WORST crowds for early December EVER!!!!

[ter-moo]

I just got back from three days at the parks (Wed-Fri, 12/1 - 12/3). Wednesday was relatively quiet, although we spent most of the day at CA, so didn't really see how DL was. Thursday, we did Magic Morning at DL and I couldn't BELIEVE how many OTHER people did the same. At this time of year, you generally have the park to yourself in the mornings!

Then there was Friday--UNBELIEVABLE crowds! I have never seen it like this--even in the summer! The wait times weren't bad, but the mass of people was unbelievable! Is it just because the Candlelight Processional was coming? You could barely walk through parts of the park, and it was just TIRING.

I'm a huge Disney fan and have always loved the first couple weeks of December because you feel like you can relax and take things slow and not have to do the usual Commando methods. I haven't even had to USE Fastpass other years (except occasionally in the very late afternoon/early evenings when the locals pour in.) This year, however, it felt more like how it feels in July or August.

I may have to re-think my strategy if this becomes the norm!

 

[ScottJayhawk]

Very interesting to see this as yesterday I read posts about how light the crowds were last week?
I guess light crowd is a subjective view but odd to hear such a difference.
We arrive Monday and hope the small crowds are back.

 

[SplashMo]

I was watching the crowds on my iphone. During the week was good but this weekend was very crowded.

 

[ScottJayhawk]

Seems Mon - Weds was not crowded but Thursday was reported by several people to be very high - hopefully (for those of us arriving tomorrow ) it was simply early CP folks.

 

[smile4stamps]

I was there from Mon night - Fri morning. I left the parks at about 11am on Friday.

Mon Night. I had NO trouble getting a spot in front of the castle for Fireworks just before they were to start.

Tues. Had very little waits, low crowds

Weds - Still pretty low waits in the morning but there were lots of groups of kids

Thurs - Even more groups of kids, I didn't ride many rides but the walkways and stuff weren't very crowded.

Fri - Did BTMR with no waits, HMH without a wait and then did Pixie Hollow with only about 10 minute wait but line was building behind me. Rode Toad's Wild ride with about a 7 minute wait at 9:30am. then headed to DCA to Ride California Screamin but it wasn't open yet. Finally rode it twice using Single Rider but posted wait was 20 min.

It didn't feel crowded to me. When I was there in October it was crazy buzy so this was nice!

 

[ScottJayhawk]

Thanks smile4

Like I said, crowds are very subjective

 

[teach1abc]

We were there Wed-Sat. I thought the crowds were light Wed-Fri and our longest wait for a ride were Peter Pan (20 min), IASM (20 min), and the princess area (1 hour) but the rest were 5 minutes or walk right on. On Saturday, things were BUSY. After standing in long lines for Peter Pan and the Casey Train, we attempted IASM, Dumbo, and Jungle Book but the line was way too long, we headed over to CA because we could barely get through the park because it was sooo crowded. The lines for Soaring of CA and Toy Story were about half hour.

 

[kailuagirl]

We were there too, black friday very crowded I thought, fast passes for Space were already around 10p about 11a, Monday was much better, Tuesday was better, we rode 24 rides this day, Wednesday was the best by far in my opinion, we walked on just about everything all day long, Thursday was crazy again, very crowded. We just got home last night

 

[Disney Dreams]

We were there Friday (12/5, not "black Friday") early evening through closing.
It was pretty crowded. Not insane, but busy busy. And then there was Main Street at fireworks.... BUSY!

- Dreams

 

[greens_in_WA]

We're at DL right now (Kids are napping so we can stay up late for F!)

It was busy on Friday, but not insanely so, we were able to do Splash Mt. 3 times without having to get off between first thing in the AM

Saturday was definately busier, Space Mt was a 50 minute wait at one point. we left during the middle for naps and the like. We had fast passes for HM )30 min wait) . We spent a lot of the day at DCA, TSM had an immediate 40 min wait that never got better.

Today, is noticeably quieter, so far, people are already camping out on the benches for CP, but it's been fairly easy to move around and we have a bunch of fast fasses for the headliners to use in the evening.

