how crowded is "really crowded"?

[edhall]

every place I've read has been saying that the end of March is going to be super crowded!
I'm going march 25-april 2nd.
I'm trying to get an idea... what does REALLY crowded mean? will i have to wait forever for quick service food? will there not be any tables to sit on? will most of the rides take > 20 mins to get on? Do i have to swim through a crowd to get from point a to b?

If anyone can give me an idea, that would be great. i'm trying to mentally prepare!

thank you!

 

[James122]

It'll certainly be crowded, but as long as you go in with the expectation and knowledge that it will be crowded and that most wait times will likely NOT be less than 20 minutes (in other words, don't expect very many attractions to be a walk on and don't expect to be able to hit everything) than you'll be fine.

I went there about 10 years ago during the week after Easter and while it was very congested and crowded (and we probably will not go back during that time ever again) it was still very fun, so don't worry!

 

[JIMINYCR]

Yes its a definite that on the crowded week you are there, you will get on less rides than you maybe wanted to, youll wait longer to get your food and a place to sit, youll get bumped into by others, youll have to exercise more patience.... but at least youll be having a better time than I am having at work. You can enjoy the sights and sounds of the park. You can watch the parades and fireworks. You can pin trade, talk to the CM's, shop for souvenirs, stroll the pathways. Taste a Dole Whip and assorted other snack items. So dont go fretting about how much you cant do, look forward to all you can do. Have a great time ....

 

[epcotisbest]

And what did I do to upset you ?

Not upset. I give my friends a hard time, joke around, kid, pick on them.

 

[epcotisbest]

Don't be. A crowded day at disney is better than a day almost anywhere else...

That is a nice theory, but not always true sadly.

 

[epcotisbest]

Instead of 'I would NEVER go then, don't do it,' he's saying that if you go with the right mentality, it can be enjoyed. Like you said, the OP is going next week and there's not much that can be done about it. It seems like @CAPTAIN HOOK was doing a good thing by posting something productive.

"Yes, people can and do have a great time in those crowds"...see my post had a glimmer of positivity in it too!

 

[eddy21]

OK, so I am a little confused. The OP is wondering if he will have to wait longer than 20 minutes. You then mention four hour standby and up to two hours being not unusual. He's going next week, so I am not sure how much he can plan in advance.
So, is your personal point of view grossly exaggerated too? Standby lines soul destroying?
I guess the confusing part for me is you seem to be with us doom and gloom folks while declaring it as exaggerated. Seems kinda like a restaurant review declaring the meal both inedible and delicious.
Anyway, just giving you a hard time. Yes, people can and do have a great time in those crowds. Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded.

Some people have a high tolerance for pain and suffering. Masochists I believe there called.

 

[seahawk7]

Check wait times, if Figment has a wait your in trouble. Oh- see you there and have a magical trip!

Figment always has a wait now thanks to fastpass+.

 

[MermaidJuli]

I am suddenly very sad

Please, don't let all of this ruin your trip.

Like you said, you are looking to mentally prepare.

I live an hour from the park and go all throughout the year, regardless of the crowds. I spent 4 days at Disney last year between Christmas and New Years, which is about the biggest nightmare of a time to go. However, we had a wonderful time and have such great memories from our trip. We expected it to be crowded, and it was, but it did not impact the quality of our experience.

Plan ahead. Set up your fast passes. Set up your advanced dining reservations. Know that the busiest time will be mid day. Get to the park right at opening and go directly to the things you want to do most. If you are staying on site, utilize extra magic hours. Mid day, take a break - Go tour the deluxe resorts, take a boat ride across the lagoon, plan for an ADR at a table service lunch option and relax for a bit, or see some of the less popular shows/less popular attractions. Then hit the parks again in the evening.

Google "Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars" and see which parks look to be best/worst for which days. Try to plan accordingly.

And from there, take it all in stride. If you are mentally prepared and have your expectations set, you will be fine. You'll still be on vacation in a magical place! Everything will be okay. Enjoy it.

