Too crowded!!

[wendysue]

I don't care about the kids on the shoulders as much (I used to be one of those kids watching the fireworks show!) I do care about the weirdos that hold up their iPads above their heads that creates a flashlight behind the person.

Yes, this is ridiculous. There were so many around us it was like MK just leaving the lights on. Some people (alot actually) spend so much time on said devices that they are never really on vacation with each other... sad.

 

[RichVIII]

I would agree with the poster who suggested that Disney has learned with dining promotions/sales, events and incentives they can maximize the gate year around. It is like the middle seat on a plane, we all love when it is empty for our comfort but it is not reasonable for the airlines to operate that way. And like the airlines, planes are fuller than ever.

 

[Boardwalker]

The only slow season is a couple weeks in January & February. Labor Day through around the 20th of September, and the early part of the day on special party event days. Otherwise, expect it to be busy and it will only get worse.

You can count September out since the expansion of MNSSHP and Drunkytown that now encompasses almost all of Sept and Oct.

 

[rudyjr13]

It's crowded at MK for the castle shows and monorail after because there's nothing to do at 2 of the other parks by the time the Frozen show starts. Especially with younger kids.

 

[kettcobb]

We arrived in Orlando on Wednesday, on Thursday we went to Universal Studios and today we've been to Islands of Adventure and back to Universal. We've done pretty much every ride and show that we've wanted to. Walk on for both Harry Potter main rides! Genuinely couldn't believe how quiet both parks were, it was flipping lovely.

I guess everyone is at MK! We are here for Christmas so are building up slowly to the chaos that will be at the Disney parks in the next couple of weeks.

 

[wdisney9000]

We were at Epcot yesterday and it wasn't bad at all. Didn't seem anymore crowded than expected. Was a bit chilly though. Today looks better

 

[Ralphlaw]

Many people who go to WDW either do a bunch of online research or check out the Unofficial Guides these days. A big part of that research is picking the quieter times of year to go, when crowds are sparser. That's one factor. Others:
1. People more willing to pull kids out of school.
2. Foreign guests with different school breaks.
3. More adults going without kids.
4. Home schoolers who have no set schedule.
5. Overall cheaper flights.
6. Package deals that include on property stays, and dining plans, which attract more people who really don't want to worry once they're there. Yeah those packages are usually cheaper during off times.

Face it, would any of us splurge on the big vacation when the temperature is ridiculously hot & humid or when crowds can ruin the experience? With that being said, we're going December 23rd through January 1st, when crowds will be insane. Nevertheless, it's not about hitting a dozen rides for us, it's the resort (Boardwalk), parades, fireworks, food, warm weather (I live in Wisconsin), and those few rides that we can FastPass. That's the only time I can go given that my son is now in high school, and grades are more important than they were before.

In any event, kids on shoulders, and idiots with iPads are truly annoying. Courtesy up people. Before my daughter goes up I look behind me to make sure we aren't blocking anyone. And when I'm in the front, even after staking my claim an hour beforehand, I let other kids up front to stand with my daughter. You'd be amazed at how grateful these parents are. Or perhaps you wouldn't be. Sometimes it's ten kids up there, and a bunch of grateful parents a couple rows back, very happy.

 

[Ranch Dressing]

MM+ is definately showing what it was designed for now, especially at MK. Crowds are dispursed so much now with the new fastpass system just about everything has a ten minute wait, even the lesser attractions most people probably skipped. In turn it seems we are either waiting in line or spending money shopping/eating while waiting for fasspasses to the "better" rides we just have to do on vacation. If thats the whole point of the NextGen project, Disney nailed it. You are spending more money.

I do have to chuckle about how dead Universal is though. All that money spent and it had all the internet hype and compared to WDW right now the place is floundering.

 

[wm49rs]

MM+ is definately showing what it was designed for now, especially at MK. Crowds are dispursed so much now with the new fastpass system just about everything has a ten minute wait, even the lesser attractions most people probably skipped. In turn it seems we are either waiting in line or spending money shopping/eating while waiting for fasspasses to the "better" rides we just have to do on vacation. If thats the whole point of the NextGen project, Disney nailed it. You are spending more money.

I do have to chuckle about how dead Universal is though. All that money spent and it had all the internet hype and compared to WDW right now the place is floundering.

It'd truly be funny if you had actually visited. But, thick is as thick does....

 

[photomatt]

You are correct - 10 years ago. In 2006 - I went to Disney around this time (actually it was next week) - and the parks were dead.

I don't know what they did before or after, but on Christmas Eve 1990, the MK closed at 6pm so that the CM's could be with their families. And yes, it was really quiet between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day back then.

 

[wdisney9000]

MM+ is definately showing what it was designed for now, especially at MK. Crowds are dispursed so much now with the new fastpass system jus about everything has a ten minute wait, even the lesser attractions most people probably skipped. In turn it seems we are either waiting in line or spending money shopping/eating while waiting for fasspasses to the "better" rides we just have to do on vacation. If thats the whole point of the NextGen project, Disney nailed it. You are spending more money.

