. 18-Jan. 1st. I know that the crowds are going to be pretty bad (I was in the MK last new years eve and yikes!) but it is the only time my fiance can take time off of work. I am teaching so I can be more flexible. Oh well, we have 14 days to soak up all we can - I think, crowds and all, it will be perfect!

Congratulations...It will be crowded but 14 days will be plenty of time to see it all at a leisurely pace.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I'm sitting in my unit at Saratoga Springs, and I cannot believe how crazy the parks have been this week. Fast passes for Soaring and Test Track were gone around noon time. Felt bad for the attendant at Soaring - people were really upset at the lack of fastpasses, and the wait time for the standby line was 110 minutes!! Yikes...

I'll probably get flamed here - putting suit on now - but Disney should limit fast passes to guests who stay on property only!! This would alleviate some of the frustration. Yesterday at Animal Kingdom, it took over 15 minutes to get through the gate, used a fast pass for Everest, and when we got off at 11:00am, passes were gone for the day

So, I'm starting to believe there is
NO slow time in the parks anymore. We've come end of August, October, April, January,May, December, and now MArch, and it's still lines, lines, lines....it's just exhausting spending 5-6 hours in a park and do very little for rides/attractions...

Toby, you won't get flamed by me for stating your opinion. ITA!! With so many more people traveling post 9/11 the parks and resorts will only get more crowded. Thank goodness we enjoy spending a lot of time at our resort because I couldn't handle the wait times for rides.

Have a great time on your vacation!

 

[chrome64]

If this ever came to be they would have to expire as a black market on ebay for left over passes would popup over night.

I haven't read all of the other responses yet because I really want to share some information about this.

In October of last year, DH and I toured the DVC resorts since we were getting ready to buy. Our Sales guy gave us some VIP fastpasses. They were just plastic cards that were coded to give so many fastpasses. And these were instant fastpasses meaning, no wait time. They were set to expire after 3 days so, we were only able to use the during the first three days of our trip. But, for those three days, we used VIP fastpasses and walked right onto the biggest rides!

They worked just like the park tickets, we would go to the Fastpass distribution and insert one of the VIP passes and the fastpass machine would spit out a fast pass with a return time of right then!!

Great invention and they could easily do that for the resort guests during their stay!

Of course, it doesn't hurt to go tour DVC either! If you are interested in checking out the DVC resorts and would like to see if you can get some VIP fastpasses (no promises) on your next trip, send me a PM and I can refer you to our DVC sales rep.

 

[DVC Sadie]

ITA! I go every 4th of July because I love fireworks and nobody does them better than WDW but I am an adult and know how bad the crowds will be so I'm prepared. It isn't worth going if I had little ones during the busiest times of the year. There are so many times of the year to visit that have virtually no lines that I wouldn't subject little ones to going peak times.

 

[chrome64]

So what about locals who don't usually stay over night?

That's easy, Disney appriciates their local fans! They could give so many fast passes to each Florida resident that has an annual pass each year. Yes that does single out people who don't have annual passes but, I'm betting that if you live close enough to come often and don't need a hotel that you probably have an annual pass.

I would guess and say that the average family stays for about 7 days on a trip to the World. If they gave 2 fastpasses per person per day, that would be 14 fastpasses total. They could make this as an extra incentive to purchase the annual pass (which they loose money on BTW if you use it alot)! So, let's say they give something like 20 fastpasses a year to florida passholders.

It will be impossible for them to ever do anything that will make everyone happy. Some people now think that FPs should be for resort guest only, others would be outraged if it changed to resort guest only. Me, I'm just happy to be in Disney when I am lucky enough to be there!

These are just suggestions of how it could work, please don't hurt me!