Why are crowd levels so off this week?

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I wonder if this may be part of a couple of things. This is partly due to the actual attendance at the parks, which means more people. I also wonder if they are running the full capacity of all attractions. Josh from Easywdw mentioned a couple of weeks ago (Before the Peak of Spring Break) that they were only running one side of Killamajaro Safaris. This is Spring Break still and they have been making cut backs. I'm thinking they've cut capacity at some attractions to.

For us, the worst part is not the ride waits. It is the attempt to walk through the parks at some sort of normal pace without having to constantly dodge people and stop every three or four step for that double stroller parked in the middle of a walkway or that family holding hands four across and taking three seconds between lifting a foot and placing down the same foot. I honestly don't know how people walk that slowly. It is painful to walk that slowly. But when there is finally space to pass that family, when there is finally room for a single body to pass, someone else who wants to take two and a half seconds between lifting a foot and placing down that same foot jumps into that space and I am trapped again.

I can tell you that at MK, HS, and AK, the pathways were clogged last week. I would not mind if I could only ride three things per day with FP+ if I could navigate the paths at a normal pace without being rammed, blocked, or stepped on. It was not just ride capacity that was low. It was path capacity. I don't know how Disney can fix that. Maybe create slow lanes (the I have no idea what I am doing lanes or I want to move at a leisurely pace lanes) and fast lanes (the I know where I am going and I need to get there before the sun sets lanes).

 

[laura428]

For us, the worst part is not the ride waits. It is the attempt to walk through the parks at some sort of normal pace without having to constantly dodge people and stop every three or four step for that double stroller parked in the middle of a walkway or that family holding hands four across and taking three seconds between lifting a foot and placing down the same foot. I honestly don't know how people walk that slowly. It is painful to walk that slowly. But when there is finally space to pass that family, when there is finally room for a single body to pass, someone else who wants to take two and a half seconds between lifting a foot and placing down that same foot jumps into that space and I am trapped again.

I can tell you that at MK, HS, and AK, the pathways were clogged last week. I would not mind if I could only ride three things per day with FP+ if I could navigate the paths at a normal pace without being rammed, blocked, or stepped on. It was not just ride capacity that was low. It was path capacity. I don't know how Disney can fix that. Maybe create slow lanes (the I have no idea what I am doing lanes or I want to move at a leisurely pace lanes) and fast lanes (the I know where I am going and I need to get there before the sun sets lanes).

Totally agree with this. The first night of our trip last week (on Monday), we left MK about 30 minutes before Wishes and it was a nightmare. DD10 was nearly in tears because she got knocked around so badly on the way out. It was the first out of all of our trips that I noticed a heightened sense of rudeness and "me first" mentality that, when combined with the folks who just decided to stop in the middle of the paths, made merely navigating the walkways very difficult. For the rest of our trip, we opted to leave the parks way before closing time to ensure we didn't run into this again. The only exception was Star Wars fireworks on Friday nights (which we just had to see and SO do not regret - INCREDIBLE!!) Thankfully, I'd planned our trips pretty thoroughly so as to avoid as many of the crowds as possible - EMH mornings, leaving the parks by early pm to swim back at the resort, heading back in around 5 or 6 and leaving well before closing - but we were still amazed by crowd levels.

Wish I'd taken a video of the traffic along World Drive going into MK early on Tuesday morning. We were driving to HS from the Poly and thanking our lucky stars all along the way that we *weren't* going to MK that day. We couldn't believe the traffic - unbelievable!! Even at Christmas time, I don't remember seeing the cars backed up so far.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

DD10 was nearly in tears because she got knocked around so badly on the way out.

We attended MVMCP in 2014 and the crowds were horrible! Shoulder to shoulder, no room to walk normally at. all. We were trying to get around the hub and my then 7 year old daughter got clocked in the face by someone's camera. The woman yelled at US for walking there and being in her way, meanwhile my daughter ended up with a black eye. I found a cast member near Sleepy Hollow and asked for ice. She directed me to the First Aid station near CP. I looked at her like she was nuts, as my daughter is crying in my arms, and explained we could not run that gauntlet again! We will never go back during peak season until the kids are much older.

