On Sunday, June 8, 2025, Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort was anything but the bustling theme park it usually is during the summer season. Visitors expected a busy day as families took advantage of their summer breaks, but instead, guests were met with a near-empty Disney park, leaving many to wonder why crowds had seemingly vanished.
While summer is traditionally one of the busiest times at Walt Disney World Resort, 2025 has been anything but typical. With multiple discounts offered on Disney Resort hotel rooms, theme park tickets, and Lightning Lane services, Disney hoped to draw in more guests, but it seems that their efforts fell short. Reports from guests across the parks indicate that crowds have been noticeably smaller than expected.
A guest visiting Magic Kingdom on Sunday shared images on social media showing an unusually quiet Main Street, U.S.A., with only a handful of guests scattered in the area near Cinderella Castle. “I needed a getaway and was surprised by the crowd,” said Redditor u/SparklingPudding, who shared two photos showing the sparse crowd. “It’s my first year as an AP but I thought with school out now it would be way more crowded than this, especially on a weekend?”
Magic Kingdom on 6/8/25
“I rarely ride Jungle Cruise but it was 25 minutes yesterday,” the social media user continued. “Pirates was 10-15. Saw [Raya] in Adventure Land (not on the schedule)…No complaints.”
The low crowds weren’t limited to the Magic Kingdom alone. Guests reported similar experiences at other Walt Disney World Resort parks.
“I was at EPCOT on Sunday. Was totally slow,” wrote u/Turbulent_Tale6497. “[Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind] was 45 mins, Remy was 30. No lines at any counter. Other than the heat, it was ideal.”
“We were at Studios and Animal Kingdom and we ended our day early due to the intensive heat,” u/miikwl replied. “We normally stick it out but it’s impossible with this humidity and sun. Great time to go if you want low crowds for sure!”
The extreme heat seems to be one major factor contributing to the crowd drop-off. With temperatures reaching the mid-90s, many guests opted to stay away from the parks, especially those familiar with Central Florida’s intense summer sun.
“I think everyone is just so scared of the heat now,” said u/sandypassage, adding that “Summertime is gradually becoming the new ‘slow season.’”
Others echoed the sentiment, with u/NinjaRider407 agreeing, “Nobody’s going in 95-degree heat.”
Some fans have speculated that the opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe theme park may also be contributing to the slow crowds at Walt Disney World Resort.
“It was slower than usual in my opinion on Saturday as well,” said u/Sassy_With_No_Shame. “I think things are definitely slow with the opening of Epic Universe. I’ll enjoy the low crowds this summer and check Epic out next year when the crowds even back out.”
Is Walt Disney World Resort emptier than usual? Share your thoughts with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
