You are WARNED: MK is CROWDED 3/21!!

[tinkerbell60]

We're going in July, too, but not July 4 week.

Someone please tell me that a "regular" summer week is not as bad as Christmas, Easter and July 4th!!!

We are going July 15 to 25th, staying at CR and WL - when are you going??

 

[drusba]

The week surrounding July 4 is the most crowded of the summer. Other summer weeks from mid -June to mid-August are also very crowded but nowhere near that July 4 week, the Easter weeks, or Christmas. MK will be the park that consistently has long lines everyday; for others it varies according to time of day with 10 to 3:30 being the most crowded times of day.

 

[swilshire]

Someone please tell me that a "regular" summer week is not as bad as Christmas, Easter and July 4th!!!

We were there last year for July 4th and it wasn't nearly as crowded as March and Christmas/New Years. It sure was HOT, though.

We didn't stay for the fireworks on the 4th. I think it was extra stormy that day.

Sheila

 

[Slacking]

I was there yesterday morning. My advice, get their early!! Park opened at 8am, but I arrived at 8:15. Between 8:15-10:00, I did the following attractions: Buzz, Space Mt., Pooh, Peter Pan (FP), IASW, HM, Splash Mt., and Big Thunder Mt.. Once 10:00 hit, I noticed just how heavy the crowds were, and noticed that Pooh, Buzz, and Stich all had 60 minute waits already. Once I left the park at noon (after riding PoTC, and catching Philharmagic, and Cinderellabration) it just seemed to be getting worse.

And don't even get me started with Epcot! I went to ride soarin' and observed that TT's wait time was between 105-130 min, and M:S's time was 145 min.

 

[KimR]

And don't even get me started with Epcot! I went to ride soarin' and observed that TT's wait time was between 105-130 min, and M:S's time was 145 min.

Did I read this right??? Soarin' is OPEN??!! I had already resigned myself to the fact that we were missing it by a month and would have to wait till next year!

 

[taximomfor4]

Tendency to have two or three late afternoon to evening thunderstorms that may last about 30 minutes a piece.

But those afternoon downpours felt sooooo good! DD and I were there in '01 in July (21-24) and it did have giant, quick tstorms EVERY afternoon. It was sort of fun! Souvenir pens went floating by in the 6" of water that flowed all over the parks. We took shelter under the roof of a kiosk (which had closed up at the start of the storm). I even ran across to another crowded makeshift "shelter" to give someone my camera, then ran back to our kiosk so that stranger could take our picture. Then I ran back, got my camera back, and waited out the storm. 15 minutes after it stopped, nobody could tell it had ever rained. Maybe it's the magic of being at Disney, but I thought it was pretty fun, actually, lol! (Of course, this year we'll have smaller kids with us and a stroller. I have a feeling it would be a LOT less fun with them along!)

BTW, we were there well after July 4th, but it was really crowded. Standing on buses, long wait in morning to get on MK bus, long wait after fireworks to get back on resort bus. (Buses would fill up, and we couldn't get on till like the 6th bus.) I was even pretty shocked, because nobody was giving up their seats to pg women or older women or anyone!!! Our "trick" was to leave the parks for lunch and swimming BEFORE everyone with crabby kids did. We left by 11:30-12, swam in a nearly empty pool, then went back to the parks at like 4pm when others were just coming back, with screaming toddlers, for late naps! Worked great. Had fun. We stood in really long lines (Hadn't joined TGM yet, nor this board, so didn't know any better) but it was WDW!

Beth

 

[corinascot]

We are season's pass holders to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL and I have to believe that my "training" from there will make this seem like a cakewalk. :

I can relate to that! We live near Cedar Point and it can be a nightmare on a busy summer day! And the 6 Flag parks are even worse! I don't think it'll be a cakewalk, but I think we'll manage. I'm glad we made PS's. We leave on Friday (driving) but we're visiting family for a few days so we won't hit WDW til Monday night. I'm hoping by Thurs/Fri/Sat things will get a little less crowded.

We'll save MK til later in the week, get there at 6:45 and hope we last til 1 when we have lunch PS at Crystal Palace. Then we'll get out of Dodge. I'd be happy with 6 hours of ride time.

 

[suevee]

April 1st, April Fool's Day, is the only day I can do WDW. So I am checking my emergency supplies for a good supply of mole skin, putting my Mickey Ears on Tight, packing my Mickey poncho, getting my best walking shoes with an extra change in my pack, slathering on the sunscreen, checking my pin necklace, tieing on my lime green ribbons, double-checking my ps, loading up my camera, and......GOING IN!!!! :thewave: Hitting MK at 7 am, Epcot at noon, and back to MK at 7 pm to close it down at Midnight!!! Then exhaustion on the plane on April 2nd going home....

 

[cmonroe]

Ok friends! Just want to warn those of you who are on your way down to WDW, the MK was JAM PACKED today 3/21! I have NEVER seen crowds in Fantasyland especially like I did this afternoon!

