Busier Summer

[jhoannam]

How many of you think this will be a busier summer than the crowd calendars are predicting? I'm afraid it will be crazy busy.

 

[tlovesdis]

I do!!

 

[riftguy]

How many of you think this will be a busier summer than the crowd calendars are predicting? I'm afraid it will be crazy busy.

We were originally planning on going during spring break, but seeing all the closures finally nixed that idea so we're going the end of June/early July instead. I can't believe that we're the only ones!

 

[disneymom0104]

I know our week in May was busier than the calendars predicted- it was crazy! So if mid-May (pre 60th) was any indication, I would say that the summer would have larger crowds as well.

 

[GatorChris]

Guess I'll find out in a few weeks. Hoping that Mondays and Tuesdaysare still slow days. But all rules are thrown out during the summer.

 

[Congo Queen]

Yes I think it will be extra busy due to the 60th BUT the summer season is fairly long so at least the crowds get spread out a bit. During Thanksgiving week or Christmas week everyone has the same few days off and so the crowds converge in a short time frame.

 

[gcatt]

Disney certainly thinks it will be busy! Not sure if anyone has already linked to yesterday's LA Times story in this forum -- I missed it if they did.

Disneyland managers say they have been testing several crowd management tactics to make sure that the throngs attending the celebration, which begins May 22, don't bottleneck like the freeway traffic around the Anaheim park.

The tactics include opening "bypasses" — little-used routes behind and parallel to Disneyland's Main Street to help move people in and out of the park. Crews will also direct foot traffic in a one-way, counterclockwise direction around the night parade to reduce gridlock. The park also plans to employ staff to entertain guests waiting in line.

On the Jungle Cruise ride, an employee dressed as a boat skipper will joke with waiting visitors. Children in line for the Toy Story Midway Mania ride can play with Etch-A-Sketch toys.

The biggest crowding problems are likely to hit at night when crowds gather along Main Street to see the newly upgraded "Paint the Night" parade, followed by the overhauled fireworks show.

To disperse the crowds and reduce congestion, the park has scheduled the parade to start at nearly the same time as "Fantasmic," the musical, pyrotechnic show at Rivers of America in Frontierland. The tactic forces guests to choose between the attractions.

At Disney California Adventure, the water and light show known as "World of Color" begins each night at about the same time as the Disneyland parade.​

I'm crossing my fingers that RideMax and Touring Plans will be able to deal with the increased numbers this summer. They have been very helpful in the past.

 

[Gisele]

 

[jhoannam]

Disney certainly thinks it will be busy! Not sure if anyone has already linked to yesterday's LA Times story in this forum -- I missed it if they did.

Disneyland managers say they have been testing several crowd management tactics to make sure that the throngs attending the celebration, which begins May 22, don't bottleneck like the freeway traffic around the Anaheim park.

The tactics include opening "bypasses" — little-used routes behind and parallel to Disneyland's Main Street to help move people in and out of the park. Crews will also direct foot traffic in a one-way, counterclockwise direction around the night parade to reduce gridlock. The park also plans to employ staff to entertain guests waiting in line.

On the Jungle Cruise ride, an employee dressed as a boat skipper will joke with waiting visitors. Children in line for the Toy Story Midway Mania ride can play with Etch-A-Sketch toys.

The biggest crowding problems are likely to hit at night when crowds gather along Main Street to see the newly upgraded "Paint the Night" parade, followed by the overhauled fireworks show.

To disperse the crowds and reduce congestion, the park has scheduled the parade to start at nearly the same time as "Fantasmic," the musical, pyrotechnic show at Rivers of America in Frontierland. The tactic forces guests to choose between the attractions.

At Disney California Adventure, the water and light show known as "World of Color" begins each night at about the same time as the Disneyland parade.​

I'm crossing my fingers that RideMax and Touring Plans will be able to deal with the increased numbers this summer. They have been very helpful in the past.

