Crowd in September or October 2010?

[cseca]

Does anybody know if there is such a thing as history of crowd levels during each months in DL/DCA?

I'm pretty familiar with WDW pattern but DL/DCA I'm completely lost.
We can go anytime in Sept and Oct and would like to avoid high level of crowds since we'll be traveling with an infant.

I've looked at the list of events in wdwig and got those down. But other than weekends are busier than weekdays are there some other days we definitely need to avoid during those months? Like certain school breaks, etc.

Thanks so much!

 

[Sherry E]

Well, hello, stranger (and occupant of room #514 of PPH while I was across the hall in room #513 in 2008!!!)!! I haven't seen you on the DIS in a while! (I do recall you were expecting, though, so I figured that may have kept you away!!)

You know, since you (and I) were at DLR in 10/08, the crowds have increased. I don't know if you have been following this on the DIS, but basically, 2009 saw a big surge at DLR in attendance due to all the folks who now have APs and because of the economy and families choosing to stay closer to home to save $$$ and visit DLR rather than travel farther and spend more money. So it was crowded during times when it was unexpected in 2009, and not crowded during times when it would have been expected, and even more crazy crowded than ever during the predictable times. For example, I went to DLR on the same exact pre-Christmas weekend three years in a row, and while crowded, I could deal with it in 2007 and 2008, but 2009 was a whole different ballgame. It was actually pretty daunting and discouraging for me, because it felt oppressive.

I was also at DLR in October 2009, and I could tell that those crowds were significantly heavier than in 2008 as well, but it wasn't quite as bad all day long as December was. DLR added Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy for Halloween, so that clogged up Tomorrowland quite a bit, and, of course, there were mobs of people over by HMH.

This year we have the opening of WoC at DCA, so that's expected to draw in lots of folks. Not to mention Captain EO is soming back for a limited engagement - but no one knows how limited, exactly!

 

[cseca]

OMG!!!
Hi SherryE!!!
Yes... our DD is already 9mo old!!! Can you believe it?
Life has been quite a ride after DD arrived, that's for sure. I was in such a disney withdrawal that I had to take a cruise just this past month. After almost 2 years of disney hiatus...

I can't wait to bring her to DL and show her the ropes... hehehe... it's a wonder I found a hubby who actually supports my disney crazyness hehe.

Goodness gracious! Does that mean Sept and Oct will be crazier than we expect?
I really want a quiet vacation so we don't have to worry about bumping people with our stroller (I try so hard to be good at that but when there are people on our elbows that will be a challenge)... We are even ready to just do mostly weekdays with just 1 weekend enough to catch fireworks and stuff.

Oyoyoyoy... will you be heading to DL/DCA this Oct as well?

 

[Sherry E]

OMG!!!
Hi SherryE!!!
Yes... our DD is already 9mo old!!! Can you believe it?
Life has been quite a ride after DD arrived, that's for sure. I was in such a disney withdrawal that I had to take a cruise just this past month. After almost 2 years of disney hiatus...

I can't wait to bring her to DL and show her the ropes... hehehe... it's a wonder I found a hubby who actually supports my disney crazyness hehe.

Goodness gracious! Does that mean Sept and Oct will be crazier than we expect?
I really want a quiet vacation so we don't have to worry about bumping people with our stroller (I try so hard to be good at that but when there are people on our elbows that will be a challenge)... We are even ready to just do mostly weekdays with just 1 weekend enough to catch fireworks and stuff.

Oyoyoyoy... will you be heading to DL/DCA this Oct as well?

Wow! Time flies! Your daughter is already 9 months old! I can imagine life has been quite a ride, indeed! Well, she will be indoctrinated into all things DLR very soon!!

I think October will be crazier than it was when you were last at DLR in 10/08 because of the factors I mentioned in the first post. The World of Color element is still a question mark, because no one knows if this show is going to be enough to attract even more visitors to BOTH parks than what we saw in 2009, or if it will kind of just lure more folks away from DL and into DCA for longer periods of time, thus, kind of balancing out the crowds that are already there, or possibly attract people who only go into DCA and not into DL. Of course, DCA is doing their major overhaul that is supposed to be completed in 2012, and they are rolling the new things out. So this year it is WoC, next year we willl have the new Little Mermaid attraction (can't wait for that!) and in 2012, Carsland (bad name for a land) will open to the public. So I would expect that the crowd situation - either increasing, shifting balance or both - will be very interesting to observe in the next 2 years - in both parks.

