Here Now & Just Back WDW Reopening Experiences Including Park Hopping

[SarahC97]

Same! I'm starting to warn everyone in our party. We go at the mid-end of June and I know it's going to be nothing like President's week was. Two people joining us this trip haven't been in a long time, one since 2019 and the other before Fantasyland was expanded. I'm hoping it's a good experience for them.

Hopefully, this Friday will come more announcements of reopenings in upcoming weeks! Even a couple of shows and restaurants would probably do wonders.

I hope so. I'm hopeful that once the college program kids are back that more things will open, but that doesn't help me next week! Oh well, I'd honestly rather be at Disney when it's crowded than be at home!

 

[Mango7100]

We returned home on Friday, 5/14/21 (arrived at BWV 5/6/21) and had a great time. That said, it was crowded and it wasn't simply attributable to social distancing queues, stroller parking, etc. It was simply crowded at all the parks with HS being the worst.

We have points of reference for comparison because we go this same week every year and have done so for the last 10+ years. We were also there in October 2020--same week every year for also 10+ years. We felt October was exceptionally crowded compared to normal and this trip in May was even more so.

Since we are well versed in Disney, we tried to hit buses early a.m. (or walked) and arrive at parks an hour prior to stated opening. This worked better when walking to HS or EPCOT.

Buses were hit or miss at getting to the parks an hour before scheduled opening (MK/AK).

MK plan worked (rode everything we wanted prior to noon BUT FOR SDMT [down at opening], Carousel of Progress and Splash [down at opening]) on our first day (5/7); but the second day (5/12) we waited 40 minutes or so for a bus and did not get there as planned. This one wasn't on us, we were at the bus stop at 7:00 a.m. or so. We weren't overly concerned because our only goal was to ride the three aforementioned rides and return to our resort. Once again, however, SDMT was down as was Splash until 9ish. We did COP, Speedway and Teacups until Splash was up and hit it up. SDMT was not up until much later in the a.m. and we opted not to wait to ride it. We mobile ordered (soon after arrival in MK) from Pecos--picked it up after Splash and went back to BWV for pool time.

AK (5/8) the bus was reliable and we skipped our planned second day because we crushed that park and rode everything we wanted before 11:00 a.m. That was a good thing because when we left after our lunch at Y&Y, it was a hot mess.

DHS was flat out crazy on both days we went (5/10 and 13). Since we were walking we arrived as planned. On the 10th, we were a scant 5-10 minutes earlier than the 13th and the difference in our pre-opening queue location was incredible. Not that the ultimate queue was any different (the left side for walkers, buses and cars stretched as far as the eye could see down the walkway (I have pictures, but not where I am at the moment). Once the skyliner and boat folks arrived (and the left side of the queue was longer than the walkway), the right side was queued up and it, likewise, stretched back to the bus depot--this is pre-opening!

On 5/10 we did great with our early hours--SDD, TSM, AS, MF, ST and RoR (BG14)--and out by noon which is always our plan for any park. 5/13 we were not so lucky. This day our goal was to hit RoR (BG4), RnR and ToT (we have done Mickey's Runaway and weren't impressed so didn't feel the need), have lunch at 50s and leave. ToT was down and queue was not permitted. We rode RnR x2 and ToT queue was then forming. By the time we joined it, the queue was all the way snaking through the exit from Fantasmic. The handheld sign said 60 minutes but we knew it was going to be shorter because the ride had not yet even loaded--still, we waited 40 minutes which got us to our RoR boarding group with 15 minutes or so to spare. While it seems we accomplished a good deal--the park was crowded on both days with 5/13 being worse.

So, moral of the story is that word has filtered to the masses that the parks are opening 45-60 minutes prior to stated time. Getting to the parks early is still the best advice, but don't think you are going to breeze on everything for that first two hours as used to be the case. The sea of humanity is arriving prior to the 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. time it used to hit the parks. Oh those stragglers are still there, but that opening crowd is equally large (it was the same in October--at least more than expected).

We had great weather, many hours of pool time in our private pool at BWI , hopped to EPCOT in the evening nearly every day and had a great time despite the disbelief in the size of the crowds. It pays to know what you are doing and how to navigate the parks and crowds especially without FP+, the shows, entertainment and a shortage of restaurants.

Hopefully Disney will get the remaining hotels, restaurants and shows open and reinstate FP+ to help with the crowding issue. Masks and distancing seem to be going away (not quickly enough for me) so our fingers are crossed for a more normal experience in the fall!

Thanks for the report. I was afraid that word would be out and most people would be arriving early. I was worried that we would only really have 1-2 hours in the AM before the crush comes. I think we are going to change it up and not go to the parks until 4 and stay until close. Do pool in the morning instead. This may totally backfire, but we have a trip over July 4 if it does

 

[Tess]

Is line distancing still at 6 feet? Im guessing this will drop to 3 feet any day now.

