[brumcg]

I saw this over in the news section... The parks are setting record attendence this week:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...ss%2Dheadlines

Does anybody know how they were last week? We had to choose between last week and the first week of June, and we picked June. Hope we made the right call...

Bruce

[mickey]

I had read the same story. All of the parking lots were full, Animal Kingdom had it's biggest day since opening day, and they had to turn back non-resort guests for a while. The article said that the crowds were just shy of Easter 2000, which were the biggest ever.

I have read elsewhere that crowds have been up across the board from last year, and that the week before Easter was nearly as full as Easter week. Hopefully, June will be better for you. I will see if I can find actual attendance numbers for you.

[brumcg]

Thanks Mickey!

I heard a vague report that it was predictably crowded the week before Easter, but then we had some friends who were at Discovery Cove last week and said "it was a great time to go, no crowds, Orlando was dead." Yet the Sentinel was reporting that Discovery Cove was almost at full capacity! :dazed

We'll have the same situation in 2005 (my daughter's spring break will be the week before Easter). The more data the better! We might cruise that year instead of going to the parks... or go to the parks again in June if that works out...or...or...

Bruce

BTW... Where would you find actual attendance numbers? I've looked for them on the web, but I've had no success.

[Cinderellafifi]

I just saw the story on our local news report. Incredible! On one hand I am glad that Disney is doing so well, on the other, I just HATE it there when it is crowded.

Hey, Bruce - we are planning our next Disney trip around the first week of June, too. I hope that isn't an ominous sign that the parks will be full. Palm Beach County schools end the last week of May so maybe it will be less crowded than usually since many other schools will still be in session.

What's your itinerary so far? :)

[jgriff2388]

Well that makes 3 of us going the first week of June.
I can handle high attendance, I just hope the weather is good.
We went to Disney the week before Easter in 1996 and it was very crowed. They closed MK one day due to the crowds, so we went to MGM instead, and that park wasn't that crowed. The lines at MK and Epcot were crowded all week. But I didn't care, I was on vacation. :)
My sister is travelling to Disney that week too from the panhandle in Florida. I understand most of the schools in Florida close at the end of May. We live in the North, so the schools don't close till mid June.

[iamagrump]

We are going to be at Disney next week and I am hopeing that it wont be that bad. I am hopeing that all the schools will be back from Spring break, I have even taken my first grader out an extra week hopeing for smaller crowds. :)

[brumcg]

Cinderellafifi,

I'm somewhat of a planning nut, but this trip is a toughie! I have a general plan layed out, but I'm ready to zig when everyone else zags...

Saturday June 1: Check in Wilderness Lodge Villas; dinner at Artist Point
Sunday: Animal Kingdom; lunch at Rainforest Cafe
Monday: MGM; dinner at Cap May Cafe
Tuesday: MK; dinner at Crystal Palace
Wednesday: Epcot; lunch at Garden Grill
Thursday: AK & MK; breakfast at Donald's Breakfastosaurus, dinner at 'Ohana
Friday: MGM & Epcot; breakfast at Hollywood & Vine; dinner at Chefs de France
Saturday: Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare; Downtown Disney; home

We have a ton of X factors on this trip. First, I guess there's always the possibility of Early Entry making a comeback. Then, there's e-ride nights which I hope to have at least one. The 2 biggest X's, though, are our 2-year old and the fact that my parents MIGHT go with us.

We also vow that we won't go "commando" this time! 6 days in the parks is a marathon, not a sprint. I have to keep reminding myself and my family of this! We'll be taking plenty of breaks; I can't wait to stay on property - it'll be our first time.

How'z about you and jgriff2388?

Bruce

[lvbug]

I am so glad to hear that park attendance is up -- hopefully this will bring back some of the fleeting Disney Magic I've been hearing about. (cm layoffs, shut down rides...)

purposely, I'm going in August so that way we can't go commando through the parks even by accident, it will be too hot. I'm a planner and I drive the fam (and myself) crazy with schedules, plans, etc.. I have to keep reminding myself -- this is vacation!

[lvbug]

Brum,
everytime I see you, I think its me b/c that avatar used to mine : )

[brumcg]

Lvbug,

Yeah, the avatar is freaking me out! :) I can't find my own posts!

I think Mickey gets a big chuckle out of this...by the time we get used to it, boom...it goes to someone else! ;)

[Cinderellafifi]

Just reading your post about what you are going to do when you go gets me excited! We don't have a plan yet. We will have 3 kids with us this time (my two stepdaughters and my daughter) and it will be the first time the 3 of them are going together with the youngest really knowing what is going on. So I suspect there will be lots of screaming and "I wants". LOL

Why are you doing the one night at WL? Was it your choice to check the place out or was there a scheduling conflict with AKL?

We are going to try a villa this time. Off property again but close.

I think it is good that you have an idea of what you want to do and when. It is easier for people like me who live close because we can always "wing it". But you have to be sure to do everything. :) Most of all, you are going to be so spoiled by staying on property! You really can't beat it! You don't have to see your car your entire time which really makes you feel you have gotten away from it all.

[iamagrump]

Oh My I think that I am the only one that does not plan their vacation down to the last min. We are getting there Monday morning and all I have are PS for a few of the restaurants and some we might not even do. We are staying at AKL but don't plan to be there very much. :) With 2 kids a "big" kid we have to wing it because they change their mind all the time LOL

[Cinderellafifi]

MONDAY!? Already?! I can't believe it! Are you excited or what!?

Don't worry about not being a planner - there is so much to do and see that you can never go wrong! :)

[jgriff2388]

Well we only have a PS for the Hoop Dee Doo on Monday night. Beside that, no other plans yet. There are 2 families going. We're just doing at 5 day trip and we're staying at the Polynesian. We just booked it in mid March, so we're trying to put plans together now. I just saw some photos of the volcano pool at the resort and it looks great. I can't wait! This site has been a great source of information!
We check in on 6/1. We have a morning flight so the first day will not be lost. We'll probably do MGM, MK, or Epcot our first day.
I have a 10 year old who wants to go to Blizzard Beach, so I have to plan that in too.
It will definitely be a "commando" trip since we're not staying the full week.

FYI - My sister just returned from WDW and US last night. They only did 2 days at WDW as they were staying at US. She said WDW was packed this past week. She said the ride lines were not too bad, and they did use the Fast Pass. But she said Main Street and the restaurants were extremely crowded and they had a difficult time finding a place to seat. They did not call ahead for PS.
:)

[Goofette]

We only have one ps and that is for Cinderellas Castle breakfast. Do I need to go ahead and make reservations for Rainforest and Jiko/Boma? We are so unsure of our schedule (we have a plan, but are flexible in case of crowds) so we didn't want to do the PS. Should I go ahead and do that?

Oh, and imagrump, we did the same thing. Our school isn't happy at all about us taking our daughter our (2nd grade) but heck, she's just in second grade for goodness sakes. We're hoping the teacher is going to let us take her school work so she can do it without it piling up. They have SO much homework this year we spend at least 1 1/2 hours average each night (usually more), so we're ALL excited to get away from everything and just Go Disney Wild!!!!! Wooohoooo :) :)