It was absolute grid lock between Small World and Peter Pan--got forbid if there was an emergency--it would have been a bad situation! I think it had something to do with the new stroller parking area by the old sky ride station and new entrance to Small World, traffic did not flow!

Around 1;30pm wait time for Small World was 60 minutes, Peter Pan was 70 minutes, and Snow White was 50 minutes. Just to give you an idea! No rain yet, but the clouds are rolling in!

Happy Day!

el

I told them not to celebrate my birthday!!!!

P.S.
(yes, it really is my birthday)

 

[GarrettJD]

Did I read this right??? Soarin' is OPEN??!! I had already resigned myself to the fact that we were missing it by a month and would have to wait till next year!

From what I've read, Soarin' is doing limited soft openings right now, though the official opening isn't until May. You may or may not actually get a chance to ride it. I hope you do!

 

[Fenceman]

Corinascot,
We are also leaving from Northern Ohio on Friday and will be following you down 77. Staying off site 1st half of the week and then Poly for rest of week.

I can relate to Cedar Point Lines. Not unusual for a 2 hour wait on Top Thrill Dragster in the summer for a 20 second ride.

Make a plan, hit the park early and use your FP for afternoon. And keep smiling.

 

[taximomfor4]

I am in NE Ohio!! And we have purposely never taken our kids to Cedar Point...too packed when we can go. I remember waiting 3-4 hours for Magnum, the year it opened. (Think that's the name, lol. Been a while!)

We are driving down, leaving Saturday arriving Sunday morning ( I am driving all night, or as close to it as I can, lol.) Its an Ohio DIS convention, looks like!

Beth

 

[klmall]

We've been before at Easter and found it so crowded we vowed never to return at that time again BUT we're coming anyway for a convention later in the week so decided to use those leftover Parkhoppers and take advantage of an offer from WDW to make up for a hotel problem last trip (out of breath ).

We plan to use Fastpasses and take it very easy with no commando style touring. Maybe we'll even just sit around the resort and relax!

Can't wait to be there!!!!!!!!

 

[smjj]

When the kids got old enough and now that they have left the nest we avoid Fantasyland. Between the strollers(so many the CM's try and make pathways between them) and the thousands of small kids it makes that area of the park very conjested while other areas are not so. If the crowds are manageable when we go down this mid May we will try and see the new "Its A Small World"...smj

 

[DavidandDenise]

Honestly, I can't say there's a week I enjoy more than the 4th of July. The fireworks are spectacular, and the crowd is truly something to behold in front of the castle. As long as you keep a close eye on your group, it's quite a memory!

We're going in July, too, but not July 4 week.

Someone please tell me that a "regular" summer week is not as bad as Christmas, Easter and July 4th!!!

 

[cdpa4d]

TaxiMom,
What part of extreme Ohio are you from? I grew up right around there...went to school, etc. I have since transplanted to Indiana, but still have family there, and ocassionaly I get to go back for a visit.
ADP

 

[Emmaline Lola]

I told them not to celebrate my birthday!!!!

P.S.
(yes, it really is my birthday)

MY birthday was yesterday 3/21! That's why I was in the MK in the first place! Happy Birthday to you!

el

 

[jjsmom]

Fromvatodisney,

We were there last year 7/24-30. I did not think the crowds were bad at all. In my opinion they were actually a little lighter than when we were there during Pres. week.

 

[cmonroe]

MY birthday was yesterday 3/21! That's why I was in the MK in the first place! Happy Birthday to you!

el

Very cool and the same to you! I would have preferred to have been in Disney instead of chilly Massuchusetts though!!! Jealous!!!!!

 

[StrwLady]

We were at Disney 3/14 to 3/21. During the week I didn't find the crowds to be any worse than a normal for the second week of March. Friday things were a little more crowded but it rained all day Thursday. So I'm betting that changed some plans and caused more crowds at some parks. On Saturday we were at Kennedy space center. Sunday we did early entry at MK then to Epcot and back to MK for wishes. By 11ish MK was so crowded and more were coming in. I was at MK on labor day in 2000 and the crowd was worse then that. We headed to Epcot and the crowd was big but not unbearable. Once back at MK the crowd was heavy but not horrid. Now we come to Monday at Epcot......

All I can say is OH MY GOODNESS!!! We were checking out that day so got to the park a little later. About 11:30 am every entry line was open and back to the ticket booth. There were people everywhere. The wait on Test Track was 130 mins. The line outside of the Living Seas was outside and in front of the building. Inside Living Seas people were every where. you couldn't more then a few steps without having to stop or sift you direction. (this was down stairs we didn't go upstairs).

The CM's were saying there were a few things causing the crowds to be a tad bigger this week. Easter being early caused not only the regular crowds for this week of March to be heavy, from normal spring break, but also added the ones that have off for Easter. Then the Showstoppers competition ended on Saturday (I think) and there was at least one cheerleader competition in town (at the Swan and Dolphin).

I just hope those that are DW now can find a way to go with the flow and enjoy their time. As of yesterday there was to be rain all week. Heck that might lessen the crowds some and those that don't mind getting wet will have the parks all to themselves

Take Care
Jamie