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Confirmed: Guests Vanish From Disney World Florida Theme Park

This weekend, Walt Disney World Resort saw an unexpected shift in attendance as crowds seemed to vanish from some of the theme parks. January 12 marked two significant events: the closure of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and the runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend finale. While thousands of Disney Parks fans flocked to Animal Kingdom Theme Park to say goodbye to the beloved DinoLand U.S.A., other parks experienced surprisingly low attendance.

Despite the marathon and DinoLand U.S.A.’s closure drawing large crowds earlier in the day, many parks, including Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, had dramatically reduced wait times by evening. Disney Parks guests and Central Florida locals discussed the sudden drop in attendance on Reddit after u/alysamh_ shared these screenshots from the My Disney Experience app:

Why are the wait times so low tonight? 

Why are the wait times so low tonight?
byu/alysamh_ inDisneyWorld

DinoLand U.S.A. Draws the Last Crowd

Much of DinoLand U.S.A., a nostalgic favorite for Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park fans, officially closed its gates on January 12, ending over 26 years of roadside carnival charm. Attractions like TriceraTop Spin and the Fossil Fun Games drew visitors for one last ride or game. Fans flocked to the land to experience it before its transformation into Pueblo Esperanza, a new Tropical Americas-themed area.

Entrance sign for Dinoland U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom
Credit: Elsa Salinas, Flickr

Redditor u/askewedview commented on the crowd shift: “Everyone was over at DAK saying goodbye to Dinoland U.S.A.?” This sentiment was echoed by others, like u/clownbaby456, who wrote, “There was a good crowd there. 30+ minute wait for triceratops spinners.”

Disney Marathon Weekend Adds to the Crowd Patterns

The marathon weekend also played a significant role in the crowd dynamics. Thousands of runners participated in the runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon, which spanned all four Disney parks. Many athletes celebrated their accomplishments in the parks earlier in the day but retired early after enduring the grueling race.

Goofy high-fiving guests at the Disney World runDisney event
Credit: runDisney

“Runners and family have called it a day after getting up early,” u/accurate_advice1506 noted.

Cold Weather Keeps Crowds Away From Walt Disney World Resort

Unusually cold weather may have also played a role in the reduced crowds. Temperatures near Walt Disney World Resort dipped into the 40s over the weekend, keeping many local families at home.

“It isn’t a super busy time, the marathon was this morning and it’s freaking cold out for those of us who live locally,” Redditor u/sparty219 wrote.

Aerial view of a busy Main Street, U.S.A. at Disney World
Credit: Disney

“It’s cold (I know the evening temperatures aren’t cold by most North American standards, but it’s cold for Florida), so people head back to the resort or indoors for dinner,” u/stoneybrookeast agreed.

When is the best time of year to visit Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments. 

Jess Colopy

Jess Colopy is a Disney College Program alum and kid-at-heart. When she’s not furiously typing in a coffee shop, you can find her on the hunt for the newest Stitch pin.

One Comment

  1. This person has no clue…..just writing fake stories about WDW. I just returned from WDW and all the parks were as crowded as I ever saw them and I’ve been a pass holder for 20 years

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