Disney World is a pretty busy place (most of the time).
CROWD alert!
Whether you’re trying to rope-drop your favorite Magic Kingdom attraction or take a leisurely stroll around the World Showcase at EPCOT, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll run into a lot of “traffic.” Disney World is popular. What can we say? But there are sporadic times when the crowds thin out, and the parks feel empty — and we think we know why that is! Let’s talk about it!
Did you know that Disney World has a 3-hour “slow” period? It’s true (you’re not dreaming). We think we’ve cracked the code on this daily phenomenon. Let’s go!
Fantasyland crowds
So, imagine that you’re wandering through the Magic Kingdom in the middle of the afternoon and you notice that it’s gotten significantly quieter than it was just hours before. Where did everyone go? Have you stumbled into the Twilight Zone? Nope.
The crowds have thinned out.
It turns out that most afternoons, the parks experience this lull, and you want to know why? Two words: Nap Time. Yup, you heard that right. Nap time.
It’s starting to get empty.
Think about it. After having a morning filled with Mickey Waffles and Dole Whips, and then racing from one attraction to the next, all those little tykes have reached their limits. They need a break. So you can imagine they cozy up to their strollers, and before you know it, they’re out like a light. While they’re napping, the parks feel a bit emptier.
Best place for nap time?
But wait, there’s more. Another reason that the parks feel a little bit lighter in the afternoons might be because people are trying to take advantage of park hopping. So while they’re in transit, leaving one park and arriving at the next, those who are still in the park notice a drop in the overall crowd density.
Those Tables Likely Won’t Be Empty Later…
We’ll leave it right there. You can decide if this knowledge will change your strategy on how you tackle the parks, and in the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news!
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Rain is also great at thinning out the parks. We say pack those ponchos and tiny umbrellas and keep making the magic. Before we knew better (we could have shown up late due to the serious rain), we also got thoroughly soaked (in spite of the ponchos and umbrellas) fighting our way through the weather to a dining reservation. We were pretty miserable in the AC once we got there, but it has made for a hilarious memory that always makes us laugh (now). A decent downpour emptied out Hollywood Studios late in the day during one of our visits, and then stopped only a little under two hours before closing. We rode Rise of the Resistance three times in a row. If you can stand the rain or at least stand to wait it out, it’s possible to have some great experiences.
Yes. Naptime. The wise people know. That’s how you make it from rope drop to close. Nap.