 

[ter-moo]

I'm the original poster, and I should add that Friday was insane from about 1 pm and on. Most people who are saying it wasn't too bad were there right at opening. Even in the summer, right at opening is great.

Wait times were never at summer highs--just the CROWDS of people on the walkways. We did get a lot done on Wednesday and Thursday without much of a wait at all. We hopped a bunch between parks Friday, and noticed the waits over at CA weren't bad at all (except for Midway Mania, but that's just a given! ) However, by 5 or so, ToT was 50 minutes, which is pretty rare at this time of year.

I forgot to mention how AWFUL it was to get a locker Friday morning in DL. There was a LINE that stretched out to the fruit stand just to get to a machine. Once you got in, it was solid people. We could barely get back out again. I've never seen that, even in the summer. Luckily, when we went to pick up our stuff in the early evening (around 6:30), there was no line. The inside was still a bit crowded, but not unmanageable.

I've come several times during this same week, and just have never seen the volume of bodies in the walkways before. We literally could not move in several spots on Friday. I do think it must've been groups there for the CP, since it picked up steadily as the weekend neared.

 

[pycees312]

We're at DL right now (Kids are napping so we can stay up late for F!)

It was busy on Friday, but not insanely so, we were able to do Splash Mt. 3 times without having to get off between first thing in the AM

Saturday was definately busier, Space Mt was a 50 minute wait at one point. we left during the middle for naps and the like. We had fast passes for HM )30 min wait) . We spent a lot of the day at DCA, TSM had an immediate 40 min wait that never got better.

Today, is noticeably quieter, so far, people are already camping out on the benches for CP, but it's been fairly easy to move around and we have a bunch of fast fasses for the headliners to use in the evening.

Well i also think your plan of action and time of day factor. We entered on sat 4th at 9 did most of the big rides( matterhorn, space mountain, nemo, fantasyland and breakfast at tomorrowland and were done by 12. Todau sunday we got a late start but the parks are relatively quiet. I see lots of people but lines were manageable. Then it began to sprinkle and it cleared even more. This was in disneyland have nor made dca yet. I also make good use of the trains to get from one side to the next easily and saving energy. Hopefully we make it out for world of color tonight.

 

[Raindown]

I just got back from the parks. It it was mild today, even with the Candlelight Processional taking place.

 

[briggscreek]

We drove out on Friday so that we would avoid the bigger crowds. Mon thru Thurs were great, pretty much walked on to everything. We walked onto HM twice when there was no line at all and only about ten people total in the elevator, it was so cool!

 

[ConnieB]

I'm the original poster, and I should add that Friday was insane from about 1 pm and on. Most people who are saying it wasn't too bad were there right at opening. Even in the summer, right at opening is great.

Wait times were never at summer highs--just the CROWDS of people on the walkways. We did get a lot done on Wednesday and Thursday without much of a wait at all. We hopped a bunch between parks Friday, and noticed the waits over at CA weren't bad at all (except for Midway Mania, but that's just a given! ) However, by 5 or so, ToT was 50 minutes, which is pretty rare at this time of year.

I forgot to mention how AWFUL it was to get a locker Friday morning in DL. There was a LINE that stretched out to the fruit stand just to get to a machine. Once you got in, it was solid people. We could barely get back out again. I've never seen that, even in the summer. Luckily, when we went to pick up our stuff in the early evening (around 6:30), there was no line. The inside was still a bit crowded, but not unmanageable.

I've come several times during this same week, and just have never seen the volume of bodies in the walkways before. We literally could not move in several spots on Friday. I do think it must've been groups there for the CP, since it picked up steadily as the weekend neared.

A few suggestions/opinions:

Yes, CP made this weekend much much more crowded than last weekend and the early part of this week. But....crowds should be back to normal Monday (ok, that's opinon obviously, but also talking to CMs who say this weekend is always crowded but returns to normal for about another week to week and a half before the holiday crowds start up.

Lockers....instead of the inside lockers....try the outside lockers. We always get our locker at the outside DCA lockers....no line, no one inside to even have to hide my password from, lol. And each time we go get something there is usually no one, or at most another family. In/out is quick and easy. Yes, you have to go outside the park meaning you have to come back in, but except for first thing in the morning I've not seen lines that were more than 3 or 4 people deep. Today my girls celebrated their birthday and therefore we had stuff in both parks we wanted to do while they were dressed up.....started in MK, went to DCA, back to MK, back to DCA and ended in MK. Several of those we walked right up to a CM to scan our AP....the others, like I said, 3 or 4 people to be scanned before us. Pretty easy.

