AP block out dates in December

[TikiTikiFan]

Last year we visited from 12/11-12/15 and each day was pretty mellow... except for Saturday, Dec. 15th. That day the park got so slammed you could barely move through walkways and the crowds were the most intense I’d ever been at Disneyland for. I remember when we got home I looked at the AP calendar and saw that day passholders were unblocked. (I think.. I could be wrong) but it either way, it left an impression! We started taking the train to get around just to avoid the walkways!

That being said, when APs are blocked from the weekends during December.. do they actually stay away or come by other means? Is it common for people to buy a ticket just to come in for the weekend and see the holiday decor even if they’re blocked? Or perhaps that day was so busy because it was a Saturday in the holiday season and APs had nothing to do with it?

We’re coming again in December and I’m trying to figure which days to do what. We’ll be in the parks 12/15-12/17 (Sunday-Tuesday) I see some APs are blocked that Sunday but open to come Monday-Tuesday. I’m thinking whichever day is the busiest is the day I’ll fill with all our favorite dining reservations and shows and focus on the parade/fireworks on the ‘lesser busy’ day.

Any thoughts from the locals? I know Mondays are always thought of as busy regardless although our last two trips our Mondays didn’t feel out of the ordinary... And if it all ends up being busy, oh well.

 

[wowsmom]

That was likely the last weekend most APs had access before their passes were blocked until after the new year. My birthday is 12/14 and it's always packed when I go to celebrate.

 

[figment_jii]

That was the last Saturday during the Holiday season that the Signature AP holders were able to get into the parks. This year, December 14th is the last Saturday for Signature AP holders (they can also get in on the 15th). I would expect good sized crowds that weekend. Tuesday will probably be the least busy day in your grouping. I feel like Sat-Sun-Mon are a toss-up.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Yeah, your issue is that there are a LOT of Signature APs who can go anytime the entire year... except those two weeks over Christmas/NY. So, they all need to get a Disney fix before they are deprived of Disney for two whole weeks.

And by “they,” I mean me. My family will 100% be there that weekend.

 

[tsumgirl]

I'll be there that weekend, as well, for the same reasons as Skyegirl

 

[TikiTikiFan]

Okay thank you! This gives me a better idea of how to plan. A crowded day at Disneyland is still a good day! Because you’re at Disneyland after all! I think last year I was just blindsided because our first two days were so slow and easy and then.. bam! All the people!

So I did one park per day this time around to save moola so if you had to pick one park to be in on a real busy day... would you rather be in California Adventure or Disneyland?

It’d feel so weird to have our first day start off at a California adventure though.... our tradition is always to start with Peter Pan! But we also plan on doing more dining things that day were in that park like the dessert party, etc.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The Holiday Food Festival and ¡Viva Navidad! should be going on in DCA during that time, so that should give you more to do in that park. The Food Festival always keeps us busy for a bit! It's usually easier to get a hand made candy cane in DCA, so you might want to check whether they will be available on one of your dates.