Was it more relaxed in the early days of the park?

[Walt Disney1955]

Probably a hypothetical question, as it does seem to be more relaxed crowd-wise. Here's the thing though, were the crowds ever low? I would suspect they would have still been high in the 1970s. But looking at pictures there just seems to be more space, less congestion and probably less rushing in general. No scooters and barely any strollers helps too I guess. But were guests more relaxed at the park in the old days? Were people less rude? I will admit, I tend to run through the parks like a chicken with my head cut off some times but it is only because the lines can be crazy at times.

 

[Pixieish]

Probably a hypothetical question, as it does seem to be more relaxed crowd-wise. Here's the thing though, were the crowds ever low? I would suspect they would have still been high in the 1970s. But looking at pictures there just seems to be more space, less congestion and probably less rushing in general. No scooters and barely any strollers helps too I guess. But were guests more relaxed at the park in the old days? Were people less rude? I will admit, I tend to run through the parks like a chicken with my head cut off some times but it is only because the lines can be crazy at times.

Crowds were ABSOLUTELY lower the further back you go. Our honeymoon was from Oct 22 to Nov 2 in 2000, and you wouldn't believe how empty the parks were - even Epcot with the Food and Wine going on. It was absolutely blissful and I long for those crowd levels.

I also think people aren't as well behaved as they used to be. This is the "me" decade, and I really despise it.

 

[BigRedDad]

Yes. Back then, you just went and had fun. Now, you have to plan a military regimented attack on the parks because they are too crowded and require so much work before hand. When you go now, look at how many people are miserable, yelling at kids, and complain like crazy because of lines.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I try to be as optomistic as possible and go with the flow with the guests...Yes, there will be moments where crowds will get the best of me. But, I try to pass that as I paid good money for something I can only do for a short amount of time and I want to make it better everytime I come back...

 

[networkpro]

If you'd consider the context of transportation to and from the Orlando area over time its less expensive and more convenient. Air Fares are deregulated and there are more points of departure across the US. There's also the expansion of credit to consider. It use to be only if you had the funds immediately available you could purchase items outside of your immediate living area and only had credit available locally.

That's why for the past few decades the Orlando tourist and ancillary servicing industries have been boom or bust based on the expansion or contraction of ready credit.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Oh yes it was very enjoyable and relaxing. We avoided the high volume months and went during slow seasons. There were several months you could choose from that were considered low crowd times to escape the craziness. People were much more considerate and friendly, I think its because it wasnt a high pressure driven situation that made guests more irritable. I cant remember being shoved or yelled at. The parks might close earlier but you could do much more in a day than now. We never had to worry about getting to the parks at rope drops and fighting to get to the most popular attraction. There were still some length to the lines but they werent anywhere near the unmanageable lines that you now experience. And dining was much easier to approach. With less competition for tables, you could walk up to even the most popular restaurant (except the castle dining) and they could get you in. There were less buses available with ramps for wheel chairs so we had more waits at the bus stops for one to show up but the transportation was less crowded as well. Once Disney started to bring in the marathons, special events and other things to drive up reservations it all went to heck.

 

[Texas84]

Early December used to be great. Christmas without crowds. No more.

 

[Weather_Lady]

The crowds were lower, and when there were waits, people were more patient about them. (One of the downsides of technology is that we've all come to expect our wants and needs to be gratified immediately. We used to be better at relaxing and letting things happen more slowly, because everything just took more time.)

My parents were teachers and couldn't take off school days for vacation, so all of my childhood visits occurred during busy break weeks like Easter and/or February break. We now visit during "moderate crowd" times (e.g., early October, mid-November, late April/early May avoiding Easter), and I'd say that in terms of overall wait times (you have to look at it "overall," because Fastpass and Fastpass+ have lengthened some lines and shortened others), there's little difference between a "high" crowd in the 80s/90s/early 00s and a "moderate" crowd today, even though the number of parks has doubled in that time. Happily, the same planning and arrive-early strategies that we used when I was a kid still work today to keep our experience pleasant!

 

[jloucks]

Crowds were ABSOLUTELY lower the further back you go. Our honeymoon was from Oct 22 to Nov 2 in 2000, and you wouldn't believe how empty the parks were - even Epcot with the Food and Wine going on. It was absolutely blissful and I long for those crowd levels.