I mean, when I tell you my December '09 trip to DLR was crazy and different from my December '07 or '08 trips, I mean that the line for Haunted Mansion Holiday was already 45 minutes long before 11:00 a.m., the line for POTC was longer than I have seen it since the late '80s/early '90s (even though it still moves fast), the area in front of the Rivers of America was a madhouse, the wall of people in front of It's a Small World Holiday at night was literally impenetrable and we could not get back there to take photos or ride it one last time, DL closed when it reached capacity early in the day, etc., etc. - in fact, it has now been reported that not only did 2009 see a surge in attendance overall, (while WDW dipped a bit in attendance) but apparently the 2009 holiday season was the busiest holiday season in 10 years!!

So the good thing is that October 2009 was not as bad as December 2009, but it was defnitely busier than October 2008. Since DLR added in Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and the new Halloween-themed fireworks (very cool!) with Jack Skellington as Master of Scareamonies to their Halloweentime offerings, along with the TOTP, HMH, the Villains photo spot, the Halloween Round-Up and all of that good stuff, Halloweentime has become more of a 'must-see' thing than it used to be.

Last year did not work in my favor in terms of getting to DLR. Everything seemed to be against me. I didn't even make it on my birthday to get my Fun Card. I had finally given up on the idea of going in October, and then it came together at the verylast minute. December was also up in the air, and then that worked itself out at the last minute too. I don't know if 2010 will be any different for me, but I am sure I will end up there for at least one day in October. I love the Halloween 'season.' I most definitely will squeeze in a trip for the holidays, though, because I cannot miss Christmastime at DLR. If I had to miss Halloweentime, I would, but Christmastime - no way!!!

By the way, all of these DLR trips are covered in my TR (see link in my signature below) - 10/08 (I even gave a shout out to you in the 10/08 section of the TR since you were there at the same time), 12/08, 10/09 and 12/09 - and I will add to it as new trips are planned. So check it out if you have time!

 

[abouley]

We were at DL this past Oct and the weekend of Oct 9th and 10th reached capacity. The parks were crazy busy. Even during the week I thought the crowds were way higher than expected. I know that there are some schools that have an Oct break so maybe we hit that and I think it was Canada's Thanksgiving and ther were lots of Aussies there....

I think there is a big draw in Oct now (I do love going that time of year for the theming)! I would guess a Sept trip would be way less busy. Most people won't pull their kids out of school right after school starts.

 

[cseca]

No kidding... doesn't feel like it's been 1.5yr since we've been to DL hasn't it? Although I feel like I've gotten 10years older since hehe.

BTW, I just realized that you're a mod now. CONGRATS!!!

I got you... so Oct is still doable but it'll be busier than in 08. Maybe we should do what abouley said and stick with september. But I do love halloween at DL...

hmm... decisions decisions.

Any idea of absolutely-don't-do-days in oct?

Ooh and thanks for the link to your trip reports. I'll definitely read it when DD is napping. She is learning how to walk now so it's going to be interesting...

We were at DL this past Oct and the weekend of Oct 9th and 10th reached capacity. The parks were crazy busy. Even during the week I thought the crowds were way higher than expected. I know that there are some schools that have an Oct break so maybe we hit that and I think it was Canada's Thanksgiving and ther were lots of Aussies there....

I think there is a big draw in Oct now (I do love going that time of year for the theming)! I would guess a Sept trip would be way less busy. Most people won't pull their kids out of school right after school starts.

Thanks abouley!
I will have to seriously consider september

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I think later in Oct. ~ avoiding Gay Days, Choc Walk, UT & AZ fall breaks ~ visiting on week days, keep in mind AP block out days and you could find a few quiet days in Oct.

 

[Belle Ella]

I don't have any good info on October, but I went early/mid September of '09 and it got a tiny bit busy on the weekends, but nothing insane, and the weekdays were just perfect. Outside of the ride closures for refurbishments and overlays it's a perfect time to go IMO.

 

[disheadz]

In 09 Halloween time kicked off Sept 25th. I have friends who went the week before that and the crowd levels were moderate to low, much lower than my trip in early November. I can't locate it now, but someone posted a trip report here from that week w/ video of main street at noon- it was very quiet. I hope to go that week this year.

