4 day hoppers Dec. 29-Jan. 1.....

[IMGONNABE40!]

Please tell me what to expect crowd wise. Dec.29 is a Monday, if that matters. My husband and I were just there over Memorial Day weekend and I was surprised that the crowds were pretty manageable. The plan is to bring the family back in December.

Thoughts? Advice? Thanks!

 

[SMD]

Dec 31st is the single busiest day of the year. There will be gate closures and if you plan to be in DL at midnight you'll need to enter the park fairly early and not leave. You don't have to use a 4 day ticket on consecutive days, if you want to skip a day you could substitute the 2nd instead. Christmas decorations come down around Jan 6th, so you'll have those through the whole trip.

 

[sonnyjane]

Please tell me what to expect crowd wise. Dec.29 is a Monday, if that matters. My husband and I were just there over Memorial Day weekend and I was surprised that the crowds were pretty manageable. The plan is to bring the family back in December. Thoughts? Advice? Thanks!

Don't suppose you have a choice in the dates do you? As the PP mentioned, those dates are Disney Armageddon lol. Wall to wall people, pushing, shoving... Not ideal for a family visit especially if you have any young kids or first-timers with you that will leave never wanting to return!

 

[spellhex]

Yeah, the four days you've picked are by far the busiest days of the year. At the very least, Disneyland will reach capacity and close its gates on the 31st. Both parks will be packed with long lines for everything.

If you go those days, go with an open mind and don't expect to get much of anything done, because you won't.

 

[Malcon10t]

Please tell me what to expect crowd wise. Dec.29 is a Monday, if that matters. My husband and I were just there over Memorial Day weekend and I was surprised that the crowds were pretty manageable. The plan is to bring the family back in December.

Thoughts? Advice? Thanks!

It is great, I love it. We've done it every year since 1998. However, we don't really ride rides, we hang with the family and enjoy. And the crowds are huge. If you get hit with a turnstile closure, wait til after the parade lets out, and it will open up again. My daughter was there for Memorial Day weekend. She is used to the Christmas NYE week. She said it was maybe a 6/10 for the weekend. The dates you proposed are 10/10s.

 

[larina]

We go for Christmas every other year. We prefer to arrive on the 21st or 22nd. By the 27th, the parks feel really packed!! I can't imagine staying past then (we'd leave on the 26th, but who wants to drive the day after Christmas?). Honestly, I find the Christmas crowds manageable, but I think New Years is a whole other game. I think I could handle it alone, or with my older daughter (she'll be 21 in October), but it would not be enjoyable for my parents or younger children. But, if you love Disney, and you go prepared for.crazy crowds and with a good plan, you really can't go wrong, can you?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thanks for the replies! My plan is to rope drop, collect FPs and leave early. Back for shows and such later in the day.

we arrive 12/26 in the evening and head home 1/2. We are thinking 12/27&28 we'd rent a car and hit the beach. We can do that later in the week and go to parks 12/27& 28 instead. We won't be spending NYE in the park--maybe a little while during the day...

 

[SMD]

Thanks for the replies! My plan is to rope drop, collect FPs and leave early. Back for shows and such later in the day.

we arrive 12/26 in the evening and head home 1/2. We are thinking 12/27&28 we'd rent a car and hit the beach. We can do that later in the week and go to parks 12/27& 28 instead. We won't be spending NYE in the park--maybe a little while during the day...

The gate closures are just as likely on the 27th-28th as the 29th-30th. You do know that FP return times are now enforced, right? Your plan will still work, you just might not want to pull FPs if that's the time you plan to take a break.

 

[Malcon10t]

we arrive 12/26 in the evening and head home 1/2. We are thinking 12/27&28 we'd rent a car and hit the beach. We can do that later in the week and go to parks 12/27& 28 instead. We won't be spending NYE in the park--maybe a little while during the day...

Also arriving on the 26th are both Rose Bowl teams and their families, coaches, cheer leaders, and fans. They have a huge announcement in front of the castle. Then they hit the parks. And the first of the bands start for the week.

ALso note, Fastpasses have to be used during their hour. You can't collect them to come back and ride in the evening.