Whos' just back????

[disneyjulie]

just wanted your thoughts on the crowds?? We found if we got out early we could get alot done. We were at MK on the 30th and did SM, Buzz, Stitch, Philmg, Pooh, SW and Peter Pan before 12.

 

[JenLynn]

We are just back (6/23 to 7/2). We didn't get extremely early starts but got lots done by managing fast passes well. Also, the afternoon rains minimized crowds in some areas.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

We went up for the day on Saturday and we were prepared for it to be super crowded, but it wasn't too bad. I was shocked when we had been able to get a PS for dinner at Epcot just a few days beforehand, and that should have been my first clue! Anyway, we were also shocked when we pulled into the parking lot at Epcot and it was half empty. There were 75 minute waits for both Soarin and Test Track, but everything else we pretty much walked on or had a minimal wait. After the fireworks at Epcot though, we took the monorail to MK and it looked like it had been mobbed there. People were starting to file out after the fireworks there so we were still able to walk on BTMRR and Buzz, etc. (everything but Space Mountain) but the park itself looked worn and people looked like they had been through the ringer!

 

[zdad]

We were @ WDW 19-27 June. Crowds were large, but with good FastPass management and avoiding EMH's it's fine. Only long line we stood in all week was for our 1st Soarin' ride, and it was well worth it. Many other rides, we wlaked right on. Had a backpack full of FastPasses after the first couple of days, and lived on those.

A key tip to using FP.....when you get one, always check the stub for the time you can get another. We always got another as soon as the time window opened up. After day two, we never had fewer than 3 usable FPs in our backpack. Worked very well for riding the most popular rides with no wait.

 

[mrouch]

We just got back on 7/1 and we seemed to get a lot done by noon also. Avoiding the early EMH really worked for us. The crowds were at the park with EMH and we got to a different park @ opening time. At MK we rode all 3 mountains within 45 minutes!

 

[OhMickey]

We just returned on Saturday from a 10 day stay. I agree - go early.

In MK we rode the mountains, Buzz, Pirates, Peter Pan and Haunted Mansion all before noon.

In Epcot we were able to ride Mission Space (3X), Test Track, and Soarin (2x) before leaving at 1 pm.

At AK we rode the safari, ITTBAB, Dinosaur, Triceratops Spin and the rollercoaster all before 1 pm. We also had breakfast at Donalds during this time.

In MGM we rode the RNR (2X) and TOT before 10 am!!!

We took a break every afternoon and returned to the parks around 5 pm. But most of our riding was done in the morning. The crowds were definitely manageable - the heat was a different story!

As a side note, it is so helpful that my DH doesn't ride much. He is our official FP runner. We would ride and he would take our APs to get another pass. This allowed us to do more that the average visitor. For example, in Epcot my kids and I would go to MS and ride while DH got FPs for Soarin. Then, we would ride MS (again) and Test Track while he got another FP for Soarin. We would meet him at Soarin and get to ride it 2X - virtually back to back. Sometimes we would have to wait, but not often.

But the biggest hint - was given by zdad. Always get another FP when your current FP says you can!

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We just got back on the 1st. We were there from the 25th to the 1st. MGM was crowded on the 26th for the last Star Wars Weekend. We were still able to do lots of things. As for during the week, I expected it to be more crowded than what it was. It rained a few days in the afternoon. People just put on the ponchos and continued their day. Years ago when it rained it would empty out the parks, not anymore. We had a great time!

 

[danny1649]

For sharing

 

[PixiePop]

I just returned as well and found if you got to the parks early you could get a lot done. I have never been in June before (usually go in October) and was really expecting the worst regarding crowds, heat and rain....and it was not too bad!!

Now I am trying to plan a Grand Gathering for next June.....go figure!

 

[flminivanmama]

we just got back - crowds were not as bad as I expected. go early!

here's a good tip - get a fast pass for everyone in your party even if they are not going on the ride. that way if someone wants to go right back on you can.

 

[snowy76]

We were there from the 26th to the 1st. Our longest wait was for Soarin' (at about 15-20 minutes and the line kept moving). We did one morning EMH (Epcot) and did the three big rides within the first hour and a half, riding Soarin twice and still dealing with an issue when DD bailed on Mission Space and DS went through the line a second time to ride it. We went right to WS after that. Did Epcot again the morning we left (right after evening EMH) and found the crowd very reasonable.

We did MK one morning after EMH and we've decided this will be our strategy in the future. Even with a breakdown at Space, we grabbed Fastpasses and did Fantasyland (Pooh, Snow White, Peter Pan, Small World) as well as Splash and BTMRR by 10 am. From there we used our Fastpasses to catch the other things we wanted to do, and even fit in lunch at Crystal Palace.

That night we did evening EMH at AK. We had five things on our list and we were out by 8:45. I would highly recommend this one, although I can't say I would do any other evening EMHs during the summer.

Crowd levels were great at all the parks, even MK and Epcot in the afternooons! We were even able to walk into a sit down on Friday for lunch at 12:45!

 

[Planogirl]

We're just back and found the crowds mostly manageable everywhere but MK. MGM was PACKED too but we went during the last Star Wars weekend so I'm sure that was why. AK was it's usual too crowded, too hot self. To anyone going soon, do get to Soaring and Test Track early and take advantage of EMH when you can. And make your Fantasmic PS too.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Did you notice if FP machines ran out of FP early? I read a few times that they ran out of FP for Soarin'.....


For those who came back during the evening after a break at the hotel, did you grab a FP before leaving and use it upon your return that evening=expired FP?

And for those who returned during the evening, do you get to do a couple of rides or go back for the nightime shows? If you did rides, how long were the waits, and could you still get any FP's during the evening?

Thanks!