Here Now & Just Back WDW Reopening Experiences Including Park Hopping

[slyster]

Pure Speculation, but I wonder if the rumors of August 16th of new AP's back a few months ago fueled some bookings and now that that didn't happened they are cancelling till AP's are back. It wouldn't account for all cancellations but maybe some.

Thanks for sharing that. I wouldn't have thought of that. I also agree that I bet a lot of folks are waiting for the 50th anniversary which makes thing slower leading up to it.

 

[Sugarshock]

We’re doing MK 8/30 and AK 8/31. Looks like we might get low crowds! Can’t wait. We switched from AoA to GF and saved $400!

I need to know, how?! Did you go from a suite to a standard GF room?

 

[Sinder]

COVID, hot, schools back open, Disney saving everything until October 1st, etc.

We've always picked the week before Labor Day to go because it seemed to be the least crowded.
This year we went earlier and crowds were moderate, but I know someone who is there now and said it's been great.

 

[Mr. X]

I need to know, how?! Did you go from a suite to a standard GF room?

Supposedly they've been calling people w/ reservations at AoA and moving/upgrading them to other resorts the past week or so. I can't recall why.

 

[Coconut8473]

Got a touring plans update last night for our stay this weekend and next week. Crowd levels went down even more. Everything is either a 1 or a 2.

HS on 8/30 dropped from a 5 to a 1

Saw some pics posted on twitter last night showing an empty queue for Soarin.

Another indicator is that dining seems to have plenty of reservations open anytime we go to check for availability.

Not sure what's up, but I like what I am seeing.

I ante'd up after reading this thread and got a TP subscription - seeing the same thing for next week. Hope it sticks!

 

[Haley R]

I need to know, how?! Did you go from a suite to a standard GF room?

We booked a confirmed dvc reservation through a rental site. It was only $750 for 3 nights in a lake view studio! We had a cars suite booked at AoA. I’ve always wanted to stay at the GF so I can’t wait

 

[Dakota731]

Last night I was watching local news. It’s not just WDW. Daytona Mayor saying hotels are seeing cancellations all over the place, even for this upcoming race. Most bookings are locals/ FL residents as they average only 2 nights vs longer bookings. Simply many are not coming down right now.

Would be a great time to go to WDW if kids weren’t in school! This time of year is always low due to parents hating to take kids out the beginning of the academic year, but the heat seems brutal right now so it’s a toss up?!?

 

[Dakota731]

COVID, hot, schools back open, Disney saving everything until October 1st, etc.

Yep! And saw on a popular Disney blog that a lot of people who would be going now are saving their trips for the anniversary. So if you don’t have school kids and don’t mind the heat, this is a great time for a last minute trip

 

[Mr. X]

I ante'd up after reading this thread and got a TP subscription - seeing the same thing for next week. Hope it sticks!

They are 10x more accurate than the wait time reported in the MDE app. You won't regret it.

 

[danissmart]

COVID, hot, schools back open, Disney saving everything until October 1st, etc.

You forgot policy decisions.

 

[RH22]

Back from a stay 8/18-8/22. We're a bit different, we don't really have a touring plan and we get to parks early but not for rope drop. Still got tons of things done and never waited more than 30 minutes for anything. Had Lines app, and it was definitely more accurate throughout our stay than posted wait times.

8/18 we arrived and went over to MK at about 2PM. Ate at CHH, then did Splash Mountain, Big Thunder and Pirates and had a 5:30 at Skipper Canteen (never been, was tremendous). After dinner we did Small World, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Buzz, PeopleMover, got Dole Whips and then snuck in Mine Train AND Peter Pan as fireworks were going off. Great day.

8/19 was Epcot. Got there at noon, went straight to World Showcase for F&W and ate and drank our way around the world. Went back to Future World around 3 and did Soarin twice, Spaceship Earth, Living Seas and Imagination. Then back to WS and ate some more, finally leaving as fireworks were starting up.

8/20 was HS. All of us tried for a boarding group and our son managed to grab BG22. HS had the most lines, but we knew we were going back the next day. Did RNR twice, Tower of Terror, then Rise of Resistance (which is as great as everyone says it is). Lunch at ABC (never been, was actually pretty good) then the Runaway Railway. Left mid afternoon to go back and swim. Dinner at kona Cafe and then the Boo Bash. It was pretty empty and trying to remember everything we hit. We literally walked onto Space Mountain, like walked through queue and then jumped right into the ride vehicle. Kids then went on three more times. Mine Train was maybe 10 minutes (longest wait of the night). Everything else was essentially a walk on. Fun time.

