Better to go on a Sat in June than a grad nite/day? Any good days in June?

[niklynn1]

Personally I think a lot of folks are holding out for all the new stuff opening in DCA on June 15th.

This is what I was hoping! We didn't have a lot of flexibility when choosing our dates, because I have a grad class that begins June 9, so our only chance for a vaca this summer is to squeeze it in before then. I was disappointed to miss Carsland and the Matterhorn, but was hoping the pay off would be lower crowds!

Reading some of the posts in this thread have me nervous, though. We've been to WDW in late June twice, which is high season, and we did fine. It was very manageable with a good plan. I've read DLR doesn't handle the crowds as well though? Hoping for the best...We head for the airport in 9 hours!

 

[SomeDude78]

This is what I was hoping! We didn't have a lot of flexibility when choosing our dates, because I have a grad class that begins June 9, so our only chance for a vaca this summer is to squeeze it in before then. I was disappointed to miss Carsland and the Matterhorn, but was hoping the pay off would be lower crowds!

Reading some of the posts in this thread have me nervous, though. We've been to WDW in late June twice, which is high season, and we did fine. It was very manageable with a good plan. I've read DLR doesn't handle the crowds as well though? Hoping for the best...We head for the airport in 9 hours!

Good stuff! Nah you'll be just fine, you'll see C'mon it's gotta take something pretty epic to ruin a vacay at DLR, right? I've never been to WDW so I can't compare, but friends tell me everything just feels more spacious there because it's a much bigger area overall. Makes sense to me ... I'd wager DLR will feel more crowded because the park isn't really that big, but hey, shouldn't be anything to cancel a DLR visit for! I'm the only one in my family who doesn't have a Disney AP so I usually only get down there during so-called "peak" times too. The crowds really vary, and are hard to predict except for Xmas ... for that one, you can GUARANTEE it's crowded. This year was the slowest Memorial Day weekend I can recall so I really do think there's pent-up demand ready to burst when the new stuff at DCA opens up in just over 2 weeks.

(Hey BTW I'm originally from Columbia, MO ... lived in CA for the last 25 years but that's where I grew up ... we're probably headed back down to DLR this weekend, so if my crowd expectations are wrong, I'll at least be getting a taste of my own recommendation! Have fun and we'll probably unknowingly cross paths there!)

 

[dshimel]

How do you find the SoCal blackout dates, or whatever they are called?

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/

I am actually kind of surprised the SoCals can get in that last week of June. I would not want to be going that week!

What should I expect for average ride times?

Depends on the time of day. At 8AM opening? 10 mins or less for pretty much anything (except Pan if it is early entry day). At 10AM, half hour or less for most rides. Noon or later, hour-ish, or more, for Space, Star Tours, Splash. 2PM, expect 90 mins or more for the top rides (if you do not have Fast Passes).



I do not even want to think about Carsland, 2 weeks after its opening, on days that local APs are not blocked out.

This thread has been helpful to me. Sound like getting up early morning is the way to go.

Yeah... It can really suck getting up at 6AM to be out of the hotel by 7AM, to be at the park by 7:30 for an 8AM rope drop. But if you are at the gates by 7:30 for that 8AM rope drop, you can get more done in those first 2 hours than you can in 4-5 hours if you sleep in until 9AM and show up at the gate at 11AM or noon.

 

[niklynn1]

Yeah... It can really suck getting up at 6AM to be out of the hotel by 7AM, to be at the park by 7:30 for an 8AM rope drop. But if you are at the gates by 7:30 for that 8AM rope drop, you can get more done in those first 2 hours than you can in 4-5 hours if you sleep in until 9AM and show up at the gate at 11AM or noon.

This is my plan, too, but I have two teenagers with me, so I might be fighting an uphill battle to get them out of bed and moving early. I'm hoping the time difference between Central/Pacific will work in my favor.

 

[4th Gen Disney Fan]

I'm hoping the time difference between Central/Pacific will work in my favor.

That's exactly how I feel! I have 4 kids all under 8 years old. There shouldn't be any issues with them waking up because they are normally up by 7:00am CST. That's 5:00am Pacific. What I'm concerned about is the evening time. We plan on staying in the park until close which is typically midnight. To my kids that will actually be 2:00am!

Good thing we have nap times built into our itinerary. I hope it proves useful to us. Otherwise we are going to have some very cranky kids at night....

 

[niklynn1]

That's exactly how I feel! I have 4 kids all under 8 years old. There shouldn't be any issues with them waking up because they are normally up by 7:00am CST. That's 5:00am Pacific. What I'm concerned about is the evening time. We plan on staying in the park until close which is typically midnight. To my kids that will actually be 2:00am!

Good thing we have nap times built into our itinerary. I hope it proves useful to us. Otherwise we are going to have some very cranky kids at night....

Yes, the nighttime is when it's going to bite us, as far as the time diff goes. I'm especially worried about the first day or two, as our flight leaves at 6 am tomorrow, which means we'll be getting up at 3 am tonight! I imagine that combining that with the 2 hour time diff and everyone is going to be MIGHTY tired tomorrow night.

 

[Porturican]

This Saturday I will be coming with a grad night group from Northern California so in total there will be about 92 of us coming in the park for the almost the full day (heading back out on the road at 11:30pm but will be there before it opens) Im sure 90 ish doesn't have a big impact on crowds but a heads up at least.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Well, you're freaking me out too! LOL! We are going to DL for our first time in June. I expect large crowds just becuase it is summer. We are going to be there the end of June 27-29th. How do you find the SoCal blackout dates, or whatever they are called? What should I expect for average ride times? This thread has been helpful to me. Sound like getting up early morning is the way to go.

i dont want to freak you out either but you are going when every school is at that time of the year, out for summer, Carsland will have been open for only about 2 weeks and parking predictions for just 2 days prior to you going are through the roof where they are going to use CM parking lots for guests...just go with the expectations that you will def. need FP's and not to go commando...just take in your surroundings and get in some shows too

And this year, I wouldn't worry too much about anything before June 15th either, honestly.

im in total agreement...this is not the first year the so cal ap's blockout dates have been in affect like this...ive gone many many times at the beginning of june and have absolutely loved it...schools are not all out yet, carsland is not open yet, and the weather is still really really nice...dont get freaked out...i think things will be fine for you...hey im going next week too and truthfully if i thought it would be crazy, I probably wouldnt go but it will be fine

 

[sojodave]

We can only go for two days June 19th & 20th. We're taking my two teenage daughters who haven't been to DLR in 14 years!!! I saw a calendar that said that the 20th is not supposed to be a grad night. The crowds could get UGLY! You never know how the weather will be in June. I grew up in SoCal and June could be overcast and cool, or hotter than blazes.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We have been going early to mid June for the last 10 years, and these have been amongst our best trips! We love going in June. We also go on grad nights most of these nights, and never have had a problem with unruly teens. I realize that people are saying it will be different this year, but I don't see a trend of that happening. I will let you know when we get home. We are going June 10-14. Can't wait, and am not scared at all!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Why is that? Are you going to be there this weekend as well?

Sorta. First day in the park will be Sunday. Then we have 5 days to use as we wish...Still piecing together how that will be. Sunday will be a Land day..Monday might be a CA day.

 

[mouseymommy]

We have been going early to mid June for the last 10 years, and these have been amongst our best trips! We love going in June. We also go on grad nights most of these nights, and never have had a problem with unruly teens. I realize that people are saying it will be different this year, but I don't see a trend of that happening. I will let you know when we get home. We are going June 10-14. Can't wait, and am not scared at all!

We'll be in the parks the 10th-12th. I am so excited! It's coming fast!