MK is at Phase 4 capacity (Merged Threads)

[Toad_Passenger]

Why do people doubt that there really isn't this many people there right now? The week before (and after) Easter is EXTREMELY CROWDED according to Intercot's own tables here. Add to that the 4 for 3 special, plus spring break for a lot of areas in Florida and other parts of the country.

Were there blackout dates for the 4/3 special, though? If there were wouldn't the 2 weeks surrounding Easter be during the blackout dates? I'm just wondering.

[Stu29573]

Were there blackout dates for the 4/3 special, though? If there were wouldn't the 2 weeks surrounding Easter be during the blackout dates? I'm just wondering.

I don't think there were any blackout dates...

[IloveJack]

You don't take this week off, you take next week off and extend your vacation a day with Good Friday.

Well... most of the schools around here are going to a 4-day weekend at Easter, giving the students Good Friday and Easter Monday. Maybe families are taking this week and next Monday instead? It's still the same number of vacation days. Who knows... but I'm glad we're going in October. Of course, I'd still rather be there than here no matter how crowded it is.

[MOJoe]

it doesn't make sense.
It's entirely possible that this is happening, but Disney doens't get caught off guard like this. They can forcast like you wouldn't beleive.

While i agree that Disney can schedule and forecast like no other company, it does appear that this time is different. And that they indeed have been caught off guard.

You wouldn't lay off 1900 just before the largest crowds in years.

I'm sure there are some "suits" that are all saying to each other just what we have been saying......... "It doesn't make sense."

Here's hoping the crowds will settle down by June!

[DizneyRox]

Does Disney reimburse if you arrive and the park has closed?

Reimburse for what? Time? Gas money?

Well before phase 4, the parking lots are closed and there are/were signs put up all over property about the closing.

[DawsonAR]

I'm very surprised by this!

[bucky at disney]

Were there blackout dates for the 4/3 special, though? If there were wouldn't the 2 weeks surrounding Easter be during the blackout dates? I'm just wondering.

I do believe there were blackout dates around Easter - we were looking at going at this time of the year as well, decided not to - partly because the offer wasn't running over Easter. I just can't find the original offer to quote....

[Venus0880]

My goodness!!! I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. I am a little bit happy that people are still visiting though.

[HollyLagrange]

This totally freaks me out. We are going Aril 19-25. The boyfriend has never been and I would sure hate it if we spent the whole time miserable.

[GrumpyFan]

This totally freaks me out. We are going Aril 19-25. The boyfriend has never been and I would sure hate it if we spent the whole time miserable.

I wouldn't worry too much. Crowds will drop back to reasonable levels after next week is over. But these two weeks before/after easter are the second busiest times of the year, after Christmas.

[joanna71985]

How often does the park reach Phase 4? Does anyone know when the last time was that this happened? And how often do TWO parks hit this limit?
Does Disney reimburse if you arrive and the park has closed?

Typically some of the parks hit a Phase closing on 4th of July, Christmas, New Year's Eve, ect.

And no, Disney doesn't reimburse people if a park is closed for one of the Phases.

[FenwayGirl]

Easter week is always crowded. I did that week once...never again!@!

[WDWdriver]

It's happening again. MK went to Phase 3 at 12:10 today.

[homeschool mom]

WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! I don't know what else to say. That is one reason my family has always stayed away during spring break/Easter season. I guess that's not hard to do for a homeschooling family, but I can understand why others would want to go now. I hope everyone there can make the most of this situation and have a good time.

I'm just hoping all this craziness will be over for my anniv. trip alone with DH April 17 - 24!

Down to single digits now - 9 days and counting!

[brdavis]

Because it doesn't make sense... The math doesn't add up...

Note that when a persons theory or expectations don't agree with an observed reality, it's usually not the reality that is at fault . You may give all the reasons you want to, but if your conclusions don't agree with observations, then you haven't considered everything.

Don't feel bad, it seems fairly clear that Disney (who really is skilled at this sort of thing) also didn't consider everything.

We'll be at WDW early in the week before the 4th of July... far more of a "peak time" then we've ever hit previously. Getting table service reservations (for in some cases 14) has been difficult already, and a lot of cases simply not possible. Good for Disney - it's nice to see an institution I enjoy riding out the economic storm (well, I hope).

--
Brian Davis

[haley's mom]

Anyone have pictures to share? I'd love to see the crowds.

[Tygger7]

Because it doesn't make sense. Coming from someone who only travels during school holidays I understand when WDW is crowded. But you see, according to other CMs, last July 4th (historically one of the top three busiest times of the year), none of the parks hit phase 4. The economy has soured even more since then. Disney has "massacred" their staff in recent layoffs due to lowered than needed profits.

The math doesn't add up... It's entirely possible that this is happening, but Disney doens't get caught off guard like this. They can forcast like you wouldn't beleive. If attendence is truly in the toilet, we wouldn't be seeing all these deals, etc

That's all I'm saying...

Basically, a lot of school's are on Spring Break right now...that's why my DD16 is there. She also went the same time period in 2007 and MK closed to capacity during the week then as well. This has historically been a very busy time period...in fact, during discussions with CM's about busiest vs. least busy times, the week before Easter is usually on par with Christmas & the 4th of July. Personally, I think Disney came up with these discounts & offers to maintain attendance rather than because they had already seen a huge decline in attendance. In other words, proactive instead of reactive. Whatever the case, it's still crazy there, and crowds are terrible today as well.

[cgriff]

Stream of consciousness responses to some of the things mentioned in this thread...

There *were* some blackout dates for the 4/3 offer, but I do not know whether this week was one of them.

Good Friday is this week (not next week), so it makes complete sense to me why so many would be taking this week off to visit WDW.

Though there were recently WDW CM layoffs, the WDW Resort has also been holding job fairs around the country; so, WDW might be in the midst of the process of "upgrading" some key CM talent before the summertime.

[merlinmagic4]

Hope the crowds die down by the 19th. We're locked out at phase one, being offsite.

[MOJoe]

Anyone have pictures to share? I'd love to see the crowds.

No pics, but on another blog someone reported that they could not see pavement in any direction. With the possible exception of straight down!

In other words, shoulder to shoulder everywhere.