Is Disney World becoming too crowded?

Sunday, February 5, 2012 Chip 30 Comments

While we were at Disney World last week which according to many websites like Touring Plans and from Travel Agents like Pixie Vacations it was going to be a low attendance or value week. I remember when I was in High School and going to Disney World all the time and there were day’s it was completely empty even on a weekend.

So with that information in hand we headed to the park in hopes of a relaxing uncrowded visit. Boy were we wrong.

As you can tell there were people everywhere.Has the days of having the parks all to yourself fallen of the map? Personally I believe Disney Free Dining and to much information has killed any semblance of a slow season. What do I mean exactly? I will tell you…

Free Dining – About 5 years ago is when Free Dining and Special Room rates starting popping up. That period coincides with what I believe when Disney jacked up their rates big time! How else would they give you such a deep discount if they didn’t raise their prices? This a common thing businesses do, they say this item is 75% off but they inflate the Retail Price so basically you are not really saving anything. So now we have Free Dining so conveniently when there is a slow season Disney can keep the parks to capacity at all times.

To much Information – I know I am partly to blame for this along with many other websites out there. We share tips and tricks on when the best time to goto Disney World is and essentially shooting ourselves in the foot by packing the parks out on those slow seasons.

Finally one last thing to look at is:

The sheer numbers of people out of country visiting Walt Disney World. Remember 2 weeks ago President Obama came to Disney World and spoke on how we are open for business. When we were at Disney World last week it looked like a sea of Brazilian Tour Groups. You can spot them by their identical bright color shirts.

So while not any one factor is to blame I believe all of these have led to an overcrowding of Disney World. It might be time for Disney to look at possibly expanding to another theme park. I hear Texas is nice, or heck Disney World Brazil might be nice too.

Whatever shift is happening I am not to happy with it. I am not huge on crowds of people and it is becoming hard for people like me to enjoy the parks. Don’t get me started on the heat either..Oy Vey!

I want to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comment box below. Is Disney World or even Disneyland becoming too over populated?

Disney World Quick Tips – How to pick the least busiest park (chipandco.com)
5 Adult Restaurants to try at Walt Disney World (couponingtodisney.com)

Is Disney World becoming too crowded? %tag

Check out this special offer:
Dooney and Bourke Exclusively for Disney Parks Now Available at DisneyStore.com!

Check out the latest deals and offers from:

About Chip

Chip C has written 6062 post on Chip and Co..

Chip is owner of and webmaster of Chip and Co - Your source for Disney News and Views. He focuses on writing Disney Park News, Planning Tips, Giveaways, TV and Movie News. When he isn't blogging about Disney he is planning his next trip to Walt Disney World.

PinExt Is Disney World becoming too crowded? %tag

Posted in: Blogging, California, Florida, Original Articles, Parks & Resorts Tags: California, disney, Disney World, Texas, Touring Plans, Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort

JJ

Just visited Magic Kingdom 2 days ago. It was awful. So many people. Ride lines were 2 hours long. I mean, it took over an hour just to get inside the park! I feel like it is a total waste of money when you spend all day at a park and you don’t really do anything. I doubt I will ever go back. They need better crowd control or lower prices.
Brdeen

Not to start anything on site dedicated to such a happy place, but are you kidding. If I went to Brazil and complained about all the Portugese being spoken, then I am an idiot. But if someone is in a country that has been an English speaking nation for more than 200 years, yes I think the complaint could be made when they drag a** while using their inability, or lack of interest in, speaking the language as a crutch.
Asil328

My daughter is 9 and my family and I have been to WDW for the last 5 years. Our first 2 years were pretty nice. We went in September, and although the heat was almost unbearable, the lines were not bad. 2 years ago, we went in August. The crowds would have been ok, except for (what seemed like) hundreds of tour groups from Brazil. They were loud and obnoxious while standing in line for rides…screaming and chanting. Later we went to one of our favorite outlet malls in Orlando and almost every store was completely trashed. I asked around and was told by almost every worker that the groups from Brazil had no respect for their clothing/items. It was horrible. We went back to Disney World last year. I had checked around on many of the websites and found that the crowds in October shouldn’t be bad. Boy, were they ever wrong. The line for the Haunted Mansion was almost an hour long….all day long. I asked a worker at Downtown Disney what was going on. I was told that many states take a fall break in October. I asked him about a good time to visit Disney. His response was that there is really not a good time anymore….. In January and Febuary, schools have winter breaks, March and April it is spring break, May thru the first of September is peak season (summer break), October & November is fall break and also the Halloween party, and then of course then there’s Christmas…..the worst time of all to visit Disney. I am very discouraged and not sure that we will go back. It takes away from the magic when you are fighting crazy crowds!
Lilix Spears

