Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT theme park is experiencing a noticeable dip in attendance, leaving many guests wondering why the crowds aren’t showing up as expected. Over the last few weeks, reports from countless Walt Disney World Resort guests confirmed what many have suspected: the parks are not as bustling as they usually are during summer. Whether it’s the sweltering Central Florida heat or the increasing popularity of Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe, something is keeping crowds away from the Disney parks, and some locals are threatening to “take over.”
Last week, one EPCOT guest shared a video showing an unusually empty walkway during what would typically be a packed afternoon. “When even the Disney tourists can’t handle the Florida heat,” @millennial_mom3 captioned her video. “At least we didn’t wait for anything.”
@millennial_mom3 At least we didn’t wait for anything 🤷🏻♀️ #disney #disneyworld #epcot #vacation #florida #hot
The footage showed only a few families strolling between the World Celebration neighborhood and the Mexico World Showcase Pavilion, a part of the park typically filled with crowds making their way to popular attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Frozen Ever After.
Several commenters shared similar observations, noting shorter-than-usual wait times at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
“All weekend we had 10-20 mins wait even for Tron and Tiana’s Bayou,” @missbrunettee1 reported. “Hollywood [Studios] was dead.”
“We went to EPCOT yesterday and it was great!” @ivywilloww commented.
Another guest, @major.flopera, wrote, “Waited 15 mins for [Rise of the Resistance] and Tiana was a walk on during fireworks.”
The decline in crowds has also led to more affordable pricing for some Disney Resort hotels.
“I was wondering why I got a $400 Grand Flo reservation for next Saturday,” said @thecurrentadventure.
Several Walt Disney World Resort guests pointed to the extreme heat as a key factor in the reduced crowds.
“I’m a local and I cannot handle Disney in the summer,” said @alexx_shmalex. “I’ll be back in late September!”
“Even as a local the heat still packs a kick,” @_matt_x6 agreed. For many, the high temperatures are proving too much to handle, especially with long days in the park.
Others speculated that EPCOT’s lower crowd levels could be attributed to the increasing draw of Universal’s new Epic Universe.
“Trust me,” @alyssaberardi5 wrote. “Everyone’s at Epic.”
“Also everyone’s been going to Epic universe in universal.. so its been PACKED there,” @la.worzys echoed.
With less crowded parks and cheaper hotel rates, the summer season at Walt Disney World Resort might not be as packed as usual. Some Central Florida locals said the crowd levels made them want to “take over” the Disney parks.
“Floridians take over,” @cheytism said. “I’m on my way!”
“That’s when us locals THRIVE,” @maeganviohl agreed.
Is Walt Disney World Resort less crowded than it usually is in June? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments.
Maybe Disney need to stay open until 1 am like they used to so people can stay late and be cool. That be a great Idea to a old prolbem.
Not one mention of COST? The price of Disney went up so high, very few could afford to take their family there any longer..
EXCUSE ME OR US!!! Takeover the parks
This is a very nasty comment from TOURISTS WHO HAVE CONTINUOUSLY DESTROYED THE MOSTS MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH FOR A FEW YEARS NOW BECAUSE YOU ARE SPOILED ALL ACCESS AND YOU VERY WELL TAKE ADVANTAGE BY CONTINUOUSLY FIGHTING IN SHOWS OR ANYWHERE ON PROPERTY THEFTS
LANGUAGE DRUNKEN DISPLAYS OF RUDENESS VOLKSWAGEN SIZE STROLLERS FULLY OVERLOADED FOR EXTENDED STAYS AND VERY LOUD CRYI G UNRULY KIDS ASSAULTING CHARACTERS
YES LOCALS LIVE HERE PAY YEARLY FOR THE ACCESS TO GO TO THE PARKS AND JUST LOVE BEING FANS I HOPE IT GETS SO HOT THAT YOU STAY AWAY ALL SUMMER
Kind of misleading and fairly inaccurate. With family members and friends working as Park Greeters, they’ve all said to me that Epcot is busy. The entry lines have consistently backed up with monorail and tram guests, creating frequent bottlenecks. Not only is the Main Entrance busy, International Gateway has been hopping. Epcot is not hurting for business and if you do happen to catch a lull, be grateful. Test Track is humming with cast members. The summer concerts are a draw. Epic may put a nick in every surrounding park (not just Disney), but not enough to say business is slow. The resorts are jumping too. Let’s hope that Epic fixes their problems before a full summer rush arrives. As a Floridian who has visited Epic, there are definitely kinks, bug and small, that require attention… hence the ticket refunds.
Perhaps they should look into the absence of foreign visitors? I live in NH and we know that the Canadians from Quebec aren’t coming down! They are boycotting everything USA! A beach in Maine has seen 60% less reservations and at a beach where people make their reservations the year before (and have for decades) they are seeing about a 500% increase in cancellations over last year! Many Canadians are selling their winter homes in FL! Add in to that the fact that Great Britain, France, and almost all of Europe has put USA on a “Do Not Travel” list and it’s going to really hurt Disney Orlando. (They will still go to Disney …just not here!) I understand that visitation at Disney Paris is way up as is Tokyo and Hong Kong! And as more and more US citizens lose their jobs or have to pay more for food, housing, and insurance they won’t be visiting either. Many people are opting to visit local amusement parks or travel to smaller parks like 6 Flags, Dollywood, Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Hershey Park,
I hope that dsd is really having problems. I wish a hurricane would wipe them out. And need to fire bob iger. To take a family of 4, he’d take your tea in the air to pay it off to go, unless you just have a job that Asia a 1/2 a million dollars or more a year. Or not, unless you’re a drug dealer.
You sound nice.
When my kids were younger, WE SAVED UP for a couple of years until we could take us, using all sorts of discounts.
Perhaps you should try that.