Crazy crowds

[AustinTink]

Wowsers! We were at DL/DCA last Wednesday, just for the day. This was the most crowded I've seen the parks. We've been doing the one day DL thing for the past 6 summers. This is the first time we were bowled over by crowds and felt like we were running in circles.

We arrived at opening and stayed until 11pm and I honestly didn't see much of a let up in the crowd until about 10. We had FPs for the 11:15 WOC, but couldn't do it, too tired and had a long drive back to San Diego that night. Maybe next year the hype will die down and we'll see one of the earlier shows. Fantasmic was awesome, as always. The new dragon rocks.

We ate lunch at Blue Bayou for the first time. I have to say I prefer Cafe Orleans for the food, but BB has all the atmosphere. If you saw a table of three waving at all the boats as they passed, that was us. We asked for a table by the water and were accommodated with only a 5 minute wait. We were quoted 15 to 30 minutes for a waterside table. The service was excellent, and our waiter was a charmer. He hesitated a bit when we asked to order off the kids menu for my 11-year old. But, gave in when I gave him my patented sad face. I think we ate our weight in rolls and butter!

I would have loved to cut the crowds down by half, but otherwise it was another lovely trip to DL. We'll be back next year.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Glad you had a great trip, can not wait to see what the crowds are like mid August. Just doing one dau would drive me crazy.

Jack

 

[pigby]

Wowsers! We were at DL/DCA last Wednesday, just for the day. This was the most crowded I've seen the parks. We've been doing the one day DL thing for the past 6 summers. This is the first time we were bowled over by crowds and felt like we were running in circles.

We arrived at opening and stayed until 11pm and I honestly didn't see much of a let up in the crowd until about 10. We had FPs for the 11:15 WOC, but couldn't do it, too tired and had a long drive back to San Diego that night. Maybe next year the hype will die down and we'll see one of the earlier shows. Fantasmic was awesome, as always. The new dragon rocks.

We ate lunch at Blue Bayou for the first time. I have to say I prefer Cafe Orleans for the food, but BB has all the atmosphere. If you saw a table of three waving at all the boats as they passed, that was us. We asked for a table by the water and were accommodated with only a 5 minute wait. We were quoted 15 to 30 minutes for a waterside table. The service was excellent, and our waiter was a charmer. He hesitated a bit when we asked to order off the kids menu for my 11-year old. But, gave in when I gave him my patented sad face. I think we ate our weight in rolls and butter!

I would have loved to cut the crowds down by half, but otherwise it was another lovely trip to DL. We'll be back next year.

We were also in the park on Wednesday (a DL parl day) - looked at my photos just to be sure but this was the day I went to the park alone first thing, it was a bit of a line to get in but once in, took some amazing 'no crowd' photos especially around Frontierland (although did ride the Carousel and Dumbo alone) - main reason was to pick up FP's for all 3 of us. Of course (as I know now) this doesnt work and I had to get Indiana FP's just on my ticket at inervals until I had 3. Headed back to the hotel at 10.30am and went back to the park with family later, by which time the park was heaving (at least we got on Indie!) This was the day we watched Fantasmic (early show)- what time did u watch it? maybe we were stood by you. and earlier rode the train around the park twice to escape the crowds a bit.

 

[mdsd8700]

I am certainly no DLR regular. We have only been 4 times in the last 6 years. We were there last week as well hopping between the parks and taking our time with breaks to the room/pool during our stay. However I will say that I thought it was the most crowded from my memory. Again, sometimes things fade (didn't forget the LA traffic that is for sure...LOL). So not sure if was the time in between trips that made the crowds seem greater or the fact that it was actually more crowded than usual. Nonetheless it was a awesome trip and we enjoyed it very much.

 

[HydroGuy]

Just arrived at DLR yesterday/Monday afternoon. Today/Tuesday was the least crowded summer day I have seen in a long time if maybe ever. I will keep track this week to let anyone interested know. Not sure if there has been a big drop since last week or the previous posters judge crowds differently than I do, but so far I am very happy about the crowd levels. I posted some data in another thread. Search for it if interested.

 

[AustinTink]

Just arrived at DLR yesterday/Monday afternoon. Today/Tuesday was the least crowded summer day I have seen in a long time if maybe ever. I will keep track this week to let anyone interested know. Not sure if there has been a big drop since last week or the previous posters judge crowds differently than I do, but so far I am very happy about the crowd levels. I posted some data in another thread. Search for it if interested.

I wish we were there now instead of last week. In prior years, we lucked out and had light crowds. There was definitely something up last Wednesday.

