Originally Posted By sassystitch I know there are some CM's that frequent this board. Do you think there are longer wait times at the attractions because WDW does not "move" people as efficiently as before? Over the last few years, I have noticed a visible decline in the way people are "moved". I used to be impressed with the way WDW moved massive amounts of people. Even with the transportation systems on property. Any thoughts on this?
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<But the weather can also be bitter cold too. >> We were the January a few years ago. It seemed pretty mild to me, but I noticed that the CMs were all wearing huge parkas in the morning.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <weather can also be bitter cold too< Trippy and I would view that as shorts weather in the winter - LOL !
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I know there are some CM's that frequent this board. Do you think there are longer wait times at the attractions because WDW does not "move" people as efficiently as before? Over the last few years, I have noticed a visible decline in the way people are "moved". I used to be impressed with the way WDW moved massive amounts of people. Even with the transportation systems on property. Any thoughts on this?>> Not as a CM, but you have noticed the reality of overdevelopment at WDW.
Originally Posted By dshyates Also some of the CM are a little slacker than they used to be. Less crisp, less enthusiastic, just slower in general. The best loader I ran into all season was on DarCastle at BGE. She was like a cheerleader. I just wanted to give her a hug she was so good. Our car of 6 was loaded, belted, and barred in less than 10 sec.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun We were at WDW for 12 days in August and didn't think it was too crowded. I'd assume the locals stayed home as it was 105 degrees most days. It was MUCH less crowded than when we go Pres Day week in February. I guess it all reletive to what you are used to. Aug was probably way too crowded for someone who normally visits in October or January.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip << Do you think there are longer wait times at the attractions because WDW does not "move" people as efficiently as before?>> Yes I do. It's called Fastpass.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Funny! I was at WDW in October 26 - Nov 4 and the lines were VERY MUCH 15 minute wait or less. Really! I have photos. I'll post them later. In fact this will "tell it all" we waited only 13 minutes to ride DUMBO at 1:00 PM. Of course this was on a Monday. And it was rainy. But in general the crowds were pretty easy that week. The longest wait we had even on Saturday was at Exp Everest and that was 30 mins.
Originally Posted By jkayjs We were there 11/29-12/4 last year and with the exception of the MK over the wk-end it wasn't overly busy. They were filming the Christmas parade over that wk-end which accounts for the crowds. This is the time of year the PW groups come in so the resorts themselves can be very crowded(& they were),the parks tend not to be(&they weren't). We moved to the wk before Christmas this year(just how it worked out). PW will be over and the holiday influx shouldn't be starting. We're out of the resort by the 18th and out of Orlando by the 20th. I';ll let you know what kind of crowds or lack there of we encounter.
Originally Posted By dshyates Disney has done agood job with groups and events filling the place up during the slow season. How long before Jan has some sort of event like the Flower or food fests. Indy Week-Ends anyone. Maybe they could get the AARP as a sponsor for them.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> But January is better. I've never see it crowded at all. But the weather can also be bitter cold too. (no snow, though!) << That doesn't sound like someone from New Enland. However it does sound like someone who lives in the tropics now.
Originally Posted By MPierce ^^^ That was meant for Spirit's post #19. >> went last year from Dec. 15-23 and it wasn't even what I would term 'moderately crowded' until the 22nd. But January is better. I've never see it crowded at all. But the weather can also be bitter cold too. (no snow, though!) <<
Originally Posted By hopemax >> But January is better. I've never see it crowded at all. But the weather can also be bitter cold too. (no snow, though!) << The one time I was at WDW it was bitter cold. We had arrived from WA State on a red eye, and we all had shorts on. During the day it was fine, but it got dark. We had gone over to the Contemporary and planned to take the boat to WL where we were staying. We waited about 30 minutes (they were only running one boat and we had apparently just missed it). The wind kicked up, and it was absolutely freezing. I had bought a T-shirt and took it out and wrapped it around my legs, I was so cold. Got back to the hotel, turned on the tv to find that the temp had dropped to 35 degrees! A few days later, we were walking up MS. It was still cold, so I had worn pants, but DH just had a T-shirt and shorts. The CM's were all bundled up, and when we got to the wait board, one of them stopped DH and asked how he could only be wearing shorts and a T-shirt? We talked with her for several minutes, and then found out she was responsible for picking the grand marshals for the parade. So thanks to January cold, and a DH used to swimming in glacier runoff...we got to ride in the Stagecoach.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Maybe they could get the AARP as a sponsor for them.< that should be during Flower Power concert series -- ( which includes me )-
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Weather at WDW in January can be all over the place. We've had days there that were pretty chilly (a Minnesotan would NEVER say cold for any Florida weather), but we've had far more trips where highs during the entire trip were mid-70's - mid-80's. The chilliest time we've ever spent at WDW was a couple of days during Thanksgiving week, so you never have any guarantees between November and February. Overall, I don't think you need to worry about it. I cannot imagine Orlando having weather so cold that it would keep me away. Hot is a whole different story...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 As a Floridian, I can say categorically that January is the month most likely for you to freeze your butts off ... sure, it can be 80 and sunny, but it's more likely to be 58 with high humidity and a 20MPH wind blowing out of the NW ... it's not pleasant to be out. I've felt colder at WDW in January than when on the ski slopes of Maine in winter. part of it is not having the right clothes and part is it's just plain cold and FLA buildings are constructed to keep the cold in. So, yeah, if you're a snowman from Minnesota that 58 with 45 windchill sounds great. But most people won't agree. As to pumping up January crowds with special events, that's what Disney is trying to do. Traditionally, it is the second slowest month of the year behind September. That's why the Disney Marathon wound up scheduled in Jan. Now, we have the magical Princess and Pirate Parties starting again. So Disney is already working to try and make sure there are no truly uncrowded weeks on the calendar.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<As a Floridian, I can say categorically that January is the month most likely for you to freeze your butts off ... sure, it can be 80 and sunny, but it's more likely to be 58 with high humidity and a 20MPH wind blowing out of the NW ... it's not pleasant to be out.>> We've lucked out. And I realize it is lucky... it does not correspond with the temperature averages for Orlando per the Weather Channel. But we've always had great luck during January. There has been the occasional cool day, but for the most part we've dealt with highs between 75 and 85 degrees. As I said, I know you can't count on this. But one time we were there the local Orlando weather guys were going nuts because day after day the entire week we were there was a record high. What did they expect? RoadTrip was visiting.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>As a Floridian, I can say categorically that January is the month most likely for you to freeze your butts off ... sure, it can be 80 and sunny, but it's more likely to be 58 with high humidity and a 20MPH wind blowing out of the NW ... it's not pleasant to be out.<<< Ya, but at the same time, it's probably 29 degrees with 30 MPH winds at DLP and the UK, so WDW still feels warm. Yesterday was 34 degrees here in the UK, and I was just wearing a suit.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl We always make a point to go to WDW in January. It usually is cool (but it feel warm in comparison to the weather that we are leaving behind in "beantown".) The part I like the most is no humidity, so even if it is a litte crowded, you don't mind the wait so much! The weekends (we always take advantage of MLK weekend) is crowded, but from Tuesday on the crowds have been really light. Hopefully that will be the case in Jan 2008!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Ya, but at the same time, it's probably 29 degrees with 30 MPH winds at DLP and the UK, so WDW still feels warm. Yesterday was 34 degrees here in the UK, and I was just wearing a suit.>> I just came in ... it's in the upper 60s and supposed to drop about 12-15 degrees as a cold front is moving through. I had my DL fleece on.