 

[wogwog]

Just look at the park schedule. Starting 3/29 through 4/4 here are some "hints". Normal park opening is 9. Next week. Opening at 7 EMH. Welcome show 6:50. Close 1 AM plus EMH to 3 AM Saturday. FoF day parade at 12 and 3. Night parade 10:15 PM and 12:15 AM. Crowds should be 60 to 70K. Wait times on the usual suspect rides will be 90 to 120 at times.

Be prepared and you will accept the mob and still have some fun.

 

[DisneyRoy]

I went the 2nd week of Dec. 2014 which was supposed to be a "slow" week. Never again. It certainly wasn't as slow as the 1st week of Oct. 2012 when I went last which was a dream. I would never, ever, ever go when the anticipated crowd is anything over "slow." That's just me, though.

Now that's interesting. I was also there the 2nd week of December. Which IS a "slow" time. According to Touring Plans, that weeks crowd levels was 3s and 4s. It was really manageable in my eyes. But not bring since 2012 I can see the difference. That was about as slow as Disney gets any more. As has been pointed out numerous times on this site....the "slow" season are no more. With the discounts and people taking kids out of school etc....it's always some sort of crowded.

 

[AVeryDifferentDisneyDad]

I will also be there at the end of March leaving on April 1st. We usually do the week after Christmas, so other than it being a little warmer, crowds and waiting is what my family of five expects.

The solution? Remember... it's Walt Freakin'DISNEY! BABY!!!

Charge your iPads and DS'es, and bring a magazine or a book with you. Get Fastpasses. Eat lunch at 11 or 2. Go back to your room and take a nap (your pool will be packed, too, and people pee in them). MK is open until 1am almost every night those weeks. Come watch the fireworks and stay late. Usually my teenager joins me on my late night jounts, but this year my 10 and 12 year olds vow the "Close Magic Kingdom" each night we are there!

Try to relax and have fun. Oh, and bring ponchos!

 

[ULPO46]

I think I would rather stick a pencil into my eye socket than be in that malay...I know that there is certainly more substance to Disney than rides but considering entry cost to the park has anyone ever done the math on a peak day like that for average cost per ride if you broke down how many rides it is possible to get on versus entry to the park?

Peak Capacity by RCFD and State law is about 80-100,000. Or when disney sees the parking hit capacity than they close the parks. That said at the price of tickets, disney can easily rack 100,000,000 us dollars.

 

[copcarguyp71]

Peak Capacity by RCFD and State law is about 80-100,000. Or when disney sees the parking hit capacity than they close the parks. That said at the price of tickets, disney can easily rack 100,000,000 us dollars.

OK...but I was asking how much it costs the guest in terms of cost per ride. Supposing that you can get on four rides per day at a peak time like this then the math works out like this...

$91.67 park admittance (assuming a three day pass purchase)
4- rides per day (which is the variable I am guessing at)
= $22.92 per ride

Now, I have never been during a crazy busy time like the ones shown at the beginning of the thread so I am guessing at the number of rides realistically possible. And yes..before everyone goes frothingly haywire I would agree that WDW is far more than just rides and that your price of admittance buys more than just amusements but my query had nothing to do with that and was a mere cost analysis.

Also...Using that equation of $91.67 per ticket figuring that as an average (a supposition on my part) when taking into account the passersby as well as the two week travellers. That would mean at a park capacity of 100,000 which you mentioned above that the gross daily would be $9,167.000/day on park tickets for MK admittance.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I use certain rides as "measuring sticks" to determine how crowded the park is on a given day.

For example, if the Haunted Mansion (The ultimate crowd eating omnimover) is longer than 60 minutes, the Magic Kingdom is very crowded.

My advice on your dates, which will be quite crowded other than Christmas, 4th of July and perhaps Thanksgiving:

1) Go with the right mindset. It will be crowded, so enjoy it in ways that don't necessitate ride, ride, ride.

2) Keep calm, stay patient, and use your Fast Passes.

3) Try to get some dinner reservations set. I know it's last minute now, but at least have some places planned where you can sit down and eat. This will give you a break from the constant crowds.

4) Have a good time. Crowded doesn't have to mean miserable, but it can be if you are too focused on how crowded it feels.

