What's going on with Crowds???

[mickeysgirl17]

It seems as if there is no more value slow season anymore. I think that now, everyone is getting smarter about when to go to WDW. I chose to go early December this year, but apparently, it won't be as slow as it used to be. People are starting to catch on and I fear that it will always be crowded even in value season. I was thinking of going mid January next year (2008), but I'm just not sure it will make a difference when I go.

 

[TastefullyChris]

I have been there a few times at supposedly "slow" times...8 years ago in January, 3 years ago in January and this year in late April/early May. Both the January trips I felt were as crowded as when I was a kid and went in June when school was out! This year's trip in late spring was also crowded, but Fast-pass really makes a difference! I don't mind a little more foot-traffic if I don't have to stand in line for everything! Also, I am a night owl, so the late nights at each park were a blast. So, to answer your question, yes. I think Disney is getting more and more crowded. However, they are coming up with more and more options to manage crowds. And, I don't think I will ever test it out during Spring Break, July 4th or Christmas Break! Those will always be MAJOR PEAK times!

 

[MickeyMaz]

Mickeygirl, I am cancelling my trip right now. I had heard that early December would be not as crowded. But as you pointed out the parks are just not big enough anymore.

Sorry 'bout that and accept my apology. Aside, "Kids, un-pack the bags, it's off to the Poconos again this year."

Touring plans listed 12/9 as the worst but 12/11 and 12/12 as the best. The other days are still going to be 4 or 5's out of 10.

Good Luck and can you please move over a little, I am trying to get out of the Monorail.

Maz

Of course all tongue in cheek.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Disney is making sure that they capture a crowd at all times of the year .

I only hope that if it continues to be crowded on Off-peak times they start to extend the park hours.

Aug/Sept Free dining
Sept/Oct MNSSHP
Nov/Dec MVMCP and holiday stuff
Jan/Feb Pirates and Princesses


It just keeps going so there's something for everyone.

 

[SusanDK]

Does anyone else think that WDW really needs to add another park? What are the chances of that happening in the next decade?

When a new park is announced, how long from the time it is announced until it is open? I don't remember when MGM or AK were opened, the amount of time between concept and opening day.

Does anyone know if there are even any potential new park concepts on the table right now?

Susan

 

[imatoad]

We were just there in Oct. and going back in Nov., and it's funny that now as we are all older we don't mind the crowd's as much. We find ourselves hitting our favorite attractions but now more enjoy our resort and dinner every night at a great restaurant (we use the dining plan). Granted we don't have kid's, so we can go to the parks without going on many rides. It's just sooo nice to get away to Disney and escape reality for a few days.

 

[simzac]

I still believe there are only 2 seasons at WDW now, busy season and very busy season. You have 2 options, go to WDW and deal with the crowds, or not go. The 2nd option doesn't fit my plans, so our family will deal with the crowds and have a great time. JMO

 

[flortlebap]

Does anyone else think that WDW really needs to add another park? What are the chances of that happening in the next decade?

When a new park is announced, how long from the time it is announced until it is open? I don't remember when MGM or AK were opened, the amount of time between concept and opening day.

Does anyone know if there are even any potential new park concepts on the table right now?

Susan

I think it was 4 years from when AK was announced to when it opened?

And nope, no plans for any more parks as of yet.

 

[noodleknitter]

We always go the last week of January/first week of Feb., and it is pleasant. FWIW.

 

[dizchick]

I just got back last night and there were very few crowds during the beginning of our trip. We went to Epcot on 11/1 (Wednesday) and AK on 11/2 (Thursday) and waited in very, very short lines. The line for EE was only about 20 mins and we walked on to everything else, including Soarin and Test Track at Epcot. I used Tour Guide Mike's recommendations for the best days to visit each park. However, I did not follow his touring plans at each park...we didn't show up most days until around 11:30AM.

But, on Sunday, we went to MK and it was extremely crowded...a huge difference from the other parks. The lines were long for everything like Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain. TGM recommended not going this past Sunday, so we should have listened. I think it may have been b/c it was the beginning of Jersey Week??

Overall though, the first week on November was a wonderful time to be there!

 

[RideMax Mark]

Last Thursday, just before 11am, here's what Test Track looked like (notice the CM on the left side of the picture just standing there waiting for guests to show up!):

 

[Frantasmic]

I too just returned from WDW. We went Fri-Sun, Nov 3-5.

We went to AK first thing Fri morning and rode Everest, the Safari, and Dinosaur in an hour. We then went to EPCOT and rode Test Track, Mission Space, and Soarin' multiple times before 3 p.m. both with and without Fast Pass. It was not crowded at all.

We made use of EMH at MGM on Saturday morning and hit the big rides there in an hour and a half and then went to MK by 11:45 a.m. There were a LOT of people at MK, but surprisingly, the lines were all under 20 minutes. We waited longer for lunch then we did for the rides. We did all 3 mountains, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Small World, Philharmagic, and most of Tomorrowland in six hours without using one fast pass. This included over an hour for lunch and over 45 minutes for my daughter shopping for something to change into after a particularly wet Splash Mountain experience.