Do YOU speak another language????? because most americans do not even know other languages besides Spanish exist or care to learn it at all
Lilix Spears

If you wanted Disney World just for you you should probably get a better job and start saving money for it to be closed just for you… seriously…
Luiz

Radman, I am brazilian and I worked at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe…
And I agree with every single word youve just said…
The way some brazilians (not all, of course) act in the parks makes my stomach turns… they have no respect for lines, order or for the people around them…
The tour groups made me sick… they would stain the name of their country, by acting like animals, just like you’ve said…
The american cast members could not believe we (me and my brazilian co-workers) were from the same place as those crowds, because when we had days off, we would go to the parks to enjoy ourselves, not to mess with someone else’s vacations…
Of course, what we need to remember those moments is that not all brazilians are like that… just the unfortunate few…
(Sorry for my English, not sure if the text is correct!)
=)
Radman

Well, we’ve been going to WDW regularly since 1973 (!) and the crowds have definitely changed over the past five years or so — very few “thin” days at any of the parks any more. I can recall just a few years ago when, at the end of a ride, we were asked by cast members if we’d like to ride again — and been able to ride 4 or 5 times in a row, simply because there were no other people waiting to get on. And those were major rides, too!

My *biggest* peeve is the Brazilians. I know they bring in a lot of revenue, but they act like animals — no regard for anyone or anything else. I’ve spoken to Disney people about this before but it obviously landed on deaf ears. Dealing with regular crowds is one thing, but if the Brazilians are there, you’re probably not going to have a good Disney day!

Nowadays it’s just pure chance if you can hit a “light” day for crowds, but for the most part it’s always going to be busy. More and more people keep coming back because there’s just nowhere else like it anywhere.
Emily

I wouldn’t count on it. Crowds were everywhere. The only thing that saved us was getting up early and getting to the parks before the crowds. The big groups were eating at the resorts at 8 when we were leaving for the bus.
Emily

Just got back yesterday from a trip I planned for a year during value season because I wanted low crowds and need free dining. There are 6 of us. The tour groups, dance teams and all of the people from other countries do crowd the parks and rides. Magic Kingdom was the worst park but we just tried to avoid the big groups. The problem is the language barrier. We were pushed and overrun by people who did not understand lines-traffic patterns-walk on the right side of the road and things like that. They also did not listen to instructions on rides like no flash photography and we couldn’t see after getting off of Pirates after one child took flash pictures behind us the entire time. Not happy about our early Feb. time. Went in late Sept. before and the lines were better. Only problem we ran into was epcot started the food and wine festival and it was overcrowded. Not sure when we will plan another trip yet.
Sasha

I agree, with the prices of airfare more people are sticking to vacations in the U.S.
Cindy W

Just got back last night (Feb 4) after a week at the parks. Having researched and planned, planned, planned – I KNEW I had picked the best times for a trip for my 3 sisters and myself (all in our 50′s).
I bragged for a year about the low crowds and great weather that we could expect. Well, Mother Nature was extremely co-operative, but the last few days of our trip the parks were packed! What surprised
me the most were not the Brazilian groups, but the number of American school age children we saw… what’s the deal?? Is everyone home-schooling now, or just taking their kids out of school for a
trip to DisneyWorld? I agree, Chip, that you guys (bloggers) have educated the rest of us, to which we say “THANKS”!! but I’m sure you aren’t as happy about it All, in all, great trip, thanks to
your advice. My sisters got kinda of sick of me saying “Well, according to Chip and Co…” !! It was magical!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jessica-Reinschmidt/1373085760 Jessica Reinschmidt

