Crowds Due to Foreigners

[Chase'sPoohBear]

I was wondering if there were more foreigners at the parks due to the weaken dollar? I'm debating whether or not to take my daughter to WDW, May 6-11. I hate big crowds, and I prefer to go off season to WDW. For those of you who have recently been to WDW, have you noticed more foreigners? Thanks!

[Polynesian Dweller]

I was wondering if there were more foreigners at the parks due to the weaken dollar? I'm debating whether or not to take my daughter to WDW, May 6-11. I hate big crowds, and I prefer to go off season to WDW. For those of you who have recently been to WDW, have you noticed more foreigners? Thanks!

What difference does crowd size due to 'foreigners' have to do with anything? Would it make a difference if the big crowds were due to Americans on school break? If you hate big crowds why not just ask about that?

[Fantasmic]

There's always going to be foreigners in the parks, it's a very popular holiday destination, especially in England.

[vamaggie]

I may be "culture blind" but I don't think I would know if more foreigners were there unless we started up a conversation with someone who mentioned they were from another country. I know the weakened dollar may be making more folks travel to the US and WDW is a very popular destination so I guess this may contribute to the crowds but I would not think significantly so.

[adoptionislove]

You go Polynesian Dweller, I was thinking the same thing!!!!


How about big crowds period!!!

WDW is ALWAYS crowded!!

[Chase'sPoohBear]

I didn't mean to offend anyone. I love people from all over the world. I was just wondering if people from Europe were taking advantage of our weaken dollar, and deciding to travel to WDW? I read somewhere, that Disney was promoting heavily overseas, and I was just wondering if that added to the already large crowds from the states?

[tink179]

Don't worry I know what you mean. We were there in January, and yes there were tons of foreigners there! As for people saying you don't know they're there, or how can you even tell. You can't by looking at them, but it's pretty obvious when they're carrying their countries flag around with them high up in the air, and I know It's so people can always find their group. We always go in January and have always seen a few of these tour groups. This January was insane! I have never seen sooo many groups there! It's also been the busiest January I've ever seen for the parks!!! My dh and I believe it's because the opposite season for some of these travelers too. It could also be because of the dollar. I'm sure in May it's going to be really busy in general, because you're getting to the busier season. Happy planning!

[RoosMomKanga]

We love foreigners too (it's one of the reasons we love EC WS or just sitting/talking with people from other places at dinner), and I know you're not trying to offend! Our weakened dollar is a valid reason why the crowds might increase (I'm sure Disney is tracking this!). I'd certainly stay longer on our upcoming France trip if our dollar was the opposite of what it is now!

We noticed tons of mainly Japanese tour groups this past week (my DH was born on an army base in Japan and spent his childhood in Germany so he was interested in the groups). They were mostly groups of all young girls, which made us curious. Like you, I was curious as to if it was a holiday time for them or our the exchange rate that brought them, or what, but we never happened to be with them in line to ask.

Like I said in my trip reports, it was definately more crowded just overall for value time. Our trip mid-January three years ago was empty compared to last week. We just hope the opposite is true when we go to Paris in May (I'm hoping the other Americans will stay home so we can enjoy spending time with more "foreigners", which is what it's all about for us)!

[Sunshine1010]

I've seen several news stories regarding the fact that the foreign dollar was 'good' right now, and more were coming to the US to do their vacationing.

I didn't think you meant anything negatively.

[jaredkari]

Don't worry I know what you mean. We were there in January, and yes there were tons of foreigners there! As for people saying you don't know they're there, or how can you even tell. You can't by looking at them, but it's pretty obvious when they're carrying their countries flag around with them high up in the air, and I know It's so people can always find their group. We always go in January and have always seen a few of these tour groups. This January was insane! I have never seen sooo many groups there! It's also been the busiest January I've ever seen for the parks!!! My dh and I believe it's because the opposite season for some of these travelers too. It could also be because of the dollar. I'm sure in May it's going to be really busy in general, because you're getting to the busier season. Happy planning!

