How Crowded is Disney Today?

Today is Monday August 23rd.

If you are down in WDW, you will notice that it is not as crowded. According to TouringPlans.com, summer break is now over, so what has that done to the crowd level? Well if you have been there for a week, you will notice a significant drop in the crowd level today!

Today the crowd calendar over on touringplans.com is predicting that it will be a 5 out of 10! What park should you avoid? Steer clear of Hollywood Studios! So where should you go then? Well touring plans says that the best park today is - Epcot.

It is still hot, though! Summer break might be over, but summer sure isn't going anywhere! According to accuweather.com, it will be a high of 90, but the heat index will make it feel like it is 105!! The humidity seems to be back! So stay hydrated and take breaks in the A/C and shade!! An couple of afternoon thunderstorm is possible today as well - so grab those ponchos!

Lesson: How to use Fastpass!

Fastpass is a great tool to help you maximize your time in Disney! It was introduced in 1999 and allows guests to avoid long lines at the attractions on which the system is installed, freeing them to enjoy other attractions during their wait. The service is available at no additional charge to ALL park guests. You will see I bolded that section and capped ALL, why you ask? Because I cannot tell you how many times I have been there and heard people ask how much it costs, think it is only for resort guests, or so many other things. I have had people waiting in the regular line give me dirty looks and make comments as I zip by with my fastpass ticket in the fastpass line and they continue to slowly move through a LONG line!

So now you know what Fastpass (FP) is and that you can use it as long as you have a park ticket, which everyone in the parks should have one. Well what attractions have FP? FP is designed for the most popular rides. Mission Space in Epcot was the first ride designed with a seperate FP waiting area. All other rides before were modified to make a FP line available. Rides where you can use FP are:

Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Jungle Cruise
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Peter Pan's Flight
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Stitch's Great Escape
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Epcot
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Living with the Land
Maelstrom
Mission: SPACE
Soarin'
Test Track

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Star Tours
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Toy Story Midway Mania
Voyage of the Little Mermaid

Disney's Animal Kingdom
DINOSAUR
It's Tough to be a Bug
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Primeval Whirl
Expedition Everest

Here is a look at a FP for Splash Mountain, they all look the same, minus the ride logo of course!

When you get into the park have a plan of what rides you want a FP for. Then assign a FP runner - give this person the tickets and send him/her off to get the groups FP for that ride. Trust me you all don't want to trek back to Splash Mountain if you have just entered Main Street. No need to all run aorund! Pick a meeting spot for the FP runner to meet back up with you and now ride some rides.

You can see from the picture that it will give you a one hour window when you can go back, don't let that effect whether or not you get it. Lets say you get one and during that window you are scheduled for a meal at Cinderella's Table. It's ok! You can go after the time period is up, just not before! :-)

Now wait until your time is ready and then right at the start time - send that runner out for another FP, this is when you will be able to get another one (unless there is a significant - usually over two hours from when you received your FP - wait, then you will be able to get one before the start time.) Have the runner meet you with the next set of FPs in hand and go ride your first FP attraction.

FP runner - here is a look at the machine: When you walk up to a ride equipped with a FP, you will see the area that houses the FP machines, above that area it will tell you the window for the ride times. It will be a one hour window. Enter the tickets in one at a time into the machine. It will give you your ticket back and print out a FP. If you get a FP printed that says "Fastpass NOT available at this time" and you do not currently have a FP see FP cast member for help. Otherwise this has printed because you already have a FP and you are not allowed another yet, see your current FP for when you are allowed to get a new one. If a FP won't print or it just keeps spitting your park ticket back out - see the Cast Member, your park ticket may be demagnatized and you may need to have it replaced, the CM will give you a ticket for getting FP for the rest of the day in the park you are in. Now once you have gotten all your FP go meet up with the rest of your party!

