Here Now & Just Back WDW Reopening Experiences Including Park Hopping

[harleyquinn]

Wow, that looks totallly ridiculous! I've been several times and have never, ever seen a crowd like this at the hub. Looks miserable.

I would NEVER stand in that HEA crowd again. I did it once pre-covid and it was AWFUL. HEA is not worth that. We now watch from rides.

 

[disny_luvr]

Here you go, right before HEA last Monday night…

Wow! Looks like my last trip in 2018! We did the dessert party and were in the garden area, but it was wall to wall people around the hub and all the way down Main Street. It took us forever to exit the garden area; the crowds just kept on coming. I have such mixed feelings because I want to see HEA one more time next week, but how is this okay?

ETA - What time should we get to the hub to get a decent spot?

 

[harleyquinn]

Wow! Looks like my last trip in 2018! We did the dessert party and were in the garden area, but it was wall to wall people around the hub and all the way down Main Street. It took us forever to exit the garden area; the crowds just kept on coming. I have such mixed feelings because I want to see HEA one more time next week, but how is this okay?

ETA - What time should we get to the hub to get a decent spot?

I've read up to 90 minutes, so that you can grab a fence spot. If you stand with a fence in front of you at least no one can push their way in front of you and you'll have the open space.

 

[WriterGina]

I tried asking this question in the Food & Wine thread but got no response, hoping maybe to get an answer in this more active thread. Has anyone who's been at Epcot recently noticed if they still seem to have the appetizer plates in stock? Would love to have for our late August trip but they are sold out online. I'm hoping to pick up when we get there!

 

[honeymo78]

I would NEVER stand in that HEA crowd again. I did it once pre-covid and it was AWFUL. HEA is not worth that. We now watch from rides.

The first time I saw HEA inside the park (pre-Covid), I had a full blown panic attack at the end when everyone was trying leave and we were literally trapped in a sea of not moving people near where we had watched by the Plaza restaurant. I only saw the projections once after that when I was lucky enough to get a relatively uncrowded spot right near the taped off exit lane and was able to take a step back into the lane once in a while when I felt overwhelmed by the people. That exit lane also allowed me to get out of the crush and find a spot to wait for crowds to disperse afterwards. Since then, I've planned CG dinners to watch the fireworks from the observation deck and hope to try out a dessert party once they return. I have no problem waiting an hour for people to exit, as long as there is a spot out of the crush of people.

 

[Makmak]

I tried asking this question in the Food & Wine thread but got no response, hoping maybe to get an answer in this more active thread. Has anyone who's been at Epcot recently noticed if they still seem to have the appetizer plates in stock? Would love to have for our late August trip but they are sold out online. I'm hoping to pick up when we get there!

I just found the 2020 one on Amazon, not sure if that helps.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

It seems like that have silently increased capacity again. HOLY CRAP! It wasn't that packed in the parks only two-three weeks ago.........

 

[cakebaker]

Talked to a few CM’s and while they are being careful with what they say, it’s clear they’re dreading tomorrow. People should be ashamed for giving them a hard time. Regardless of how you feel about it, they’re just doing their job

 

[harleyquinn]

We were supposed to be at DHS today, and I've been watching LINEs and MDE apps and yikes. I'm happy to be sitting in my freezing cold office. lol Hopefully a week and a half from now it won't be that bad or we will spend a lot more time swimming!

 

[smwisc]

Wow! Looks like my last trip in 2018! We did the dessert party and were in the garden area, but it was wall to wall people around the hub and all the way down Main Street. It took us forever to exit the garden area; the crowds just kept on coming. I have such mixed feelings because I want to see HEA one more time next week, but how is this okay?

ETA - What time should we get to the hub to get a decent spot?

Last night the hub was getting pretty full at 90 minutes.

 

[harleyquinn]

Talked to a few CM’s and while they are being careful with what they say, it’s clear they’re dreading tomorrow. People should be ashamed for giving them a hard time. Reagardless of how you feel about it, they’re just doing their job

Me too. I reached out to my CM friends with a virtual hug today. At least the next week is probably going to be incredibly difficult for them.

 

[cakebaker]

Leaving HS now. Heavy crowds and of course unbelievably long lines. Did I mention that it’s hotter than the surface of the sun today?
This afternoon is pool time and lunch at PJ’s- Ft Wilderness qs.

We may do Epcot this evening to try and taste a few things we missed. Tomorrow is Blizzard Beach - no lines for the most part!

 

[harleyquinn]

Leaving HS now. Heavy crowds and of course unbelievably long lines. Did I mention that it’s hotter than the surface of the sun today?
This afternoon is pool time and lunch at PJ’s- Ft Wilderness qs.

We may do Epcot this evening to try and taste a few things we missed. Tomorrow is Blizzard Beach - no lines for the most part!

I can't wait to hear your BB report! At this point, we may spend more days there than in the other parks!

 

[naneliz]

That is horrific for even pre 2020. I have never seen it like that…

This is exactly what I was thinking! I have been to WDW countless times and that includes peak seasons like from Christmas to NYE and I have NEVER seen it so congested. I feel awful for the CM having to deal with that hot mess.

 

[chad_1138]

So we just left Epcot. There is absolutely zero signage about the mask change for tomorrow. I really wish today was our last park day. Totally dreading tomorrow.

 

[WriterGina]

I just found the 2020 one on Amazon, not sure if that helps.

Thanks, yes, I did see that one too but I really like the 2021 tray.

 

[kc51570]

Was this recently? Good to hear.

Yes, 7/4-7/12. I think one of the reason dining reservations were so hard to come by was the reduced capacity in restaurants. Probably not enough cooks or waitstaff to handle adding in more. LaHacienda had plenty of empty tables inside, bu had a sign outside that they were not taking any walk ups.

 

[Mike Mantis]

I spent a day at MK in early June, going back tomorrow for a few days.

I'm pretty much anticipating it to be (1) rainy beyond belief (2) hot as hell and (3) full of people complaining about masks. #1 and #2 I signed up for... #3 I'm not looking forward to.

For those of you (us) who have been many times, what were some of the out of the way things you've done during this crowded/COVID time that could be a good way to spend time in MK?

I don't need to do every ride, I don't need to justify my ticket price, I'm there to rope drop and leave at close and just enjoy the day. Even if a good chunk of that is shopping!

 

[WEDWDW]

Me too. I reached out to my CM friends with a virtual hug today. At least the next week is probably going to be incredibly difficult for them.

I REALLY feel for the wonderful DCP Cast!

What a Welcome Back "surprise"!

 

[Sarahslay]

So we just left Epcot. There is absolutely zero signage about the mask change for tomorrow. I really wish today was our last park day. Totally dreading tomorrow.

My friend that works (office job) there says they are frantically trying to get the signage made for all the parks. It's not like they kept all the old signs, and she said this was not a decision that was a long time coming as it was pretty last minute per what her boss said. She has a close friend who works in the department that does the signs and they are BUSY right now. I don't envy them, this is all pretty much because of the CDC announcement and then local officials calling for tighter restrictions, they also realized it was bad form to pull their execs from the convention they were supposed to speak out due to covid concerns and then subject all their employees at the parks to it daily. So a last minute mask decision it is, everyone should just be happy they didn't also bring back social distancing markers with all these crowds, holy moly that would be nuts. Hoping they get the signs up in time so the CMs have something to back them up for all the folks on vacation who might not be paying attention to news.