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I regret it!

Philadelphia...
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385 posts
10 reviews
26 helpful votes
I regret it!
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I regret making reservations in January for 4 weekdays the second week in June. I didn't get my first choice of a hotel room, but felt lucky I got a condo in Yosemite West. Now, not so much. I just discovered Yosemite's Facebook page and the posters are reporting horrible (actually one poster used another h word) conditions in the Park. It's overcrowded causing 3.5 or more hour backups, construction, limited parking spaces, air pollution, shuttles so full you can't get on them. Apparently these are problems unique to Yosemite according to other posters experiences and my own in National Parks. In my opinion, I don't care how magnificent the park is this is not worth it. This is not my idea of a fun vacation. One FB poster said it's worse than the lines in a Disney Park. We considered taking the hit and cancelling the reservation, but we would have to change our airline reservations too. We are going to a wedding and I thought to make the trip more fun we would visit Yosemite. We have been to California numerous times and have seen everything we want to see more than once except for Yosemite. Many people suggest getting an early start to the day; get a parking space; board a shuttle, but guess what that doesn't work anymore. Everybody is on to the early start. We're going anyway. We're mentally prepared for the worse. I don't expect any feedback. I'm just writing this to forewarn people who are considering making the trip.

Edited: 6 years ago
Santa Cruz...
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81 posts
1. Re: I regret it!
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Well, bear in mind that you're reading about the current conditions, based on a 3-day holiday weekend that kicks off the summer season. It may not be as daunting on your mid-week visit. And, you can always avoid the valley and work the perimeters and less crowded sections of the park. And finally, despite the hassles? You're going to see the falls in some of the fullest glory they've been in for years.

Enjoy!

Bellingham...
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5,891 posts
2. Re: I regret it!
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Agree with the holiday weekend thing. Going to any popular spot on Memorial Day weekend is just not a great choice.

Also, this is why people recommend staying in the park. But I didn't, I was there on the weekend, and while crowded, it's not as bad as you're describing. Yes, the crowds are rather Disney-like, but 2/3 of those people are in the same place: the easy to reach flat areas in Yosemite valley. Once you get out of that area, it feels like any NP.

You'll be glad you went. It's like nothing else, even on a holiday weekend, it would be more rewarding to be in the crowds there than at a theme park. No comparison.

(And if you use Facebook to evaluate the worth of any tourist destination, you might as well never leave your house. But warn people or cancel if you like- if people actually listened to posts like this SF would practically be a ghost town during tourist season which would be awesome).

Edited: 6 years ago
Mariposa, California
Destination Expert
for Yosemite National Park
Level Contributor
3,516 posts
46 reviews
81 helpful votes
3. Re: I regret it!
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If you're coming on a weekday you're solid. Still lots of people but nothing like the weekend. Staying in yosemite West means you don't have to go through an entrance station! That's going to help you significantly. And you have a number of days to see the park. You're going to have a great time.

Many, many people come on the weekends in particular with no reservations and no concept of what they're getting into. You have reservations and in park no less. If you visit the visitor center early in your visit, someone can help you strategize and prioritize the things you want to see to avoid as much as you can.

I actively don't think you'll regret this! If yiu were here now.... Then yes.... You'd regret it.

Mariposa, California
Destination Expert
for Yosemite National Park
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3,516 posts
46 reviews
81 helpful votes
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Also though there will still be some construction, the yosemite village parking lot reopened Friday and roads went back to more normal. That was causing even more confusion. So that at least has changed.

Philadelphia...
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385 posts
10 reviews
26 helpful votes
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A few of the posts were relating to earlier weeks in May. And I don't mind crowds. I love New York City. I do mind sitting in a car for hours on end going no where when there is so much to see. What a waste. Brings back memories of the "bear jam" in Smoky Mountain NP. Yes the traffic in NYC can be a challenge to the parking garage, but after that it's the subway. Thank you for the encouragement.

Pacifica, California
Destination Expert
for Pacifica
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15,701 posts
5 reviews
11 helpful votes
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The waterfalls in Yosemite are supposed to be spectacular this year, which may be another reason so many people are there.

San Francisco...
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3,733 posts
72 reviews
40 helpful votes
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Take a deep breath. You are complaining about something you haven't even visited yet! It's going to be spectacular. I sincerely hope you repost AFTER your trip.

Level Contributor
14,488 posts
10 reviews
2 helpful votes
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Facebook is full of people who seem most happy when they find something to whine about. Don't let them spoil your anticipation & enjoyment of a beautiful National park.

You can always tweet your disgust to our President, he is cutting funding drastically for NPS.

Paso Robles Wine...
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2,501 posts
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
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Memorial Day weekend or any other holiday weekend is going to be bad. We camped in Kings Canyon NP this week and there were no crowds. We drove out on Saturday morning through Sequoia and it was crazy. Crowds everywhere. Glad we were leaving, but then we never visit the parks on holiday weekends, or weekends for that matter. You should be fine in June. There will be crowds but nothing like a holiday weekend.

Adelaide, Australia
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2 posts
17 reviews
41 helpful votes
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Hi

We visited the national park yesterday and today. Being from Australia we had no idea it was memorial weekend. The limitations on the car parks and the lines are horrendous.Our first day was Saturday and we spent basically the whole day stationary in our car just trying to find a carpark. We learned from our mistakes on Saturday, however and on sunday we arrived at the entrance at 6.35am. We drove directly to half dome (arrived at approx 7.30am), found a capark(which was almost full!!)and we had a fantastic day! We hired bikes and just rode around for the entire day.

If you're there early and you're organised you'll have a great time.

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