Ok it is time to ride - where do you go? Well when you approach a ride with a FP, you will see two lines - one is marked Standby entrance and one is marked FP entrance. They are usually within a few feet of each other, but not always - The Safari in Animal Kingdom is a good example the entrances being far from each other. Take your FP up and show them to the Cast Member at the Fast pass entrance, he/she will check to be sure you are there at the right time and then let you by. You now get to zip right by all those people waiting in line! Once you get to the front there will be another Cast Member waiting to collect your FP, so be careful and don't lose them from point a to point b! Now go ride and have fun!!

Fastpass is a great invention and if used correctly will really benefit you, especially at busy times!

How Crowded is Disney Today?

Today is Saturday August 21st.

If you are down in WDW, you will notice that it is not as crowded. Summer break has only a couple days left!

Today the crowd calendar over on touringplans.com is predicting that it will be a 6 out of 10! What park should you avoid? Steer clear of Animal Kingdom! So where should you go then? Well touring plans says that the best park today is - any of the other three.

It will be HOT HOT HOT!!!! According to accuweather.com, it will be a high of 92, but the heat index will make it feel like it is 101!! The humidity seems to be not as bad as it was earlier in the week, but still super hot and humid, so stay hydrated and take breaks in the A/C and shade!! An afternoon thunderstorm is possible today as well - so grab those ponchos!

How Crowded is Disney Today?

Today is Wednesday August 18th.

If you are down in WDW, you will notice that it is rather crowded. Schools are almost back in for the most part, but it is still the summer season for a couple weeks!

Today the crowd calendar over on touringplans.com is predicting that it will be a 7 out of 10! Wowzers!! What park should you avoid? Steer clear of Animal Kingdom! So where should you go then? Well touring plans says that the best park today is - Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios.

It will be HOT HOT HOT!!!! According to accuweather.com, it will be a high of 91, but the heat index will make it feel like it is 110!! So stay hydrated and take breaks in the A/C and shade!! An afternoon thunderstorm is possible today as well - so grab those ponchos!

Tip for Tuesday

Hello everyone!

So I am trying to get back into the groove. Life is crazy!! Anyway, my tip for today...utilize the Baby Care Centers!

Each of the 4 theme parks have a Baby Care Center. Here you can feed or change your little one - they even have a room that is quiet and dark with gliders/rockers to nurse your little one!

My favorite two are Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. They have televisions with old classic Disney cartoons on, toys, nice changing tables, a bathroom or two, high chairs, a small shop with items you may need in a pinch (PRICEY!) and I think microwaves. There is a cast member there as well. Strollers are NOT allowed in!

We went one year and it was HOT, so hot!! These little stops were wonderful!! To be able to go take a break from the heat in some nice A/C in a spot that wasn't over stimulating for my little one was perfect. I let them crawl around and play, gave them a diaper change and fed them. It was a nice break. Oh and FREE too! Usually they are located right by the first aide center in the park.

Picture Day!

So my family has taken MANY trips to WDW, that is why I am able to give so many helpful tips! I am going to start posting a few pictures here and there from some of our trips!



Emma with Cinderella! They both loved that they were matching!



Owen and I waiting for his big sister to get off of Dumbo.

Tuesday's Tip

Are you going to Disney at a busy time? Are you curious as to what the crowds may be like? There are so many ways to do research this, but the one I know most about is - www.touringplans.com. I have used their crowd calendar several times. I don't pay for the service, but you can. If you don't pay for it you can see 30 days out. You will see that I post the information both here and on facebook, saving you time from having to go find it yourself. There is also tourguidemike.com. I have not used this, so I can't really comment on it!

Touring Plans crowd calendar basically goes up to a 10 and the closer to 10 the more crowded it is. It also tells you the best park and the parks to avoid on a given day. It is a helpful tool. I wouldn't say to follow it 100%, but maybe use it as a guideline. I believe they encourage you to avoid Extra Magic Hour days, but I am a fan of EMH, especially in the evening, so that is why I say use it as a guideline, but don't make it be the be all end all! :-)

On the science of the crowd calendar and what the numbers all mean for you go here - http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=258