I also think people aren't as well behaved as they used to be. This is the "me" decade, and I really despise it.

The 1980's had BMW driving Yuppies. That was a pretty big me decade too.

 

[Pixieish]

The 1980's had BMW driving Yuppies. That was a pretty big me decade too.

Yeah, I remember that. Not a fan.

 

[jloucks]

The crowds have always been there during peak times. What I have seen change over only the last 5 years is the increasing crowds during non-peak times.

Whenever you pack tons of people into tight spaces, tempers are going to flare. Period. There is no avoiding it. Humans, on average, to not like being managed like cattle. They tolerate it when they have to, like at airports or the DMV, but that is a risky model with a luxury discretionary good like WDW. I know for me, our last 2 trips were NOT to WDW mainly because of there being no low crowd options available.

Slightly off topic, but my local Six Flags is pulling the same stunt. Offering so many incentives that the park is uber packed at all times. I am seriously considering, after over 10 consecutive years, not renewing my annual pass. Last time I went it was flat out dangerous at rope drop. The person trying to release the rope was having problems and the giant writhing mob just stormed the park, plowing through the rope and tearing it from it's mounts.

I did discover the Disney Cruise Line just recently. I think that is where my Disney dollars will go in the future. Crowd size is very tolerable, even when sold out, and the Disney bubble is pretty comparable.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

In the 'early days', like say years ago, it was more relaxed. However, thanks to technology (and their franchise expanding), the Disney parks have become a lot more well known. Thus, more crowds = a lot more necessary need for planning = less relaxing IF you don't plan accordingly

 

[Bender123]

Early December used to be great. Christmas without crowds. No more.

Back in the mid 80s, this was the perfect time. almost no crowds at the parks and people weren't just there for the rides...It was still the "resort" days of WDW. You would do the parks for a few days, play some golf, have pool days or just resort hop.

With the cost of a trip, now, it feels like any time you aren't at the parks is the same as flushing a fortune just to sit around. I feel like the cost has forced a mentality that if you aren't "doing something" you are wasting your time and money.

 

[jloucks]

Back in the mid 80s, this was the perfect time. almost no crowds at the parks and people weren't just there for the rides...It was still the "resort" days of WDW. You would do the parks for a few days, play some golf, have pool days or just resort hop.

With the cost of a trip, now, it feels like any time you aren't at the parks is the same as flushing a fortune just to sit around. I feel like the cost has forced a mentality that if you aren't "doing something" you are wasting your time and money.

Early 80's? No doubt you are correct, but this was my experience as last as 2012. Something changed right about that time, and crowds skyrocketed at all times. Well,, all the 'off' times I have gone.

The cost also makes it feel like for that price, you should have an experience that exceeds that of a public buss terminal.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I hate to say it, but there are times when I have a "good defense is a strong offense" mentality when it comes to powering through crowds. We had that with our recent trip but when we went in September 2009 I don't remember that so much. The crowds were lighter too as it was a down time in the fall. Maybe that is a better time to go.

The only thing I don't like is if I know I cut off an old person on a scooter, I mean a LEGITIMATE person that needs a scooter. I don't mean to do that, he could have fought in Normandy for all I know. The people texting while they are walking, I won't lie, I've purposely nudged them if I am walking by them to teach them a lesson, in the real world or at WDW. No one needs that, watch where you are going.

 

[Tick Tock]

The people texting while they are walking, I won't lie, I've purposely nudged them if I am walking by them to teach them a lesson, in the real world or at WDW. No one needs that, watch where you are going.

Unless they are carelessly walking directly into you or your family, there is no need for you to purposely nudge someone just walking by.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I've been going since 1983. I cannot say that it was any more relaxing back then, but, it certainly was less complicated and stressful. No Fast Pass meant that you just started around the park and went to each attraction one at a time as you came to them. If the line was to long, you passed by it and came back later. You didn't need reservations to eat so you just ate when you were hungry and what you were hungry for. Contrary to popular beliefs, WDW is a much more enjoyable place to the eye now then it was then. It was, if I recall, much duller in color. Not faded just more subtle in colors. However, nothing about it was relaxing. You were on your feet all day, the lines were long, but, kept moving constantly so you never were just stalled and waiting unless something had temporarily broken down. Because of that it was less frustrating because you knew when you got to the front of the line, you were going to be next and no large group of FP carrying hordes were going to make you wait while they "legally" cut in line. So emotionally it was much less conflicting.