8/21 we went back to HS in the mid morning. RNR again, Smugglers Run and Slinky Dog (posted 50 minutes and we only waited 28...longest wait of the whole trip). Can't remember where lunch was but then we did Tower of Terror again. Son got the 1Pm drop of boarding times, we had to be back for 4:30 or so. So we drove over to AK and rode FOP for the first time as the wait was only 20 minutes (wasn't as blown away as most people, I'm just not an Avatar guy) and then did Everest multiple times (walk on every time). Zipped back to HS for our boarding group. As it was the hottest day in the history of the world, we went back to jump in pool for a bit but they blew the whistles on our way over there. Then the skies unloaded for a few hours. Oh well. Ate at Citrico's that night. Too expensive for sure, but the refurb looks excellent.

8/22 we went back to Epcot, did Soarin multiple times again as well as SE and Nemo. Met up with our daughter's friend who arrived that day and walked around a bit with them. Then had dinner at Boma. We were all a bit wary of the buffet, but capacity was really low (less than half the tables were taken) and we went kind of on the early side. Food was excellent as always.

So overall, it never felt that crowded, ride waits were low although we kind of go with the flow and go on whatever is a short wait. I don't think I've ever been as hot in my life as I was on Fri-Sun. Just oppressive heat and humidity, and being in Epcot and HS help causes. Grand Floridian is still gorgeous on the outside, rooms definitely need a little love though.

Back to reality now.

 

[cam8n]

At HS today again much busier than expected and much busier than any of our previous August trips. We have touring plans and all parks at rated 1's. Never waited in a line outside TT in August. Galaxy edge especially busy but it always is. We're finding evenings less crowded. I think the talk of low crowds has brought more people in. Just my observation

 

[Mr. X]

Back from a stay 8/18-8/22. We're a bit different, we don't really have a touring plan and we get to parks early but not for rope drop. Still got tons of things done and never waited more than 30 minutes for anything. Had Lines app, and it was definitely more accurate throughout our stay than posted wait times.

8/18 we arrived and went over to MK at about 2PM. Ate at CHH, then did Splash Mountain, Big Thunder and Pirates and had a 5:30 at Skipper Canteen (never been, was tremendous). After dinner we did Small World, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Buzz, PeopleMover, got Dole Whips and then snuck in Mine Train AND Peter Pan as fireworks were going off. Great day.

8/19 was Epcot. Got there at noon, went straight to World Showcase for F&W and ate and drank our way around the world. Went back to Future World around 3 and did Soarin twice, Spaceship Earth, Living Seas and Imagination. Then back to WS and ate some more, finally leaving as fireworks were starting up.

8/20 was HS. All of us tried for a boarding group and our son managed to grab BG22. HS had the most lines, but we knew we were going back the next day. Did RNR twice, Tower of Terror, then Rise of Resistance (which is as great as everyone says it is). Lunch at ABC (never been, was actually pretty good) then the Runaway Railway. Left mid afternoon to go back and swim. Dinner at kona Cafe and then the Boo Bash. It was pretty empty and trying to remember everything we hit. We literally walked onto Space Mountain, like walked through queue and then jumped right into the ride vehicle. Kids then went on three more times. Mine Train was maybe 10 minutes (longest wait of the night). Everything else was essentially a walk on. Fun time.

8/21 we went back to HS in the mid morning. RNR again, Smugglers Run and Slinky Dog (posted 50 minutes and we only waited 28...longest wait of the whole trip). Can't remember where lunch was but then we did Tower of Terror again. Son got the 1Pm drop of boarding times, we had to be back for 4:30 or so. So we drove over to AK and rode FOP for the first time as the wait was only 20 minutes (wasn't as blown away as most people, I'm just not an Avatar guy) and then did Everest multiple times (walk on every time). Zipped back to HS for our boarding group. As it was the hottest day in the history of the world, we went back to jump in pool for a bit but they blew the whistles on our way over there. Then the skies unloaded for a few hours. Oh well. Ate at Citrico's that night. Too expensive for sure, but the refurb looks excellent.

8/22 we went back to Epcot, did Soarin multiple times again as well as SE and Nemo. Met up with our daughter's friend who arrived that day and walked around a bit with them. Then had dinner at Boma. We were all a bit wary of the buffet, but capacity was really low (less than half the tables were taken) and we went kind of on the early side. Food was excellent as always.

So overall, it never felt that crowded, ride waits were low although we kind of go with the flow and go on whatever is a short wait. I don't think I've ever been as hot in my life as I was on Fri-Sun. Just oppressive heat and humidity, and being in Epcot and HS help causes. Grand Floridian is still gorgeous on the outside, rooms definitely need a little love though.

Back to reality now.