 

[Trevor67]

We are going on 4/6/15, just a 1 day visit to the MK while our local Orlando relatives are in school. Does anyone have any tips on rides to hit first? We have 3 FP+'s 8-9 Buzz, 9-10 Ariel, 11-12 Peter Pan already and luckily the kids only want to meet Mickey so we're not going to touch the Frozen characters. My kids are 5 and 2 so they'll be most interested in the traditional rides Dumbo/Tea Cups/Small World/ Haunted Mansion. Any tips would be appreciated! We're packing a lunch as we already figured the best restaurant would be a curb!

 

[BoarderPhreak]

When walking on any given path, passing out - and not falling over.

In other words, Christmas in the Magic Kingdom.

 

[PhotoDave219]

every place I've read has been saying that the end of March is going to be super crowded!
I'm going march 25-april 2nd.
I'm trying to get an idea... what does REALLY crowded mean? will i have to wait forever for quick service food? will there not be any tables to sit on? will most of the rides take > 20 mins to get on? Do i have to swim through a crowd to get from point a to b?

If anyone can give me an idea, that would be great. i'm trying to mentally prepare!

thank you!

Well given that if you look at the yearly estimates equate to 50k+ at the MK on an average day, You'll likely be dealing with 70-80k guests.

You will have to wait forever for QSR. You will have to fight for a table, unless Disney has someone looking for open tables and directing guests to them.

The rides will take 45+ in mid day unless you have FP+. FP+ will be backed up too.

You will have to swim through crowds, especially the Adventureland and Fantasyland chokepoints.

In short, it will not be pleasant. It will not be fun unless you try to avoid the beaten path.

 

[PhotoDave219]

WOW !!!! There's too much doom and gloom being posted on here - and I can honestly say, that from a personal point of view, some of it is grossly exaggerated.

I've been to WDW 6 times. 4 over Easter, 1 in August and my last trip over Christmas and New Year. We're going back this August. ALL these trip have been over peak times. ALL these trips have been thoroughly enjoyed and if we hadn't enjoyed them, would we have gone back for more - probably not.

The trick is to plan in advance - well in advance. Get your dining reservations booked as early as possible and enjoy at least one table serve meal a day. Use it as a time to chill out and relax before, during or at the end of your day in the parks.
Counter serve restaurants will be busy and yes you will have to stand in a long line for service.
Headliner rides are best done during Extra Magic Hours, straight after rope drop or with Fast Pass. Standby by lines can be soul destroying but people do it. Almost 4 hour standby for Soarin' on New Years Eve is the biggest I've seen, up to two hours for Splash or Big Thunder are not unusual.
Swimming through a crowd is a great description - its busy and people get frustrated as its totally not what they were prepared for.

Plan for the absolute worst, and be pleasantly surprised when it isn't really all that bad - go expecting short lines, walk up restaurants and grabbing a great spot for the parade at the very last minute and you're in for a shock

No, I'm just realistic. I've also been to WDW on every major holiday. I've done extensive crowd observations over the past 10 years. I know what a 75k crowd feels like and it keeps me away - usually because I-4 is a disaster between Championsgate to the south and at least Sand Lake to the north. (Or farther)

I know what kind of crowd I enjoy (September 2004 was amazing) and what kind of crowd I do not enjoy (Easter/Christmas). I does vary from person to person however the OP was asking what to expect. I feel most have answered that truthfully. Now you went in with a plan and executed it well, and my hat off to you. Thats what people need to do in order to survive during peak times.

Thats just not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I am suddenly very sad

Gotta go in with a plan. Also gotta go with the flow and be ready to change plans at the drop of a hat. Make reservations, make FP+ bookings. Find shade and water. Find out of the way areas. It can be done.

The good news? College Spring Break is not the same time as Easter this year. The years when that coincides? Even worse.

Just prepare yourself, look at Touring Plans, and try to plan out things from a worst case scenerio.

The good news? Epcot handles a crapload of people very well, so it wont be that bad when you go there. MK will be your only problem.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Apart from Christmas, those dates are the worst ....

Hold up.

That photo is ancient. That photo is at least 15 years old. Look at the trees around the hub; hasnt been that was since 2002-2003.