 

[corgi_monster]

I just got back and thought the crowds weren't too bad. Mind you, we were there on Friday and Saturday. Yes, there were a lot of people. However, the lines weren't any worse than they were during June of '08 or August of '09.

The only time when I thought the crowds situation was ridiculous was right after the fireworks. Seriously, my ankles are like magnets for strollers *grrrr*

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

We were there last week as well (Mon-Thur) and found the crowds to be heavy, but manageable. We spent most of Wednesday at DCA, but I remember Tuesday to be very crowded. About mid-day the line for POTC was almost out to the lagoon. It was crazy. The CMs had the area roped off and people walking by were forced around it creating a bottle-neck.

On Thursday there was a very, VERY large tour group of what looked to be pre-schoolers. We were eating breakfast on a bench at the hub and these groups of little kids kept coming in waves about every 5 minutes or so. They were all wearing TLC t-shirts and they were in groups of about 20.

 

[AustinTink]

On Thursday there was a very, VERY large tour group of what looked to be pre-schoolers. We were eating breakfast on a bench at the hub and these groups of little kids kept coming in waves about every 5 minutes or so. They were all wearing TLC t-shirts and they were in groups of about 20.

Yes! I forgot to mention the MANY groups of day campers we encountered. They ranged in age from pre-k to middle school. They took forever to load onto rides and it seemed we were always behind one or more of the groups. This was the first year we had seen these day camp groups. I guess they chose Wednesday for the same reason we did.... historically lighter crowds.

 

[brenda1966]

We saw the daycampers on Tuesday in California Adventure. What a cool day camp!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We always see the day care groups on our trip and we have noticed that Wed is the worst day for them. They are horrible to get next to in line because the "leaders" have no control over all those kids.

I am always surprised that they would bring young kids as part of a day care group to DLR. There is no way as a parent I'd let my young children go there with only a few older teen in charge of all those kids! And as a preshool teacher I wouldn't want to keep track of them all. The potential for lost children is just too great. Older elementary, fine, but not younger.

 

[tdashgirl]

I agree. I didn't feel comfortable until my middle DD was in 6th grade

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I worked for the YMCA summer day camp two summers while I was in college. Every year we went to Disneyland- yes on a Wednesday. (Every Wednesday was field trip day.) I would have a group of 8-10 that I took care of at the park.

That is the reason today as an elementary school teacher that I STILL hate field trips!! The constant nightmare/worry of a child getting lost made it sooooo not fun for me! One year, we had these bright teal colored camp t-shirts. I had a little boy (about 8) in my group who was a real troublemaker and loved to run off. While we were boarding the Snow White ride I saw him start to get out of line. I grabbed the edge of his t-shirt and yelled, "wait!". Of course, the boy turned around and was not Travis. Some other daycamp had the same colored shirts- and he had run off from HIS daycamp group... I saw a counselor coming toward the end of the queue, looking frantic.

As I was terribly embarrassed...the real Travis was laughing and had pushed past some of the other kids to be the first one on board Snow White.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I worked for the YMCA summer day camp two summers while I was in college. Every year we went to Disneyland- yes on a Wednesday. (Every Wednesday was field trip day.) I would have a group of 8-10 that I took care of at the park.

That is the reason today as an elementary school teacher that I STILL hate field trips!! The constant nightmare/worry of a child getting lost made it sooooo not fun for me! One year, we had these bright teal colored camp t-shirts. I had a little boy (about 8) in my group who was a real troublemaker and loved to run off. While we were boarding the Snow White ride I saw him start to get out of line. I grabbed the edge of his t-shirt and yelled, "wait!". Of course, the boy turned around and was not Travis. Some other daycamp had the same colored shirts- and he had run off from HIS daycamp group... I saw a counselor coming toward the end of the queue, looking frantic.

As I was terribly embarrassed...the real Travis was laughing and had pushed past some of the other kids to be the first one on board Snow White.

Gives a whole new meaning to Snow White's Scary Adventure! Yikes!

 

[sierranevada]

Just arrived at DLR yesterday/Monday afternoon. Today/Tuesday was the least crowded summer day I have seen in a long time if maybe ever. I will keep track this week to let anyone interested know. Not sure if there has been a big drop since last week or the previous posters judge crowds differently than I do, but so far I am very happy about the crowd levels. I posted some data in another thread. Search for it if interested.

We are here at the same time! Arrived Monday and are staying at DLH in one of the newly renovated suites! Leaving today. If you have seen 2 moms dragging their teenage sons around the park (we call them Slow and Slower!), that was us!