2018 Choc Walk Aug 26th - park crowds?

[Geemo]

I read the 2017 Choc walk had 12,000 people participate.
How does this number affect the parks when the walk is over?
I'd expect the early part of the day to be packed.
Wondering when in the day/evening does the crowd thin out?

This will be day one of a friends four night trip to GCH and the parks.
Wondering what to expect for the afternoon into evening.
Historical Hours has DL open 10 am to 12am and DCA (EE9am) 10am to 10pm.

Couldn't find any details in a search. We know TP's isn't a reliable source.

Can anyone give me first hand info for this day? and its' evening time?

TIA


Geemo

 

[OneTrackMind]

I read the 2017 Choc walk had 12,000 people participate.
How does this number affect the parks when the walk is over?
I'd expect the early part of the day to be packed.
Wondering when in the day/evening does the crowd thin out?

This will be day one of a friends four night trip to GCH and the parks.
Wondering what to expect for the afternoon into evening.
Historical Hours has DL open 10 am to 12am and DCA (EE9am) 10am to 10pm.

Couldn't find any details in a search. We know TP's isn't a reliable source.

Can anyone give me first hand info for this day? and its' evening time?

TIA


Geemo

We have been there twice on CHOC Walk day. It is crazy in the morning. Just getting to the park (from DLH) was long because of the crowds. Although very inspiring to see all the people and their signs! Lineups at the ticket booths were especially bad because of the special deal walkers get. So your friends should make sure to have their tickets already. But the gate lineups were bad too. The first time we were caught off guard - and so were the cast members! It was supposed to be MM and EMH but they just opened it up for everyone - but only had the usual MM rides open. Not fun. But we were prepared for a zoo the second time and that mindset made a huge difference. Also once everything was open it seemed pretty much like a regular busy and crowded day. I don’t specifically remember later in the day - so I’m pretty sure that was our last day and we were only there in the morning. I’m sure someone else will help out with that information.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We do CHOC Walk every year, and it's a very crowded day. Many walkers only have that one day in the parks, so they make the most of it. Definitely tell your friends to do anything they need to get done at the ticket booths the night before, if at all possible. The esplanade will be a mass of humanity for the morning while walkers get their discount tickets. They only get that one day to use their special offer for tickets, so they don't have the option to come back another time. Last year we had 14,000 walkers (and that was low because the date had been changed with relatively short notice). The year before, we had about 16,000 walkers. This year we still have the changed date but more advance notice, so no one knows yet how many people will sign up. DTD will be a mess in the morning, but should clear up by late morning/noon. Will your friends be staying on site or walking distance? Stay away from M&F until much later in the day. Walkers will fill that structure in the morning (Disney tells us to park there), and exiting the structure can take quite a while after the walk is over. The parks will be crowded all day, but it won't be any different from any other crowded day. Less than a bad day during Christmas week or HalloweenTime. Just use good planning and organization, take a break when needed, and have a positive attitude. Your friends should be fine.

 

[Geemo]

We do CHOC Walk every year, and it's a very crowded day. Many walkers only have that one day in the parks, so they make the most of it. Definitely tell your friends to do anything they need to get done at the ticket booths the night before, if at all possible. The esplanade will be a mass of humanity for the morning while walkers get their discount tickets. They only get that one day to use their special offer for tickets, so they don't have the option to come back another time. Last year we had 14,000 walkers (and that was low because the date had been changed with relatively short notice). The year before, we had about 16,000 walkers. This year we still have the changed date but more advance notice, so no one knows yet how many people will sign up. DTD will be a mess in the morning, but should clear up by late morning/noon. Will your friends be staying on site or walking distance? Stay away from M&F until much later in the day. Walkers will fill that structure in the morning (Disney tells us to park there), and exiting the structure can take quite a while after the walk is over. The parks will be crowded all day, but it won't be any different from any other crowded day. Less than a bad day during Christmas week or HalloweenTime. Just use good planning and organization, take a break when needed, and have a positive attitude. Your friends should be fine.

