Too crowded!!

[note2001]

Crowded? MK? Hahah, Just wait until after Disney has completed construction on the central hub and Disney decides capacity can be increased. (What they should be doing is decreasing that maximum capacity)

I love Disney at the holidays, but will go out of my way to avoid walking in those rivers of people. Back pathways, take the train, walk through the stores, wait an hour until after the park closes to grab a bus, whatever it takes. If I'm caught in a river I'll do everything I can to swim to the side to save myself.

 

[MissM]

(What they should be doing is decreasing that maximum capacity)

QUOTED FOR TRUTH!! I remember last year how Iger was "bragging" about how New Fantasyland and FP+ allowed them to host like 3,000 more people or something last year at the holidays. As someone who went there one of those days, there was nothing worth bragging about. More people being squished inside is NOT a good thing!!

 

[dstrawn9889]

QUOTED FOR TRUTH!! I remember last year how Iger was "bragging" about how New Fantasyland and FP+ allowed them to host like 3,000 more people or something last year at the holidays. As someone who went there one of those days, there was nothing worth bragging about. More people being squished inside is NOT a good thing!!

but it is bragging, because even at Capacity, more people WANT to throw their money at Disney to let them in. being able to collect, say in your example, 3k*99.00 = $297,000.00.

 

[Bairstow]

200 minutes for ToT = insanity
View attachment 77900

At 2:00pm it was even worse; Rockin Rollercoaster was at 180 and Midway Mania at 190.
Didn't check on Tower of Terror.

 

[bfox1183]

does MK do anything special at the parks on actual christmas, since the "parade" (though can't be called that this year it was so bad) is filmed ahead of time.

The Christmas parade has been recorded early for years, mainly on the first weekend of December.

 

[mimitchi33]

For the multitudes of first-timers mentioned in this year's thread, here's a meme for you:

Currently, Toy Story is at a two wait, Rock 'N Roller and Star Tours are at an hour and a half wait, 30 minutes for Muppet-Vision, Figment has a twenty-minute wait, Test Track has a wait time of an hour and forty minutes with Soarin' adding on five minutes to that time, Dinosaur is at an hour and 20 minutes, Mine Train is two hours long, and Space Mountain currently has the highest wait time at two hours and five minutes.
And I have a question for anyone there-how long is the wait to see Anna and Elsa? I bet it must be over five hours or so, considering the crowds!

 

[disney1983]

When I talk to people who visit this time of year, they tend to say it's "not that bad." Maybe it becomes normal if this is the only time of the year that you visit? I can't imagine spending hours in line for one attraction.

 

[note2001]

When I talk to people who visit this time of year, they tend to say it's "not that bad." Maybe it becomes normal if this is the only time of the year that you visit? I can't imagine spending hours in line for one attraction.

That's just it, those of us who've been to WDW many times know at this time of year one goes for the ambiance not the attractions. Newbies are the ones who go for the attractions. If the game is to get in as many attractions as possible, they're better off saving their vacation days and funds and going on a 3 day weekend trip on the off season such as Sept or the end of January.

However, with Disney forcing higher capacity than ever before, even the ambiance is slipping away. More shoulders touching = more shin to stroller collisions, more anger from those who don't know how to navigate the scene and just an overall grinch feeling. I hope Disney considers this the next time they reevaluate the park capacity.

 

[mousehockey37]

However, with Disney forcing higher capacity than ever before, even the ambiance is slipping away. More shoulders touching = more shin to stroller collisions, more anger from those who don't know how to navigate the scene and just an overall grinch feeling. I hope Disney considers this the next time they reevaluate the park capacity.

Money rules the world, even WDW. As others are stating, if they can get an additional few thousand in the gates to wander aimlessly and/or wait for rides, all while cashing in on paying to get through the gate, they will.

The new system concept works, at normal volumes, not extreme volumes. They can allot so many FP's but if everyone shows up at the last minute and not spread out through the hour they are to be there, there's still going to be a line on BOTH sides of the queue.

Keep in mind, that DHS is down "attractions", EPCOT doesn't really have anything ride wise in the WS and the hours for AK are always short this time of year. So that leaves not a whole lot of room for a lot of people to all go. I doubt most people are paying premium dollar to go this time of year and spend it at the resort.

Side note: I bet the monorail and buses are just absolutely FUN and MAGICAL at the end of the day!

 

[Lord_Vader]

For as much as people are saying it's crowded, I have not seen many posts with the Phased closings this year as I did last year. So it may be crowded, but they haven't hit capacity yet.

MK hit phased closings on the 25th and 26th while we were there. It was extremely busy, more than in years past on Christmas week but the lines slowed a bit after the second parade and immensely after fireworks.

Also, 7D opened up this year adding a lot of new capacity. CM had a difficult time controlling the traffic this year closing all bridges I to the hub except Main St. Effectively closing the hub off at one point before fireworks.

 

[GrandRoyale]

For the multitudes of first-timers mentioned in this year's thread, here's a meme for you:

Currently, Toy Story is at a two wait, Rock 'N Roller and Star Tours are at an hour and a half wait, 30 minutes for Muppet-Vision, Figment has a twenty-minute wait, Test Track has a wait time of an hour and forty minutes with Soarin' adding on five minutes to that time, Dinosaur is at an hour and 20 minutes, Mine Train is two hours long, and Space Mountain currently has the highest wait time at two hours and five minutes.
And I have a question for anyone there-how long is the wait to see Anna and Elsa? I bet it must be over five hours or so, considering the crowds!

