Cars Land's effect on crowds in Sept. 2012 vs. May 2013

[djk]

Short version: We are considering second week of Sept. 2012 or first week of May 2013 for our next DLR visit. Shooting for low crowds, and am mostly wondering how much of a factor Cars Land will be in determining crowd levels in early September 2012.

Longer version: My husband and I began a DLR vacation the day after Labor Day in 2002. Having no kids at the time, we took advantage of the fact that “everyone else” was starting school - not a Disney vacation. We LOVED how non-existent the crowds were!

Fast-forward a decade or so… we now have two daughters (non-Cars fans, by the way). We took them to DLR last spring at the tail end of “Spring Break season.” We had such a good time (thanks in large part to the advice I received on here!) that we are wanting to go again! If we could change anything this time around, we would like to go when crowds more closely resemble what my husband and I experienced just after Labor Day 2002, if that’s possible. We are even thinking about taking our older daughter out of school for a few days to do so. (don’t judge… to each his/her own, right?)

The main thing I’m wondering about is how the opening of Cars Land will affect crowds this September (thinking about sometime during the week of Sept 9-15). Also, are there any other factors may influence crowd levels during that week?

Of course, I will also have to consider the limited entertainment and greater probability of rehabs during the off-season. In fact, the Space Mountain closure - if scheduled for those particular dates - will definitely be taken into consideration in our decision, as it is a family favorite! (Any insight about which week that happens, and how many days the ride is closed, would be helpful.)

As an alternative, we are thinking about the first week of May 2013. I would imagine the Cars Land frenzy would be a bit more subdued by then, thus crowds may be lower than in September 2012? Honestly, I think the only reason I’m not 100% sold on the latter timeframe is because it seems like so long from now!

Do you think September 2012 will be as low-key as pre-Cars Land Septembers, or should I muster the patience to wait until May 2013?

 

[briggscreek]

I'm curious about crowd levels in September too. We're thinking about the last week of September or first week of October. We'd love to see the Halloween decorations, but I'm all about low crowds! We've gone the week after Thanksgiving the past two years and crowd levels are perfect, so we're hoping for something similar.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

I'm curious about crowd levels in September too. We're thinking about the last week of September or first week of October. We'd love to see the Halloween decorations, but I'm all about low crowds! We've gone the week after Thanksgiving the past two years and crowd levels are perfect, so we're hoping for something similar.

We are looking at the same weeks. My little ones aren't school age yet so it seems perfect to go during that time. I've heard the week before and after Oct 18-20 can be busy because all Utah schools are closed.

 

[Eeee-va]

I don't think anyone KNOWS, but in response to your last question, I suspect September 2012 will probably be somewhat busier than pre-Cars Land September. As to if it will be substantially busier (like busy enough to move a trip busier), I'm not sure. And it's not impossible that crowd sizes will be similar but visitors will gravitate to Cars Land, meaning the rest of the parks could feasibly be a bit LESS busy.

I know a lot of people are postponing their trips until after Cars Land is opening, but I don't know what percentage of those people are planning to visit in September (versus the summer, Halloweentime, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). Locals coming to visit Cars Land will increase crowds too, though they could feasibly affect mostly Cars Land itself and not so much the rest of the parks. (While that may be a stereotype, it's not uncommon for a local to show up just to do a couple things...when I was waiting in line for the Toy Story lot shuttle in November, I heard a local who had done just that!)

The one thing that seems pretty sure is that Disney will continue to bring out promotions, changes, etc. that draw visitors' interest. May 2013 is a long way away and Disney might have some new thing at that point--certainly no Cars Land, but maybe some other event that draws crowds to the parks, or something coming back from a long rehab a la Pirates in November 2011, Fantasmic in June 2009, etc. There are certain times that will be more and less busy no matter what, but trying to figure out what attractions will draw crowds more than a year in advance (May 2013) can be difficult.

 

[skiingfast]

I And it's not impossible that crowd sizes will be similar but visitors will gravitate to Cars Land, meaning the rest of the parks could feasibly be a bit LESS busy.

^^^ Probably. I imagine Carsland will be extra busy for a year pulling people from other parts of the parks before things balance out.

I wouldn't look at it as better crowds at one time or the other. More of what will be open, the 9th to 15th will very likely be when Space is closed, probably closing on the 9th and opening on the 14th, so it's possible to catch it. Haunted Mansion likewise will open on the 14th.