They plan to stay on-site at GCH.
I was thinking, if they want to see Haunted Mansion then they'd need to go in on Sun.
HM appears to go down for conversion on Monday the past several years.

 

[mort1331]

In the same boat. But we have 6 days and were planning down day mid week. Switch and now sunday day 1 os down day.

 

[tlcdoula]

This will be our last park day. I was thinking of doing a fantasmic package so we could get a seat easier.

We are staying across the street how early do you think we should get security? I was thinking of starting in dca in the morning and spending the evening in dL. Any suggestions?

 

[l4dyj8]

We were that weekend in 2017. Staying on site, booked early unaware of the walk. The crowds weren’t overly bad. Just the usual crowded Sunday, as always. We spoke to cast members the night before and they actually didn’t expect it to be that bad. The CHOC crowds go early. Their discounted ticket is good anytime. They don’t HAVE to use it that day. I believe it was a rather hot day. So many did the walk in the morning then left.

We did plan around it. We had table service reservations all day to avoid the crowds. We did most of our big rides on Saturday. We had low expections for Sunday and walked away pleasantly surprise.

we go often. The day of the CHOC Walk wasn’t any worst than any other Sunday. (I say this with the perspective that Sunday’s are the busiest day with local AP holders.)

 

[l4dyj8]

This will be our last park day. I was thinking of doing a fantasmic package so we could get a seat easier.

We are staying across the street how early do you think we should get security? I was thinking of starting in dca in the morning and spending the evening in dL. Any suggestions?

I’m not sure how they are changing the route with the upcoming hotel construction. But it usually starts at DTD pretty early. I would assume, that as long as you avoid DTD and the walk route, you’d be ok. I would make sure you just don’t time it at the same time as the walk. We actually waited it out at our hotel (PPH) and was fine with security.

 

[DharmaLou]

It's incredibly crowded. I've been to Disneyland during every season (and on Easter and Thanksgiving Day) and the CHOC walk was the absolute worst of them all.

 

[Kimberly Klein]

It's incredibly crowded. I've been to Disneyland during every season (and on Easter and Thanksgiving Day) and the CHOC walk was the absolute worst of them all.

Are you being serious? more crowds than Christmas ?? It will reach capacity

 

[Kimberly Klein]

We were that weekend in 2017. Staying on site, booked early unaware of the walk. The crowds weren’t overly bad. Just the usual crowded Sunday, as always. We spoke to cast members the night before and they actually didn’t expect it to be that bad. The CHOC crowds go early. Their discounted ticket is good anytime. They don’t HAVE to use it that day. I believe it was a rather hot day. So many did the walk in the morning then left.

We did plan around it. We had table service reservations all day to avoid the crowds. We did most of our big rides on Saturday. We had low expections for Sunday and walked away pleasantly surprise.

we go often. The day of the CHOC Walk wasn’t any worst than any other Sunday. (I say this with the perspective that Sunday’s are the busiest day with local AP holders.)

We can pick to go either Saturday or Sunday which would you suggest

 

[DharmaLou]

Are you being serious? more crowds than Christmas ?? It will reach capacity

I haven't been on Christmas, but it definitely was the biggest crowd I've been part of - including Thanksgiving, Easter and random busy summer days.

 

[smartlabelprint]

We were that weekend in 2017. Staying on site, booked early unaware of the walk. The crowds weren’t overly bad. Just the usual crowded Sunday, as always. We spoke to cast members the night before and they actually didn’t expect it to be that bad. The CHOC crowds go early. Their discounted ticket is good anytime. They don’t HAVE to use it that day. I believe it was a rather hot day. So many did the walk in the morning then left.