Is it just me or does this not seem that bad to anyone else? I know its still crazy and ridiculous but I would expect a lot higher for this infamously busy time of year. I feel like I've seen waits like this on days outside of this peak season pocket.

 

[Lord_Vader]

I always feel bad for all the people who can only visit during the holidays, or it's their first time and they either didn't know any better or don't know what a difference the crowds can have on your experience. Like, obviously you'd be a fool to not expect it to be crowded, but maybe they assume that it's always jam packed?

I feel like if its anyone's first visit and during these times, they probably leave with a terrible impression of the parks and will never really experience the full joy the parks have to offer.

There are a lot of clueless families that do no know what they are getting into. We go every year and talk to a lot a familws in the buses and many did not know. We try to provide a little guidance but for many it is a little late, especially those that are there during Christmas week. We try to stress being together and having fun doing what you are doing and not focus on doing everything.

 

[Lord_Vader]

QUOTED FOR TRUTH!! I remember last year how Iger was "bragging" about how New Fantasyland and FP+ allowed them to host like 3,000 more people or something last year at the holidays. As someone who went there one of those days, there was nothing worth bragging about. More people being squished inside is NOT a good thing!!

The number I heard is 12,000 for all FLE over previous levels.

 

[maxime29]

We usually plan our trip around the week of Christmas. Unfortunately, it's the only time when we can get our family together (no work or other plans; summer does not work for us). Used to be able to go the first week of January. We know what we get ourselves into, and that is why we arrive as early as possible to ride what we want to ride (utilize FP+ for early hours 9am 10am and 11am and use single rider if available). For the most part, we finish what we want to do in roughly 4 hours (Epcot, DHS, AK is easier than MK), get lunch and relax at our resort pool. Plus, the last two years we booked the trip on the last day free Dining was available. Best deal you can get considering it's the holiday season!

 

[grimb168]

We are the same way. Went into magic at 7am and left at 11. 5 minute waits for every thing stayin at Saratoga. 5 of us waited for a bus and then a white van pulled up to us and they took us back to our resort in the van.

 

[prberk]

NOT MY PHOTOS. I'm not there. It's too busy for me. But I saw these come up on facebook about an hour ago of crowds this afternoon in Fantasyland and thought I'd share.

Obviously crowded.

But you know what else I noticed? NO Christmas decorations. Has Fantasyland always been completely devoid of Christmas decorations during the holiday season? Maybe it has, but I always think of touring WDW during the season more for the Christmas ambiance than the rides -- and I know that Main Street, USA, was always a highlight, but I thought all of it was decorated to some exent. I remember in the past at least seeing Liberty Square and Frontierland decorated. Were the other lands not?

If that is the case, it makes "visiting for the ambiance" even less a good idea during this week.

 

[Lord_Vader]

Obviously crowded.

But you know what else I noticed? NO Christmas decorations. Has Fantasyland always been completely devoid of Christmas decorations during the holiday season? Maybe it has, but I always think of touring WDW during the season more for the Christmas ambiance than the rides -- and I know that Main Street, USA, was always a highlight, but I thought all of it was decorated to some exent. I remember in the past at least seeing Liberty Square and Frontierland decorated. Were the other lands not?

If that is the case, it makes "visiting for the ambiance" even less a good idea during this week.

I don't ever remember seeing Christmas decor around the individual lands except for a few specific locations like Gaston's, Liberty Tree and The Diamond Horseshoe.

 

[prberk]

I don't ever remember seeing Christmas decor around the individual lands except for a few specific locations like Gaston's, Liberty Tree and The Diamond Horseshoe.

Well, of course, there was the obvious "Country Bear Christmas" overlay and great decorations there. But they don't see a need for that now, although it seems even more appropriate than the current Jungle Cruise Christmas adaptation. I do not understand why they don't do the "Country Bear Christmas" any more. No reasonable excuse. None. It fits the theme, they have the technology to do it, and they are not crying poverty lately. They have even proven lately that they can shorten a show by cutting some things; so the excuse a few years back that they did not have rights to "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," or whatever else was in the old Christmas show, they could easily cut it and/or replace it.

And, of course, everyone knows that DL decorates their "Small World."

But were/are there other Christmas decorations in Fantasyland and the other lands?

 

[Lord_Vader]

Well, of course, there was the obvious "Country Bear Christmas" overlay and great decorations there. But they don't see a need for that now, although it seems even more appropriate than the current Jungle Cruise Christmas adaptation. I do not understand why they don't do the "Country Bear Christmas" any more. No reasonable excuse. None. It fits the theme, they have the technology to do it, and they are not crying poverty lately. They have even proven lately that they can shorten a show by cutting some things; so the excuse a few years back that they did not have rights to "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," or whatever else was in the old Christmas show, they could easily cut it and/or replace it.

And, of course, everyone knows that DL decorates their "Small World."

But were/are there other Christmas decorations in Fantasyland and the other lands?

Not that I remember, at least going back 10 years.

 

[mikeh]

Currently at Magic Kingdom