So...Why The Crowds Now??

[deejdigsdis]

Maybe there's no cut-n-dry answer to my question. I keep reading about the crowds at DL on this and other sites. I read phrases like "packed in like sardines" and "not being able to walk" and "strollers crashing into us everywhere we went." I haven't been since 1996. But for the first 20 years of my life, I went *almost* every July or August. That's all I know -- going in July and August. Peak times. I remember long lines (pre-FP). I remember lots of people. I remember strollers. But I wouldn't put those times into the same crowd category that I am reading about now. We NEVER staked out a spot hours ahead of time for Fantasmic, the Main Street Electrical Parade, or the Fireworks. Maybe 20 minutes, tops. And we were always just fine to see what we wanted to see. I remember the occasional rude person that would squeeze in right in front of you. We didn't have to stand in line to meet characters. We just waited until one or two parties were done taking pictures with Mickey, and then we walked up and took our own turn. The only "craziness" I really remember was when Star Tours was the new thing. When the park opened, people took off RUNNING to get there first, leaving a wake of fallen people in their path. Literally. It had drizzled one morning and the little cobblestone streets were wet. People were running and slipping all over the place and falling. And jumping over fallen people, while carrying their children!

So...why is it so much more crowded now, and harder to find an "off-season-you-get-the-park-all-to-yourself" time to go? Did APs exist back then? Just curious...

[Mary Jo]

I think part of the reason why the crowds are so much bigger is because Disneyland is now a resort destination, with people staying several days to basically see the two parks, and maybe something else on the side.

With multiple day park hoppers or annual passes, people will now take the time to wait to get the best view they can, whereas before, people didn't want to waste the little time they had waiting such a long time.

Add to that the increasing number of locals who will pop in to see a show, go on a couple of rides, or watch the fireworks, and you get bigger crowds at certains times.

[tink2dw]

Plus I think people are just more aware of crowds as our world has gotten more crowded.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are always going to the most crowded because of the longer hours and the evening shows. And the locals are free from work and school.

[DangerMouse]

Disney, as a corporation, has revved up their marketing over the last several years. (Anyone watch a show on ABC and NOT see a commercial for Disney?) Between the amazing marketing campaigns and extremely affordable local AP's, the parks will always be crowded now. You see posters on different fan sites seeking out those 2-3 weeks each year that are the "off-season", and even those times aren't crowd-free anymore.

[TheZue]

In an odd way I find this kind of freeing. I like that we won't hit super bad crowds if we go when the kids are off school now and that there isn't a ton of benefit from pulling them out of school. Especially if you pick the weeks that the So-Cal passes are blocked

[LuLusApple]

It's a different Disneyland than it was in the 90s. We had APs in the 90s and there were not anywhere near as many AP holders then than there are now. AP events didn't sell out in a heartbeat, you never had to worry about block out days and which AP will be swarming the park before they get blocked out.
We never needed PSs to get into the BB we could walk up in the morning and ask for a dinner waterside table. No problem. PSs for anything actually were just not needed.
Princess Fantasy Fair; an hour to see princesses? What's up with that? Used to be able to see 6 princesses and 4-5 other characters in an hour wandering around Disneyland. Basically you could fill your autograph book in a couple days.
Stake out a spot for the fireworks, nope just walk up when they start.
Yes there have always been strollers and lines but nothing as insane as I have seen the last few years. It takes a different strategy than it used to to accomplish a good vacation.
Disneyland keeps evolving and so must we

[HydroGuy]

I agree with all the previous posters. Here are some more issues affecting crowds:

o AP Holders was already mentioned. Now there are over 800,000 AP holders and four different categories

o More special events and more elaborate events - Halloweentime, Holidays, special holiday versions of rides - HM, IASW and now Space Mtn

o DLR better focus on overall quality in last 7-8 years. Before that DLR was slipping in maintenance and cleanliness. They recommitted to those areas.

[mwehttam]

Also, Sept this year is a busy month in the area. First you had D23 and many probably did parks as well as the convention. Plus the Anaheim convention center and their shows bring in people. The ASIS show next week is why I will be in DL. I have the trade show then spending the rest of the week and weekend in the Parks. DW is flying out and we are spending our 5th Wedding Aniv., staying at the Disneyland Hotel.

I also have co-workers flying thier families in as well for a couple days at DL after the show.


-Matt

[MagicalMomAZ]

K.....so this scares me. I too was a July/Aug only gal until I experienced January! My mom goes in November - she never waits in line. We went 2nd week of Jan in '08 - our longest wait was 20 min I beleive.

So if we're considering February......are the crowds ALWAYS bad nowadays? Suddenly I'm paranoid. Actually, to be honest paranoia comes very easily to me.

[MagicalMomAZ]

Originally Posted by TheZue

In an odd way I find this kind of freeing. I like that we won't hit super bad crowds if we go when the kids are off school now and that there isn't a ton of benefit from pulling them out of school. Especially if you pick the weeks that the So-Cal passes are blocked

So how do you find out when the So-Cal passes are blocked?

[HydroGuy]

Originally Posted by MagicalMomAZ

So how do you find out when the So-Cal passes are blocked?

See http://www.mouseplanet.com/misc.php?pg=blackout

[HydroGuy]

Originally Posted by MagicalMomAZ

K.....so this scares me. I too was a July/Aug only gal until I experienced January! My mom goes in November - she never waits in line. We went 2nd week of Jan in '08 - our longest wait was 20 min I beleive.

So if we're considering February......are the crowds ALWAYS bad nowadays? Suddenly I'm paranoid. Actually, to be honest paranoia comes very easily to me.

No, just hard to predict when an expected low crowd day is crowded. It used to be easier to predict and now it is not.

[deejdigsdis]

This is all very interesting to me. Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. And HydroGuy...I have been studying up on all your tips. I am bailing on a DECADES old family tradition of riding DRR as the very first thing for the very first day. Instead, I am heading straight to PP on a Monday morning...so this better be good.

[HydroGuy]

Originally Posted by deejdigsdis

This is all very interesting to me. Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. And HydroGuy...I have been studying up on all your tips. I am bailing on a DECADES old family tradition of riding DRR as the very first thing for the very first day. Instead, I am heading straight to PP on a Monday morning...so this better be good.

LOL, but be careful with traditions! Like many others when I was a kid we used to always take pix in front of the Mickey floral on the way in. Now we do it on the way out of DL later.

We also used to wait 45 minutes for a 2 minute PP ride. Now we do it first thing or skip it altogether!

A lot depends on when you arrive. If you arrive two hours after DL opens it will not matter very much. If you are there at opening it will.

[sahbushka]

Originally Posted by mwehttam

Also, Sept this year is a busy month in the area. First you had D23 and many probably did parks as well as the convention. Plus the Anaheim convention center and their shows bring in people. The ASIS show next week is why I will be in DL. I have the trade show then spending the rest of the week and weekend in the Parks. DW is flying out and we are spending our 5th Wedding Aniv., staying at the Disneyland Hotel.

I also have co-workers flying thier families in as well for a couple days at DL after the show.


-Matt

What is ASIS and what days is it going on? I will be in the parks the 16th through the 20th and I know that the Not back to school convention may overlap my days a bit. I was hoping that HM and Space being closed would deter some people.

Sarah