It’s February, and in years past, that’s meant a slower time in Disney World.

However, in recent years (especially since the 2020 park closures), we’ve noticed that some of those “slow seasons” that happened periodically in Disney World aren’t really happening anymore, and it feels like crowds descend on the parks 24/7. If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you may be seeing videos from guests highlighting how busy the parks really are. But, is that just a false lens through social media, or is that what’s actually happening?

First, what videos are we talking about? Well, we’ve seen videos from multiple creators over the last few weeks showing the crowds they’re finding in Disney World. Creator @walruscarp posted a video from Magic Kingdom on February 21st, a Wednesday, showing the massive crowds near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

@walruscarp

Insane Crowds at Disney World Today! Pack your Patient Pants and pray you have Genie+ already bc Magic Kingdom and the rest of Walt Disney World has lines and crowds everywhere. If you have Genie+ you should be good otherwise prepare for 60+ minute waits everywhere. #disneyworldcrowds #disneycrowds #disneyworldlines #disneylines #disneycrowded #disneycrowdcalendar #disneyworld #disneyap #disneycastmember #dvcmember #walruscarp

♬ original sound – Kirk • Theme Park Expert

Another video, posted by @itsandieflores on February 7th shows the large crowds walking into Tomorrowland. It’s unclear if the video was posted at rope drop, or early entry, but regardless, the crowds are large.

@itsandieflores

Theres no sch things as fewer people at Disney #disney #disneycrowds #crowded #wdw #casttle

♬ Disney Pictures Intro – Disney Pictures

But these are only snapshots of two days — a MINUTE of two days — in the parks. So, do things really look like this?

Well friends, we’re sad to say that the answer, in our research, is yes, the parks really are that crowded now on most days. How can we tell? Other than the physical amount of people we see in the parks, we can also look at the price of Genie+, which changes depending on how busy the parks are expected to be that day.

In the beginning (October 2021), Genie+ was a set $15 per person, per day in Disney World. However, in October 2022, surge pricing hit the service, and it changed to be somewhere between $15 and $22 per person, per day, depending on how busy the parks were expected to be (by looking at park pass reservations). Things changed AGAIN in June 2023 when park-specific pricing hit the Genie+ system, meaning that you would select a single park or multi-park option, and the prices would vary based on how crowded EACH PARK would be. We’ve seen these prices start at $15 and go all the way up to $39. While part of this decision is just Disney wanting to make more money, they can do it BECAUSE the parks are so busy and people need Genie+ in order to do everything they’d like.

Not to mention that we do still see park passes selling out for days in Disney World, when most guests don’t need park passes anymore because they have date-based tickets. It is also completely possible for regular Disney World tickets to sell out during peak times, so be sure to grab tickets as soon as you know when you’re going to be on the safe side. Genie+ can also sell out too!

Okay, so there’s more people in the parks, but who’s actually waiting in those lines? Uh, a LOT of people, unfortunately. We keep an eye on Disney World wait times frequently, so we stay in the know. Just this week, a typically calmer week in February, two rides easily hit triple-digit wait times. Using Genie+ means that you can skip these lines, which can save you tons of time, but you’ll be dropping a ton of cash for your whole family to experience more of the parks. If you budget for this ahead of time, you won’t be caught off guard, which is why we recommend that if there’s even the SLIGHTEST thought in your mind that you may use Genie+, budget for it ahead of time! Then, if you don’t use it, you can use that money towards snacks, souvenirs, or whatever else you’d like.

So overall, yes, the Disney World parks are really as crowded as they look online, but there are ways to still have an amazing day in Disney World with crowds surrounding you. As always, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news and planning tips!

Here are our best Genie+ tips for crowded days in Disney World!

What’s your #1 tip for dealing with crowded days in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!

The post Are Crowds in Disney World Really Worse Than Ever or Is TikTok Just Lying to You? first appeared on the disney food blog.