Should I be worried about Oct crowds?

[Jenn1116]

Hi all!!

Seems like there have been a lot of posts about horrendous crowds this month. My family is going this December for our first Holiday trip. We went over Thanksgiving many many years ago, but as I recall it was pre-Christmas glam and deco.

I am also very excited about a trip I am planning with a friend for next October as we have never been in the fall either. DD will be almost 6, as well as my friend's oldest. She also has another DD who will be almost 2 and a half (first trip for this kiddo.) She is also expecting to bring her DF who isn't big on crowds, even though he's a really big guy (6'7") .

But a lot of people seem to be posting about how the crowds have pretty much ruined their trips.

Is Oct normally this bad? We're planning to go mid-Oct around the 17th, getting there late night on a Wed and leaving Sun. Should we shoot for end of Sept to avoid the madness??

Do you think Dec is going to be as bad as this Oct has been?

 

[Mycutekitties]

We got back yesterday. We were there 14-18th. IT WAS VERY BUSY 16-18. Like you can't even walk busy!!! I don't think we will go in Oct anymore. The TOT party was fun, but the lines were very long for everything. Not worth to do it again.

 

[jernysgirl]

We're planning on going the 6-10 of next Oct, and although I am slightly worried about how crowded it will be, I guess that we will be able to handle it.

The end of Sep might be better, but the season is pretty busy. I have done some research, and these are the things to try to avoid for heavy crowds.....

October 1-2 - UEA
October 2-4 - Gay Days
October 12 - Columbus Day (and the weekend leading up to that Monday)
Mid-October - CHOC Walk (which is happened earlier today.. so I would imagine same time next year)
Every weekend in October due to MTOTP

We are going during the middle of the week so we can enjoy the parks, but will be staying Friday night to attend MTOTP and Saturday to just enjoy the parks and the night time entertainment that will only be running on the weekends.

HTH!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Yes, I think Oct. is going to continue to be a busy month. It was last year, and seems like it was this year. I'd just expect crowds.

December gets quite quite busy during the holidays. Early December I've heard is better, and that's when I'd go. I wouldn't go near the place in late December around Christmas and New Years, if you don't like large crowds!

 

[mystic_path]

October is a very busy month for sure... but HEY!!! Its DISNEYLAND!!! Its always a good day for the most part once you enter those gates.

 

[IBLarsen]

We went the first week of Oct, the 1st - 5th, the wed and thurs weren't busy at all, but Friday and Saturday were CRAZY. I'm curious for those of you who have been during this busy October month as well as regular Summer months...how do the crowds compare? Will summer months still be busier than October, same, less? Any thoughts?

 

[northshoremama]

We went the first week of Oct, the 1st - 5th, the wed and thurs weren't busy at all, but Friday and Saturday were CRAZY. I'm curious for those of you who have been during this busy October month as well as regular Summer months...how do the crowds compare? Will summer months still be busier than October, same, less? Any thoughts?

i can't speak for summer months...but i would think that the summer months would definitely be busier than october. not all schools have fall break at the same time, but summer break is pretty much summer break for all schools.

we were there just last week...10/9 thru 10/11. it was busy...at least for us it was. with a double stroller in tow, it wasn't easy manuvering through the crowds.

from what i've been reading on the boards, october is now a busy month due to fall breaks and the TOT parties on the weekends.

we're actually heading back to DL in december and next march...hoping for less crowds and cooler weather!

 

[Jenn1116]

Thanks for all the info.

I can do some pretty hard-core touring. I guess I'm mostly concerned for my friend and her family, who prefers the slow and easy route, with lots of breaks and nights in the hotel. I just don't know how we can be the best of friends and take on Disney so differently!

I think a mid-week trip is called for, although I wanted to minimize taking DD out of school. But hey, it's Disney!

Thanks again!!

 

[bonita_babe232]

I went to DL last year, when it was columbus day AND gay days in one weekend.... you would think .... but i didn't find it to bad... durning the week was dead, the weekend was pretty busy but i found it ok.... but from what i hear this year was BAD .....My family and close family friends will be going next year from about the 15th to the 30th for 2 weeks ( were doing all of socal)...... i'm hoping the last 2 weeks next october won't be too bad since it seems like most everything is gonna be in the start of october!!!! Either way i'm getting AP's so it will just mean i gotta take a trip sooner