Crowds This Week

[Greenlawler]

I was honestly shocked at the crowds this week. I talked to a parking CM who was equally baffled by the huge crowds. He said just last wek it was quiet. For years my family and I have been coming to the parks in early October. Every year the crowds have increased, but this past week it was more crowded than July 4th week. The dwarf parking lots were in use at the MK it was so crowded. We parked In Sleepy. Maybe I am jaded from coming at slow times of the year. We usually come in October and January, but we were stunned as we fought the huge throng of people last night.
Talking to a CM one night, he said there is no longer any rhyme or reason as to when the crowds will come.
I have read numerous threads about how the crowds have been on the rise in October. I firmly belive that the new 2 week Fall Breaks in schools in Tennessee, Kentucky, and other places have been THE MAIN cause in the rise. Free Dinning, Columbus Day, and MNSSHP having 3 parties this past week also contributed. But I was shocked by the crowds. It was clearly the most crowded I have ever seen in over 20 trips.
What do you think made this past week so crowded?

[Strmchsr]

Also, fall breaks this week in Alabama and I heard some places in Georgia had it, too. So, all of those fall breaks combined with Columbus Day "free" dining, etc will definitely make the crowds go up.

[lovinmesomedisney]

We had the same exact experience in September. We were there the 15th through the 22nd. The beginning of our trip was awesome. Just like past years with very low crowds and no waits. Then, all of a sudden, it was PACKED! There were supposedly some fall breaks in Georgia at the time, but I can't imagine just that made it so crowded. It was kind of disheartening actually. We have gone for the past 7 Septembers, and NEVER seen anything like that.

[Mickgoof]

We were there Sept. 16th- 24th and were also shocked how crowded the parks were. We usually go every other year in September and this was by far the most crowded. DHS was the most crowded park, especially on days Fantasmic was showing.

[Pastcastmemberdaughter]

We were there Oct 2 through Oct 16 and were SHOCKED by the crowds! It was crazy.

We took pictures of the crowds lining up for Fantasmic and The Main Street Electrical Parade because we never experienced that type of crowd before. Fantasmic for the second show of the night had people lined up from inside the theatre clear to the times board at the other end of the street, keeping in mind this was at about 15 minutes before show time! The MSEP had people lining up on Main Street 2 hours before the parade and we were finding that if you didn't have your spot before an hour and a half before it, you weren't sitting on Main Street to watch it. I know it has something to do with the fact that night time fireworks, parades and shows are not every night, but still crazy!

Toy Story Mania easily had 180 minute wait times close to opening, even the boat ride in the Mexico pavillion in Epcot had a line that ran outside the crowd control and into the shop area, one thing I've personally never seen!

[Gregandmel]

I would imagine, like the other posters said, that combined with Columbus Day on the 11th, as well as Fall Breaks & free dining extended- this would be a prime week to be there. I know my college aged son had the 14th & 15th off so if it had worked out for us (financially) we probably would've picked this week to go as well. But I"m surprised to hear about September crowds!! Wow! I was hoping to go at the end of September next year to avoid the huge crowds but now I'm wondering if the higher crowd level will continue!?

[11290]

Monday, Oct. 18th, MK Park hours extended one hour for high crowd levels.

[Melanie]

Monday, Oct. 18th, MK Park hours extended one hour for high crowd levels.

Thanks so much for the heads up! We really appreciate our CM input.

[brivers222]

Oct 8-11 were actually amazing at the parks... we had no waits (well disneys lowest number 5mins) for every single ride.

We ended up going to all Three(3) MNSSHP's during our trip Oct 11, 12, 14 because we found the lines to always be under 10mins for any ride at the Magic Kingdom.

This was nice because as others have said, after Oct 11... the parks really got busy. But it was nice we could do the main rides at night with no wait then just wander around during the days

For the weekend of 8,9,10 we had several trips on the monorail from TTC to Epcot and to the MK where we were the only ones in our car.... the first part of the trip was amazing crowds... but it got worse


On the 13th we actually had our own personal bus driver to take us to Wilderness Lodge and back to the Fort Wilderness campground parking (yeah he actually escorted us right out to our car instead of back down by pioneer hall because we were the only ones on the bus)

[Greenlawler]

My guess is that with all of these southern states going to 2 week Fall breaks that the second full week of October happens to be a week that every school has a common week off.

But there is something more to this. Disney usually blacks out the second week of October for its free dinning deal. Can it simply be Columbus Day?

What is the Brazilian tour group season?

[brivers222]

What is the Brazilian tour group season?

Apparently, Oct 9th - Oct 18th... as i saw them all the time the entire trip hahaha

[brivers222]

What is the Brazilian tour group season?

Apparently, Oct 9th - Oct 18th... as i saw them all the time the entire trip hahaha

Can it simply be Columbus Day?

The actual columbus day was the best day in the parks for crowds... and that MNSSHP was the emptiest i saw the MK all week

[Kenny1113]

The MSEP had people lining up on Main Street 2 hours before the parade...

Ditto! On 10/9 We saw most of main street was already claimed 2 1/2 hours before the parade was scheduled to start! It was so packed 30 min before the parade started, that we were unable to go to the cart to purchase popcorn for the kids. We saw people hopping over the lawn fences and walking through the lawn to cut through because everything even close to MS was at a standstill. We saw people climbing trees (also behind fences) to gain vantage point to watch parade. After the parade they diverted exiting traffic behind the plaza restaurant, out to an employee parking lot,and back inside main street to the exit. I have never seen that before!

[crltkcagle]

Wow I can't believe it was crowded! My friend always goes in October and tells me its the best time to go because the parks are empty! Thanks for letting us know.

[Jack Skellington]

We were there last week and actually in the parks Oct. 17-22. It was much busier than I remembered.

We usually prefer to visit at this time (Honeymoon and Anniversary) and have in the past found this to be a very low crowd time. It was not the case this time around.

It must be the fall breaks. There certainly were a number of Kentucky hats and t-shirts around. Perhaps the KY/GA/TN schools' fall-breaks are the reason?

Too bad. It used to be a great (secret) time to visit.

Still the weather was much better than July/August and the Food & Wine festival was excellent!

JS

[Ms. Darling]

This thread has been a balm to my depression in not returning to Disney for my Mom's birthday (October 19th) for a 3rd year in a row.

I am so glad I found this post. Lol!

[SandmanGStefani24]

no joke!! Am here right now and it was SO CROWDED at MK today! Long waits and crowds everywhere...hotter than i thought it would be too...hope epcot is better tomorrow...

[Daisy'sMom]

Oh no! Leaving Thursday for a stay at POP to visit with family for a week. Hope it isn't to crowded.

[11290]

no joke!! Am here right now and it was SO CROWDED at MK today!

Day crowds yesterday, Monday, were relativly moderate and the night parade drew a moderate to "sort of" heavy crowd, compared to last week and Saturday attendance. Night parades on the non-party nights always tend to draw a bit of a larger crown since they are only 3 nights a week right now.

Today had a moderate crowd for the day parade although the route was packed in pretty heavily due to the Air Force Thunderbirds doing a fly-by down Main St. during the day parade. Pretty cool sight, especially when the came over the Castle.

[BklynChick]

Oct 16th - 22nd crowds were large but I found that if you hit the big rides early, the remaining rides were reasonable throughout the day. I will say that we went to MK on the evening of the 18th (when they extended park hours) just to see MSEP/Wishes and Main Street was packed 75 minutes before MSEP! We barely got a sidewalk seat.