I’ve been visiting Walt Disney World since the year it opened in 1971. I have sketchy memories of that first visit because I was just a child.
But I do remember a time, about 18 years ago when you could visit Walt Disney World and avoid the crowds.
Nowadays, the Disney message boards are hopping mad with posters complaining of horrific crowds in October. And September. And in March. And…..well, you name the month.
Disney Knows What They’re Doing
I’ve always said that Disney World is spot on with managing their workforce to match park attendance. Disney knows how to manage its off-season. There have been times when I’ve visited in June and gotten more done than when I’ve visited in early November. In June; the park hours were longer, if an attraction had multiple lines they were all open, more busses and monorails were running and plenty of staff was on hand at restaurants and shops. In November, the park hours were shorter, fewer lines and attractions were open, fewer busses and monorails were running and fewer staff members were available to manage shops and restaurants.
Oh, The Good Ol’ Days
Before, our family could plan a trip to Disney World during an “off” month and feel like the park was ours. Lines were shorter. You had elbow room when you walked down Main Street. We could get everything we wanted to get done in one park, head back to the resort for a nap or a swim and then hit another park in the evening and get everything done there. A week-long visit felt like a luxury.
Now? A week-long visit is a necessity.
Unscientific Research
On a trip in 2002, we noticed a marked difference in the crowds at one of our favorite times of the year to visit: early October. Midway through our trip, exhausted from fighting the crowds, we asked a Cast Member if there was an event, besides Food & Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, going on that we weren’t aware of. His answer? No. Since 9/11 they’d noticed more people seizing the moment and taking their kids out of school and vacationing throughout the year.
Sure, this was an unscientific response to our casual question, but it made sense to us. We expected the crowds to eventually level off with the passing of time.
But it hasn’t.
So, add to that “fact” population has increased, the popularity of Disney has risen, schools across the country don’t follow the same calendar year, foreign travel has increased, deals like Free Dining are introduced more frequently and (you fill in the blank)? There is no Disney off-season anymore.
What’s a vacation-goer to do?
Plan. Research. Prepare.
And visit websites like this one to receive tips from veteran Disney nuts like me!