WOW.

 

[2boysmom1998]

I do! I'm expecting the worst but hoping for the best. I was there the week Cars Land opened, I survived that so I feel I can survive anything. Plan, plan, plan!

 

[Disney127]

Most of the time that we go to DL, it has been busy but we haven't been in the summer time since 1990. I expect it to be super busy due to the 60th but we are not too concern since we are planning to be there for 10 days and will just go with the flow. If we miss anything, we will catch it when we go back at Christmas time. Looking forward to the long hours but not sure if we can last till the very end each night!

 

[SMD]

Disney thinks it will be busy.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disneyland-crowds-20150519-story.html

 

[Creaking Crypt Door]

Suddenly I'm a little deflated about being there the last week in June

 

[Sherry E]

I think it's going to be a busier year in general -- summer, fall, the holidays, etc. There is no getting around the fact that this is a very big year for Disneyland, and a lot of money has likely gone into promoting and advertising it, marketing it, new entertainment, new food, new merchandise, prize giveaways, ride refurbs, new decorations, new character attire, etc. I mean, this year is a big deal -- and even though there is no specific end date for the Diamond Celebration just yet, we can assume that some elements of it are going to be limited. For example, the Sweepstakes ends in September. People will want to get to DLR while this "limited time" 60th anniversary event is going on, or else they will miss it. People who might have ordinarily gone to one of the other Disney parks are heading to DLR this year for the 60th.

 

[TechGuy]

Suddenly I'm a little deflated about being there the last week in June

I will also be at DLR the same week. I assume any week in DLR is a good week and certainly better than my work week. I plan on being there rope drop to close each day and enjoying the glorious day I am provided.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We're going August 5-9. I'm hoping it's not too bad. We've been in the summer many times and it's been busy but certainly not unmanageable if we planned our Fastpasses right. We were there the week after Christmas and that was total chaos. There were certain areas, like right in front of Pirates, where you couldn't even move. The line for Pirates was 90 minutes and it snaked back and forth through the walkway several times. I've never seen it that bad in the summer, so fingers crossed that it won't be anywhere near that bad this year.

 

[Creaking Crypt Door]

We're going August 5-9. I'm hoping it's not too bad. We've been in the summer many times and it's been busy but certainly not unmanageable if we planned our Fastpasses right. We were there the week after Christmas and that was total chaos. There were certain areas, like right in front of Pirates, where you couldn't even move. The line for Pirates was 90 minutes and it snaked back and forth through the walkway several times. I've never seen it that bad in the summer, so fingers crossed that it won't be anywhere near that bad this year.

The worst I've ever experienced was at Universal this past December. We were there (in FL) the week after Christmas. You literally COULD NOT walk through Hogsmeade, it was horrible! Tack on that I get anxiety in huge crowds and it was nottttt fun...

 

[TechGuy]

This will be our third trip the DLR in June. It's a nice time to visit and the crowds are typically manageable. If one park is crowded, try the other (if you can hop). I always have hoppers...

 

[Sweetpea2011]

We'll also be there the first week of August, with 3 day passes and planning to add a 4th day on so we can go in the late afternoon and stay till close one night. Our problem is we will be a large party of 12. It's really hard to get everyone on the same page, especially considering that all of us have different personalities when it comes to making plans, from the type As to the laid back go with the flows. I think we'll just have to figure out some "must sees/dos" and then the rest of it is just gravy.

 

[GeneralTso]

You can count on it being mayhem all summer, in fact all year. If you expect this going in you'll be fine.
We are doing an OC summer beach vacation in August. We're going to Disneyland one day in the middle of the week. We plan to open and close the place!!
We stay onsite a few times a year, but wanted to see all the 60th anniversary celebration. Not that interested in the rides, more the shows and decorations.
I know it's going to be insane. August is a rough month to go anyway just with the typical summer crowds. Layer the big event and POW---Disney Mania!