Even Sunday morning, we got to do each of the Future World big rides twice before our noon ADR at Coral Sea.

It was one of the best trips I have every done at the World.

 

[snowbunny]

Crowds the last week of October this year were totally manageable (I think it was level 5 crowds according to the Unofficial Guide). No, the parks are no longer empty certain weeks of the year. But a 5-minute wait for most rides is completely acceptable to me.

 

[disney junky]

I still believe there are only 2 seasons at WDW now, busy season and very busy season. You have 2 options, go to WDW and deal with the crowds, or not go. The 2nd option doesn't fit my plans, so our family will deal with the crowds and have a great time. JMO

Agreed. One of the great things about the DVC is that I know I'll be back, and in the not too distant future, so it makes the crowds less frustrating for me.

 

[Lucky4me]

The first week of December has been getting busier every year since 1998, our first time there that week. If you have a game plan and time everything right, it's not so bad. The last week of January seems to be the best as far as crowds go, but the parks close early and the Christmas stuff is all down. I love Disney at Christmas, even with all the crowds.

 

[°O°Joe]

Crowds the last week of October this year were totally manageable (I think it was level 5 crowds according to the Unofficial Guide). No, the parks are no longer empty certain weeks of the year. But a 5-minute wait for most rides is completely acceptable to me.

I agree, I just got back from a 4-day weekend trip Oct 27 - 30 and most the rides were walk-on, some 5 minute waits. Never had to even use FastPass. The only FastPass I got was at Splash, but didn't need it when we returned. Weather was AWESOME. I think October is a GREAT time to go to the World.

P.S. I did notice some longer lines on some attractions, but I just avoid those when the lines are long and return later when they're not as long. This only happened on a couple different occasions (Pirates and Peter Pan to name a couple)...

 

[Fitswimmer]

One of the great things about the DVC is that I know I'll be back, and in the not too distant future, so it makes the crowds less frustrating for me.

I went on my first DVC trip this June and I couldn't believe how much that changed my attitude. I knew I would be back soon, so if a line was too long I could skip it. If it got too hot, I could go back to the pool.

I don't mind the crowds, it's part of Disney. However, even a small crowd can be made worse by rudeness. With the larger crowds, I'm hoping WDW gives the CM's more instructions to sit on bad behavior. Otherwise, there will be an impact. People who aren't Disney addicts like me will stay away if the crowds are large AND rude.

 

[jann1033]

we went in jan 04 ( got there around the 9th( ?) for 10 days)so we were there marathon and MLK weekends ( left that sunday afternoon) and i couldn't tell any difference than our last jan trip which was 7 yrs before that. still had walk ons on everything with a 15 min tops fast pass ( they were open some days, not others) in mid afternoon for rnr or tot type rides. it was very busy in mk on sat afternoon in fantasyland...but everyplace else was pretty empty
this yr we hope to go early feb so i guess i'll see but so far wouldn't consider it anyplace close to crowded in Jan...we went once in July( our first trip over 20 yrs ago) and it was packed

 

[cybrkitn]

I agree, I just got back from a 4-day weekend trip Oct 27 - 30 and most the rides were walk-on, some 5 minute waits. Never had to even use FastPass. The only FastPass I got was at Splash, but didn't need it when we returned. Weather was AWESOME. I think October is a GREAT time to go to the World.

P.S. I did notice some longer lines on some attractions, but I just avoid those when the lines are long and return later when they're not as long. This only happened on a couple different occasions (Pirates and Peter Pan to name a couple)...

Prior to this trip (10/25-11/1) I had only been to WDW during the summer months (late teens and early 20's) of course, summer is always crowded with the kids out of school. This was my first time going in the fall and the crowds weren't that bad except for two times. 1. Every time when there was a parade/fireworks and 2. When it was an EMH night and the majority of people were leaving. We did hit the F&WF on a weekday, so we avoided the locals coming in for the weekend.

Most of the rides were an average of a 20 minute wait with the exception of Space Mountain (an actual 70 minute wait time ). We did get FP's for a few rides that had a 20 minute wait like Splash Moutain and Soarin. But mostly, we waited in line and it actually moved pretty fast for us (DH, me and DS4). Overall we had a great time and DH asked me when we can we start to plan the next trip

 

[HayGan]

Quite frankly, we didn't find the first week of December to be bad at all last year. We enjoyed the low crowds so much that we are heading back the same week this year. Now most of the rides weren't walk-ons (but some were!) The most we ever waited in line was 10 minutes. I wait longer than that for so-so rides at our local amusement park!!!

Now, I went the first week of Septemeber (Labor Day) this year with my mom. We walked right on to everything - even Space & Splash Mtns and Soarin'!!!