I do have to chuckle about how dead Universal is though. All that money spent and it had all the internet hype and compared to WDW right now the place is floundering.

What are you talking about? We were at MK tonight and we had to wait ten minutes just to get to the FP entrance for most rides, then another 10-20 minutes just to get on the ride. If MM+ was designed to have families jam up the line trying to scam their way in or explain some long story to the CM, then ya, it was worth the billions. Seriously, every FP entrance we were at there was someone wasting the CM'S time with a ridiculous story ranging from error on the app to different FP times and they just wanted the CM to let them in.

The poor CM'S have to deal with this all day.

 

[photomatt]

The abuse of disability status seems out of control. I am probably going to get flamed for this, but I think being 450 pounds overweight is not a disability. It means you should be walking, not riding a scooter.

I'm not trying to start a flame war, but, consider walking a mile in their shoes before you say what a disability is or is not. I wrote this post before I saw your second post, but ECV's are a necessity to some. Here's one thing to consider. If Disney would put more benches in the parks and offer more places to sit, some of those ECV's would disappear. To some, it might look like there are plenty of places to sit, but look at it during a busy time from the point of view of someone who needs to rest frequently and you might see what I'm referring to.

 

[photomatt]

Everyone is crammed and knows it going into it. In the US, people would start suing for getting groped on the transportation

In Japan there is an entire underground market of "stuff" because of this. Nothing more needs to be mentioned, but my point is that the cramming has many downsides. It would never work here, thankfully.

 

[photomatt]

Starting December 19th, and continuing until January 4th, "crowded at the MK" is going to have an entirely new definition. Records will be set. Cheap gas, relatively affordable airfare (when adjusted for inflation), a good economy, New Fantasyland, Frozen mania still near peak, and other factors I'm not mentioning will combine to create the perfect storm.

The crowds will make the observations in this thread seem tame by comparison. It's going to be ugly, and all of the deferred infrastructure upgrades are going to come back to haunt TDO. Unless they have fixed Buena Vista Drive in the past week, there is still major construction there. The biggest problem is that the lights have changed to allow pedestrians to cross the road because there is not enough parking. The longer lights, the narrow roads, and the insane crowd levels are going to create gridlock in that area like no one has ever seen.

Please don't let me scare you away, though. Please come and spend your money. That way I don't have to pay state income tax. Thanks in advance.

 

[PhotoDave219]

You can count September out since the expansion of MNSSHP and Drunkytown that now encompasses almost all of Sept and Oct.

Drunkytown? Since when did this become a board become a giant AA meeting?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Starting December 19th, and continuing until January 4th, "crowded at the MK" is going to have an entirely new definition. Records will be set. Cheap gas, relatively affordable airfare (when adjusted for inflation), a good economy, New Fantasyland, Frozen mania still near peak, and other factors I'm not mentioning will combine to create the perfect storm.

The crowds will make the observations in this thread seem tame by comparison. It's going to be ugly, and all of the deferred infrastructure upgrades are going to come back to haunt TDO. Unless they have fixed Buena Vista Drive in the past week, there is still major construction there. The biggest problem is that the lights have changed to allow pedestrians to cross the road because there is not enough parking. The longer lights, the narrow roads, and the insane crowd levels are going to create gridlock in that area like no one has ever seen.

Please don't let me scare you away, though. Please come and spend your money. That way I don't have to pay state income tax. Thanks in advance.

You meant starting today...... It was a BIT of a crapshow today

 

[marni1971]

Desperate for attention.... Same nonsense since no one took the bait..... And then shot down....

 

[Next Big Thing]

People reporting high and low crowds are both correct. MVMCP has contributed greatly to this. on MVMCP days (or other days in the week where the park closes early), the park has been pretty light. When the park has been open late, no MVMCP and especially on weekends when locals have more of a chance to stop in, the place has been PACKED. It's a bit weirder this year than I think i've ever seen it though. The extremes are incredible from one to the other.

 

[jklakeview]

Not only is the temperatures cold at night but the population inside the park is over eel ing. It sucks the enjoyment right out of the experience. Last night at the frozen show people were yelling at others nit to put their children on their shoulders because they couldn't see. It's becoming unbearable. We r stuck currently on the monorail to go to the grand Floridian, have been waiting over 30 minutes!! Not magical!!

It's also pop warner football week. We avoid that week. But until the American dollars has a stronger value people from all over the world will fill the parks. It's too cheap to say no.

 

[jklakeview]

It's also pop warner football week. We avoid that week. But until the American dollars has a stronger value people from all over the world will fill the parks. It's too cheap to say no.

Also, you can not go to the park with the longest hours and not expect it to be busy. We always go to the parks that are expected to be least busy. We park hop to the busier ones with longer hours at night.