 

[recmouse]

For us, the worst part is not the ride waits. It is the attempt to walk through the parks at some sort of normal pace without having to constantly dodge people and stop every three or four step for that double stroller parked in the middle of a walkway or that family holding hands four across and taking three seconds between lifting a foot and placing down the same foot. I honestly don't know how people walk that slowly. It is painful to walk that slowly. But when there is finally space to pass that family, when there is finally room for a single body to pass, someone else who wants to take two and a half seconds between lifting a foot and placing down that same foot jumps into that space and I am trapped again.

I can tell you that at MK, HS, and AK, the pathways were clogged last week. I would not mind if I could only ride three things per day with FP+ if I could navigate the paths at a normal pace without being rammed, blocked, or stepped on. It was not just ride capacity that was low. It was path capacity. I don't know how Disney can fix that. Maybe create slow lanes (the I have no idea what I am doing lanes or I want to move at a leisurely pace lanes) and fast lanes (the I know where I am going and I need to get there before the sun sets lanes).

Exactly! We visit every year and plan and plan the way Disney now forces us to. Then we get there and can't move between stroller parking taking up half the area and bodies the rest of the walkways. It wasn't comfortable. I've gone in August and the crowds were not as bad as last week! And as other posters stated, it doesn't help that the rides aren't running at full capacity. For me, going to Disney isn't all about the rides but the overall experience too... I truly have a bad taste in my mouth from last week and my husband and I already decided we are going to skip next year and hope things get better in the parks. We're DVC members so if we have to burn some points - we'll just go and hang at the resort. We stayed at the Polynesian this time and it was great!

 

[Eosphotog]

We're DVC members so if we have to burn some points - we'll just go and hang at the resort. We stayed at the Polynesian this time and it was great!

Don't burn them - rent them!

 

[NavyDad]

We were at WDW last week (4/3-4/7) and it was PACKED. Lines built quicker in morning that our last two summer trips.

Our kids were on Sprink Break (MI) that week. We saw lots, and lots and lots of GA and MI plates in all of the parking lots. Lots of people from UK in the parks.

Weather was very nice but the crowds felt just as bad as our summer trips.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Not at all. Posted wait times were really off this week.

At MK, with a posted wait of 30 minutes, we waited an hour and ten minutes for Dumbo. We only stayed because it was the only ride request from my 3 year old and she was so excited. Lots of very angry people, complaining that they were missing FP and dining reservations.

Under the Sea had a posted wait of 20 minutes. It was walk on.

ETWB had a posted wait time of 20 minutes (both app and ride posted wait). We waited for 40.

Thursday night BTMRR had a posted wait of 45 minutes. It was walk on.

Saturday morning Kali River had a posted wait of 40 minutes. It was walk on.

While it is a nice surprise when a posted wait is less than expected, I always wonder which rides I have walked by that I chose to skip because of a posted wait but that I could have ridden if I had know the actual wait time.

So basically posted wait times are just for show.

 

[Julylady]

We were at WDW March 30 to April 10. The crowds were heavy the entire time, but we knew they would be going in. We also experienced wait times significantly different than what was posted. At PeterPan the wait time said "50 minutes" but when we hesitated at the standby line, the CM told us it was really a 20 minute wait. On the other side, a 15 minute posted wait at Kali River Rapids was actually 50 minutes. We would not have done that ride if we had know since it screwed up our Safari fast passes.

We last visited WDW in July when the heat, humidity and daily thunderstorms really took their toll on us. This time the weather was perfect, but the crowds were oppressive. I guess we need to pick our poison if we can only travel during school breaks.

 

[MammaMoe48]

We were at WDW March 30 to April 10. The crowds were heavy the entire time, but we knew they would be going in. We also experienced wait times significantly different than what was posted. At PeterPan the wait time said "50 minutes" but when we hesitated at the standby line, the CM told us it was really a 20 minute wait. On the other side, a 15 minute posted wait at Kali River Rapids was actually 50 minutes. We would not have done that ride if we had know since it screwed up our Safari fast passes.

