1st time DL-4th of July or August 4th?

[kittycruize]

We are WDW vets going for the first time to DL! We are very excited! How packed is the 4th of July time? We would most likely be there from July 1st until July 5th or so. How bad is it? Or would August 4th or so be better as far as crowds? Any advice would be very appreciated, we really don't know what to expect as compared to WDW! We would sure like to go when it isn't so crowded, although from what I have been reading that isn't really possible? TIA!

 

[Butterfly123]

I can't tell you how crowded it will be in August, because we are going in August for the first time this year. But we have been on a July trip that ended on the 4th. We thought we would see heavier crowds leading up to the fourth, but we really didn't. But be prepared, it is always busy in the summer!
Two things to consider...the Railroad and Fantasmic may not be running until later summer...there is no opening date, so that's an unknown. But we're hoping it's up by August! And it does tend to be hotter in August (what concerns me!) although it can get hot in July, too.
We've been on several late June, July trips, only one right near the 4th, but we love that time. I'm hoping we like August, too. We'll see this summer!

 

[kittycruize]

Thank you. I'm just trying also to gauge how packed it really is. When it is packed, does that mean the lines are super long even for the bathrooms? I have heard from someone that went there that it is just awful, blah blah you can't even get into the bathrooms! Is this true? Is it really wall to wall people? Hard to even push a stroller? Another date we could consider is May 11th. Do you think that would be a less packed time?

 

[Butterfly123]

I've never been in May. I bet I would love the weather! You do need to keep Grad nights in mind in May, but I don't have experience with the crowds as I haven't been in the parks then. I would think crowds would be better, but I'm sure someone with experience will jump in here with advice on that. The park hours and entertainment schedule is something to keep in mind, too. In summer everything is going with full extended hours. I'm not sure about May.
Summer crowds are busy, but manageable. We always start at rope drop, go til about 1:30 or so, then have lunch and head back to the hotel for a rest. We head back to the parks around 4:30 or 5:00. That way we avoid the worst crowds and the heat. Try to get the rides with the longest wait times done early in the day. During summer there can be lines for bathrooms, but they aren't that bad. It helps to use more out-of-the-way restrooms. FP's can run out for popular rides by the later afternoon. It can get really crowded around parade times and fireworks. Leaving the parks after the fireworks show can be a little crazy! To me, though, the extended hours are really nice, and the crowds are manageable as long as you start early and do a little planning. Keeping your expectations in check is important. Disneyland seems to be always busy these days. But you can still have a great vacation despite the crowds.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread can give you lots of helpful information: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. Yes, DL can be very crowded during the summer. One thing that is exacerbating the crowd situation right now is the construction for SWL. Without the DLRR running, everyone has to walk from land to land, so there is much more pedestrian traffic and congestion than there would be normally, even during a average crowd time. If the DLRR is back up and running by August, the park will still be crowded, but the congestion won't be as bad. The entertainment schedule should be in full swing for July and August, i.e. fireworks every night. In May (after Spring Break and before Memorial Day), fireworks are usually only shown on weekends.

 

[DDhunter]

We have spent four 4th of July's at Disneyland in recent years. We have found them to be the typical level of crowded for a summer day. The one that was on a Saturday was the most crowded and even then it wasn't that bad.