Here now - 3/24-3/30 - “low” crowds?

[Amanda999]

At this very moment we are weaving in a posted 120 minutes line outside Toy Story Mania. We got here just as the park was opening and this is the first ride we came to. Crowds are insane. ...
Also we’re staying at all star music and the line before 7am this morning for waffles went through the seating area to the OUTSIDE! ..

Is that with FP operating for TSMM? (Is the FP already shut down for that ride?)

Re: waffles. Ugh! DS LOVES getting waffles; I'll start 'managing' his expectations now on that for our April trip.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is that with FP operating for TSMM? (Is the FP already shut down for that ride?)

No, it stops 4/9.

 

[erin1715]

Is that with FP operating for TSMM? (Is the FP already shut down for that ride?)

Re: waffles. Ugh! DS LOVES getting waffles; I'll start 'managing' his expectations now on that for our April trip.

Yes fastpasses are still operating. It’s crazy.

 

[supamaki]

I’d guess the opposite. With an early Easter, I’d bet most public school districts have the week after Easter as their break.

In MA, wer’re always the third week of April, we’ll be there then. They're keeping 9am (not 8am) MK & AK openings, so I’m hoping this means they anticipate lower (ish) crowds our week.

Was the Carrousel, Small World, or Tea Cups Open for your EMM?

How do you anticipate the crowds during this week? I know there's a race at the end of the week, but is your week typicaly busy if it's a couple of weeks past Easter and after Spring Break?
Fingers crossed

 

[MomOTwins]

YIIIIIKES!!!!!!!!! Checking MDE now, and I just can't even imagine waiting 60 minutes for the MK Little Mermaid ride or EP Figment - they are normally walk ons! Plus 80 minutes for living with the land??? My sympathies to everyone dealing with this. Somewhat scared for my trip in April, but our family would still have fun even if all we can do is our three fastpasses, tiki room, and country bears.

 

[rteetz]

Yes fastpasses are still operating. It’s crazy.

It is currently two tracks instead of three though.

 

[erin1715]

It is currently two tracks instead of three though.

Right. But it’s still crazy crowded in the other parks too. We did TSM, went to Starbucks, watched Beauty and the Beast and are leaving. It’s our choice but we didn’t want to wait 90 minutes for star tours or 2 hours for ToT. But we’re veterans and will be back end of June. Tonight we’re going to MK and will see how that goes.

 

[JuneChickie]

.

 

[wgeo]

In what alternate Universe is this supposed to be the busiest month of the year at Disney?!?
Sorry, it's not. Probably not even top 5. Nor supposed to be.

I don't follow anywhere with details - but I would make an 'assumption' that this is one of the busier times at Disney because it is when they have chosen to block out the AP from going. My AP is only blocked twice a year and that is the 2 weeks around Christmas and the 2 weeks around Easter. That would lead me to believe that Disney thinks those are two of the busiest times. No proof to back that up, just a reason why someone would think it was a busier time.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I don't follow anywhere with details - but I would make an 'assumption' that this is one of the busier times at Disney because it is when they have chosen to block out the AP from going. My AP is only blocked twice a year and that is the 2 weeks around Christmas and the 2 weeks around Easter. That would lead me to believe that Disney thinks those are two of the busiest times. No proof to back that up, just a reason why someone would think it was a busier time.

Thank you, wgeo!

 

[lugnut33]

So have we determined that OP was just lucky, or did a superior job of planning?

 

[pitpat]

So have we determined that OP was just lucky, or did a superior job of planning?

Well, Sunday is usually recommended for MK over Monday. Looks like that worked out well for OP in this case.

 

[MIAMouseketeer]

This week is Spring Break for many South Florida Schools. My brother and sister in law are there now and I warned them the only way to do the parks is to go early and plan. Well, they listened to me and have had a seamless trip so far. By 10:47am yesterday, they had done all 4 rides at DHS and then headed to Epcot. I got their 4th + FPs, and I was able to get all tier 1 at Epcot at some point, though it did take time. This morning they were at MK at 7:15am and were pretty much done by noon and now having lunch at Tony's to watch the parade and then ride Splash before heading out. They did say how crazy busy it is now, but that the first 3 hours there were not many people. But then all of a sudden, it was crazy.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I was surprised by crowd levels as well. Obviously the weekend was higher but during the week was great.

Fantastic week. Beautiful crowds and weather although a bit chilly!

 

[waltdisfam4]

Our visit was 3/20-3/27 (we are waiting at airport to depart now). At the beginning of the trip, the crowds were noticeably lighter but during the last two or three days things really started to feel much busier.

 

[Gentry2004]

MK was nuts today. We rope dropped (8am) and used our FP’s from 10:00am - 12:30pm. Was then able to get 4ths for Ariel, Teacups, Small World, Carpets and Pooh. We left about 5pm.

Ride-wise we did fine, and still had a good time, but going from point A to point B (trams, monorail, bag check, ride to ride, etc.) is noticeably different from even regular “crowded” times.

Also we had exceptionally bad ride breakdown luck this trip. We got stuck in the dark in the basement of Tower for at least 5 minutes before being rescued by maintenance. Test Track, Space, Pooh, and Mine Train were either down during our FP, at rope drop, or both. Our Indy show was delayed and almost cancelled and our Crush show was cancelled 5 minutes in when the screen went black. It became a running joke.

 

[wgeo]

MK was nuts today. We rope dropped (8am) and used our FP’s from 10:00am - 12:30pm. Was then able to get 4ths for Ariel, Teacups, Small World, Carpets and Pooh. We left about 5pm.

Ride-wise we did fine, and still had a good time, but going from point A to point B (trams, monorail, bag check, ride to ride, etc.) is noticeably different from even regular “crowded” times.

Also we had exceptionally bad ride breakdown luck this trip. We got stuck in the dark in the basement of Tower for at least 5 minutes before being rescued by maintenance. Test Track, Space, Pooh, and Mine Train were either down during our FP, at rope drop, or both. Our Indy show was delayed and almost cancelled and our Crush show was cancelled 5 minutes in when the screen went black. It became a running joke.

Yikes, things breaking down became a running joke? That is no good at all.

 

[22Tink]

We’re just settling back in our room at Pop. MK was an absolute zoo today!! We got there at rope drop and the morning was pleasant but it got busy fast!! We’re taking a break from Disney for a couple of days. Kennedy Space Center tomorrow and Clearwater beach on Thursday. We’re hoping for a bit of a slower pace before we hit Epcot on Friday!!

 

[Jessirip]

These posts sure are helpful to set expectations so thanks to all of those taking the time to share that are there now. I have been worried about crowds ever since I booked, but have come to accept it is just a reality for next week. We're planning to rope drop when able and leave around mid-afternoon. Focus on our FPs which are early, keep our ADRs, and anything else is a bonus. Gotta focus on the positive and just be happy to be there with our kids and not at work. I'm still so excited!

 

[jk and ek]

we will also be there next week and it will be our first time during a "busy" period. it was tacked on semi-last minute before a disney cruise, so its just a bonus and we are treating it as such. rope dropping every day, leaving around lunch and spending our afternoons at the resort pool and then back to the parks for a couple hours after dark with the hopes that evenings are tolerable. if its terrible, at least we have a week on the boat to look forward to!