Braving DLR during the forbidden week... at Christmas!

[sassypup]

Yes I am one of the brave souls who dares to fight the crowd monster and would love some suggestions and some questions answered. I have never been to DLR during the holiday season and it just so happens 26-30th are all I had available. Planning on 27th and 29th for DLR.

1. Everywhere I read says stay away during this week, but won't it help attendance that all of the Annual Passholders (of all levels) will be blocked?

2. For those that have actually been there during this crazy week, just how long are we talking to get on most rides?

3. Is it so crowded that you can hardly walk or does the sardine phenomenon occur when there are mainly parades/shows?

Thank you so much for any suggestions and information anybody can provide, even if it scares me how bad the crowds will be. I want to be prepared. We are really excited to go and truly appreciate any advice, thanks!

[Quilter007]

1) NO!!!! Premiums won't be blocked, everyone else can still pay ($40 I think to get in). Get there when the park opens EVERY DAY!!!!

2) Your only hope is to get there at park opening & ride the slow loaders early while collecting fastpasses to use when the line become unbearable, which won't take long!

3) The sardine thing could start in the early afternoon. Some years, they have announced on the radio stations that people should go to Disneyland becuase they aren't letting people in the park anymore!

Good luck!

[Disney Dreams]

Originally Posted by sassypup

1. Everywhere I read says stay away during this week, but won't it help attendance that all of the Annual Passholders (of all levels) will be blocked?...

While it's a nice theory, the problem is, part of the reason they block out the (non-premium) APs during that time is that they know the Park will be busy without the APs. (i.e. Disney doesn't need the APs there because there are enough other people there.)

It will be busy. It will be crowded. Once you just take in that fact, then you can get on with planning your fun trip to the Disneyland Resort!

There are loads of tips on this board for planning a visit during busy times. If you want, read them, follow them, enjoy. If you don't want to read them, just use common crowd sense. Try to do things when everyone else is not. And if you want to do the thing everyone else is doing at a certain time (i.e. parades, shows, etc...), just know it's going to take extra time and plan accordingly.

Enjoy!
Dreams

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We did Dec 26-27 in 2007. Granted we didn't bother with FP since all but one of our kiddos could do any of the FP rides, but in 2 days we accomplished: all of DL except Tomorrowland, IASWH and FP rides, in DCA only went to Bugs Life area.

Suggestion: See the fireworks the first night. It may be cancelled. It was cancelled both nights we were there. Get to the parks early because there is a good chance they will reach capacity, or at least only let reentries in later in the day. On our second day, they stopped selling passes for anything but DCA by 10 am.

[prncssmel]

Get there at opening and make good use of Fastpass. If there are any parades, shows you want to see, be sure to get a spot early. Use your MM, if you have one, to see Fantasyland. Eat at non-meal times, so you don't waste a lot of time in line for food.

I have been to DL when it has closed due to capacity. Though it was crazy crowded, we still had a great time.

[pixiewings71]

You're not too crazy, or if you are then add us to the crazy list because we are going Dec 31-Jan 3.
Not all APs are blocked.....Premium AP holders do not have ANY black out dates so if DD21 wasn't coming home for Christmas (with DGD10 months) we would probably be heading to Anaheim 3 times next month! LOL Just use FP and expect crowds, as long as you know there will be lots of people there you will be fine.

[eternalsunshine]

I was also going to be one of the crazy ones, until my Christmas DLR trip was put on hold due to work conflicts.

When I was preparing for the crowd onslaught, everything I read said to go in expecting insane amounts of people and resolve yourself to it, which would then allow you to relax and enjoy the trip.

As for question #2, I never did see any statistics that mentioned exactly how long the wait time was for rides, I'm sure someone here can answer that for you.

Good luck and remember, relax and enjoy yourself... It's Christmas after all.

[Golfing Goofy]

I don't think it is crazy.... I used to love it when it is busy. It has such a cool vibe. My husband, not so much. So, now we love it when it is the off season.

I do think that you just have to plan a different type of trip. When we have gone during really busy times, we just accept that we might not be able to do EVERYTHING. We take it easier and spend more time at the hotel and doing the shows.

I think it got more busy as the day went on...The sardine effect was most prominent when we would be leaving a parade, after the fireworks, or after F! That is one thing that I really don"t like.

I hope you have a great time! IMHO, Nothing is better than DLR and the holidays!

[sassypup]

Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions and comments. I will follow the advice given. We are so excited to experience Christmas in DLR. Wish us luck and I will let you know how we survived the crowds.