We last visited WDW in July when the heat, humidity and daily thunderstorms really took their toll on us. This time the weather was perfect, but the crowds were oppressive. I guess we need to pick our poison if we can only travel during school breaks.

Honestly, I would be more than willing to suffer through rain, oppressive heat, 100% humidity, hurricanes, and locusts if it meant not having to deal with super huge crowds. I'm hoping that when we go in late August it won't be as bad as July (although I'm ready for anything) because FL schools go back mid August.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Exactly! We visit every year and plan and plan the way Disney now forces us to. Then we get there and can't move between stroller parking taking up half the area and bodies the rest of the walkways. It wasn't comfortable. I've gone in August and the crowds were not as bad as last week! And as other posters stated, it doesn't help that the rides aren't running at full capacity. For me, going to Disney isn't all about the rides but the overall experience too... I truly have a bad taste in my mouth from last week and my husband and I already decided we are going to skip next year and hope things get better in the parks. We're DVC members so if we have to burn some points - we'll just go and hang at the resort. We stayed at the Polynesian this time and it was great!

I told my mom last week that, although I do enjoy the parks and the attractions, I am actually happier at the resorts. The atmosphere is so much more relaxed and enjoyable. We have APs that expire in July and I think I will not renew. I can, however, see us spending a week at a resort just enjoying the pool, the movies, the boat rides, the bike rides, the restaurants, fireworks on the various beaches, and the campfires.

 

[rdevine10]

We had the same thing happen to us in August. Crowds were predicted at 5, they were way off. It was not our best trip- heat and lines- not our perfect idea of a vacation. I can deal with 1 or the other! We are headed to Orlando next week and I am concerned too for crowd levels being off- but we will primarily be at Universal this time- which seems to be pretty accurate levels according to what I have been reading. Last August we did take time to do things we never had- bike ride at the Boardwalk and our resort, more waterpark time- and we highly enjoyed those activities!

 

[RustManFan]

our schools in NJ have spring break this week

 

[MammaMoe48]

NYC public schools are off the week of the 25th, Catholic schools were off the week of the 4th and private schools were off either last week or this week depending on the school. We cray-cray with spring break here!

 

[Clumsy_Chica]

Oh man. I'm pretty used to high crowd levels but DH is not. I'll hope against all odds 4/22-4/24 isn't a zoo, although at this point it's looking pretty unlikely we'll be able to breath without bumping someone.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Could this year be an anomaly because Easter and Passover are so far apart that the spring breaks for each school district are spaced out so much? Or do you think this is just a sign of things to come?

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I looked at wait times on Lines today at 2 pm eastern and they seemed very reasonable for mid afternoon. TT, TSMM, and even 7DMT were all at 1 hr or less. If true, maybe the insane spring break levels are easing (here's hoping anyway).

 

[capegirl]

I looked at wait times on Lines today at 2 pm eastern and they seemed very reasonable for mid afternoon. TT, TSMM, and even 7DMT were all at 1 hr or less. If true, maybe the insane spring break levels are easing (here's hoping anyway).

I've been checking too, and the waits weren't too bad at all today. Looks like the crowds are letting up. Seems like spring break season has become another major holiday!

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Great post today from Josh of easy wdw on the crowd crush.... Definitely recommend reading it.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Great post today from Josh of easy wdw on the crowd crush.... Definitely recommend reading it.

If true, that's really disappointing that Disney would cut staffing so drastically during a high crowd time and cause such a mess. Yes, people going during spring break have to expect larger crowds but if people are going to have a good time and want to come back, the park and wait times have to feel manageable. We went during spring break last year and there were only two times where I really felt there were too many people there for comfort. Sounds like that wasn't the case this year. It's sad that they seem to have cut back to the point of really hurting the experience for their guests.

 

[Ariel on Land]

People should report all this back to Disney. If Josh is right, that a good chunk of this mess stems from staffing cuts, Disney needs to know that this was a HUGE mistake and re-hire. Clearly they are trying to squeeze money (why, I don't know? Attendance is up - therefore spending is up) but they need to have appropriate staffing or this is going to get super ugly for them. So all of you who have had miserable times- report it!!! Otherwise, our happiest place on earth will cease to be happy.