So, first let me explain. I hate to every use the word expert. In short, whenever you say you are an expert, eventually someone will come along that will make you look like an idiot.
So, what I will say is two years ago we tried to count up how much time I spent in the Orlando area on vacation over my life. We stopped counting once we reach 400 days. That may sound like a lot, but if you figure that I first went to Disney in 1979, averaging a 9 day vacation each year gets you really close to that number. Then when you consider that I have lived in Charlotte for the past 8 years and averaged one week long trip a year, as well as three or four long weekends per year, you get the idea. We have been there at every time of the year, and have had almost every type of accommodations. From DVC to renting a house. Stayed at several different time shares, were concierge level at the Polynesian, and several times at the All Stars. Often I stay off-site at Hilton properties as I am a Diamond member there.
So, when asked by a family member if we could meet them in Disney this past weekend, we quickly planned our third trip to Disney since July. No big deal, we left after school on Friday, and drove back home Monday. The kids did not even miss any school.
Having said all of that, this past weekend was the craziest that I have ever seen the parks. Keep in mind, I have been there at Thanksgiving (never did do Christmas week).
From what I can ascertain, this weekend was the perfect storm of the last days of the Food and Wine Festival, Jersey Week, Veterans Day and the filming of the Christmas Specials.
No matter what, we can always find a way to have fun at Disney, and this trip was no exception. However, there were a few things that I saw that were somewhat concerning. Magic Kingdom was packed, almost to a point that I was starting to think it was a safety concern. Back by Peter Pan they had the cast members with the keep right signs. Surprisingly that extended all the way to liberty square. Every ride had a line that approached at least an hour, with the popular ones like the mine train at one point being 150 minutes.
I do not have an issue with alcohol, and I have seen in the past people that have taken the drinking around the world in Epcot a little too literally. However, this trip that seems to have gone up an order of magnitude. As one family member stood on line in Germany for 20 minutes to get a beer, the group of men behind him were yelling and chanting the entire time. Again, think the Brazilian tour group type chants, but on steroids. However, at least they were just having a good, albeit loud, time.
As the crowd levels picked up, I would also say the amount of yelling and cursing also went up. Again, not a prude, and I can talk like a truck driver with the best of them, but I try to watch my language around children. That being said, as more “rides” are added to the countries area of EPCOT, the more children that are there. Again, the entire Norway pavilion has effectively become the Frozen ride. I guess my though was I was missing the old Pleasure Island days. This crowd in that area would have been no issue. However, inside a theme park, I just think it was the wrong place.
But again, this weekend was the busiest I have ever seen, with the exception of Thanksgiving.
So, what I will say is two years ago we tried to count up how much time I spent in the Orlando area on vacation over my life. We stopped counting once we reach 400 days. That may sound like a lot, but if you figure that I first went to Disney in 1979, averaging a 9 day vacation each year gets you really close to that number. Then when you consider that I have lived in Charlotte for the past 8 years and averaged one week long trip a year, as well as three or four long weekends per year, you get the idea. We have been there at every time of the year, and have had almost every type of accommodations. From DVC to renting a house. Stayed at several different time shares, were concierge level at the Polynesian, and several times at the All Stars. Often I stay off-site at Hilton properties as I am a Diamond member there.
So, when asked by a family member if we could meet them in Disney this past weekend, we quickly planned our third trip to Disney since July. No big deal, we left after school on Friday, and drove back home Monday. The kids did not even miss any school.
Having said all of that, this past weekend was the craziest that I have ever seen the parks. Keep in mind, I have been there at Thanksgiving (never did do Christmas week).
From what I can ascertain, this weekend was the perfect storm of the last days of the Food and Wine Festival, Jersey Week, Veterans Day and the filming of the Christmas Specials.
No matter what, we can always find a way to have fun at Disney, and this trip was no exception. However, there were a few things that I saw that were somewhat concerning. Magic Kingdom was packed, almost to a point that I was starting to think it was a safety concern. Back by Peter Pan they had the cast members with the keep right signs. Surprisingly that extended all the way to liberty square. Every ride had a line that approached at least an hour, with the popular ones like the mine train at one point being 150 minutes.
I do not have an issue with alcohol, and I have seen in the past people that have taken the drinking around the world in Epcot a little too literally. However, this trip that seems to have gone up an order of magnitude. As one family member stood on line in Germany for 20 minutes to get a beer, the group of men behind him were yelling and chanting the entire time. Again, think the Brazilian tour group type chants, but on steroids. However, at least they were just having a good, albeit loud, time.
As the crowd levels picked up, I would also say the amount of yelling and cursing also went up. Again, not a prude, and I can talk like a truck driver with the best of them, but I try to watch my language around children. That being said, as more “rides” are added to the countries area of EPCOT, the more children that are there. Again, the entire Norway pavilion has effectively become the Frozen ride. I guess my though was I was missing the old Pleasure Island days. This crowd in that area would have been no issue. However, inside a theme park, I just think it was the wrong place.
But again, this weekend was the busiest I have ever seen, with the exception of Thanksgiving.