We did plan around it. We had table service reservations all day to avoid the crowds. We did most of our big rides on Saturday. We had low expections for Sunday and walked away pleasantly surprise.

we go often. The day of the CHOC Walk wasn’t any worst than any other Sunday. (I say this with the perspective that Sunday’s are the busiest day with local AP holders.)

Sunday’s are not usually the most crowded day according to reports on here recently.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Are you being serious? more crowds than Christmas ?? It will reach capacity

It will not reach capacity. Anything is possible, but in all the years we've done CHOC Walk, neither park has reached capacity or had a gate closure situation. While the parks have been crowded, we have never felt that it was more crowded than the parks are during Christmas week (and we visit every year during the last week of the year). With good planning (and you're asking here, so I assume you're already planning ahead -- so good for you!) and organization and a positive attitude, you can still have a great time in the parks!

We can pick to go either Saturday or Sunday which would you suggest

Right now, it looks like the only AP blocked on that Saturday is the SoCal Select, which means that both the Saturday and the Sunday will be crowded. But the Sunday will be more crowded because of CHOC Walkers using their discount ticket. So I'd be tempted to choose the Saturday, but still plan on using MP and being at the parks at RD (or using EMH/EE/MM if available).

 

[MinnieCM]

Eeeek! This day is the only day we get EMH at Disneyland in our 4 day trip - is it going to be a write-off?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Eeeek! This day is the only day we get EMH at Disneyland in our 4 day trip - is it going to be a write-off?

EMH will be later because of the Walk, so double check the time. I wouldn't write it off -- just be at the gates early and have an organized plan for what you want to do. Even if the EMH is more crowded, you can still have fun! If you will be purchasing MP, you'll be able to book your first FP as soon as you go through the turnstiles, so that's a definite plus right there.

 

[mershell]

I'm in the same boat. It's my mom's bday that day and I'm taking her to celebrate. I'm local, so will be driving in and am concerned about parking. Do we get there at park opening and battle everything....Will there be parking in the MF garage or will it be full? Or should we arrive around 10a? Would the lot be better or are we just hosed? We've only that one day. I'd also planned on taking advantage of the AP bring a friend discount, but see that you must buy the tix at the booth and I recall the mess that tix line is on Choc day, so wonder when that line does down. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I'm in the same boat. It's my mom's bday that day and I'm taking her to celebrate. I'm local, so will be driving in and am concerned about parking. Do we get there at park opening and battle everything....Will there be parking in the MF garage or will it be full? Or should we arrive around 10a? Would the lot be better or are we just hosed? We've only that one day. I'd also planned on taking advantage of the AP bring a friend discount, but see that you must buy the tix at the booth and I recall the mess that tix line is on Choc day, so wonder when that line does down. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much

I’d drop Mom off at the Harbor drop-off, have her get in the ticket booth line, and then go park at Toy Story (which opens an hour before the park does). There are also a handful of good neighbor hotels that have dedicated Disney ticket booths in them, but I don’t know which ones off the top of my head (you could probably call?). Either way, I’d probably park at Toy Story.

 

[mershell]

I’d drop Mom off at the Harbor drop-off, have her get in the ticket booth line, and then go park at Toy Story (which opens an hour before the park does). There are also a handful of good neighbor hotels that have dedicated Disney ticket booths in them, but I don’t know which ones off the top of my head (you could probably call?). Either way, I’d probably park at Toy Story.

will a hotel let you but tix if you're not staying there?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... There are also a handful of good neighbor hotels that have dedicated Disney ticket booths in them... Either way, I’d probably park at Toy Story.

will a hotel let you but tix if you're not staying there?

Stop at the Sheraton Park. Leave the car out front with Mom inside -- explain to the valet that you'll be buying a ticket and won't take more than a few minutes. Go to the Disney desk (to the far right of the front desk). You'll need your AP, I.D., and form of payment. Took me all of 3 minutes to buy two tickets a few weeks ago. Then go park across the street at TS. M&F will be sort of a zoo because the walk participants are told to park there.