capacity & October?

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

So, you all have me very concerned about October not being a slow time anymore...

What happened last year as far as capacity issues? We will be staying on-site, have 5 day hoppers, and plan on being at the gates early (before open or close to) each morning (Wed-Sun.) But, we also go back to the hotel for naps. What are the chances that we won't get back in on Fri or Sat? I know you can't see the future, but will staying on-site and having our hands stamped help??

I figure not to bet on getting a lot done at night Friday or Saturday, but we want to see F! (I will buy the seating) and WOC the other night (and yes, if it is available, I will buy seating for WOC too.)

:

 

[DDhunter]

If your hand is stamped, you get back in.

We were there several times in October last year and the worst weekend was the opening weekend for the Halloween stuff. That following Monday (9-28) was as busy as any weekend day. So as long as you avoid opening and closing weekend for the Halloween stuff you should be fine. We spent all of Halloween day in DL and the crowds were very manageable (of course all APs were blocked but PAP that day).

 

[iKristin]

I was there from October 19th til the 25th and every weekday was fine, not crowded at all. The weekends were your typical weekends, crowded but not OVER crowded

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I think it only closed for capacity on the Friday of Columbus Day weekend. We went for Halloween weekend and were pleasantly surprised it wasn't crazy busy. I'd heard horror stories about the previous weekends.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

thanks guys...

We'll be there 10/6-10/10, Columbus day happens to fall on the 11th... which is not a school holiday as far as I know... I think this is fall break for lots of schools unfortunately. DD has the 7th & 8th off... as do most of the Christian schools in the NW for some conference... oh, well, it will be what it will be I guess. As long as we can get in with a handstamp!

When we went a couple years ago it was sooo quiet in mid-October, it was really wonderful, times have changed I guess!

 

[IBLarsen]

We were at DLR the first week of October and it was BUSY, but I never heard of them not letting people back in. During the week the park hours were listed as their typical 'short' hours, however they extended park hours, but they never announced that until 5:00 on the day of. I was told they watch the attendance numbers each day before deciding on extending hours. It was crazy for F! and for the Fireworks and for the Parade. But honestly, we were there at rope drop everyday and we honestly got so much done in the first few hours (the DISboards have made me a believer in that philosophy!). As it got so packed, we took it slow. The evenings never seemed to thin out just seemed to get more packed. We managed fine though Have a great trip!

One more tip, we had not ever stayed to watch the fireworks from main street, until the very last day, when a CM convinced me that it would be worth it for the Halloween fireworks. So we grabbed a spot almost 2 hours ahead of time right in front of the Castle, and it was worth it to see at least once, they were awesome!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Thanks IB, we didn't ever do fireworks in front of the castle till our last trip... we were always over in the F! seating area, or somewhere else... but wow, what a difference it made to us!! I am really excited to see the halloween fireworks, and I hope I can talk dd into going on space with me... she went when she was 4, and I had to buy her icecream after and take her on Pooh cause she was po'd at me!! No tears, just mad cause it was so "bumpy."

I am hoping that our go early, nap and come back for dinner etc strategy will still work okay... I also think I am going to bring the stroller, I had thought that maybe not... but if it is slammed, I'd rather have dd buckled in then loose, or wanting me to carry her!!

 

[aussiegirls]

We were there last October from the 16th to the 25th and we did not find it insanely busy at all.

Granted we planned to not do much ridewise on the weekends because we had heard how busy it was. So on the Saturdays we did other things and when we were at DL we did things that were prebooked such as Big Thunder Ranch BBQ and Fantasmic PS because we didn't want to be waiting forever in lines.

During the weekdays it was awesome. Most things were able to be walked straight on, especially in DCA (we loooooooooove DCA). In fact we got onto all the rides we wanted to so fast that we didn't even bother to use our MM, as there was really no need to.

So, I would definately go again in October given the choice. The crowds we experienced coupled with the fact that they have the Trick or Treat party going makes it IMHO a great time to be at Disneyland.

xxx