I have spent a LOT of time at DCA over the past several years - as weekly+ visitors, we actually spend more time in that park than DL. I enjoy many things about DCA, and often advocate parkhoppers so that people can "hop over to DCA in the afternoon when DL is slammed" because "DCA is easier to navigate - wider pathways, more places to escape, etc."
Having said that, I am a bit worried about DCA this summer and beyond. Between the "DCA-only Deluxe AP access" all summer, and now the confirmed Halloween party move to DCA (including the 3 or 4 hours of DCA pre-party access), it seems like there's a lot being asked of this park. Some concerns:
1. DCA doesn't have a lot of FP bandwidth. With only seven FP rides available, and only one without a height requirement (TSMM), there just aren't many FP options. As more people get pushed over there (especially Deluxe APs who have Maxpass added to their passes), there could easily be a scenario where desirable FPs are gone by noon every day. Adding to that, there just aren't a ton of rides at DCA.
2. The closure of Bugs Land has been impactful in two ways. One, obviously it took away rides and attractions (RIP, splash pad), including a large slice of DCA's rides without height requirements. It seems to me, anecdotally, that this has strained everything else in the park that little kids can do (which really isn't a whole lot at this point). Two, it took away a major traffic path (from GOTG over to Carsland), adding congestion to a large chunk of the park.
3. An assortment of attractions and areas of the park are randomly much more crowded in 2019 than they had been before (the Animation building lobby is one - we hang out in there a lot and I have years of videos of my daughter dancing around to compare to). The Anna and Elsa lines have been particularly long for months now, after a couple of years where we could meet them with no wait pretty frequently...
4. As far as entertainment, I'm assuming PTN is coming back? That hasn't been confirmed, though, and they've only had one (late) WOC showing so far this year.
Anyway, I know a lot of attention is being paid to DL and how it will handle the SW:GE crowds, but I haven't seen a lot of thoughts on DCA. So, do we think DCA is ready to shine? Or are the DCA-lovers among us in for a rough year?