Crowd Predictors

[shiori1]

Hi all! Is there anything that gives you an idea how crowded particular days generally are like there is for WDW? We are only going to be at DL for 2.5 days so I want to make the most of it.

[disneygirl212]

What days are you going? Generally Tuesday-Thursday are the least crowded.

[S. S. Columbia]

1. No crowd calendar exists like the ones at WDW. You can use park hours to guide you. Look at the calendar for DL and see when it opens and closes:

8:00am to 11:00pm or Midnight -- Crowded

9:00am to 10:00 or 11:00pm -- Fairly crowded

9:00am to 9:00pm -- Not very crowded

10:00am to 8:00 or 9:00pm -- Light crowds

Here's a good thread about DLR calendars (by HydroGuy):

Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124


2. "Albort" (he's a CM) posted the following:

Busiest days of the week:

#1 (busiest) – Sun., Mon.
#2 – Fri., Tues.
#3 - Wed., Thurs.
#4 (least busy) – Sat.


3. If you're planning a trip to DLR, it's sometimes a good idea to be familiar with SoCal Select and SoCal Annual Passholder (AP) Blockout Dates:
http://www.mouseplanet.com/misc.php?pg=blackout

HTH

[sonnyjane]

Originally Posted by S. S. Columbia

2. "Albort" (he's a CM) posted the following:

Busiest days of the week:

#1 (busiest) – Sun., Mon.
#2 – Fri., Tues.
#3 - Wed., Thurs.
#4 (least busy) – Sat.

That doesn't sound right...
I thought it was:

Least busy to most busy:
Wednesday
Tuesday/Thursday
Monday
Friday
Sunday
Saturday

Saturday being the MOST busy?

[DLR29]

Originally Posted by sonnyjane

That doesn't sound right...
I thought it was:

Least busy to most busy:
Wednesday
Tuesday/Thursday
Monday
Friday
Sunday
Saturday

Saturday being the MOST busy?

No, Saturday is not the most busy day anymore because of the HUGE amount of AP holders. A large percentage of these 800,000 AP holders are blocked out on Saturdays, which greatly affects park attendance. Sundays have become MUCH more crowded because a lot of AP are not blocked out on Sundays. Same with Friday nights-madhouses. I don't think Saturdays are the least crowded, but they certainly are not one of the more crowded days.

[S. S. Columbia]

Saturdays used to be the busiest day of the week, but like DLR29 mentioned above, the AP blockouts have changed that.

Last May, HydroGuy visited DLR on a Saturday, and he posted about it:

I Need To Get Out More Often! A Day Trip In May by HydroGuy
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2181033

"... So I went on a day trip last Saturday May 16. Normally I would never go on a Saturday - too many locals - but had no choice ...

... I was shocked at the crowds on Saturday morning and generally all day. To be more specific, shocked at the lack of crowds! ..."

- HydroGuy (May 19, 2009)

[sonnyjane]

Interesting to know about Saturdays! Thanks!

[Dad_of_4_girls]

errrk

just compared hours to our trip

Wed Dec 9 -- 9a-11p (fantasmic 2x)
Thurs Dec 10 -- 9a-11p (f! 2x)
Fri Dec 11 -- 8a - 12mid (f! 2x)

is it gonna be packed??

[sonnyjane]

Originally Posted by Dad_of_4_girls

errrk

just compared hours to our trip

Wed Dec 9 -- 9a-11p (fantasmic 2x)
Thurs Dec 10 -- 9a-11p (f! 2x)
Fri Dec 11 -- 8a - 12mid (f! 2x)

is it gonna be packed??

That week is kind of a weird one, since DL is closing early on Monday and Tuesday (6:00 PM) (DCA will be open later). I think the long hours/2x Fantasmic might be, at least in part, compensation for the early closings for private events on Mon. and Tues. and not necessarily a reflection of the crowds. Schools are mostly still in session that week.

[Eeee-va]

Originally Posted by Dad_of_4_girls

errrk

just compared hours to our trip

Wed Dec 9 -- 9a-11p (fantasmic 2x)
Thurs Dec 10 -- 9a-11p (f! 2x)
Fri Dec 11 -- 8a - 12mid (f! 2x)

is it gonna be packed??

Traditionally, the weeks before Christmas were a relatively uncrowded time to go, but obviously Disney is not expecting that to be the case this year. Regardless of the hours, I would say that Wednesday and Thursday should be moderately crowded (probably not too bad at all until evening) because most people will presumably have work or school to keep them busy. (Though if Disney changes the hours to 8 AM - midnight, I'll be thinking about running for the hills...)

By pretty much all logic, Friday will be rather worse than Wednesday or Thursday, especially in the evening. Locals can stop by after work and have 5 or 6 hours in the park!

Actually, since our party NEEDS to make an early start on Friday (our only day to do Fantasyland early since we don't have MM), I'm almost considering staying until close on Wednesday and Thursday and then (if we manage to see fireworks and Fantasmic those two nights!) just staying in the parks all day Friday and heading back fairly early Friday night. I know traditional logic is that the parks are at their busiest in the afternoons (hence the need for a break) but lately I've been wondering if it's a better bet to leave before the evening madness. Obviously the last hour or so the park is open is a great time to do rides, but I'm not sure I could manage to take an afternoon break and then come back into the parks at 10:30 PM....

Depending on how late your family stays out (and how early they can get up!) the fact that the parks don't tend to get so crowded until the afternoon might be kind of a good thing?

Anyway, I'll be there all those days (well, coming in Wednesday afternoon) so I'm crossing my fingers for the both of us to have low crowds!

[Eeee-va]

Originally Posted by sonnyjane

That week is kind of a weird one, since DL is closing early on Monday and Tuesday (6:00 PM) (DCA will be open later). I think the long hours/2x Fantasmic might be, at least in part, compensation for the early closings for private events on Mon. and Tues. and not necessarily a reflection of the crowds. Schools are mostly still in session that week.

OH! I know that when I had looked a few weeks earlier the parks were closing at 10 on Wednesday/Thursday and now they're closing at 11 so I was thinking there was a change in crowd projections. But I like the way you think VERY MUCH!!!! No, the parks won't be crowded at all!

(If I say that enough will it come true? )

[sonnyjane]

Originally Posted by Eeee-va

OH! I know that when I had looked a few weeks earlier the parks were closing at 10 on Wednesday/Thursday and now they're closing at 11 so I was thinking there was a change in crowd projections. But I like the way you think VERY MUCH!!!! No, the parks won't be crowded at all!

(If I say that enough will it come true? )

Lol it better come true! DH is out of town for training that week so I am paying my "other love" a guilt-free visit lol.

[shiori1]

Well, we are going the last of Jan & 1st of Feb. I'm having a hard time with everything being released last minute compared to WDW. The planner in me is frustrated. Can't even make dining reservations yet. It's just not what I used to.

[Dad_of_4_girls]

Originally Posted by shiori1

Well, we are going the last of Jan & 1st of Feb. I'm having a hard time with everything being released last minute compared to WDW. The planner in me is frustrated. Can't even make dining reservations yet. It's just not what I used to.

yes i know your pain

I traded that feeling in for a whole - we are just gonna wing it attitude. Then I made an ADR for Blue Bayou

[Eeee-va]

Right now, Accuweather is predicting RAIN on Wednesday and Thursday, 12/9 and 12/10. I hope that happens on Friday-Sunday instead, personally. But it would definitely reduce the crowds if the prediction holds!