What do you consider crowded?

[3DisneyBuggs]

The past two trips were Jersey Week And Columbus Day week. I thought both times were pretty crowded. For example we did MNSSHP and Fantasyland was wall to wall people. IS this how crowdwd it is during the summer? I was hoping to hit a slow time this year, my mom thinks the crowds are part if the Disney atmosphere. So just wondering what makes a park crowded?

 

[dcmbshafe]

Over the past several years we've been to WDW in September, October, May and during Easter. The difference in the crowd level between September and Easter was unbelievable. We consider "crowded" to be when lines for major attractions build rapidly after park opening such that there are 45+ minute waits within a couple hours. If you end up having to wait for this much time for attractions even with the most efficient planning and use of Fastpass, then it's crowded.

 

[disneyscuba]

The past two trips were Jersey Week And Columbus Day week. I thought both times were pretty crowded. For example we did MNSSHP and Fantasyland was wall to wall people. IS this how crowdwd it is during the summer? I was hoping to hit a slow time this year, my mom thinks the crowds are part if the Disney atmosphere. So just wondering what makes a park crowded?

I have been to Disney 2 times during Jersey Week and the crowds they are a lot smaller then during the summer months. I have been to disney a couple times in the summer and the crowds are big.

Don't know what year you went on Jersey week, went 2002 and 2004 and the only park that was busy then was MK. All the other parks you could walk right on to all the rides.

Later,

DisneyScuba

 

[Peteyi]

Hello,

Im leaving on Saturday and I hope its not as busy during this Jersey week as it was when we went the last week of June in 04.

Plus its Soap Star weekend in MGM on the 12th. My wife going to make me stay with her and take pictures of all the stars

 

[spot28]

I have been many times and have seen the crowds steadily build up in the past 10 years as the resorts and packages increase their draws. I don't mind crowded as long as it is manageable with fastpasses and other rides/restaurants are less than 15-20 minutes. This was our experience last October. Got fastpasses for the "e-ticket" rides and everything else not so bad. Could get food fairly easy without too much of a line, could move about the park without feeling like herded cattle. My kids are young enough that when the lines are bad in one place they enjoy just riding the train around the place.

One visit in Feb. (valentines weekend) we waited in line for the fast pass machine ! Couldn't push the stroller without bumping the person in front of you, lines for every ride, every restaurant, every toilet! We left by 1 in the afternoon.

 

[TheWog]

One visit in Feb. (valentines weekend) we waited in line for the fast pass machine ! Couldn't push the stroller without bumping the person in front of you, lines for every ride, every restaurant, every toilet! We left by 1 in the afternoon.

Now that doesn't sound like much fun to me.

 

[kilee]

To me crowded is:

FP's gone by noon for major rides.

Wait times in excess of 60 minutes for small rides and 120 minutes for larger rides.

Having to wait for 2 monorails in the middle of the day due to them being full.

When the crowds are so thick, it is pretty much impossible to move or navigate the walkways.

 

[jann1033]

to me crowded is hard to get through due to the masses of people, waits of over 1/2 an hr for minor attractions...

we usually go off season and once in Dec stayed one day into peak season and it was unbelievable, from walk on to not getting on till an hr+ later. last trip our last weekend was mlk and it was again like the clouds opened and rained down people. our first trip ever was in July but that was 20 yrs ago and i don't think the crowds in general were as bad as now. so from now on i am going in off season & makeing sure no holidays are during the trip

 

[zookeeper]

We went for our first trip towards the end of Sept. this year and I think the crowd levels then have spoiled us forever. We walked right onto almost everything and even remained on rides 3,4 even 5x in a row because there wasn't anyone waiting in line.

Unfortunately, I usually can't travel at that time of year. I'd like to go back, but can't imagine going with huge crowds. I'm a teacher so my only options are Christmas break, Spring Break and summer. I hear that once the schools in the US go back near the end of August the crowds really drop off. Is this true? I know that the heat and humidity are bad that time of year and we got a taste of it in Sept. when we went, but I think I would take the heat/humidity over waiting in lines.

Can anyone tell me about the crowd levels from the middle of August to Labour Day?

 

[Grammyof2]

I went this past August - last week leading up to labor day(left on Thursday). Very warm and humid, but the crowds were nil. Walked on to everything, but Soaring. Waited about 10 minutes for that. This was a last minute trip. We went without ADR's, but had the free dining plan. We even had breakfast at Cindy's castle, got the resvervations the night before. I usually go off season, and I would consider this time to be extremely slow. We also got to remain on rides, several times, no lines waiting. Like I said, it was very hot, but when crowds are low the heat is more managable. The CM's said it would be busy the holiday weekend, but the week leading to was GREAT!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

The past two trips were Jersey Week And Columbus Day week. I thought both times were pretty crowded. For example we did MNSSHP and Fantasyland was wall to wall people. IS this how crowdwd it is during the summer? I was hoping to hit a slow time this year, my mom thinks the crowds are part if the Disney atmosphere. So just wondering what makes a park crowded?

To me, it's crowded when I have to wait more than 20 minutes for Splash Mountain!

I'm sorry, I can't help it. We've always gone at off times (except as a teenager when we went in the summers ).

I don't know if I'm going to make it on the Fri. and Sat. after T-day!! Can't wait till the T-day crowds go away.

 

[2boyshere]

Our normal time to go is the end of August. Anywhere from 8/15 thru the Thurs before Labor day is very, very low crowds. But.........it is very, very hot and humid and rains every day. So you have to weigh what is most important to you!