Crowded parks?

[JoeV]

For anyone that's either currently at Pop Century or has been there recently, were the noise levels unbearable? That's the one thing I'm concerned about with this resort. Obviously, there will be noisy kids there; that's to be expected, but was it crazy loud around the resort/in the rooms? Thank you.

It was fairly quiet. We were in the 50s section. The only noise was from running water when people took showers.

 

[Minnie1986]

Third week of september. Magic Kingdom was crowded for all five days. Other parks were busy but the magic kingdom was insanity level. It was more crowded than any other theme park i have ever visited. Long lines for everything-rides, food, even restrooms at times. After about 11 am you could barely move at some spots and the main street area was shoulder to shoulder every day. We even tried blogger advice and got there before opening but everyone else must have had the same idea. Couldn't shake the crowds. Animal Kingdom was least crowded and not that bad. Hollywood park was congested, Epcot fairly busy. Magic Kingdom was out of control zoo.

Thanks. Luckily, we're two adults with only a small amount of interest in Magic Kingdom, so we'll only have to deal with the zoo for one day(well, technically one and a half, because we'll be doing MNSSHP one night).

 

[Jeff456]

Strange I was there 27th September to 11th October 2014 and although I know there isn't much of an off season these days the crowds were very manageable and we planned accordingly and certainly didn't wait more than 30-45 minutes for anything. Did all the headliners multiple times. My sister dd the first two weeks of September 2014 and said it was quiet!

 

[Minnie1986]

A friend of mine is leaving Saratoga Springs as I'm typing this and said that, aside from MK, it's not that bad. Fingers crossed it remains that way!

 

[TXDisney]

This time of the year is not exactly crowded season, but with the f&w festival and mnsshp it still brings quite the crowd. Monday-Wednesday are the flow days like akways

 

[bub72ck]

I was there last week and had no problem doing everything we wanted. Plan you trip carefully based on the days you go to each park and you will have no problem. I love the motto "Zig when everyone else Zags". It works like a charm. Also, get to the parks when they open each day. The first 2 1/2 hours are the absolute best. 11:30-3:00 is going to be the most crowded because you have the morning crowd still around and the afternoon crowd just arriving.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

The one thing that I have noticed for Food and Wine is the outside of Canada and into part of UK is wall to wall people, once you get past that you are ok until you hit outside of Mexico outside of where Donald photo pass area. Not sure if it will be like that for your trip but I wanted to share my observation with you.

We were there this past Saturday and noticed the same thing. Also, we hit France when the street performers were out and that caused a huge road block. We noticed a lot of the people who "don't want to stop to watch, but walk very slowly with their heads turned." So frustrating!

The WS was definitely packed on Saturday. The rest of Epcot wasn't that bad IMO, but the WS was slammed. I was going to buy a bottle of wine from Italy, but couldn't even get into the store.

 

[Raineman]

The family and I will be at WDW the first week of March. Initially I had thought that, since it was a couple weeks ahead of spring break, the crowd levels might be OK, but now I'm not so sure. We were there last year the third week of March and MK was pretty crazy.

 

[raven]

They built more rooms, haven't expanded the parks to absorb the added capacity and have closed major attractions for months. Why would it be crowded?

 

[StephK]

We went to MK today & I've never seen anything like it. We've been on a weekend at the end of July and nothing compares to today, ended up giving up and coming back to the resort. It was shoulder to shoulder absolutely everywhere!!! Am really hoping the other parks are a tad quieter!!!

 

[sheriffwoody]

We went to MK today & I've never seen anything like it. We've been on a weekend at the end of July and nothing compares to today, ended up giving up and coming back to the resort. It was shoulder to shoulder absolutely everywhere!!! Am really hoping the other parks are a tad quieter!!!

I checked wait times in the middle of the day (just trying to see what has long waits so I can plan FP+ for my next trip) and I was SHOCKED at the waits on rides. Nearly everything was at least 10 minutes with all the main rides being 40-160 when I looked. Crazy. I hope the other parks aren't as bad for you :/

 

[Minnie1986]

We went to MK today & I've never seen anything like it. We've been on a weekend at the end of July and nothing compares to today, ended up giving up and coming back to the resort. It was shoulder to shoulder absolutely everywhere!!! Am really hoping the other parks are a tad quieter!!!

Is there a school break or something? How are all of people off from work and taking their kids out of school?!

 

[Prog]

Is there a school break or something? How are all of people off from work and taking their kids out of school?!

People pull kids out of school for Disney vacations all the time.

 

[cosmicray]

I was at magic kingdom yesterday and it was packed. Let me put it to you this way caseys at midnight closing had a line out the door. Even during the busy times casey is relatively empty after park closing. I went to animal kingdom today for lunch and safari had 100 minute wait. Crowded is an understatement. With that said, plan right especially since you are on property utilize extra magic hours. The crowded point of the day remains mid afternoon to mid evening.

Hey, we were at MK on the same day! I can corroborate this, the park was insanely packed all day, even long lines persisting to park close at midnight (SDMT still had a 40 minute wait at that time).

 

[Minnie1986]

People pull kids out of school for Disney vacations all the time.

Yeah, but all at once?

 

[Minnie1986]

Hey, we were at MK on the same day! I can corroborate this, the park was insanely packed all day, even long lines persisting to park close at midnight (SDMT still had a 40 minute wait at that time).

Boo! You guys are starting to freak me out (just kidding...kind of). My real worry is that I do have a disability and standing for extended periods of time , especially in the heat(hence why I chose to go in October) really exacerbates things. I'm not sure how the new Disney policy works, but I am bringing drs notes, just in case.

 

[Prog]

Yeah, but all at once?

Peaking economy, the belief that nothing important happens for the first month of school, and everyone assuming minor crowds... I'd believe it. My parents always took us in January, back when school was pretty much useless to me.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Strange. 2 weeks ago, universal studios wasn't bad at all! The worst wait time was despicable me at 30 minutes.

 

[Minnie1986]

Strange. 2 weeks ago, universal studios wasn't bad at all! The worst wait time was despicable me at 30 minutes.

I guess the closer it gets to Halloween, the more crowded? And generally speaking, Disney, or at least MK, has always been more crowded than Universal(at least from what I have experienced).

 

[jengrey]

We were there Sept. 30 - Oct. 6 and it did seem quite crowded. Granted, I've only been there at this time once before, but I was surprised because I've always read about how September and the beginning of October are the "less crowded" times. I know Epcot was crazy because of F&WF, but AK and MK seemed pretty crowded, too.