I think you forgot one other large factor. With people’s budgets stretched thin, people who would have taken the family to Europe or another overseas destination no longer feel that they can afford it, but still want to take a vacation. They stick closer to home. I’ve seen this in other places stateside. We live close to the Wisconsin Dells, and can remember when going mid week meant that the town was pretty empty when you were slightly out of season….not anymore!
Patti Stough

I have been there several times in Jan. and it was the same. A cast member told me that Brazil has there Spring Break in Jan. Christmas was so packed you could not move in the Magic Kingdom. We left and only came back to see the castle lit up. It seems to becoming crowded most of the year.
Catie

I agree, and its unfirtunate, especially since I travel with a husband who is a nervous wreck in crowds. We went mid december and it wasnt too bad, but we are going back the week of easter and im scared for how bad the crowds will be! I can handle it but am sure about the rest of my party…
http://www.mydreamsofdisney.com Mickey

You know, when we were there in June 2011, it really felt like the crowds were lower than we expected. The only exception was when we were at Hollywood Studios the day before we were going to check out. Do you think that people are shifting their vacations to the supposed “light crowds” and that this is causing some of the summer months to be less crowded?
Kara

We were there last week too, and I have to agree with you. I felt the parks were a lot busier than I anticipated, especially after using my Touring Plans. I wonder when is the “real” down time for Disney, or is it non-existent? Oh well, still ready to plan another trip to the “World” in November.
Donna

first time we went to WDW in very late august early sept before labor day 2010 the place was comfortably not crowded, in fact we made our reservations less than 30 days before our trip and we were able to get all the
dining reservations we wanted except for Chef Mickey’s/ Last year 2011 we went same time of aug/sept and place was much more crowded, we booked in March . couldn’t figure out why, just figured that the economy must have improved for many, just not us. this past week
I tried to book for same time period for later this year and hotel we always went to in previous years only had limited availability, ie not what we wanted . Disney marketing is doing a very good job now they just have to figure out how to make more room without diminishing quality of the disney experience (not shure
how they can do this.
http://www.icrustbemazy.blogspot.com/ Patti/pdubster

This is a pet peeve of mine and I could go on and on. We go during value season to avoid the crazy crowds of summer and holidays. This is the second article I’ve read about these unexpected crowds. No doubt, Disney is trying minimize or eliminate their value seasons. Evening out those peaks and valleys by getting rid of the valleys. Wouldn’t you if all you were focused on was paying the top brass and increasing stock value?

I guess if they can do it and maintain quality at the same time, people will keep coming. The result may be shorter stays or fewer and farther between visits.

But I like the idea to expand to other locations. Something in mid-America, yes!
Reindeer13232

I too miss the empty parks. I would gladly pay for dining if it reduced the crowds. Will be there in 29 days. Hope Touring Plans is right about the crowd level.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1318735862 Brad Sager

I agree that it is getting harder and harder to not have to fight the crowds at Disney World. We started going yearly during Free Dining in 2007. Late September/early October used to be a great time to go. Let me just tell you, that time period is not what it used to be. We gave December a try this last year when the crowds were supposed to be about a 2 out if 10. Just about everyday we had to fight shoulder to shoulder crowds. Lucky for us, we get better and better each time at managing the crowds. For a lot of 1st timers, I can definitely see how the crowds & Brazilian tour groups could ruin what is supposed to be a magical vacation. If you think the crowds are bad now, it’s only going to get worse with the addition of the new Fantasyland areas, the Art of Animation Resort (864 rooms, 1120 suites), Grand Floridian Villas (~ 200 rooms), and the Four Seasons Hotel (~ 444 rooms). With the addition of all these rooms, it is about time that Disney starts thinking about adding an entirely new and separate park.
Leslie Rhodenhizer

We were there last week also and thought the same thing! I was a little disappointed. I said a few times “If these are low crowds, I’d hate to be here when it’s busy!”
Molliesutton

I do have to agree that disney is getting busier. Went the very end of october last year and the magic kingdom was horrifcally busy! Way more than n e other park. Didnt have n e issues with the other parks though. The weekends were extremely busy! Definitely wont do that again. But with the free dining it makes it a great time to go. who knows maybe it will be soo crowded that people will stop going and the cycle will start all over again. Love your website! Keep the info coming.
Jjsparkilzz

