What percentage of guests only experience peak crowds?

[Tom Morrow]

I've always been curious about this, but I don't have the numbers or the math skills to figure it out... but I'm sure some of you do!

What percentage of guests only experience Walt Disney World at peak crowds? Christmas and New Years weeks are the busiest by a wide margin, followed by the week of Easter, and then the weeks of Thanksgiving (though it hasn't been all that bad lately) and Independence Day.

I always feel sorry for the guests who truly do not know how busy Christmas actually is, even with proper warnings. Sure, they might be expecting long lines... but they may not be expecting shoulder to shoulder crowds, excessive waits just to get in (and out of) the parks, for food, etc.) and I would say that anyone who visits during Christmas peak either knows ahead of time to adjust their expectations (and has hopefully visited before) or they had no idea, it's their first time to Disney, and they have a horrible time and never bother again.

 

[Hakunamatata]

100% of guests that only go during peak times experience peak crowds.

 

[Minnie1976]

Are there any times not crowded? Our last trip was supposed to be a non crowded time and it was packed. The beginning of December was a now crowded time and packed.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Once Star Wars land opens it will be peak for a good 12 to 18 months.

 

[Tom Morrow]

100% of guests that only go during peak times experience peak crowds.

I’m asking what percentage of the yearly attendance to these guests make up?

 

[Tom Morrow]

Are there any times not crowded? Our last trip was supposed to be a non crowded time and it was packed. The beginning of December was a now crowded time and packed.

It’s never really empty anymore but there’s a difference between a crowded day in a typical week and Christmas time. A huge difference.

 

[RustySpork]

100% of people visiting Disney World parks during peak daily hours experience peak daily crowds. /s

 

[LAKid53]

Once Star Wars land opens it will be peak for a good 12 to 18 months.

The weight from 5 billion people will cause Florida to sink into the Gulf and Atlantic.

 

[RustySpork]

The weight from 5 billion people will cause Florida to sink into the Gulf and Atlantic.

So they do have a plan to fix the overcrowding problem after all!

 

[Hakunamatata]

The weight from 5 billion people will cause Florida to sink into the Gulf and Atlantic.

Disney will call it the “Atlantis Experience “ and it will be an extra ticketed event.

 

[Master Yoda]

Are there any times not crowded? Our last trip was supposed to be a non crowded time and it was packed. The beginning of December was a now crowded time and packed.

Not really. You have the odd day or two here and there, but the days of predictably low crowds for even a weeks time are gone.

About the best you can do now are a few weeks a year where it is just "mildly busy"

 

[donnylambb]

we are from Texas and go in August when its to hot for some.!

 

[Goofyernmost]

we are from Texas and go in August when its to hot for some.!

I have adjusted my visiting times to just moderate times. I went once when it was practically empty and, honestly, it was awful. The small numbers of guests sucked the intensity out of the experience and made it feel like I was walking around a store that only had a few days left before closing. Sadly, now I don't remember what time of the year that was and probably no longer exists, it might have been shortly after 9/11. On the flip side I have never gone during the peak times and never will.

 

[Minnie1976]

Not really. You have the odd day or two here and there, but the days of predictably low crowds for even a weeks time are gone.

About the best you can do now are a few weeks a year where it is just "mildly busy"

My husband and I have gone since 1976 on a pretty consistantly. I use to know even what parks weren’t going to be crowded at what time. Not anymore. Always crowded no matter what time of year! I watched the wait times at home and the times are almost always the same.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Just plucking a number out of the air, but I'd say theres a good chance that 45% of people target those busier times of year only because they have kids that they dont want to take out of school and/or they are limited to taking vacation times during the summer months and other school vacation weeks. I know many people whose vacations weeks are locked into specific weeks in July and August. Those with kids dont go other months until after theyve graduated school and are free to venture into other times of the year and finally get to try the different events and festivals theyve been missing out on. Them they are freed up to go as adults without children in tow.

 

[RustySpork]

Just plucking a number out of the air, but I'd say theres a good chance that 45% of people target those busier times of year only because they have kids that they dont want to take out of school and/or they are limited to taking vacation times during the summer months and other school vacation weeks. I know many people whose vacations weeks are locked into specific weeks in July and August. Those with kids dont go other months until after theyve graduated school and are free to venture into other times of the year and finally get to try the different events and festivals theyve been missing out on. Them they are freed up to go as adults without children in tow.

They may also have significant numbers of guests in this demographic who don't pay attention to forums and Disney news and may not know how busy it's going to be before visiting. Well informed Disney parks guests probably make up a very small percentage of visitors.

 

[JIMINYCR]

They may also have significant numbers of guests in this demographic who don't pay attention to forums and Disney news and may not know how busy it's going to be before visiting. Well informed Disney parks guests probably make up a very small percentage of visitors.

Yeah... When on a trip, Im surprised with all the info thats available, the number of confused, bewildered, completely lost guests who have no clue as to where to go, what to do or how to do any of the parks. There cant be any other vacation spot that has such a vast number of detailed guide books, info sites, forums, as Disney has.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Lol, this is what confuses me, I went the last week in August and commented on how clean everything was. I was met with derision and everyone swore that the reason things were good was late August is a slow time. Now there isn't any slow times??

I think those who go during Christmas know it's going to be insane but for various reasons don't care and still go.

There is no way that they cannot know.

 

[Master Yoda]

Lol, this is what confuses me, I went the last week in August and commented on how clean everything was. I was met with derision and everyone swore that the reason things were good was late August is a slow time. Now there isn't any slow times??

I think those who go during Christmas know it's going to be insane but for various reasons don't care and still go.

There is no way that they cannot know.

Late August is a "slower" time, but still quite busy when compared to what it was even a few years ago.

 

[Tom Morrow]

There are basically no slow times anymore like in the past which is a shame, but there are slower times.

By the way, summer is not really "peak". Summer crowds have pretty much averaged out.

I only have visited during “peak times” here is my post from another thread. From a trip I just came back from:

To my surprise the parks never felt crowded at all besides a 15 minute portion after the Fantasy parade. We went to all 4 parks on seperate days including 2 seperate visits to Magic Kingdom. As a Disneyland frequenter I was amazed with how light the parks were. Even big rides like Space Mountain only get a 70-90 minute wait at most. At Disneyland the more crowded days see Space always with a 2 hour wait.

Besides the first day where we had a CRT reservation we did not rope drop and would show up around 930/10. Due to the travel and it being right after the wedding this was a good idea as it let us get rest in between.

We had an amazing time and between the Fast Passes we had and the Dining Reservations we were able to do everything we wanted. I think the Florida parks are just built much better for the traffic flow they can get vs Disneyland. We had an amazing time.

What dates did you visit? Because what you are describing is more like an average heavy crowd day but not peak.