What is the solution to insane crowds & wait times???

[Jonfw2]

In my opinion, there are only three things that would truly reduce Disney crowds and wait times:

1. A massive downturn in the economy.

2. Even HIGHER prices at the resort.

3. A legitimate full sized fifth gate.

What else do you think could actually help?

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Do like me, vote with your wallet, stop going. Last week was the last straw for me. I'm not going back for a long while. I've seen worse crowds at Disney (Easter and Christmas in 2019) but I still managed to have a fantastic time back then.

This time Genie+ was nearly worthless, the food was terrible (I got food poisoning too!), garbage merchandise in the shops, maintenance was terrible, so much dirt and trash everywhere. Very little street life, random entertaining things.

The best meal I had last week was at Gloria Estefan's new restaurant Estefan Kitchen at the Margaritaville Resort in Orlando. The best tourist attraction? De Leon Springs State Park near De Land. Beautiful springs, lovely grounds, fun all you can eat pancake restaurant was the concessionaire.

My next trip to Florida in November 2022 will be Universal only.

In February 2023, I'm skipping WDW and DL altogether and probably just going to go to Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari.

And then for spring break in April 2023, we always go to Florida, but this time I'm going to Legoland, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Gatorland, airboat tours, state parks, beaches. Anything but Disney.

 

[mom2rtk]

In my opinion, there are only three things that would truly reduce Disney crowds and wait times:

1. A massive downturn in the economy.

2. Even HIGHER prices at the resort.

3. A legitimate full sized fifth gate.

What else do you think could actually help?

Disney has a park reservation system. How about they set the max number at a point where they can adequately serve those guests.

 

[Jennasis]

I dont know why people keep insisting a 5th gate will improve crowds?? All it will do is entice more people and the crowds will remain.

 

[KittyKitty]

Don't have another Pandemic.

 

[kwhite1022]

We wont be going back for awhile, and Im ok with that. Disney has a maintenance issue that I don't hear being expressed enough. I have been enough times to know that the fact that we had break downs on all the of following rides, spells trouble: Test track, spaceship earth, ROTR 3x that day, Splash Mountain 2x that day, People Mover, Carousal of progress, and Haunted Mansion. I have to wonder if when the parks were "shut down" and some of these older rides actually "sat" for extended periods of time, caused the issues creeping up now. For what it costs for a trip, I should not expect to get stuck on multiple rides, or never get to ride the ride (looking at you ROTR/ splash)

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Mass extinction would work.

But seriously, if you want smaller crowds at the parks, double the admission prices. A lot of people will skip WDW if it costs around three bills a day per guest.

 

[DeeBee3]

We wont be going back for awhile, and Im ok with that. Disney has a maintenance issue that I don't hear being expressed enough. I have been enough times to know that the fact that we had break downs on all the of following rides, spells trouble: Test track, spaceship earth, ROTR 3x that day, Splash Mountain 2x that day, People Mover, Carousal of progress, and Haunted Mansion. I have to wonder if when the parks were "shut down" and some of these older rides actually "sat" for extended periods of time, caused the issues creeping up now. For what it costs for a trip, I should not expect to get stuck on multiple rides, or never get to ride the ride (looking at you ROTR/ splash)

Agree! I haven't been as many times as some of the DIS community, but enough to know that something isn't right. Just the amount of time it took to get the PeopleMover going was odd to me. There was always a ride down when we were just there, and I never experienced that before unless it was weather-related.

Kinda makes me wonder if everything is safe. Except I went on the rides...oops

 

[Brocktoon]

I'd stick with (1) and (2), but drop the 5th gate. To me it's simple economics ... we'll need a recession along with Disney continuing to raise prices everywhere. Reducing offerings or adding capacity will do nothing to stem the tide. Basically everyone has a price-point where enough is enough ... Surprisingly we still haven't found that price yet

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If the guests stop coming. there's any number of reasons why they might stop coming. Even higher prices would be one. Encroaching recession and inflation might be another. Disney is making hay while the sun shines, can't really blame them

 

[nicknamy1996]

Mass extinction would work.

Where is Thanos when you need him?

 

[lockets]

The free fastpass gave ALL guests the ability to be spread out throughout the day (and on the staffing side allowed Disney to have a sense of which park and where people would be within the park without a reservations system.)

Given that G+ costs money, it’s used by considerably less people and those that do not pay are relegated to standby.

For those that do use G+ many of the rides (at HS for example) that they’d want are already taken by late morning so they can’t effectively use it on three rides (or more) all the time like fastpass enabled people to do.

