Originally Posted By jkayjs It wasn't my intent when I went but I ended up in one or more of the parks all 4 days I was there. The only park I didn't go to this trip was AK so not sure how things were there but boy did I enjoy my time in the other three. The longest I waited for any ride all four days was 30 min for TSMM @ 11:35am on Mon. & Soarin @ 10:00am on Tues & no I didn't have a fast pass. Now in all fairness I didn't try to go over the wkend but I only waited 10 min for HM @ 6:45pm on Sat & the MK was open till MN without EMH. The crowd levels were so good that I could have been a walk-in @ many of the more popular restaurants with now more than a 20min wait. Now to be fair I was a singleton but sure it would be the same for a couple. Had a 5pm res @ Chefs de France on Sat & even when I left there were open tables. The queue was getting a little bigger by then & I know many folks don't eat till later but I actually saw walk-ups told they could get in & it's been a while since I've seen that. BTW the roving Ratatouille was delightful much in part to his 'handler'! Even the resorts seemed less crowded I was @ the Y&BC, GF, CR & CSR. We stayed @ the CSR & even with a last min res(I booked the Tues before I went) we were in Casitas 1 right next to El Centro & the Convention Center. There is always something tho isn't there. My something this trip was the weather it was about 90 everyday about 10 degrees above norm for this time of year. That being said with the crowd levels it was easy to take your time, duck into a cool shop or film, stop just about anywhere for a refreshing drink &/or snack all making the heat more bearable. Had a great time in part thanks to lower crowd levels & despite the heat.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Let's hope crowds are low over the summer, again... Hello, Mr. Potter.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I wouldn't really say Potter had a noticeable effect on WDW crowds. There were just a crap ton more people going to IoA rather than DAK or DHS if anything. I think last summer was just a slower year for the mouse in general.
Originally Posted By tashajilek ^^^ I wish it were the same for DL. It's good to know this time of year isnt too bad. I am planning to go next year anywhere from march-may.
Originally Posted By Donny With gas prices going up I can see being able to just ride splash over and over without getting out of the log.
Originally Posted By Indigo I have an odd theory about gas prices. People are actually more concerned with the overall cost of the vacation. As gas prices go up, it gets more expensive to fly a family of four to Orlando. So expensive that driving, and the time it takes, begins to look more affordable. This leads to more hotel guests and busier parking lots, plus those who drive, tend to stay a day or two longer on average. But they probably won't travel as frequently throughout the year, rather saving it up for one long vacation. That's the pattern we saw in 2008.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 there is a certain amount of truth in that theory. WE've been driving for years, and now with gas prices high -remember airline fuel also goes up and now they charge a fee for everything. What we get a family of 5 to WDW for - I want to see someone do in the air. Yes it takes longer, but one may be surprised by the cool things you might see along the way
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I wouldn't really say Potter had a noticeable effect on WDW crowds. There were just a crap ton more people going to IoA rather than DAK or DHS if anything.<<< All I know is that it was DEAD in WDW in June. LOL
Originally Posted By standor I haven't checked lately, but is Disney lowering their prices? If crowds are down, they should stop building hotel rooms and start updating hollywood studios. I know they are updating fantasyland, but are they updating epcot and dak?
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I was at EPCOT and the MK this week and found the crowds surprisingly smaller than I expected. 30 mins for Soarin and Test Track, mostly a walk on for everythings else. Picked up a couple of nice 40th anniverary EPCOT shirts while I was there. Over at the MK we just rode Haunted Mansion to see the new ending and it was a 10 min wait at 2pm. The odd think I found about the new queue was that you could bypass it and head directly into the outside door area. Today my son headed over to Universal and said that the Studios was fairly slow but 90% if the people heading from the parking are were heading to IOA.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Were the parks busier a few weeks ago when there were more spring breakers?
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I think they were crowded a couple of weeks back when spring break was going on. I know they are gearing up for the next 2 weeks as Easter approaches. A CM friend told me it was the calm before the storm.
