We were just there from 7/20-7/21. I'm almost afraid to tell you because I don't want to spoil your trip--but this is the honest truth. We stayed at the Poly, booked all reservations well in advance, and did FP at 7AM at the 60 day window. We have gone this time of the year (give or take a week) the past 6 years consecutively. Huge Disney fans, love, love, love....best Disney vacation ever just last summer. Having said that, we had absolutely planned to go again next summer (already working with
travel agent to book 2020) until we went this summer.
The crowds (which we anticipated would be lower due to SWGE opening later and it has been the past couple of July's) were insanely crowded and there was just no escape from them this year. We even booked a Disney after hours (Villain), which we had did last summer...except this summer they let so many more people into them that what was a peaceful non-crowded MK last year with walk on rides....were now 20 minute average wait times to ride this year (not okay during an after hours--and we didn't get to ride a lot of things we had wanted). It felt more like EMH'ers versus the after hours party we paid $130 per person to attend.
The Disney transportation seemed to take so much longer this year (on average over an hour to get from resort to park). I am blaming this also on just more people/higher crowds--and they fact the parks have such limited hours (I still remember when MK was kept open until midnight, the past 2 summers Hollywood and AK had later hours, etc.). We attempted to park hop from Hollywood to a dining reservation in Epcot one day, they shut down the water boats, told us it would "quicker" to take a bus--we waited over 45 minutes to get a bus out of Hollywood--had it not been pouring we would have walked. Monorails were often very hot, and almost always standing room only packed. Getting out of the MK after the Villain after hours was stressful and packed--like at park closing. It truly felt like park closing because there were SO many people there. We were also planning to do the Hollywood after hours party, and ended up not doing it because the MK one was so disappointing. I am not sure if it was the free dining, just more AP this year due to all the new stuff opening--but the crowds were intense. Normally we do our 3 fast passes, and then immediately book others--this year there was nothing left that you would even need a FP for. Lines were long for all rides. Epcot had slightly less wait times, but when it rains they close test track and then that swamps the other lines. We had a FP to test track and it was down due to wetness, and they would not allow us to use it for FEE (which I felt we should have since both are tier 1).
We think Disney could have done a better job at extending park hours to disburse the crowds, and we are also blaming the new FP systems (people were talking about being able to buy 6 of them now if you stay club level, and I believe good neighbor hotels also get to book them early now)...but even at our 60 day mark, we were unable to get SDD until the last day in our trip, etc. Sorry--I know I sound so negative. We still love Disney--but we plan to take a break this year and hope to find our magic by 2021...
And Epcot has had moderate to light crowds. Last night we went on Soarin and Spaceship Earth 2x each as walk-ons, then fireworks viewing was easy - lots of good spots. It had been raining a bit but nothing crazy and no rain during fireworks. It’s Epcot EMH now so we are at Stormalong Bay since FPs we’re very hard to get this morning, so I think it’s probably packed right now, and rain is threatening any moment so we wanted to get some pool time in. We’ll head into the World Showcase later and are in AK tomorrow - I’m happy to report back.
