Couple of questions from a WDW vet

[grannyminnie]

I'll be visiting DL the first week of the Christmas activities. Is it possible that the first day of it (Nov. 13th) will be relatively low to mod. attendance? Also, is Sunday night very crowded? I imagine Monday is better but that is our last night in LA and was gonna use it to pack up. (we are in LA from Tues. to Tues.)
Second question (or third, depending on how many question marks you count..): is there free parking for DTD? I don't have familiarity with that area.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'll be visiting DL the first week of the Christmas activities. Is it possible that the first day of it (Nov. 13th) will be relatively low to mod. attendance?

It is possible. It looks like I will be there that day as well and hope so. I am not that familiar personally with that day but my feeling is it will not be that crowded. If DLR was expecting it to be then the parks would be open later than 8PM.

Also, is Sunday night very crowded? I imagine Monday is better but that is our last night in LA and was gonna use it to pack up. (we are in LA from Tues. to Tues.)

Sunday nights are usually fairly crowded and I expect that will be the case. Monday will likely be less so. But also the parks will close 8PM that night too. So it will be a short night.

Second question (or third, depending on how many question marks you count..): is there free parking for DTD? I don't have familiarity with that area.

DTD has free parking for 3 hours If you can show a receipt that you have bought something there they will give you 5 hours free.

 

[grannyminnie]

Thanks, Hydroguy! I actually perused your tips to find the answers before I came on here. You are a wealth of information!!
I am definitely going on Thurs. but am waffling as to Sunday or Monday. I don't mind that the park closes at 8. Actually, we are not on the property but close enough to it (9 miles or so). I also will pay a brief visit to Cal. Adventure one day but since I am much more unfamiliar with it, I don't even know what to ask where it's concerned!!

 

[superlarz]

Sunday nights can be crowded, but will clear out after the fireworks unless there is a holiday on Monday

 

[buglover]

The 13th will actually be a very nice day to go. It's before the holiday break crowds. The weather should be pleasant as well. Of course the AP's will be there since a lot will be blocked later, and cast member sign ins will be blocked later too. But still a very good day to go!

 

[Mysteryincorp]

Isn't that the avengers half marathon weekend? Plus the first weekend of the holiday season? Yikes....
Weather should be great thoug

 

[grannyminnie]

The 13th will actually be a very nice day to go. It's before the holiday break crowds. The weather should be pleasant as well. Of course the AP's will be there since a lot will be blocked later, and cast member sign ins will be blocked later too. But still a very good day to go!

Thanks! That's good to hear...

 

[grannyminnie]

Isn't that the avengers half marathon weekend? Plus the first weekend of the holiday season? Yikes....
Weather should be great thoug

Yes, that is the first weekend of the holiday season, but as I am totally unfamiliar with DL at this time, I'm shooting in the dark as to my plans...thus the questions to you DL vets! I'm planning on 3 days, one of them in CA, so want to budget my time for the right days. Not interested in late nights so don't mind the early closings during the week. Do plan to do an early morning on Thursday.

 

[Malcon10t]

DTD has free parking for 3 hours If you can show a receipt that you have bought something there they will give you 5 hours free.

They've always told me it has to be a dining receipt at a sit down restaurant. Have you been able to do it with a merchandise receipt?

 

[figment_jii]

Yes, that is the first weekend of the holiday season, but as I am totally unfamiliar with DL at this time, I'm shooting in the dark as to my plans...thus the questions to you DL vets! I'm planning on 3 days, one of them in CA, so want to budget my time for the right days. Not interested in late nights so don't mind the early closings during the week. Do plan to do an early morning on Thursday.

Normally I would say that it should be manageable, even it is the first weekend of the holiday season, but the Avengers Half Marathon makes it hard to guess what crowds will be like. It's the first time Disneyland has had a marathon that coincides with the official start of the holidays. My instinctive answer is that the parks will be busy Fri to Sun due to the combined marathon and start of the holiday season, but as long as you go expecting crowds, it'll probably be okay. If you go expecting super low crowds, walk on rides, and getting to the parade and fireworks just a few minutes before they start, then I think you'll be disappointed. So plan on crowds and then you'll be prepared.

