I really shouldn't have looked at Touring Plans today, but I did... and I shouldn't have. I try to avoid crowded times of the year at Disney and am used to a "Crowd Level 4" during most of our trips. Does anyone have some advice on dealing with the Parks when it's a "level 10"? What do you to to make sure that you're trip goes smoothly even when you're battling a mass of people to get to where you want to be?
Give me your tips and tricks! I think I'm going to need them this week more than ever.
OOoo, I've never been there during a really busy time! So this is my guesstimate advice.
Get up early and get to the park at opening. No dilly-dallying around. Then knock off any "must dos" first. Then if possible, be prepared to park hop?
Suggestion 2 is to yell out to everyone that you just saw a tweet that Justin Bieber is at {insert whichever park you are NOT at at the time}!! Then tweet it that you just heard someone at the parks say they just heard a rumor Justin Bieber is at {insert park name here}!
That could get rid of a chunk of the crowd.
When we're going in March the crowds will be at a 10. and we'll be at MK. and we don't have enough money to get park hoppers. So our plan is to get there for rope drop, run to Space Mountain for Fastpasses, and then pretty much spend our entire day there just to get to do everything.
Yeah.... rope drop. Avoid the parks that have magic hours. Or try the fetal position? 
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If crowd level was ever a 10 for us, I think that would have to be a pool day or shopping day or resort hopping day.
We have never been to the parks when it's been a 10, but we always make sure to schedule out what parks we will hit ahead of time. If a park has Early Magic Hours, we will not go to that park because a lot of times if you get there at rope drop, it will already be busy inside.
We've been on some days where I was horrified by the crowds, and I think those were like a 7 or 8. I'm terrified of a 10.
You're going to Disneyland right? When are you going?
If the day was going to be a 10 and I had to be in a park, I'd try and make that park Epcot. It's the biggest of the parks so spreads the crowds out a little more (though on NYE we couldn't see the floor around WS!). Get there for rope drop with a plan of action, i.e know what rides are on your must do list, make sure you get your Soarin fastpasses before anything else!
Book an ADR for late lunch/evening meal so you can have a really good rest/re-fueling too.
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Yeah.... rope drop. Avoid the parks that have magic hours. Or try the fetal position?
Is there somewhere you can find out ahead of time which parks have the "Magic Hours" on certain days? For example, is there a chart some place that shows each month's "Magic Hour" days?
Poppet, the Disney website has a calendar with park hours that includes EMH days.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/
Put in the date you want to check, and it will give you hours and EMHs for that day plus the next 9 days.
Park hours are usually posted ~ 5-6 months in advance.
Find out where the Am EMH's are and go to another park! I can reiterate going to the park early for rope drop. Lots of times we can get most of the big stuff done in an hour or so and move at a slower pace.
Bella
Is this during the Princess, Kristen? I'm shocked; I was there over that weekend 2 years ago and the crowds were really light.
I would definitely stick with getting up early and going to the parks as soon as they open do a good couple of hours trying to hit as much as you can. Then, my advice would be to go back to your hotel during the peak time of the day - 12 or 1 in the afternoon until maybe 5. This way you can relax at the hotel, swim at the pool if it is nice or even take a nap. Then go back to whatever park and stay as late as you can or want as the crowds thin out as the night goes on.
It really pays to be there early in the morning and late at night while the crowds are at their lowest.
Mase wrote:Yeah.... rope drop. Avoid the parks that have magic hours. Or try the fetal position?Is there somewhere you can find out ahead of time which parks have the "Magic Hours" on certain days? For example, is there a chart some place that shows each month's "Magic Hour" days?
Poppet, the Disney website has a calendar with park hours that includes EMH days.http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/
Put in the date you want to check, and it will give you hours and EMHs for that day plus the next 9 days.
Park hours are usually posted ~ 5-6 months in advance.
Yeah... Jeff hit the nail on the head. Also... I have a couple Apps on my iPhone I use for daily checking out.
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- My Int3ractiv3 Trip R3port '12 - CLICK HERE!
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I have the Undercover Tourist app on my iPhone and I give you a forecast for what park is the "best" each day. We planned our vacation around it, so hopefully they know what they are talking about!
