Will crowds be bonkers for 50th Anniverary?

[lovethattink]

I was there the week before Thanksgiving and there is no way it was 30-40%! If it was then I would absolutely hate to see what 100% looks like! Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom were the most crowded, MK at times just awful!

Keep in mind it’s 35% of full capacity. So think of past Christmas and NYE and what those crowds looked like at 100% capacity. 35% of that is still a large amount of people. Consumer confidence is up. More people are going to the parks and there are days where that 35% has been met.

 

[ScubaCat]

I’m with you on that...guess we are crazy together lol. I have my park pass for MK on 10/1. Just expecting to soak in the atmosphere and not anticipating getting much of anything done.

For sure. It's not like I haven't been many, many times in my life. I'm sure there will be some unique things going on that will be worth being there to see. I'll likely be spending half my time dodging the vlogger cameras like usual. (I think Resort TV1 tracks my magic band somehow. They ALWAYS seem to find me and manage to get a shot of me looking my worst in the live stream.)

Nevertheless, if the people mover isn't running on 10/1/2021 there will be hell to pay

 

[Gypsybear]

Please feel free to take this with a grain of salt.....1) We were there for Halloween 2020, if those were 30% crowds, someone was not counting properly....it was crowded then... 2) We were there on the day of Oct 1st for the 40th anniversary....it was INSANE!! I literally saw people knocking other people to the ground, in order to reach a dated item (I'm assuming for resale in many cases)....saw people ripping hangers off a CMs arm, leaving literal cuts on her poor arm (all to get a t shirt)....people literally knocking collectibles on the ground, in order to grab one within reach. It was not fun.....I literally forgot that it was the 40th anniversary....didn't think about it until park capacity was reached within 30 mins of opening....

All that said, I agree that currently, it's a crap shoot on what crowds will be like for the 50th. I know that we literallly avoided those dates this year for those reasons.

No matter what you decide, I hope it's the most magical trip for you and your family.

 

[gorkt]

I have a feeling that 2022,2023 are going to be MASSIVELY crowded, particularly if the economy recovers. EVERYONE is going to want to travel and WDW is very popular. I am planning on going in Jan 2023 during the historically slowest period, and it should still be in the 50th anniversary window, but I would still bet it might be crowded.

 

[inspectorgadget]

Please feel free to take this with a grain of salt.....1) We were there for Halloween 2020, if those were 30% crowds, someone was not counting properly....it was crowded then... 2) We were there on the day of Oct 1st for the 40th anniversary....it was INSANE!! I literally saw people knocking other people to the ground, in order to reach a dated item (I'm assuming for resale in many cases)....saw people ripping hangers off a CMs arm, leaving literal cuts on her poor arm (all to get a t shirt)....people literally knocking collectibles on the ground, in order to grab one within reach. It was not fun.....I literally forgot that it was the 40th anniversary....didn't think about it until park capacity was reached within 30 mins of opening....

All that said, I agree that currently, it's a crap shoot on what crowds will be like for the 50th. I know that we literallly avoided those dates this year for those reasons.

No matter what you decide, I hope it's the most magical trip for you and your family.

Wow! That does not sound fun at all. I do not enjoy crowds, it makes me feel anxious, it's hard to keep eyes on my kids. My family goes to Disney every September (not 2020 though) and we have always enjoyed relatively low crowds, so I was on the fence about this year. Ultimately, we have decided to do a Universal trip this September instead. They have a 2 for 2 deal now. And I guess it's up in the air for next year's September trip.

 

[Orion Nebula]

I thought they were at either 30-40% capacity. If that were the case it should be a cake walk there.

I went last week and I couldn't tell there was a capacity limit.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

Expect Universal to be busy as well. Halloween Horror Nights starts in early September this year.

 

[inspectorgadget]

Expect Universal to be busy as well. Halloween Horror Nights starts in early September this year.

Yes, I figure it may be busy as well but hopefully not as crazy busy as Disney.

 

[goofyernmost]

It's probably been said already, but all of this hinges on the Covid=19 situation. If it is all clear it will be a mad house.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I think whatever capacity limits are set, they will be met during the dates closest to OCT 1st.
Time will tell!!!

 

[JetsetJAK]

Please feel free to take this with a grain of salt.....1) We were there for Halloween 2020, if those were 30% crowds, someone was not counting properly....it was crowded then... 2) We were there on the day of Oct 1st for the 40th anniversary....it was INSANE!! I literally saw people knocking other people to the ground, in order to reach a dated item (I'm assuming for resale in many cases)....saw people ripping hangers off a CMs arm, leaving literal cuts on her poor arm (all to get a t shirt)....people literally knocking collectibles on the ground, in order to grab one within reach. It was not fun.....I literally forgot that it was the 40th anniversary....didn't think about it until park capacity was reached within 30 mins of opening....