Based on the calendar, it looks like Fireworks and the Christmas Parade will both be presented on Sunday and Monday, so you have that flexibility in days. Mad T Party (in DCA) is only offered Fri to Sun, so if you wanted to see that and weren't planning on being in DCA on Fri or Sat, you'd need to go on Sunday to DCA. The parks do close early on Mon, and they also open later (10:00 am compared to 9:00 am) on Monday. So, if you're morning people, then you might consider going on Sunday to take advantage of the hour earlier that the parks open.

In terms of park days, I tend to start at whichever park is not having EMH/MM, but that primarily pertains to my DCA day. I like to go to DCA at (or before) opening and then head straight to TSMM at opening. It does not have FPs and the line tends to build and stay long throughout the day (not quite DHS-long, but still long enough). Then I get a RSR FP. So looking at the calendar for your days, I would probably plan to start Saturday in DCA (given that you're going to DL on Thursday). My plans also tend to do a fair amount of park hopping because the two parks are only 110 yards apart. So it's very easy to park hop (think of it like going from Future World to World Showcase in Epcot).

In terms of parking at DTD, I've always been told you can get your receipt validated at any of the TS locations (I've done this at Brennan's Jazz Kitchen) and/or if you watch a movie at the AMC theater. I've read reports that the QS locations (like Jazz Kitchen Express) cannot validate receipts (I haven't tried).

 

[grannyminnie]

Normally I would say that it should be manageable, even it is the first weekend of the holiday season, but the Avengers Half Marathon makes it hard to guess what crowds will be like. It's the first time Disneyland has had a marathon that coincides with the official start of the holidays. My instinctive answer is that the parks will be busy Fri to Sun due to the combined marathon and start of the holiday season, but as long as you go expecting crowds, it'll probably be okay. If you go expecting super low crowds, walk on rides, and getting to the parade and fireworks just a few minutes before they start, then I think you'll be disappointed. So plan on crowds and then you'll be prepared.

Based on the calendar, it looks like Fireworks and the Christmas Parade will both be presented on Sunday and Monday, so you have that flexibility in days. Mad T Party (in DCA) is only offered Fri to Sun, so if you wanted to see that and weren't planning on being in DCA on Fri or Sat, you'd need to go on Sunday to DCA. The parks do close early on Mon, and they also open later (10:00 am compared to 9:00 am) on Monday. So, if you're morning people, then you might consider going on Sunday to take advantage of the hour earlier that the parks open.

In terms of park days, I tend to start at whichever park is not having EMH/MM, but that primarily pertains to my DCA day. I like to go to DCA at (or before) opening and then head straight to TSMM at opening. It does not have FPs and the line tends to build and stay long throughout the day (not quite DHS-long, but still long enough). Then I get a RSR FP. So looking at the calendar for your days, I would probably plan to start Saturday in DCA (given that you're going to DL on Thursday). My plans also tend to do a fair amount of park hopping because the two parks are only 110 yards apart. So it's very easy to park hop (think of it like going from Future World to World Showcase in Epcot).

In terms of parking at DTD, I've always been told you can get your receipt validated at any of the TS locations (I've done this at Brennan's Jazz Kitchen) and/or if you watch a movie at the AMC theater. I've read reports that the QS locations (like Jazz Kitchen Express) cannot validate receipts (I haven't tried).

Thanks a bunch for the detailed info!
Re: the DTD parking, we plan on a meal at Earl of Sandwich, I think, and if that doesn't get the job done, I can certainly make a merchandise purchase! Is the parking entrance nearer to the Disneyland Hotel?

 

[HydroGuy]

They've always told me it has to be a dining receipt at a sit down restaurant. Have you been able to do it with a merchandise receipt?

I have parked in DTD a couple times but always was finished within 3 hours. So I have never had to show a receipt. Your information is more likely to be correct than what I said. But I will pay closer attention next time.

I just checked the DLR website and it is vague on the issue of parking.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/downtown-disney-district/