We just got back last night and I have to say that we barely waited for anything. Most rides had a no wait to 10 min wait tops for the exception of splash mountain which we fastpassed anyway. Epcot was empty on wednesday and we rode test track three times in a row with no waits. Hollywood studios was also empty. The only complaint I have is the bus system. We stayed at Pop Century which was nice but all the busses were a far walk from the park exits and we always had to wait at least 20-30 min for a bus. Its also far from Magic Kingdom and after a long day of walking around, standing in a packed bus for a long ride was killing us. Next time, I think we’ll stay closer.
Keylime26

We were at WDW in July and again last month. Of course, our summer trip was absolutely miserable! It was so hot and the crowds were unbelievable. There were tour groups from Brazil everywhere we went…the parks, water parks, Downtown Disney. We just could get away from them. Every time they got in a line, it would automatically add another 30 minutes to the wait! In addition, my husband got caught behind one of the leaders in a fast pass distribution line. He had to wait 15 minutes just for this one leader to get a fast pass for all the people in her group. Disney has to do something about this. I understand they are paying guests, but when they have one person taking up that kind of time in the fast pass distribution line…not only are they taking up the time of people in that line, but their group is over at other rides boosting the wait time for those too! When we were there in January, they were again too, but they didn’t seem quite as big. My other complaint is that most of them don’t speak English either and they will cut in front of you or their group will push out of the way. I think Disney should build a park down in South America and we can all go return the favor of being rude to other people in their own country!
Scrapinteresa

I’m with you. What I miss is going to the park and deciding at the last minute oh lets go eat at the Crystal palace or lets go eat and any sit down restaurant. You can’t do that at all. Now you have to plan so far ahead for any of that. it kinda takes the special magical moments or surprises out of the trip. We always traveled during the summer when I was younger so there were always crowds and it was always hot. but I agree I think they are much more crowded due to the free dining. I haven’t had a chance to take advantage of that and i’m sure its nice to have but also because of it everything is booked before you even leave for the parks. I miss it when it was a little more simpler to plan a vacation to the World and didn’t have to have a spreadsheet to keep up with everything.
Lori R.

We were there last week as well. I specifically chose that week for low crowds and chose parks we visited each day for low attendance. We know how to maneuver, so we never had a terrible time, but yes, there was NEVER a time when any park at any time was nearly empty. We also saw several groups from Brazil every day. Standy-by wait times did get quite long. Restaurants we’re packed, those without ADR’s were turned away. I cannot IMAGINE going during a “busy” time or over the summer months when it’s hot, so now that our oldest is gettting to old to pull out of school I’m not sure when we’ll be back. Total bummer.
Kristin

I think that right now the Magic Kingdom feels more crowded with all of the construction. You are missing part of Fantasyland and all of ToonTown. I think that it will not feel near as crowded when the new areas open and there is a lot more area for guests to wander through.

I have been to Disneyworld for the past four years in September during the free dining period. Although the restaurants were full, the parks were empty. I remember one morning last September that there was not a soul in Frontierland. We rode Splash Mountain twice without having to get out of our log. It is all timing!
http://twitter.com/Hannahs_hands Hannahs_hands

HAHA we actually made the same comment about a disney Brazil. but we were there Jan 22nd to the 29th and I actually didn’t find it to be that crowded at all, except animal kingdom. animal kingdom was nuts but we went to hollywood studios one day and it was like a ghost town at the back of the park. the disney junior dance party cleared out by 9 and there were probably only about a dozen kids there. MK and epcot were also very manageable. We did everything we wanted to do and more. there were tour groups everywhere but they actually didn’t really get in our way. we didn’t end up in a single line with a tour group in it.
Christie Struck

Well they couldn’t put it where they get snow for 5 months a year like we get!! But even with Disney World and Disneyland, I go to Disney World for the other parks nearby. Epcot is our favorite park! I don’t think we would go anywhere else if there was no Epcot.
devon

I would love to see another Disney somewhere in the states… we are in Pittsburgh so obviously I would like where ever they built it to be closer than Orlando. I have noticed that off peak is more crowded. We have always gone off peak and now have noticed that it really isn’t. Even a Disney employee told me last time we were that there really isn’t a slow time anymore, that with promotions off peak weeks are now just as busy as peak.