Calling WDW+DL vets... (WDW crowds vs. DL crowds)

[Lights_Out]

Just wondering, for those of you that have been to both WDW and DL many times...

Does WDW get busier than Disneyland? (in general)

I know that WDW gets more people overall, but WDW IS much bigger than Disneyland.



Thanks!

 

[HydroGuy]

Just wondering, for those of you that have been to both WDW and DL many times...

Does WDW get busier than Disneyland? (in general)

I know that WDW gets more people overall, but WDW IS much bigger than Disneyland.



Thanks!

Good question and as you might expect hard to answer. So the answer is really yes and no.

Here are some random thoughts on the matter.


1. DLR is more of a locals resort (70% of visitors are from SoCal - many of which are on day trips) while WDW is more of tourist resort (only 15% locals). DLR also has lots more AP holders (about one million - most of which live in SoCal). That means many DLR visitors can and do make last minute decisions to visit DLR. If it is forecast to rain tomorrow, many SoCal locals will cancel their DLR trip and go another day. I have done that myself.


2. With so many AP holders, that can make certain times of year extremely crowded - with many visitors coming only to to see one attraction. They can dedicate many hours to the one new thing because they come often to DLR and do not care about what else they are missing that day.

See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983 and "The Psychology of the DLR Annual Pass Holder" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2244322


3. While DL itself is about 25% smaller than MK, it also has 25-30% more rides. So there are more places to put people (in lines for rides) so they are not necessarily making the park feel so crowded.


4. Since DL is in fact smaller many of the walkways are narrower and it does feel more crowded than MK. Especially the "Adventureland gauntlet" as many DL guests are aware.


5. DL offers two major shows (fireworks and Fantasmic - which often shows twice nightly - plus parades like MK) during high season and year round on weekends. That tends to keep people in the parks longer and especially make New Orleans Square and Frontierland and Adventureland much busier and more crowded at night. But since many people are watching shows at night it tends to drain people from the rides and spreads people out. Fantasmic can handle 9000 people per show at DL - DHS's stadium only handles 5000. Just to compare.


6. DL's park hours are longer than MK's. That spreads people out over more hours.


7. A savvy out-of-town visitor staying at a close by hotel (see "HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862) can much more easily work around the crowds at DLR than they can at WDW. So while it may be feel crowded at DLR than WDW at certain times of day, that does mean you are at the mercy of the crowds if you make a good plan.



Finally, DL's attendance is not that faer behind MK's. See "2009 Theme Park Attendance Report Released - DL Up 8%, DCA 9.5%" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2453073

HTH

 

[Lights_Out]

Thank you Hydroguy!
Always helpful as usual

 

[toocherie]

Personally speaking--I have never seen a crush of people at WDW (even during Food and Wine at Epcot) like I can see regularly at DL (yes, especially in the Adventureland bottleneck)

 

[oc_tony]

We spent this past Christmas at WDW for the first time. Everyone warned us that it was going to be crazy busy and to prepare ourselves. While it was busy, it was not as bad as we thought it would be. DL feels much more crowded at it's worst (i.e. holidays) than WDW. As indicated by OP, it's probably because there is just so much more space at WDW. A super crowded WDW is not nearly as bad as a super crowded DL, IMHO.

 

[sukhakuli]

I really think that DL feels more crowded than DW in general. Mostly I think this is because the walkways are smaller, and I think the hub is smaller. I remember the first time I went to DL they closed the hub 4 hours before the fireworks started. And when Nemo opened, the wait times were 4-6 hours just for that one ride! I thought that was crazy! If you expect crowds, then it probably won't bother you very much. At first it really annoyed me, but we got used to it and I didn't think much about it after that. Although we did spend most of our time at the California Adventure because it is less crowded overall.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I've been to WDW countless times and DL three times in 2010. As Hydroguy pointed out, I think the main difference is the smaller walkways and the type of visitor.

WDW visitors are mainly tourists who want to participate in all the things that are offered. DL attracts locals who come for maybe one or two things during their visit. You see many more people happily hanging out at DL. I think this really clogs the walkways and hub.

You would rarely see anyone camp out for fireworks or a show 3+ hours at WDW. This is more the norm at DL.

I think the crowds at DL can be horrible, yet the ride times are low. I think more locals come for the entertainment than for the attractions.

Just my opinion.

 

[Hound 109]

OP....Using MM..... & on any day visiting the first 2 hours at DL is far more rewarding than at WDW. Much more can be done (riding rides & FP collecting) at DL than at WDW. Helps mitigate the crowds as Hydroguy mentions. (basically easier to zig when others are zagging at DL than at WDW).

Personally speaking--I have never seen a crush of people at WDW (even during Food and Wine at Epcot) like I can see regularly at DL (yes, especially in the Adventureland bottleneck)

The Adventureland Bottleneck is very similar to those bridges in Animal Kingdom. Felt like a salmon swimming upstream once when i was trying to head into the Lion King area just as a show let out.

Almost had to jump off the little bridge into the rain forest.

 

[dalstitch45]

OP....Using MM..... & on any day visiting the first 2 hours at DL is far more rewarding than at WDW. Much more can be done (riding rides & FP collecting) at DL than at WDW. Helps mitigate the crowds as Hydroguy mentions. (basically easier to zig when others are zagging at DL than at WDW).



The Adventureland Bottleneck is very similar to those bridges in Animal Kingdom. Felt like a salmon swimming upstream once when i was trying to head into the Lion King area just as a show let out.

Almost had to jump off the little bridge into the rain forest.

I have to agree with you on the bridge when the FOTLK (Festival of the Lion King) show lets out. Even now when there is only one (1) show back there, it does get really crowded. Only for a few minutes, though. I remember my first experience at DL when the Fantasmic show let out, and people were trying to get to the fireworks. Lots of people trying to cram through small spaces. It was a different experience for me, because I was not used to having Fantasmic and the fireworks so close together. Not to mention ending and starting within minutes of each other.

WDW can really get crowded. I have been there during super-busy Christmas week, and other slower times like September. Nothing compares to Christmas/New Year's crowds at WDW. Can you say park-capacity? I guess this is why the crowds at DLR don't bother me as much. I have learned to go with the flow on the weekends, and I try to get in more during the weekdays at DLR. Love those MM's.