Christmas Crowds

[Uno Mas]

Does DLR get as crowded at Christmas time as WDW? I know it gets extremely crowded at WDW to the point of parks closing to capacity - does the same happen at DLR? Thanks!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Yes.

 

[Flitterific]

Went Christmas weekend 2009 and the crowds were horrific, especially in the afternoons Don't expect to be able to go on a lot of rides. Just be there to soak in the Disney magic. I think everyone should go at least once to experience Christmas at Disneyland because it's so magical

 

[Snurk71]

When do the xmas crowds really pick up at DL? In WDW terms, it's heavy Thanksgiving weekend, then lowers from the 1st of December through about the 20th when the crowds start building each day to the "I don't want to be here" level by the 23rd, and then it's miserable all xmas week to new years.

 

[ado121]

id like to know this too. we are going dec 5-11 based on what we experienced last christmas at wdw...

 

[mareed]

All our Dec/Jan trips at WDW or DL have been over XMAS & New Years, and I can honestly say that the XMAS 2009 crowds at DL were the heaviest that we've ever seen at either WDW or DL! I believe it's due to the huge # of AP holders that DL currently has. We know our way around and how to navigate around crowds, but it was so crowded that it really detracted from our enjoyment.

 

[Canadian Traveler]

We are going the DEC 20-27 the 21-26 at disneyland and now I am hoping that we get to enjoy ourselves!!

 

[Eeee-va]

When do the xmas crowds really pick up at DL? In WDW terms, it's heavy Thanksgiving weekend, then lowers from the 1st of December through about the 20th when the crowds start building each day to the "I don't want to be here" level by the 23rd, and then it's miserable all xmas week to new years.

As far as I know, this is in the ballpark of correct. For Disneyland, the days prior to Thanksgiving can actually be busier than Thanksgiving weekend. (I believe a lot of local schoolchildren get off that whole week, so people come to the parks, but then a lot of locals have annual passes that don't let them in for the weekend.)

I believe people posted great things about the week AFTER Thanksgiving, last year.

Weekends tend to be busy regardless, and Friday nights as well.

There's a Candlelight Processional (is that the first weekend in December?) which brings in large crowds.

The Monday and Tuesday following the Candlelight Processional are typically Cast Member parties--I believe Disneyland closes early (6 PM?) but DCA has traditionally been open until 9, I think?

We went the Wednesday-Sunday AFTER Cast Member parties in 2009. Wednesday and Thursday were a little overcast, but no rain at all and crowds were fairly low. We came in about 2:30 PM and Space Mountain and Indy were both at 20 minute wait times! Plus, for some reason (a wise person here speculated as compensation for the early closings Monday and Tuesday), Disneyland was open until 11 PM! Fantasmic! also played both nights. It was great!

(Next year the hours might be shorter around that time, though--who knows?)

Friday and Saturday weren't much busier but it rained some on Friday night and rained all day on Saturday, which keeps crowds away. It was predicted to be VERY crowded, so I don't know how it would have been without the rain. (Certainly at least brisk, but I don't know if it would've been crazy-crowded or not. A lot of families would be going through finals and/or Christmas shopping so I'm not sure it would've been as packed as everyone said.)

Sunday we left about noon or 1 PM, I believe, so we left when things were starting to get busy--I don't know how busy the park was by the end.

I did write about my trip in my Christmas trip report in my signature....but it's not done yet.