Oh, and btw, things broke down back then too. All things mechanical will periodically have issues. We talked to people in the queue as we passed by them in the switch backs. A lot of talk was about how long it took, but, it was never in anger. It was a mutual experience and part of the Theme Park battle scars that we could tell people about later. It wasn't a mad dash to get to an attraction at a particular time, just go with the flow. Much nicer. People expressed upset about the time spent in lines, but, again I must emphasize that it was without anger, just almost a joke that we all shared. That all changed with Fast Pass which in my mind is one of the worse things that was ever thought up. That is when Theme Park touring became a contest and no one really won, we were just led to believe, with FP in hand, that we were winners.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Yes. Back then, you just went and had fun. Now, you have to plan a military regimented attack on the parks because they are too crowded and require so much work before hand. When you go now, look at how many people are miserable, yelling at kids, and complain like crazy because of lines.

Don't forget the Nimitz-class strollers.

 

[ford91exploder]

Well my Disney experience has spaned 5 decades and the experience goes up and down.

In the mid 70's I went to MK with parents during spring break a couple of times. It was crowded as in an hour minimum wait time for anything even the tree house had a wait time. I remember SM being 2 hours and the jungle cruise being 2 hours or so. The staff was different back then they were mostly locals with most being Southern. Lot of Yes, sirs and ma'am's. Not some guy from who knows where using literal English.Staff in general was friendlier. The service had a different feel and I would say a better one. The place was cleaner, they had people out with dust pans and brooms everywhere to pick up cigarette butts and trash in general. I never saw an over flowed garbage can or anything in the landscape it was cleaner then today for sure. Also no buggies, no giant back packs and in general no people who were near death. The crwod wasn't any friendlier then they are now, I remember some Hispanics being rude same as today.

In the early 80's I was there again on spring break but Epcot was new. I enjoyed Epcot and that was huge, lots of walking. MK was the same except it was buy one ticket for all day by then. Can't say the fashion sense around that time period was good. No changes really at MK maybe slightly less crowded because Epcot was open.

Didn't go to WDW until the late 90's. Took a girl friend down there because I wanted to hit Disney again and Universal had opened so I wanted to check that out. Stayed at the Hyatt and we did a 2 days at WDW, a day at Universal and a day at Busch Gardens. That was during January and MK was fairly empty, I did everything I want by dinner and off for drinks after that. Epcot was the same way. Not crowded, service levels about the same. Price wise it was no big deal for two adults with decent jobs. I can't tell you the prices because it wasn't even something I thought about.

Then the 2000's with kids. Price started to be a factor so I bought 10 day non expiring tickets which brought the price down to something like $30 a day for each person. 10 tickets, 4 trips over maybe 2 years. 3 days at WDW is enough for me. 2 is fine as well. I started going again in probably 2008 and wait times were low in October and in January, that's when I went to WDW because I'll never repeat being at WDW during Spring Break. First thing I noticed was many old attraction were gone from MK and Epcot and not replaced with anything. Especially Frontierland. What's there is not what it use to be like at all. Epcot seemed to be focused on being a high priced food court and bar. Mostly useless for kids. The prices in the parks except Epcot were much more reasonable. I remember buying a corn dog and it was like $1.50 which for a park isn't bad. I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for I think $186 a night which wasn't bad. Rented a stroller because it was much easier then bringing my own, something like $36 for 3 days. Again not bad. Service was different many interns from all over the world were working and sorry but I don't like that. Most have no sense of humor and are clueless about anything in the US. Not their fault, my wife worked for a hotel and they did the same thing with interns and had the same problems with them. It's just Disney seemed to have put way to many interns in front line positions. Cigarette butt sweepers disappeared and the parks got dirtier. That really stood out in my mind. Where did the guys with dust pans go? FP worked well enough and didn't take a bunch of planning.