I like the strategy of doing the Countries instead of Future World First. Did you like doing that?

 

[OhBother1984]

At HS today again much busier than expected and much busier than any of our previous August trips. We have touring plans and all parks at rated 1's. Never waited in a line outside TT in August. Galaxy edge especially busy but it always is. We're finding evenings less crowded. I think the talk of low crowds has brought more people in. Just my observation

those pictures don’t look crowded to me at all

 

[jbrinkm]

I like the strategy of doing the Countries instead of Future World First. Did you like doing that?

We did the same thing last week and thought it was great. Future World was pretty empty later in the evening.

 

[Mr. X]

At HS today again much busier than expected and much busier than any of our previous August trips. We have touring plans and all parks at rated 1's. Never waited in a line outside TT in August. Galaxy edge especially busy but it always is. We're finding evenings less crowded. I think the talk of low crowds has brought more people in. Just my observation

What the heck. TP shows a 1 for all parks but the wait times for all the parks seem pretty high... Looks like big crowds are coming in. Everyone please stay home.

 

[RH22]

I like the strategy of doing the Countries instead of Future World First. Did you like doing that?

Absolutely! We wanted to hit Food and Wine for "lunch" and "dinner". Plus when it's just unbearably hot in the PM, we hit Future World to hit some AC and attractions. Waits were not bad at all anywhere. Test Track had 45 minute waits at all times, but we all feel that's a A+ line for a C ride, so we skipped it.

Things might change down the road with new attractions and construction getting finished, but if/when we go again, we'd do World Showcase early.

 

[Sarahslay]

Touring plans adjusted crowd levels next week. All parks are showing at level 1 except for MK 3 or 4 days are a level 2. I can't wait to report back. I'm sort of wondering if Rope Drop is necessary for each day. We will be there 8/28-9/4.

Yeah, I got the email late last night, if everyone in my house wasn't asleep I would have screamed with joy lol (they wouldn't have appreciated it though since I'm going solo, so they don't care). I'm still doing RD so I can get the parks done before the midday heat rolls in, then go back to my room to chill (literally), then hop to another park for the night. I'm sure the fireworks will still be packed at MK somehow.

 

[mousefan73]

Would be a great time to go to WDW if kids weren’t in school! This time of year is always low due to parents hating to take kids out the beginning of the academic year, but the heat seems brutal right now so it’s a toss up?!?

At HS right now when the suns comes out it’s Brutal. We are sitting at pizzaritto and I’m having a beer - everyone is silent and staring into space. The heat got us.

 

[MomOTwins]

I gave some updates during our trip last week, but decided to wait a week after our 8/14-8/18 trip to give some overall impressions. On the whole, it was a good trip, and I am glad we went (especially now that I know our next trip will be a lot pricier with paid fastpass), but it is still not fully back to the park’s former glory.

Crowds: We found crowd levels and wait times were low at AK and EP (including during fireworks at EP), higher but tolerable at HS and MK during the day, and awful to the point of being unbearable and nearly ruining the entire vacation at MK during fireworks. We had two nights at MK and I wished we had just planned to be elsewhere instead. Crowds actually seemed worse than pre-Covid, and I wonder if it is a combination of hoppers from HS due to no fantasmic, and people wanting to watch HEA as much as possible before it goes away next month. I cannot emphasize how much more I would have enjoyed our trip if we had just avoided MK in evenings. Also, I did cave and buy TP but did not feel it was worth it, as we ended up waiting double sometimes what TP said and it was frustrating.

Covid safety: We felt mask compliance on the whole was very good indoors and on transportation— much better than on prior Covid trips. Tables in QS are right next to each other — TS restaurants still seemed to have tables close to 6 feet apart. We are a week later have not gotten sick yet, knock on wood.

Resort: I cannot sing Riviera resort’s praises enough. Our room was gorgeous and spotlessly clean. The food was outstanding. The staff went above and beyond on everything. Pools and recreation were great and transportation was very efficient even when skyliner was down.

Characters: We saw cavalcades and pop up characters a lot this trip. The interactions were great and I actually preferred just being able to walk up and talk to Anna and Elsa in Epcot or Kylo Ren in HS for example without having to wait in a line and pose for a bunch of photopass shots that I then feel pressured to buy memory maker for. Hope it stays like this.

Dining: Our meals were all very good and we felt food quality and variety was much better than prior trips. My only complaint is I do feel the “Family Style” meals are wayyy overpriced. At least when there was a buffet the food variety justified the cost. But I paid the same for our family to have an (outstanding) dinner at Citricos as I paid for Tusker House, and it confirmed to me we aren’t going back at these prices until the full buffet returns.