Disney World Sees Shocking Summer Slump — Crowd Levels Hit Post-Lockdown Lows

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For several weeks, The Park Place and WDW Pro YouTube channel have consistently reported that the crowd levels at Walt Disney World this summer are significantly lower than anticipated. Recently, TouringPlans.com, a trusted data tracker, has backed up these claims, labeling June of this year as one of Disney’s slowest months in over a decade, apart from the 2020 closures and the initial reopening with limited attendance in 2021.

In its weekly crowd calendar recap, TouringPlans dropped the following bombshell.

The site stated that this June is among the least active ones over the past ten years, with only June 2021 being slightly slower. It’s important to note that last year’s slowdown can also be attributed to the fact that the parks were temporarily closed in 2020.

Initially, it was predicted that crowd levels in mid-June would be between 3 and 5 on a scale, but recent events have made that prediction seem overly optimistic. As TouringPlans reports, crowds have actually decreased, reaching an even lower level. To put this into perspective, wait times throughout the resort during these past weeks have been reduced by almost half when compared to the busiest summer season of 2017.

TouringPlans Calls It “Ghost Town Summer”

TouringPlans has nicknamed the current situation at Walt Disney World, which is advertising “Cool Kids Summer,” as “Ghost Town Summer.” This is a rather vivid expression, but it seems to accurately reflect the reality, considering that even well-liked attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Flight of Passage, and TRON Lightcycle Run have experienced significant decreases in posted wait times.

Here’s how average posted waits shaped up from June 10–16:

  • Slinky Dog Dash (Hollywood Studios): 67 minutes
  • Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT): 64 minutes (down from 83 the week before)
  • TRON (Magic Kingdom): 58 minutes (down from 72)
  • Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom): 55 minutes (down from 64)

The displayed estimated wait durations. TouringPlans points out that the average actual wait was only 69% of the posted figures, indicating that even the most popular attractions managed to move visitors quickly and efficiently.

Despite being mid-June, Magic Kingdom, typically Disney’s busiest park, averaged a wait time of only 19 minutes across the entire park. Hollywood Studios even managed to stay below the 30-minute mark. Such low wait times are usually seen in off-peak seasons like mid-September or post-holiday January.

Crowd Calendar Failure Shows Severity of Drop

Last week, TouringPlans’ predictive model experienced a significant setback. In fact, none of their predictions matched reality at all during that period – this has never happened before on their blog. Every miscalculation was actually an overestimation.

In a candid confession, I must admit that the latest performance was truly disappointing, possibly the low point in the entire run of this beloved series. To put it into perspective, it fell short even compared to episodes aired during hurricane seasons.

On June 15th, the largest mistake occurred as Hollywood Studios had been anticipated to be extremely crowded (level 7). However, it turned out surprisingly empty (level 1) instead.

Epic Universe Opens, Magic Kingdom Shrinks

It’s an unfortunate coincidence that the opening of Disney’s Epic Universe is happening at a time when their flagship park, Magic Kingdom, seems more deserted than usual. While Universal’s latest theme park is thriving and attracting a lot of attention, Disney’s new venture is making its debut amidst this scenario.

It’s particularly awkward for the Chair of Parks, Josh D’Amaro, as he had earlier asserted that Universal’s growth would boost attendance at Disney World, specifically at Magic Kingdom. However, recent developments seem to contradict his previous statement.

So far, the data tells a different story.

Instead of visiting Walt Disney World, Epic Universe seems to be offering an additional incentive for people to postpone or even forgo their trip altogether. Meanwhile, Magic Kingdom appears to be failing to attract visitors who have already planned their vacation.

What’s Driving the Decline?

As a dedicated cinema-goer, I’ve noticed that TouringPlans hints at socio-economic factors influencing the scene, but they also emphasize operational and entertainment loopholes. The Magic Kingdom seems strikingly empty, with guests presumably postponing their visits until the arrival of the new nighttime parade.

During its yearly “festival hiatus,” EPCOT takes on a more relaxed vibe, which has led some experts to nickname it “Slimmed-Down EPCOT.

Regarding operational consistency, certain rides experienced longer-than-usual malfunctions, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train that was out of service for approximately 62% of the day on June 11. However, due to low park attendance, even significant technical issues didn’t result in widespread queues and disorganization.

Looking Ahead at Walt Disney World Summer Crowd Levels

According to TouringPlans, significant improvements in crowd levels at Walt Disney World may not be noticeable until late July, specifically around July 20th with Starlight’s debut and July 22nd when Test Track reopens. Until then, visitors who are comfortable with the heat can expect exceptionally short lines, open pathways, and an unusual park experience reminiscent of the early reopening days.

Instead of suggesting “arrive early and be patient” as the top advice for a summer visit to Orlando, this year it’s wiser to pack sunscreen, stay hydrated, and relish in the unique Disney experience – the luxury of extra space to breathe.

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2025-06-18 21:56