The wait times this whole week were very very low....lots of walk on and ride-again, all day long. We got home from MK about 30 minutes ago, and we ended the night with a double header on Space Mountain....15 minute listed wait the first time...forgot to look the second time because we just ran off and back on....but it felt less the second time around. That's not as great as it was earlier in the week, but 15 minute waits for a very popular ride is very reasonable. It was walk on literally first thing this morning...we went through 3 times before there was any line at all, lol. And no, we didn't do the early entry it was the regular guest opening.

All in all this was a great time to go....would have been happier without the drizzle rain today, but it never got too bad. Although as we were leaving they were announcing that the rain was going to delay the Candlelight Processional....a LOT of groans from those who had been waiting for an hour or two in the drizzle for the few sideline seats. We were on Main Street leaving the park so I don't know how long it was delayed....I hope for everyone's sake it wasn't cancelled, but by the time the bus got us back to the lot it was definitely raining harder.

 

[redboxcar]

I was at the parks yesterday and today. Today was definitely quieter, but yesterday was busy!

Yesterday was the annual GIGANTIC sale at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney for Annual Passholders, D23 members, DVC members, and Club 33 members. There was probably 2200+ people at this event alone, which started at 6:30am - I'm sure, like myself, after they all went shopping, they went straight for the parks. Add in the fact that it's Saturday, and the Candlelight Processional, and you've got one busy park!

 

[ter-moo]

Wow--I feel like I wasn't even at the same park as some of the previous posters! We waited for HM for about 20 minutes--haven't had to wait there ever in December. We even had a line for Snow White!

Believe me, I'm a Disney Commando--I'm not exaggerating at all. Thursday afternoon and Friday were NOT typical early December days at all. What got me through was thinking of all the wonderful money Disney was making!

 

[teach1abc]

I was at the parks yesterday and today. Today was definitely quieter, but yesterday was busy!

Yesterday was the annual GIGANTIC sale at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney for Annual Passholders, D23 members, DVC members, and Club 33 members. There was probably 2200+ people at this event alone, which started at 6:30am - I'm sure, like myself, after they all went shopping, they went straight for the parks. Add in the fact that it's Saturday, and the Candlelight Processional, and you've got one busy park!

Just curious, what kind of sale was it? I walked by the store around 8:00 and couldn't believe the lines!! Security was everywhere too. From the bags people were leaving with, it looked like the store was giving things away for free.

 

[Raindown]

Just curious, what kind of sale was it? I walked by the store around 8:00 and couldn't believe the lines!! Security was everywhere too. From the bags people were leaving with, it looked like the store was giving things away for free.

I think just like a Holiday sale. Probably to get people to buy merchandise as gifts.

 

[Funball]

I just got back from three days at the parks (Wed-Fri, 12/1 - 12/3). Wednesday was relatively quiet, although we spent most of the day at CA, so didn't really see how DL was. Thursday, we did Magic Morning at DL and I couldn't BELIEVE how many OTHER people did the same. At this time of year, you generally have the park to yourself in the mornings!

Then there was Friday--UNBELIEVABLE crowds! I have never seen it like this--even in the summer! The wait times weren't bad, but the mass of people was unbelievable! Is it just because the Candlelight Processional was coming? You could barely walk through parts of the park, and it was just TIRING.

I'm a huge Disney fan and have always loved the first couple weeks of December because you feel like you can relax and take things slow and not have to do the usual Commando methods. I haven't even had to USE Fastpass other years (except occasionally in the very late afternoon/early evenings when the locals pour in.) This year, however, it felt more like how it feels in July or August.

I may have to re-think my strategy if this becomes the norm!

well yeah..because you were still stuck in the thanksgiving holiday crowd week.... and lots of park guests are now taking trips to the DLR to see the xmas stuff.. plus the candelight prossesional is going on right now and lots and lots of people come from all around to see that!