Otherwise there may be other rehabs at either of the two dates.

 

[Mugglemama]

Ohhhhh...I'm glad you brought this up. We are looking at the very same week, and I didn't think about Space and HM being closed (are they doing the overlays earlier every year, or am I imagining things??)

Maybe we'll reschedule for the week immediately following the re-opening of these two rides. It will be the last trip we are able to squeeze into our AP's before they expire, and we haven't seen the Halloween stuff since 2008, so it might be nice to go at that time, even if the crowds are a little thicker.

 

[Mugglemama]

the 9th to 15th will very likely be when Space is closed, probably closing on the 9th and opening on the 14th, so it's possible to catch it. Haunted Mansion likewise will open on the 14th.

Otherwise there may be other rehabs at either of the two dates.

Ohhhhh...I'm glad you brought this up. We are looking at the very same week as the OP, and I didn't think about Space and HM being closed (are they doing the overlays earlier every year, or am I imagining things??)

Maybe we'll reschedule for the week immediately following the re-opening of these two rides. It will be the last trip we are able to squeeze out of our AP's before they expire, and we haven't seen the Halloween stuff since 2008, so it might be nice to go at that time, even if the crowds are a little thicker.

Thanks for mentioning it!

 

[skiingfast]

Ohhhhh...I'm glad you brought this up. We are looking at the very same week as the OP, and I didn't think about Space and HM being closed (are they doing the overlays earlier every year, or am I imagining things??)

Maybe we'll reschedule for the week immediately following the re-opening of these two rides. It will be the last trip we are able to squeeze out of our AP's before they expire, and we haven't seen the Halloween stuff since 2008, so it might be nice to go at that time, even if the crowds are a little thicker.

Thanks for mentioning it!

Both attractions open with thier overlays for the start of Halloween Season, which has been the weekend in the middle of September. Space takes about 4 days to do, so it usually goes down midweek. HM takes about 3 weeks so it goes down in the end of August. It is possible the season could shift forward, we should known firm dates for the season in early Summer.

As far as crowds some people say it gets busy, but with a clear look at it that isn't the exact truth. There is hardly a sudden rise in crowds, only a bump at that time because it's a weekend. Weekends are always busy. The Friday morning before and Monday after are very nice. The only noticeable difference in crowds are, a lot more people waiting for Space and HMH.

 

[ddwlms]

I've been mulling the same question. My thoughts are:

We've seemed to hit more ride closures in Sep than in May. (Of course, that may be due to them bringing them down for holiday overlay, so maybe your Sep dates will be early enough to miss that.)

And second, I tend to lean towards taking the kids out in May for two reasons. 1. If you're in California schools, your school does not lose any attendance funding for students who miss from about April thru the end of the year. 2. The kids are about to get out for the summer. Any negative effects from missing school are very short term. All the kids are evened up again by the end of the summer.

Just a side note; I used to feel a little guilty about pulling my own kids out of school, until one day, walking down Main Street, we ran into two of my kids' high school teachers. I'm pretty sure that when they signed on for the job it was with the understanding that they don't plan vacation during the school year. --But I can't really blame them.

 

[sewingmolly]

In 2010, I booked a trip to DL for June and then started doing my research. My DBIL was joining us for one day and DSister really wanted him to love his first trip to Disney. Well I found out that DBIL's day at DLR was going to be the opening of World of Color. I was really worried about the crowds, but for no reason as it turned out. A lot of DLR guests are locals and just come to do a few attractions. I think a lot of locals will just come to do Carsland, but may not increase overall crowd levels. You just need to maximize your weekdays. Weekends are much more crowded.

 

[HydroGuy]

In 2010, I booked a trip to DL for June and then started doing my research. My DBIL was joining us for one day and DSister really wanted him to love his first trip to Disney. Well I found out that DBIL's day at DLR was going to be the opening of World of Color. I was really worried about the crowds, but for no reason as it turned out. A lot of DLR guests are locals and just come to do a few attractions. I think a lot of locals will just come to do Carsland, but may not increase overall crowd levels. You just need to maximize your weekdays. Weekends are much more crowded.

I think you are right but I also think overall crowds will increase - if for no other reason than DLR is embarking on a massive marketing campaign all the way to the Rocky Mtns, Australia and Asia.

However, with Cars Land the resort will be bigger and have a place to put several thousand more people. So outside CL I am not sure it will feel more crowded.