So, it wasn't that bad! I think that Touring Plans may need to adjust their data for the dates that we were there because it was not any more crowded than when I've been there in October 4/5 Crowds. I got lucky!! 
I would definitely stick with getting up early and going to the parks as soon as they open do a good couple of hours trying to hit as much as you can. Then, my advice would be to go back to your hotel during the peak time of the day - 12 or 1 in the afternoon until maybe 5. This way you can relax at the hotel, swim at the pool if it is nice or even take a nap. Then go back to whatever park and stay as late as you can or want as the crowds thin out as the night goes on.
It really pays to be there early in the morning and late at night while the crowds are at their lowest.
I think this might be what me and hubby will try when we go for our anniversary trip since we wont have the kiddos with us
Okay, so looking back on that trip... Touring Plans had gotten it very wrong. The crowds were more like a 4, it wasn't bad at all. So, I'll now take the crowd calender with a grain of salt. I was so worried, and things went super smoothly.
We're going for the Fourth of July for my son's 5th birthday and I haven't even bother to look as I KNOW the crowds will be at a Level 10. For that reason, we're spending the 4th (my son's actual birthday) in Hollywood Studios. Has anyone ever heard of HS closing early due to capacity...we're traveling with a lot of little ones that absolutely MUST have a nap/midday break.
We're going for the Fourth of July for my son's 5th birthday and I haven't even bother to look as I KNOW the crowds will be at a Level 10. For that reason, we're spending the 4th (my son's actual birthday) in Hollywood Studios. Has anyone ever heard of HS closing early due to capacity...we're traveling with a lot of little ones that absolutely MUST have a nap/midday break.
The 4th of July that I worked at WDW I remember being shocked that MK got to capacity around 9:30! 
and Epcot was very close behind (like 10) and HS got to capacity that day too, just a little later in the morning, once all the people that got to MK and Epcot late got turned away and headed to HS. AK and DTD were like ghost towns that day because they didn't have fireworks...I've heard Epcot is really amazing on the 4th, but if you are planning on going to any of the parks that day, you'll have to be there for rope drop and stay the WHOLE day. Maybe the little ones can take a nap in the strollers in a nice shady area? I'm sorry if this scares you, but that was the one holiday that I was absolutely terrified of, and I don't want you to be left out of a park that you really want to go to... (luckily I was working at DTD that day and we had about 14 people doing the amount of work 4 people could do! we were trying to find things to do just to keep busy!)
Jessi any suggestions for rest areas in HS? We have an early dinner at Mama Melrose's at 3:50pm since we booked the Fantasmic package. We will be traveling with a group of 20; 7 kids 6 and under!! Are there any indoor shows in particular?
Everyone else is gonna need to chime in on this one too!
I know there is a Disney Junior show that they would love and its indoors, but may be a noisy. Theres also a car stunt show with Lightning McQueen thats cool, but it's out doors and also noisy. Muppet Vision 3D & the Little Mermaid show are both indoors and slightly quiet. There aren't a ton of quiet shady places to go to...There should be some in the Streets of America section, under awnings and such, it gets pretty dead back there sometimes so it should be quiet. I say wherever you can find shade and quiet, sit down and relax!
I can only think of two additional indoor attractions - Magic of Disney Animation and American Idol Experience
Okay, so looking back on that trip... Touring Plans had gotten it very wrong. The crowds were more like a 4, it wasn't bad at all. So, I'll now take the crowd calender with a grain of salt. I was so worried, and things went super smoothly.
That's good to hear! My experience has been the same as yours..it's either spot on or dead dead wrong! I am glad for your sake it was wrong!
Bella
Jessi any suggestions for rest areas in HS? We have an early dinner at Mama Melrose's at 3:50pm since we booked the Fantasmic package. We will be traveling with a group of 20; 7 kids 6 and under!! Are there any indoor shows in particular?
The Beauty and the Beast show isn't indoors, but it's undercover; it might give you a little rest. Also, if any of the kiddoes are toddlers or babies, check out the baby care station. It's cool, calm, has wonderful areas to feed and change kids, and even a nursing room. It's been an oasis to us more than once. Good luck!
This forum is AMAZING!! Thanks guys! 