Wow that's crazy! The only celebration I have ever been in the parks for was Epcot30 on Oct. 1st in 2012. Obviously that's not considered as big of a deal as the anniversary of WDW itself, but I don't remember things being too bad. It was busier than usual but nothing too ridiculous. I remember getting to the park really early and then standing in a long line for a long time for some 30th anniversary merchandise, but I don't think anybody was beating each other up for it! It was actually pretty fun, I ended up becoming friends with the people I was next to in the line and we're still connected on social media today. I'm planning to be there on Oct. 1st next year for Epcot40 and hope it's not too naive of me to hope for a similar experience as in 2012.

 

[MomOTwins]

I would expect capacity to be raised before the anniversary.
+
I would expect people who want to be in MK on Oct 1 to arrive there sometime before 2021 and go to other parks on those earlier days.
=
OP’s days will be very crowded indeed

 

[Meglen]

They better open up alot more shows and restaurants before the 1st .. or its gonna be a fire hazard >.<

 

[inspectorgadget]

It's funny that the first place I came across the term "revenge travel" was on these boards a few weeks ago.

 

[LiveLifeLoud]

I know people booking Orlando/universal/Disney trips with this new stimulus. For all different times of the year. Some during the fall. They aren’t huge Disney fans so are unaware of the 50th or unaware how big of a deal it is. I think the parks are going to get busier and busier and capacity will get higher.

 

[kylenne]

Please feel free to take this with a grain of salt.....1) We were there for Halloween 2020, if those were 30% crowds, someone was not counting properly....it was crowded then... 2) We were there on the day of Oct 1st for the 40th anniversary....it was INSANE!! I literally saw people knocking other people to the ground, in order to reach a dated item (I'm assuming for resale in many cases)....saw people ripping hangers off a CMs arm, leaving literal cuts on her poor arm (all to get a t shirt)....people literally knocking collectibles on the ground, in order to grab one within reach. It was not fun.....I literally forgot that it was the 40th anniversary....didn't think about it until park capacity was reached within 30 mins of opening....

All that said, I agree that currently, it's a crap shoot on what crowds will be like for the 50th. I know that we literallly avoided those dates this year for those reasons.

No matter what you decide, I hope it's the most magical trip for you and your family.

eBay pirates. They ruin this stuff for everyone.

It’s going to be insanely busy. Pent up Covid demand because more people will be vaccinated, the 50th (MK is already sold out on 10/1, and will keep selling out whenever they add capacity like they did the other day, and all us crazies have to be somewhere besides that park for those other days) new stuff in France, and a highly likely return of at least some nighttime show (Harmonious corporate packages are already being advertised)...it’s gonna be crowded. If you don’t care about the 50th pick another time to go.

 

[PaladinButters]

I know people booking Orlando/universal/Disney trips with this new stimulus.

Same here. No judgement though since we are currently in talks if ours is going to Disney in Florida or Disney in California.

It’s going to be insanely busy. Pent up Covid demand because more people will be vaccinated....

Yep. Expecting that pent up demand to destroy any and all 'slower times' people are hoping for the back half of this year and all of the next. The most interesting variable being if/when Disney lifts restrictions/masks. I would hate to be a CM during this initial *Well, MY family is vaccinated so why should we have to wear them* phase.

 

[LiveLifeLoud]

Same here. No judgement though since we are currently in talks if ours is going to Disney in Florida or Disney in California.

A portion of mine will be going to Disney too. But we aren’t going until the end of next year.

 

[inspectorgadget]

I would hate to be a CM during this initial *Well, MY family is vaccinated so why should we have to wear them* phase.

I agree, would not be easy to be that CM

 

[ScubaCat]

! I literally saw people knocking other people to the ground, in order to reach a dated item (I'm assuming for resale in many cases)....saw people ripping hangers off a CMs arm, leaving literal cuts on her poor arm (all to get a t shirt)....people literally knocking collectibles on the ground, in order to grab one within reach. It was not fun.....I literally forgot that it was the 40th anniversary....didn't think about it until park capacity was reached within 30 mins of opening....

They've gotten much better at handling merchandise events lately, and during the era of Covid, they now cap the number of people going into the shops, so I don't expect things like that to happen any more. Most likely they'd set up either a pop-up shop or special location (like startraders) for special merch, and even do a virtual queue if necessary. They've already done that several times recently when the world of disney store got too backed up.

One thing to remember about crowds is that you just can't gauge capacity based on your own perspective. Just because there are very few people or a lot of people where you happen to be doesn't mean that's the case in an entire theme park. Unless you know the turnstile numbers, you're just guessing, really. Nowadays people are CERTAIN they're over 35%, yet there are probably many areas with hardly anyone in them for any number of reasons.

In terms of 10/1/2021, it'll definitely be crowded. If you don't want to deal with that, just avoid it. Not a big deal; there will be plenty of other days. I'll be there because it's something I want to experience. I'm happy to come back here and tell everyone all about it afterward (from my perspective, which will definitely be different from others'). In other words, feel free to join me, or opt to skip it and wait for the review