Regretting my trip to Disney

DGRYAN1977

Member
I arrive tomorrow for a week. My mother in law is currently there and said the parks are PACKED. People are complaining about over crowding.

What the heck was I thinking going this time of the year?
 

disney4life2008

Well-Known Member
Did it occur to you that it is summer time and the parks would be packed when you made the reservation? It is common knowledge that any tourist destination will be packed at the seams when schools out. And while its true that the parks are unbearable when its packed - with adequate planning it can work. The key is to avoid the pack of crowds. I did it last year during 4th of july weekend and had a fab time
 
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Tuvalu

Premium Member
I arrive tomorrow for a week. My mother in law is currently there and said the parks are PACKED. People are complaining about over crowding.

What the heck was I thinking going this time of the year?
Deep breath. Calm down. You can still have a wonderful time if you keep a positive mindset. Don't let the crowds frustrate you. Be patient and if you have to miss out on a certain attraction, that's okay. Many people would love to be in your position of leaving for a Disney vacation tomorrow. You are blessed to be able to go at all!
 
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DGRYAN1977

Member
Original Poster
Did it occur to you that it is summer time and the parks would be packed when you made the reservation? It is common knowledge that any tourist destination will be packed at the seams when schools out. And while its true that the parks are unbearable when its packed - with adequate planning it can work. The key is to avoid the pack of crowds. I did it last year during 4th of july weekend and had a fab time

Honestly, we are only going because my niece is performing at downtown Disney on sunday. So we didn't really give it too much though. Once we found out the date we just booked it. In hindsight, I should have given it more thought.
Oh well, I will make the best of it!
 
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pumpkin7

Well-Known Member
We were there last year at this time. Wow, a year ago. Crazy!
It was busy, but not as busy as I've read about on here. The newer rides were a bit crazy (90 minutes for Little Mermaid etc). We stayed until 5th July as well. It wasn't so bad.
 
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Ariel484

Well-Known Member
We were there this time in 2011. I do remember the parks being crowded but I don't remember thinking it was unbearable...of course I'm also an insane planner, so there's that...

But you know the drill - get up early for rope drop, take advantage of FP+, accept that you won't get to see and do everything, have ADRs in place ahead of time, etc.

We won't ever go again over the summer though - not because of the crowds, but because of the heat. So make sure you take lots of afternoon breaks and drink tons of water. :) Have a great trip!!!
 
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disney4life2008

Well-Known Member
We were there this time in 2011. I do remember the parks being crowded but I don't remember thinking it was unbearable...of course I'm also an insane planner, so there's that...

But you know the drill - get up early for rope drop, take advantage of FP+, accept that you won't get to see and do everything, have ADRs in place ahead of time, etc.

We won't ever go again over the summer though - not because of the crowds, but because of the heat. So make sure you take lots of afternoon breaks and drink tons of water. :) Have a great trip!!!

I was just about to say - the crowds are maintainable. But the summer heat is worst. But neither is enough to keep me away. Load me up on dole whips and I am happy
 
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Ariel484

Well-Known Member
I was just about to say - the crowds are maintainable. But the summer heat is worst. But neither is enough to keep me away. Load me up on dole whips and I am happy
Agreed. We had a realistic idea of what to expect with the crowds...I think my husband had more realistic expectations of what the heat would be like than I did. :confused:

But if it was a summer trip or no trip...I'd still go. Just chug water like crazy and buy one of those misting fans.
 
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disney4life2008

Well-Known Member
Agreed. We had a realistic idea of what to expect with the crowds...I think my husband had more realistic expectations of what the heat would be like than I did. :confused:

But if it was a summer trip or no trip...I'd still go. Just chug water like crazy and buy one of those misting fans.

Also, the dollar store sells one dollar pocket fans. I bought a few for my students and they work pretty good. Beating the heat at disneyworld is easily maintained. But I always look at it like this - right now in Illinois its 90 plus degrees. I would rather be in 90 degree Disneyworld heat, lol
 
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HRHPrincessAriel

Well-Known Member
We just got back. I had never taken mid day breaks before but I know why people recommend them!! We stayed till 3:30 our last day...normally we were already back at the resort taking breaks. The difference of people from 1-5ish was astounding.

I will always do that from here on out!
 
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sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
Agreed. We had a realistic idea of what to expect with the crowds...I think my husband had more realistic expectations of what the heat would be like than I did. :confused:

But if it was a summer trip or no trip...I'd still go. Just chug water like crazy and buy one of those misting fans.
I would go, skip dumping $$ on parks entry, and stay in a resort that is it's own vacation destination. Like Animal Kingdom Lodge or Beach/Yacht Club. Seriously. If you really think about it, a perfectly wonderful vacation with plenty to do and enjoy can be had without ever entering one of the 4 parks.
 
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Disnee4Me

Well-Known Member
Do what we always did when we went in the summer ... go to whatever park has early morning hours and ride as many rides as possible before it gets crowded. Then have lunch around 2 p.m., when the sun is the hottest and you can sit inside and relax (and the worse of the lunch crowd is over). Then do some window shopping after lunch (again staying out of the heat) And then when everyone else goes to eat dinner normally between 5-6, hit the rides again. It helps the insanity.
 
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disney4life2008

Well-Known Member
I go first thing in the morning and get out of the parks between 12 and 2. It will rain every day between 3 and 5 and crowds will leave and the heat will drop quite a bit. Then by 6/7 the parks are a joy. Epcot is the only park I can do in heat because nearly everything is indoors. AK is the worst - I will NEVER ever wait in that hot sun for its tough to be a bug - HORRIBLE! Same for Lion King (not sure of the new set up now); Nemo, Dinosaur - all bad. HS - do not get me started - NO NO NO NO! I love Beauty and the Beast but that show is TERRIBLE in heat. MK I deal because its my favorite park but by 1130 its a madhouse during the summer.
 
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SagamoreBeach

Well-Known Member
I forgot - 3 years ago I went during the month of June. Yes, it was crowded! But what really got to me was the heat and humidity. And it rained every afternoon - even that wasn't enough to cool me down. I hit the parks early in the day - and I remember my tolerance level disappearing around 2 - headed back to the resort and lounged around the pool until dinner time and then back to the parks for dinner & fireworks, etc...
-Tony
 
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