What Does a '10' Day on TP Look Like?

[scrappinginontario]

I have friends who are at the beginning stages of planning a Disney trip in March of this year. Their dates are some of those that were drastically increased by TP overnight and are now 9's and 10's.

My question is, does a '10' on TP look like the crazy crowd pictures I saw from MK on Christmas and New Year's Day or, are those days exceptions and a 10 is super busy but you're still able to move and enjoy yourself?

I love Disney and go often but pics like these freak me out!! (These are not my pictures but found online. Sorry, cannot remember where.)





In the second pic CMs are holding signs asking guests to 'Keep Right' to aid with traffic flow.

Is this what they should expect on a '10' day or are these exceptional crowds because they were taken on Christmas Day?

Have you ever visited a park on a '10' day? Would you again??

 

[FCDub]

March is spring break. It will be very busy.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes those are peak crowd days and that's how it looks for a typical peak crowd
I mean, 10 is the highest (despite what the guys from Spinal Tap say, lol) so it's not gonna be more crowded than a 10
That does not mean TP is right about their prediction
I suspect it won't be as crowded as Christmas
Where it can feel more crowded is how they have staffed. Right now everything is running at peak, staff numbers are high in the parks. When you have a lot of people there to help it feels better
They may not staff as well then so it may feel worse

 

[SaintsManiac]

30-40 minutes minimum on everything. Packed hub.

They need a good plan and to understand they will not be running from ride to ride every 15 minutes.

Long lines at counter service.

Still a good time to be had by all

 

[blakefamily]

I have friends who are at the beginning stages of planning a Disney trip in March of this year. Their dates are some of those that were drastically increased by TP overnight and are now 9's and 10's.

My question is, does a '10' on TP look like the crazy crowd pictures I saw from MK on Christmas and New Year's Day or, are those days exceptions and a 10 is super busy but you're still able to move and enjoy yourself?

I love Disney and go often but pics like these freak me out!! (These are not my pictures but found online. Sorry, cannot remember where.)

View attachment 373318

View attachment 373319

In the second pic CMs are holding signs asking guests to 'Keep Right' to aid with traffic flow.

Is this what they should expect on a '10' day or are these exceptional crowds because they were taken on Christmas Day?

Have you ever visited a park on a '10' day? Would you again??

I got the email from TP this morning too regarding increased crowd predictiona for my onsite stay Mar 2-5. They are showing 9&10 now. Ughh

 

[Klayfish]

Those pictures are the exception, not the norm. Even during the busiest week of the year, it doesn't look like that all the time, everywhere...not by any stretch. Yes, it's busy. Very busy. But it's not wall to wall people everywhere. The "alley" there in that second picture, near Small World, is always a pain point on crowded days. Other things like the hub near firework/parade time, will be packed. However, walking around Epcot during the daytime isn't a big deal, or AK or even MK. Again, very busy to be sure, but not THAT bad.

You can have a great time no matter when you go.

As is being discussed in another thread, I'd totally ditch the crowd calendars, they're useless.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks everyone! Just want them to go in it with realistic expectations.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Those pictures are the exception, not the norm. Even during the busiest week of the year, it doesn't look like that all the time, everywhere...not by any stretch. Yes, it's busy. Very busy. But it's not wall to wall people everywhere. The "alley" there in that second picture, near Small World, is always a pain point on crowded days. Other things like the hub near firework/parade time, will be packed. However, walking around Epcot during the daytime isn't a big deal, or AK or even MK. Again, very busy to be sure, but not THAT bad.

You can have a great time no matter when you go.

As is being discussed in another thread, I'd totally ditch the crowd calendars, they're useless.

Thank you! This is exactly the information I was looking for.

I may be the exception but I still fully appreciate the crowd calendars. We were at Disney 3 times last year and found them to be accurate 90%+ of the time. In January we were at MK 3 days. The first 2 were a 3 and 4 and were great crowds. Our last day went up to a 7 on TP and it was significantly busier!! I was glad we were able to mentally prepare for the larger crowds. The ride waits may not have increased significantly but, just the 'feel' of walking around on a 3 or 4 day compared to a 7 was significant!!

Also, highly recommend online ordering. It is THE BEST!!! It went live during our Jan 2018 stay for guests using the DDP and made a big difference. We haven't looked back since!

 

[MaC410]

Yeah, while touring plans doesn't go above 10 there is a difference between a 10 on Christmas/New Years and a 10 on a normally crowded day.

 

[teddygurl28]

This. The crowd is the calendar doesn’t go above a 10. They pretty evenly distribute 1-10 so holidays are always a 10. They are super 10s as I call them as a regular 10 it will be busy and you need a plan but it won’t be as crowded as a holiday day if that makes any sense

 

[SaintsManiac]

I fully believe in your planning abilities, @scrappinginontario ! You'll get them sorted.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Personally I think crowd calendars are crap.
10 years ago maybe the predicted well but anyone could have told you when it would be crolwded or not crowded 10 years ago.
Now they are just completely guessing.
Its ridiculous that they would even have any days other than a few around Easter and then from Xmas to NYE be a 10.
10 SHOULD mean phased closings.
No way there will be phased closings in March especially with nothing really going on in March other than COLLEGE spring breaks and F&G.
Tell you're friend its going to be crowded but not NYE crowded. Because that's just how Disney is anymore.

 

[SarahC97]

I was there during Thanksgiving week when it was a 10 and honestly, while it was crowded, the only way it really felt different from many of the other times I've gone was how long the wait times were. Help your friends prepare and teach them how to get the most out of fastpasses and they'll be fine!

 

[DebbieB]

Get there early, have your fastpasses lined up.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I fully believe in your planning abilities, @scrappinginontario ! You'll get them sorted.

Thanks!!

We just booked their trip so now the rest of the planning can begin...in a hurry! They chose the DDP so we need to book table service restaurants and their FP booking is Tuesday. It's going to be a busy weekend!

I help family and friends book about 15-20 trips a year (just because I enjoy it!) but I will say this is the first time I've helped anyone booking when anticipated crowds are this high. We'll get them a good plan and they'll be all set! It's also an adult mother and daughter so a more relaxed trip.

 

[Klayfish]

Yeah, while touring plans doesn't go above 10 there is a difference between a 10 on Christmas/New Years and a 10 on a normally crowded day.

To me, if this were true that would make crowd calendars even more useless. Two different days labeled a "10" are different? Then what the heck is a "10", and what's the point if the rating scale is different for the same number?

 

[TheMick424]

This one goes to 11

 

[Minniemoo15]

I got that same email today. We’ve gone the same week (end of Feb/First of March) every year for 20 years. It’s never been anywhere near a 10. I’ve also been at Christmas, and that is a 10. So I don’t put much stock into the Touring Plans increase...yes, Mardis Gras is that week this year so it may be busier than usual but there’s no way AK is a “10” for a full week straight.

 

[Missyrose]

One big thing to remember is the TP crowd numbers are based on wait times, not how crowded a park feels. So when Disney monkeys with staffing and attraction capacity like it did last winter, the wait times will mimic the most-crowded times of year (hence how a Saturday in early February can get the same 10 as New Year's).

 

[WIll C]

We're going the same week and I saw the e-mail and the notes on their forums. Hopefully it's not going to be that way. We went last Sept/Oct and the party day was busy at MK and AK on the weekend wasn't too bad. The heat was far more a killer than the crowds. We got all our ADRs/FPs so I'm not overly concerned with missing things and we'll probably do a DAH as well one night.