Without a means, or a plan that spreads out all guests, they’ve effectively created gluts and bottlenecks.

Not sure if this will ever go away unless the system to reserve rides, or a strategy to control the flow of people once in the parks is re-worked?

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Less APs. Sorry but true. Perhaps that is their plan.

 

[Smugpugmug]

The free fastpass gave ALL guests the ability to be spread out throughout the day (and on the staffing side allowed Disney to have a sense of which park and where people would be within the park without a reservations system.)

Given that G+ costs money, it’s used by considerably less people and those that do not pay are relegated to standby.

For those that do use G+ many of the rides (at HS for example) that they’d want are already taken by late morning so they can’t effectively use it on three rides (or more) all the time like fastpass enabled people to do.

Without a means, or a plan that spreads out all guests, they’ve effectively created gluts and bottlenecks.

Not sure if this will ever go away unless the system to reserve rides, or a strategy to control the flow of people once in the parks is re-worked?

These bottlenecks existed even when Fastpass+ was a thing though? Fastpass+ made the standby waits REALLY bad, especially in the afternoons. But at least it was free and everyone was able to schedule 3 beforehand despite the system very clearly favoring onsite visitors. I really do think that Disney needs to start charging more for Genie+ (I'm talking maybe $50 per day) if they want it to be a better system for users and to have a better balance between standby and FP, kind of like at Universal.

As for answering OP's question, Disney would have to double ticket prices and reduce the amount of AP holders, which I really do think Disney is trying to do. Chapek has said in the past that APs are "less desirable" customers because they spend less money than vacationers and striping away perks that were previously included (Photopass and water parks) is a good way to start weeding them out

 

[summerlyangel]

1) Bring back the entertainment. Some big shows are still missing. Parades in every park. I love the one that used to be at Animal Kingdom!
2) Extend hours. On trips up through 2015, MK would regularly open at 8 and close at midnight. Why is Epcot only open from 9-9? Hollywood Studios has the current most popular ride and it's only open until 9, too?
3) They need some people eaters at the other parks. Pirates, IASW, HM, Spaceship Earth type rides. They last a while, load quickly, and are for everyone. Everything they have build in recent years has been new, exciting, prone to breakage, and not big enough for the crowds they have.
4) Dining is extremely popular with so many folks! It's hard to get reservations at so many places and impossible at the really popular ones. Why not give people MORE dining options? More restaurants, more bars. It would absorb some crowds that would otherwise be waiting in line.
5) Bring back benches and covered seating areas. I don't know about y'all, but I love finding a spot in the late afternoons to just sit, snack/drink, and people watch. It helps to recharge and that's an hour or 2 that I'm not trying to get on rides. How many people would sit out and wait for family members if there was a place to wait comfortably? I'm in my late 40s now and will happily let my teens ride something while I wait for them IF there is a spot to wait. Otherwise, I might as well get in the line and ride as well.

 

[revdon64]

In my opinion, there are only three things that would truly reduce Disney crowds and wait times:

1. A massive downturn in the economy.

2. Even HIGHER prices at the resort.

3. A legitimate full sized fifth gate.

What else do you think could actually help?

I think it's some combination of those things and the fact that Disney is disenfranchising so many of their loyal long-time guests. The crowds right now are the response to pent-up travel frustrations. There's a cliff coming and Disney is likely to drive right off of it.

 

[Vohdre]

While it would be terrible the most direct way they could reduce crowds is reduce the number of available park passes for every park every day down to a level where none of them feel crowded. Of course this would never happen because they are making money hand over fist by jamming more people into the parks who are willing to pay for a crowded experience.

 

[stinkpickle]

Higher prices don't seem to do much. It will take an economic crash, terrorist attack, or pandemic.

 

[legler2250]

I can recall the scene from Empire Strikes Back when Yoda is admonishing Luke saying, "Patience!" The only coping strategy I have been able to employ these last few trips is taking the time to enjoy everything about the Resorts and Parks that other people take little interest in. For example I was with my girlfriend this last trip spending time in the garden area in England. We had a few beers purchased from the Rose&Crown, returned to the bench in the gardens, watched Marry Poppins greet some guests, and enjoyed the beautiful uncrowded scenery and had a great conversation.

 

[wilkydelts]

Less APs. Sorry but true. Perhaps that is their plan.

You really think APs are the problem? Have you ever talked to an AP holder most are only in the park for a couple hours at a time and barely try to maximize rides.