Crowd blog/prediction for DL?

[PoppyGirl]

Is there a crowd blog/prediction somewhere for DL like there is at touring plans for WDW?

 

[HydroGuy]

Is there a crowd blog/prediction somewhere for DL like there is at touring plans for WDW?

The short answer is "No".

One could conclude this is because DLR is smaller than WDW and they would be partly correct. DLR draws less than half the attendance of WDW.

The more significant reason is that whereas 85% of WDW visitors are there from out of the area and presumably on a multi-day vacation, only 30% of the visitors at DLR are from out of the area. The majority are local SoCal people on day trips.

Hence the demand for long range planning resources like the touring plans site for WDW is much lower at DLR.

The way you gage expected crowds is by park hours. Specifically the DL park hours.

8AM-Midnight - maximum crowds
9AM-10PM - moderate crowds
10AM-8PM - minimum crowds

Check park hours for past years at these sites:

http://www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-dlr2-200804.asp
http://www.mouseplanet.com/search.php?type=c&cid=dl

 

[PoppyGirl]

Hmmm....ok. Thanks. That's helpful. We are probably going in July or August 2010 so it looks like maximum crowds the whole week. Are there any days of the week that tend to be less crowded than others?

 

[HydroGuy]

Hmmm....ok. Thanks. That's helpful. We are probably going in July or August 2010 so it looks like maximum crowds the whole week. Are there any days of the week that tend to be less crowded than others?

A little strategizing will go a long way towards working around the crowds. BTW I love summer at DLR. The summer crowds, while maximim, are not that bad IMO. Very doable.

Here are some tips:

1. Read this thread from my favorite DISer "Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

2. Stay away from weekends if possible

3. Pay attention to AP blackout lifting in August and go before that

4. Pay attention to Magic Morning days - depending on whether or not you have MM will influence which days of the week you go where. Basically Wednesdays are the best day to be at DL. Tue/Th are also good but they both have MM. Wednesdays do not.

5. Parkhop every day at least once to maximize FP collection and use and catching all the entertainment

6. Collect FPs

That is a start.

 

[jory29]

The short answer is "No".

One could conclude this is because DLR is smaller than WDW and they would be partly correct. DLR draws less than half the attendance of WDW.

The more significant reason is that whereas 85% of WDW visitors are there from out of the area and presumably on a multi-day vacation, only 30% of the visitors at DLR are from out of the area. The majority are local SoCal people on day trips.

Hence the demand for long range planning resources like the touring plans site for WDW is much lower at DLR.

The way you gage expected crowds is by park hours. Specifically the DL park hours.

8AM-Midnight - maximum crowds
9AM-10PM - moderate crowds
10AM-8PM - minimum crowds

Check park hours for past years at these sites:

http://www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-dlr2-200804.asp
http://www.mouseplanet.com/search.php?type=c&cid=dl

Hydroguy, thanks for posting; do you happen to know what the 11 pm and 9 pm closures mean in October? It looks like it will be super crowded then, if they anticipate such crowds that they need to remain open later than usual? Thanks, if you can reply to this.

 

[HydroGuy]

Hydroguy, thanks for posting; do you happen to know what the 11 pm and 9 pm closures mean in October? It looks like it will be super crowded then, if they anticipate such crowds that they need to remain open later than usual? Thanks, if you can reply to this.

I was not trying to give all possible park hour possibilities. Just three to use as a guideline. Just fit the hours you see posted into my quick guide. 8AM-Midnight is 16 hours. If DL is open 8AM-11PM that is 15 hours. So DL expects crowds but not quite at the maximum.