They were changing the stickers from 6' to 3' in MK the day we left on 5/14/21. Not sure if they have it fully instituted, but that is the direction they are going. According to information we were given last week.

 

[robinb]

I’ve never seen lines this long. I know people want fast pass back, but I don’t know where everyone would go. You already have to walk through Fantasmic for both ToT and RnRC.

It's because they increased attendance capacity by nearly 50% a couple of days ago .

 

[brockash]

I’ve never seen lines this long. I know people want fast pass back, but I don’t know where everyone would go. You already have to walk through Fantasmic for both ToT and RnRC.

We waited for muppets in the beginning of March...after waiting 30 mins and seeing how much farther we had to go just to get into the main building we bailed...it was just crazy to us...I can't believe the kind of lines we've waited in since reopening...we never waited anything close to those times precovid.

 

[Leigh L]

I hope so. I'm hopeful that once the college program kids are back that more things will open, but that doesn't help me next week! Oh well, I'd honestly rather be at Disney when it's crowded than be at home!

That's a good point!
Maybe with Memorial Day coming, they'll unexpectedly open some of the areas that are seeing potential signs of opening (eg monsters laugh room).

 

[kevgraub]

I was afraid that word would be out and most people would be arriving early.

With the reports of more and more people showing up early for the park opening, I wonder if we will see the introduction of the new early morning entry for onsite guests sooner than later? That has kind of been a forgotten issue lately.

 

[grannyminnie]

That's one park that shouldn't be increasing capacity until they do. 45 minute wait to just to get into the Muppet Theater? No thanks.

That wait was actually 60 minutes when we were there! We didn't go in...

 

[Mango7100]

That's a good point!
Maybe with Memorial Day coming, they'll unexpectedly open some of the areas that are seeing potential signs of opening (eg monsters laugh room).

The fact that Laugh Floor is not open is absurd at this point, what is their reasoning? Also Turtle Talk with Crush..why can’t it go?

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

The fact that Laugh Floor is not open is absurd at this point, what is their reasoning? Also Turtle Talk with Crush..why can’t it go?

I am very hopeful that both of those attractions are back up soon. They are fun - and perfect in the hot summer months. My brother is coming with us in August - his first trip since 1989 and his wife's and kids' first trip ever. I think they will love both of those attractions. The kids will be 5 (almost 6) and 8 so they are the perfect ages for Turtle Talk in particular.

 

[WEDWDW]

One way entrance and exit has been removed from Boutiki at the Polynesian.

Would think this will rapidly spread across all shops.

Another huge step to "new normalcy".

 

[Shellyred8]

One way entrance and exit has been removed from Boutiki at the Polynesian.

Would think this will rapidly spread across all shops.

Another huge step to "new normalcy".

This is one of the things I'm really looking forward to.

 

[LiamsDISMom]

It's because they increased attendance capacity by nearly 50% a couple of days ago .

Is there anywhere capacity numbers were confirmed? I was there last week and it fell crazy busy to me. We left on Saturday and saw that right after the Chapek call, this week (starting with Monday) went all green again on availability. I was thinking it would be a madhouse if it increased even more from what we experienced the 9-15.

 

[sdeut]

The fact that Laugh Floor is not open is absurd at this point, what is their reasoning? Also Turtle Talk with Crush..why can’t it go?

I don’t understand why since other large venues are open. Maybe staffing?

 

[adizzle819]

One way entrance and exit has been removed from Boutiki at the Polynesian.

Would think this will rapidly spread across all shops.

Another huge step to "new normalcy".

Is the monorail running between the poly and MK right now? I would love to stop over and have a drink and shop there after our MK day, but I'm not sure of the easiest way right now with COVID and construction. Thanks!

 

[DisneyFive]

Is the monorail running between the poly and MK right now? I would love to stop over and have a drink and shop there after our MK day, but I'm not sure of the easiest way right now with COVID and construction. Thanks!

It stops at the TTC so you could get off there and walk to the Poly.

Dan

 

[adizzle819]

It stops at the TTC so you could get off there and walk to the Poly.

Dan

Thank you!

 

[Chernabob]

It stops at the TTC so you could get off there and walk to the Poly.

Dan

Does it stop at the Grand Floridian? I was thinking about the same thing—riding part way, walking the rest.

 

[kevgraub]

I don’t understand why since other large venues are open. Maybe staffing?

Could be staffing, could also be because they are smaller venues - especially Turtle Talk. If you tried to socially distance the kids (who will almost certainly be unvaccinated at that point) in that small room, you could not fit very many in there. I've also heard that the room where the cast is located is very small, although that will hopefully be less of a concern with the new guidance (assuming the cast is vaccinated).

 

[MomOTwins]

Does it stop at the Grand Floridian? I was thinking about the same thing—riding part way, walking the rest.

Yes, but the walk from the GF monorail station to Poly is considerably longer than the walk from TTC to Poly.