My wife and I were there too in January and expected smaller crowds. But WOW were we wrong. It was more crowded than I had ever seen it at MK (and I have been there during the summer and free dining). And yes there were many foreigners. I kind of feel it is due to the falling dollar. We are currently planning a trip to London and we just have to take whatever price they give us in England and double it!!

[MickeyChick]

We were told by the concierge at Pop that there were huge influxes of Brazilian people while we were there. Standing in the (long) line at the food court one night, I was surrounded by people speaking Portuguese.

So, we went during the off season to avoid crowds and it didn't work.

[DNS]

Personally I think it's been more crowded in the past few years, period. Times of the year that used to be less crowded do not seem that way as much anymore. Although crowds do not bother me other than longer lines, the fast pass has helped that dramatically. I think it would depend on what your threshold of too crowded would be.

[garymacd]

"It's a small world, after all..."

Come on, everyone! Sing along with me! You know the words!

[TheDuckRocks]

When we were there in Jan. it was really kind of fun seeing how many people were there from Brazil. On the plane down from Dulles half of the plane was filled with one group from there. They were a group of high school age kids with chaperones and it was announced over the loud speaker system that they were going down to Florida to see the parks and participate in a soccer tournament.
When we got to POR we saw at least 10 to 20 more groups of them. In the parks I don't think I'd be wrong to say that there were at least a couple of thousand of them.
For a group of teens I must say they were very well behaved and mannerly. The only problem was when they would join a line or arrive at a restaurant as a group it made for a long wait for everyone else.
We also saw many, many families of our friends from the UK, all the marathon people and some knid of dance competion groups. So over all we thought that Jan. was much more crowded than we were lead to believe.

[CaptainJessicaSparrow]

January-February is a popular time for most South American tour groups. Always, so every year, I'd expect them to come.

As for other 'foreigners', yes, there are increased specifically with Guests from the UK/Ireland and Japan.

Personally, I love the foreign tourists because they tend to spend more here. (I've had a family from the Middle East who spent $1800 in my line....who knows what else they bought elsewhere).

But if you don't like crowds, I might be bold to say you may want to reconsider a trip to the number one family destination in the world. Universal might be more your speed since they have about 1/3 of the Guests that Disney has.

[#1donaldfan]

If I were from UK or wherever and the U.S. dollar was as bad as it is now, I'd be there in a heart beat.....kinda like going on a huge discount.....oh well, still love Disney and we love meeting people of different cultures and locales......

[Aggie97]

We were at WDW Jan. 29 - Feb. 5, and it was significantly more crowded than we had experienced on previous trips during this time period. We surmised that a very great number of guests were from either 1) Louisiana (due to Mardi Gras and the quantity of LSU or other LA team apparel we spotted) or 2) South/Latin America (due to the significant number of people in lines with us speaking Spanish or Portuguese).

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Foreigners?
2) Isn't that the same question that Brits and Brazilians ask about us?
3) Aren't we foreigners to them?
4) Just wondering?

[d_m_n_n]

"It's a small world, after all..."

Come on, everyone! Sing along with me! You know the words!

It's a small, small world...

Oh no! Now I'm going to be singing it the rest of the day!!

[Disney-lovin' Dutchman]

As I am myself a "foreigner"..I can tell you that definately there are "foreigners" taking advantage of the weak dollar. I went in December because of the weak dollar, I collect DVD's and I made a huge bargain in "your" country, I will go to the US again in June, because of the weak dollar.

I hope our presence doesn't interfere to much with the American citizens plans, we will try to limit ourselves as much as we can

I have met many Americans and all of them were extremely interested in the Netherlands and all my dealings with them were so cool!

I am also bothered when I visit Amsterdam, to see all those american foreigners there..the crowds in the city of Amsterdam is terrible