2014 Walt Disney World parks holiday season updates

[Figment82]

We did our annual tour around World Showcase a little before 9 tonight, and I didn't think it was too bad compared to prior years. We did the whole circuit in about 40 minutes, which included a stop in Japan to walk through Mitsukoshi and watch the silent dance party (which was hilarious!). I know there had been some crowd control issues a bit earlier in the evening, especially around Canada, but we didn't experience any. Even China wasn't a complete standstill like usual. Still all-around absolutely packed and crazy, like always, just not as insanely congested as I've witnessed before. Maybe others have different observations, though. Happy New Year's!

 

[Figment2005]

http://disneywaittimes.com/Home/Park?park=EP

The standby line is now fully inside the building.

 

[grimb168]

Took this with a grain of salt!
Was told tonight in epcot by a clerk in England that they will have 90000 in epcot tonight. Does this sound correct?

 

[WhatJaneSays]

I'm pleasantly surprised by the situation at Epcot. It's more organized than years past.

I left work about 8:15 and was in the park on my way to food by 9. I had food, danced a bit, and a good scooped a good fireworks spot by 10. I've been chating with a nice couple from Australia since then. There still seem to be some fairly alright viewing locations left but it is tight.

Took this with a grain of salt!
Was told tonight in epcot by a clerk in England that they will have 90000 in epcot tonight. Does this sound correct?

Epcot has a capacity over 100k so that sounds do able.

 

[WDWBryan]

In Epcot now. Wifi and cell service sucks but I've found it easier to move around than in years past. They have the lanes well marked and plenty of CMs to keep the walkways divided and the people moving

 

[TheRabbit]

Took this with a grain of salt!
Was told tonight in epcot by a clerk in England that they will have 90000 in epcot tonight. Does this sound correct?

NOOOO! No way!

 

[Lee]

Took this with a grain of salt!
Was told tonight in epcot by a clerk in England that they will have 90000 in epcot tonight. Does this sound correct?

Very possible.
MK has seen 85,000 a few times lately, or so I'm told...

 

[mousehockey37]

HAHA.. watching the webfeed of Fantasy in the Sky and all it is, is a sea of IPads.... sad.

 

[mousehockey37]

Also, it looked like a photographers worst nightmare, as well as just a viewing nightmare... the smoke from the fireworks was blowing TOWARDS Main Street.

 

[monothingie]

Very possible.
MK has seen 85,000 a few times lately, or so I'm told...

85000 Churros? ECVs? DVC Information kiosks?

 

[WDWBryan]

1st time sitting in the Epcot parking lot after New Years. Dumb move.

Been sitting in my car over an hour and haven't moved.

Pretty sure everyone that was in the park will have cleared out and also be in there cars soon.

12,000 cars all trying to leave at the same time

 

[donsullivan]

1st time sitting in the Epcot parking lot after New Years. Dumb move.

Been sitting in my car over an hour and haven't moved.

Pretty sure everyone that was in the park will have cleared out and also be in there cars soon.

12,000 cars all trying to leave at the same time

I was in that same parking nightmare at Epcot. Whole lot was dead stop for close to an hour and then all of a sudden at ~2AM, whatever was causing the clog was removed and it all started to move very smoothly. I was off the property and home in almost normal time from when the clog was cleared.

 

[Jakester]

I went to Epcot tonight, arrived and parked at 5:35pm. Managed to make it to World Showcase for the 6:00p IllumiNations. Walked around the park a few times, got a spot 1hour prior to showtime with a great, crowded, view. Leisurely walked up towards America after midnight, got into the 1:00am American Adventure Show, took 45minutes walking out and rode the tram and not once did I sit in traffic. I got to my vehicle around 2:30a.

 

[FutureCEO]

HAHA.. watching the webfeed of Fantasy in the Sky and all it is, is a sea of IPads.... sad.

Ipads and Iphones do't even take amazing video and pictures compared to cameras

 

[Jakester]

Ipads and Iphones do't even take amazing video and pictures compared to cameras

Actually, you'd be impressed what the iphone 5s+ can take photo wise. Its the best for recording fireworks IMO.

 

[wdwmagic]

VIDEO - Happy New Year with Epcot's Reflections of Earth New Year's Eve Show

 

[mousehockey37]

Ipads and Iphones do't even take amazing video and pictures compared to cameras

I agree. Which is why my iPhone stays on my hip and I use my Canon DSLR for photos. I also DO NOT use the view screen, I actually look through the eye cup or if I'm set up for fireworks, I have it all set up for my shutter release so that there's no light coming off the back of my camera.

Actually, you'd be impressed what the iphone 5s+ can take photo wise. Its the best for recording fireworks IMO.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. It so easy to use your phone or tablet to record the fireworks, but should you? Phones are still sorta smaller than tablets but there's been a few threads about the negative uses of iPads and such during the fireworks shows.

 

[SMPTE MOUSE]

We got diverted to EPCOT yesterday and parked. Took us 2 hours but we lucked out and got a dining reservation at the Plaza and got into MK! Took the monorail and ended up in the park by 12:30pm! Talk about lucky. The park was beyond packed. So we Walked around the park and enjoyed the time with our little DD. Thank goodness for fastpass+

 

[Tom Morrow]

In past years, Soarin' has hit over 300 minutes. These wait times actually aren't nearly as bad.

 

[wdwmagic]

Magic Kingdom parking lot at capacity with parking being redirected to Epcot