Phase closing and wait times - holidays 2012

[HenryMystic]

I bet the parks become more pleasant by the day this week.

Well until our old Explorer pal shows ups and starts lecturing poor unsuspecting guests about cogency and worlds fairs.

 

[marni1971]

I don't buy that for a second. I don't see how you could possibly get that many people in that park with all those ECVs and double-wide strollers. ... I'd have to ask, but I would bet capacity that is actually enforced is considerably lower. ... Yes, even with Fantasyland's new 'replacements'.

That was the record set in 1980... before the dark ages of strollers and ECVs...

 

[eddy21]

I could never fathom,Why someone would subject them self's and family to the parks during the holidays.

 

[Fantasmic]

Not sure if people saw this...
http://bocanewsnow.com/2012/12/25/disney-disaster-chirstmas-chaos-at-magic-kingdom/

Hardly a "disaster" - good ol' media sensationalization again!

 

[prberk]

Anyone know how crowded EPCOT was yesterday (the First), especially following New Year's Eve being so crowded. I wonder if there is a more-than-50% drop-off. Same question for MK, but especially EPCOT.

I have a friend who went there yesterday for his first time. He had intended to go on NYE, but he had ticket issues (mistakenly bought Disneyland tickets online) and ended up going to Universal instead for New Year's (which, by the way, did have fireworks -- not sure that I have ever known that before).

He gave up on resolving his ticket issues (which Disney said on the phone that they could not fix -- he would have to get a straight refund or possibly call ticket services during the day -- that is what they told him over the weekend, after I told him that his tickets were for California, not Florida). I think he plans to call Disneyland about a refund later. They told him on the phone that the parks would not be able to exchange them or fix it. So, he just bought a ticket to EPCOT. (His ticket, by the way, was an online ticket voucher directly from DL for a one-day-one-park admission. I thought it should have been easy to exchange.)

Anyhow, what we yesterday's crowds like, comparatively?

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Epcot was busy yesterday, but not insane (especially not compared to the 31st). Soarin and Test Track had 100 minute waits (which is fairly normal), MS:Orange was 35, Green was 15. Character Spot was also 35. Everything else was pretty much walk on. SSE had a short wait.

Maelstrom very randomly had a 40 minute wait.

 

[zulemara]

Final EPCOT number was 89k on NYE. That's straight from reedy creek.

 

[TropicalFig8]

I recently just came back from Disney and I was the touring the parks on 12/29/12 and they weren't THAT bad.
In fact, Splash Mountain was only like 20 minutes. A lot of the attractions at Magic Kingdom were walk-ons. I was able to ride 5 different attractions.
Then,I hoped over to Epcot and those were walk-ons too. The line for Test Track was HORRIBLE. 200 minutes. Bahhh,can't do it but the single riders line was only like 20 MINUTES. I walked right on. Oh, and I really like the new TT 2.0. Very fun to ride.
The worst park of the day was DHS. It was so crowded around Sunset Boulevard near Fantasmic! The line for it was terrible, and it was only like 5:30 PM. Goodness. The Rockin' Roller Coaster single riders line was closed apparently. Don't why Disney would do that and the entrance way to Twilight Zone was crowded of lost guests trying to find their way around. I did get to do Star Tours. 20 minute wait of course. I was on my own which was the worst part because I've never toured the parks alone before, so I thought I'd get lost in the crowd,but I did okay. Just every part of DHS was flooded of people.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Final EPCOT number was 89k on NYE. That's straight from reedy creek.

89K and not even a phase 2 closure. What is the capacity of Epcot?

Any numbers on MK and where did the RC numbers come from?

 

[LithiumBill]

I was at MK on Christmas Day and did not feel that the park was in Chaos at all...

 

[Hobnail Boot]

Just got to AK and a sign out front says MK is at capacity.

 

[wdwmagic]

12:20pm January 2 2013
Magic Kingdom currently closed to some guests due to capacity (phase 3)

 

[cornandacobb]

Getting clausterphobic just reading this thread.
My oh my.

I went 12/8-12/16 when crowds were manageable. Longest I waited for any attraction was 50 minutes for Little Mermaid and I found that to almost be unbearable(should have grabbed a FP and come back later. I thought it would be quicker woth the omnimovers but I think there were ride problems during the wait). 2nd longest attraction all week for me 20 minutes for Pooh(1st time riding it for me) and 3rd longest was the 15 minutes it takes to walk through the empty queu for Nemo(half joking....not a single person in line...but the walk is sooooo long).
I gladly took my kids out of school (7th and 3rd grades) to enjoy the parks and attractions and feel as if I'm getting something back for the exorbitant amount of $ spent on the vacation.
Props to you all who brave the crowds during the holiday or any other time of the year.
If I lived close and had an annual pass, I just might bop in for a bit. But otherwise hell no. My couch a seems like a better option.
60 minutes is waaaaay too long for any Disney attraction. I rode the new Test track 4 times with a total wait time of 30-40 minutes. I was also escorted off TT in a car at the seat belt check when my Mom had the entire ride shut down for the rest of the night(sorry Stand-Byers!).

Happy Holidays

 

[disneypearl]

12:20pm January 2 2013
Magic Kingdom currently closed to some guests due to capacity (phase 3)

Wow! I thought everyone would be going home by now. I arrive tomorrow and was expecting smaller crowds. I will be ready for anything now.

 

[JillC LI]

That is a gorgeous photograph.

 

[ScoutN]

Getting clausterphobic just reading this thread.
My oh my.

I went 12/8-12/16 when crowds were manageable. Longest I waited for any attraction was 50 minutes for Little Mermaid and I found that to almost be unbearable(should have grabbed a FP and come back later. I thought it would be quicker woth the omnimovers but I think there were ride problems during the wait). 2nd longest attraction all week for me 20 minutes for Pooh(1st time riding it for me) and 3rd longest was the 15 minutes it takes to walk through the empty queu for Nemo(half joking....not a single person in line...but the walk is sooooo long).
I gladly took my kids out of school (7th and 3rd grades) to enjoy the parks and attractions and feel as if I'm getting something back for the exorbitant amount of $ spent on the vacation.
Props to you all who brave the crowds during the holiday or any other time of the year.
If I lived close and had an annual pass, I just might bop in for a bit. But otherwise hell no. My couch a seems like a better option.
60 minutes is waaaaay too long for any Disney attraction. I rode the new Test track 4 times with a total wait time of 30-40 minutes. I was also escorted off TT in a car at the seat belt check when my Mom had the entire ride shut down for the rest of the night(sorry Stand-Byers!).

Happy Holidays

I was there during that same time frame and walked on Mermaid four different times. I walked on Pooh and Pan countless times. Even a few nights we did SM at least ten times a night with walk ons.

Couch is a much better option! Youtube the previous year's NYE fireworks if you want to see them that bad!

 

[Old Timer Disney Fan]

Wow, does anybody have any pictures they can share from their vacation this week?

I'd love to see them

I would love to see some, as well!!

 

[Mori Anne]

Wow! I thought everyone would be going home by now. I arrive tomorrow and was expecting smaller crowds. I will be ready for anything now.

My "guess" is that people are finishing out the week, then heading back. I imagine it thinning out later Sunday or Monday at the latest

 

[TP2000]

Maelstrom very randomly had a 40 minute wait.

Probably just a lot of people who wanted to see if the rockwork had been fixed yet.

 

[MissM]

That is a gorgeous photograph.

Thanks!