2010's. The down spiral begins. For about a 5 year stretch I went to WDW 2 or 3 times a year. The prices started to climb for everything across the board. Strollers doubled in price, kids were older so you be walking now. Funny part there is the stroller place use to be a mad house at lower prices, Disney up the price and now I don't see anyone renting their strollers. They over did it. Next was food, price for a corn dog went up to $4.50 from the previous $1.50. Big jump, here kids we're packing in snacks and food into the parks. I'm not dropping $200 a day on crappy park food. With a family of 4 that is easy to do. Hotel prices spiked, WL went up to $326 as the cheapest rate I could find. For that kind of money I expect a high end hotel. It wasn't. Carpets were thread bare, mattresses had huge craters in the middle of them, refrigerator broken, half assed hole fix in the bathroom and I had to fix a toilet on the first night I was there. 11:30 at night I'm not waiting for the night crew to come fix it. Pulled up to the place and no one came out to take my bags, that's not high end that's Motel 6. That was the end of the high end hotels for me.

Park wise nothing changed in those years same old same old with Epcot having less. The crowds got bigger year round and then FP+. FP+ is terrible. I simple don't book vacations 6 months out so I get locked out of rides and the stand by line is so long it means I just don't ride certain rides. Restaurants are the same, the good ones are locked before I can book them. The death blow was the end of non expiring tickets, they're gone and so am I. I'll wait for the next economic crash when Disney actually needs the business to come back. I would like to check out AK with Avatar and the other work they have done but that can wait for now.

My experience spans 30 years not 50, I was a hardcore pixie duster till as you say about 2010 when Disney went into a flat spin from which any pilot will tell you is unrecoverable with the constant quality cuts and price increases, The price increases I could have lived with IF Disney was actually building something besides the stock price, You needed to be around in the 80's if you wanted to see PRICE INCREASES yet at the time Disney went from underpriced to 'fairly priced' and that's when Disney was actually building things.

WDW started to take hits in the late 90's with refurbs (that's why Tomorrowland looked half finished - because it was indeed half finished) being halted to redirect funds to DLP which at the time was running far over budget (sound familiar WDW fans ? something about a park in China costing more than expected...)

 

[ford91exploder]

I've been going since 1983. I cannot say that it was any more relaxing back then, but, it certainly was less complicated and stressful. No Fast Pass meant that you just started around the park and went to each attraction one at a time as you came to them. If the line was to long, you passed by it and came back later. You didn't need reservations to eat so you just ate when you were hungry and what you were hungry for. Contrary to popular beliefs, WDW is a much more enjoyable place to the eye now then it was then. It was, if I recall, much duller in color. Not faded just more subtle in colors. However, nothing about it was relaxing. You were on your feet all day, the lines were long, but, kept moving constantly so you never were just stalled and waiting unless something had temporarily broken down. Because of that it was less frustrating because you knew when you got to the front of the line, you were going to be next and no large group of FP carrying hordes were going to make you wait while they "legally" cut in line. So emotionally it was much less conflicting.

Oh, and btw, things broke down back then too. All things mechanical will periodically have issues. We talked to people in the queue as we passed by them in the switch backs. A lot of talk was about how long it took, but, it was never in anger. It was a mutual experience and part of the Theme Park battle scars that we could tell people about later. It wasn't a mad dash to get to an attraction at a particular time, just go with the flow. Much nicer. People expressed upset about the time spent in lines, but, again I must emphasize that it was without anger, just almost a joke that we all shared. That all changed with Fast Pass which in my mind is one of the worse things that was ever thought up. That is when Theme Park touring became a contest and no one really won, we were just led to believe, with FP in hand, that we were winners.

^^^ THIS ^^^

What @Goofyernmost is describing here is what we used to call the 'Disney Effect' i.e. people don't mind being in lines as long as they are MOVING and perhaps that's the biggest change that FP+ has brought in that standby lines are now more akin to a traffic jam than a queue.

Heck in the OLD Disney lines we used to make friends sometimes short term, some we are still in touch with today, mainly because the vibe was better. yes we were waiting in line but it was not a bunch of frustrated angry people, It was more like a concert experience.