Disney4me Posted November 22, 2021 Report Share Posted November 22, 2021 Holiday celebrations are in full swing in Disney World with holiday decorations and treats for guests to enjoy. Holidays in the Magic Kingdom But, with the holidays comes something else…crowds. With Thanksgiving just a few days away, we noticed that the holiday crowds have definitely arrived in the parks. This past weekend and today (Monday, the 22nd) we’ve started to see quite a few more guests in the parks as Thanksgiving draws near. Here’s what we’ve seen and what you should keep in mind if you’re planning to visit the parks during the busy holiday season. Crowds You might see some big crowds near the entrance to the parks, particularly just as the parks are opening for the day. We spotted some substantial crowds in Hollywood Studios near the entrance. Entrance Crowds This can vary depending on when you enter the park and what park you visit. Animal Kingdom Entrance Crowds If you’re hoping to enter the parks without a big line, consider using the Early Theme Park Entry benefit if you’re staying at a Disney World resort hotel. Or, consider getting there very early or waiting a little bit past the opening time, so you can potentially beat or miss the early morning rush. Entrance Crowds Some of the places where you’ll spot the biggest evidence of crowds will be at lines for spots to grab some food or the attraction queues. We spotted some particularly long lines for popular rides like Slinky Dog Dash in Hollywood Studios… 120 Minute Wait! …Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios… WOW …and other rides. You may even find that lines for Lightning Lanes may be longer than you might have expected. Be sure to look for those “Enter Here” or “End of Line” signs that Cast Members near the end of the lines will typically hold up, so you know where to enter. Look for These “Enter Here” Signs You may see backstage areas utilized for the lines of select spots also, like the backstage area that was being used for the Kilimanjaro Safaris line in Animal Kingdom today. Backstage In terms of wait times, when we checked at around 2:45PM ET on Monday the 22nd, there was a mixed bag. Some attractions and experiences had low waits. Wait Times Others had waits of 15-20 minutes — not too bad. Wait Times Some rides were closer to the middle, with 30-35 minute waits. Wait Times But, if you’re hoping to go on some of Disney World’s most popular rides during the holiday season, be prepared to wait in more substantial lines. When we checked, several rides had waits of an hour… Wait Times …or more. Wait Times Really popular rides like Test Track and Frozen Ever After were closer to 90 or 100 minutes. Long Waits And Flight of Passage had a 160 minute wait, and Rise of the Resistance led the pack with a 195 minute wait. Longer Waits If you’ll be heading to the parks during this busy season, consider whether purchasing a Lightning Lane or Genie+ is something your family wants to do, or if you can take advantage of things like Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Hours to get some extra time in the parks to do what you want. You Won’t Be Alone As we’ve seen on other busy days though, there were pockets of spaces where the crowds weren’t as bad. Not Bad Here If you’re heading to the parks now, you may find pockets of emptier spots, which can give you some more space to spread out. Look for Those Empty Spaces Another big thing to keep in mind when it comes to crowds is the weather. Crowds and Rain When it rains in Disney World, you may find many guests flock to nearby stores, rides, or restaurants with some kind of cover to escape the weather. Finding Cover You may encounter large crowds near those areas, so keep that in mind. The Rain Can Cause Some Crowding Even if the weather doesn’t necessarily call for a lot of rain during your visit, you’ll want to come prepared as Florida weather can be a bit unpredictable! Time to Wait And be prepared to face some larger crowds and lines in indoor spots during the bad weather. Crowded During the rain, you may notice crowds thinning out in some outdoor spots. Crowds Thinning Out In fact, over at EPCOT, we noticed that the crowds were significantly reduced in some spots due to the rain. Things Are Looking Better If you come prepared to brave the rain (a.k.a. bring those ponchos and umbrellas!) then you could take advantage of some shorter lines. Ready to Brave the Rain? Overall, our reporters shared that the parks do feel much more crowded now than they did last week. Crowds Walking In Again, the level of crowding you’ll face will depend on what park you visit, when you visit, where you spend your time in the park, etc. But, overall, as Thanksgiving draws near, be prepared to wait more in some lines for food, merchandise, and rides; and be prepared to encounter more crowds throughout the parks. Crowds A few things to keep in mind as you visit during the busy season: Make sure you’ve got your Park Passes set up well in advance. Be sure to check if Park Hopping is restricted at any point as it is based on availability (we haven’t really encountered an issue with hopping due to capacity, except on Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, but things can change). Be sure to place those mobile orders well before you’re hungry so you aren’t stuck waiting for a much later pick-up time. Take advantage of any extra time you might have in the park (early entry or extended evening hours). Pack your patience — it can get stressful with big crowds! Time to Get in Line We’ll keep an eye out for more Disney news and updates throughout the holidays, so stay tuned for the latest updates! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2021 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2021 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: Pre-order of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2021 Food & Wine Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2021 Pre-order for the 2022 Flower and Garden Festival Guide All three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out the FULL List of Holiday Treats Coming to Disney World This Year See the List of Holiday Treats Coming to Disney World’s Hotels Get All of the Latest Information about the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays See the Booths, Menus, and Food Photos for the Festival of the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you visiting Disney World soon? Tell us in the comments!The post PHOTOS: It's Official. Holiday Crowds Have ARRIVED in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.