 

[cseca]

I think later in Oct. ~ avoiding Gay Days, Choc Walk, UT & AZ fall breaks ~ visiting on week days, keep in mind AP block out days and you could find a few quiet days in Oct.

Thanks for the list!
Do you know when UT and AZ fall breaks might be?

 

[cseca]

I don't have any good info on October, but I went early/mid September of '09 and it got a tiny bit busy on the weekends, but nothing insane, and the weekdays were just perfect. Outside of the ride closures for refurbishments and overlays it's a perfect time to go IMO.

In 09 Halloween time kicked off Sept 25th. I have friends who went the week before that and the crowd levels were moderate to low, much lower than my trip in early November. I can't locate it now, but someone posted a trip report here from that week w/ video of main street at noon- it was very quiet. I hope to go that week this year.

Thank you so much!
Sept sounds better and better.

Does anyone know if the first week of Halloween get crazy too?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

UT's break is 10/14-10/15 ~ however this last Oct. a couple districts in UT had a different fall break so that might have lessened the crowds last year and I don't know if it'll be the same this Oct. *we went to WDW for my kids fall break. The break is for UEA ~ UT Education Assoc. it's often called "here" UT Escapes to Anaheim"

 

[PHXscuba]

Most AZ fall breaks will be the week of Oct. 11. A few school districts that have a two-week break will have the previous week off as well.

We were there in 2009 (over our fall break, of course) and it was really busy on the Monday (Columbus Day) and not busy at all on Tuesday and Wednesday, but that may have been because the weather was rainy those days.

I think your plan of sticking to weekdays will give you the lowest crowds. Maybe a slow Friday or Sunday to just do the entertainment offerings?

If you don't care as much about the ride overlay closures, I would say mid-September would be better. We really enjoyed all of the Halloween offerings in October, though. They did do the Halloween Screams fireworks nightly last year.

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

No kidding... doesn't feel like it's been 1.5yr since we've been to DL hasn't it? Although I feel like I've gotten 10years older since hehe.

BTW, I just realized that you're a mod now. CONGRATS!!!

I got you... so Oct is still doable but it'll be busier than in 08. Maybe we should do what abouley said and stick with september. But I do love halloween at DL...

hmm... decisions decisions.

Any idea of absolutely-don't-do-days in oct?

Ooh and thanks for the link to your trip reports. I'll definitely read it when DD is napping. She is learning how to walk now so it's going to be interesting...

Yes, I became a mod back in June. So I am keeping my eye on you, missy! No funny business from you!!

I went to DLR on 10/24 last year and as I said, it was much more crowded than 2008. I think weekdays in October are a good option if you can swing them, or if you can stand to miss the TOTP, go that last week of September. Halloweentime will begin on 9/24 this year, but the TOTP won't begin until 10/1, so you can always go in that last week of September and see the Halloween stuff before it gets too crowded and just skip the TOTP.

Yes, check out my TR when you have time. As I said, somewhere in it I mentioned you as being there at the same time I was, and you will see pictures from the 10/09 trip as well as the holiday trips, and other fun stuff from 'my past' - at Disneyland and otherwise!

How fun to watch the little one starting to walk! The sooner the better - she has many DLR trips that await her!

 

[cseca]

Thanks everyone. I made a ressie for the third week in Sept. Let's hope there's no Hannah/Miley concert or anything like that or something similar or I won't be happy camper.

Goodness... It's so much harder to decide when to go to DL compared to WDW. They really should start expanding so the place doesn't get so crowded y'know.

BTW Sherry, I promise to be good. No hanky panky from me... I'm in general too tired for hanky panky anyways. A baby tends to do that

Ooh could someone explain the AP blockout date thingy? Are we supposed to avoid the blockout dates or GO on the blockout dates?..

 

[PHXscuba]

A good thread to read about blockout dates is by frequent contributor and DLR guru Hydroguy here.

In a nutshell, if you DON'T have an AP, it may be better to go on AP blockout dates during busy times, because the SO Cal APs can really swing the numbers. I don't think it will apply as much to you going on weekdays in September, but it might affect your weekend day/days. If nothing else, it's nice to know ahead to prepare for the effects.

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks everyone. I made a ressie for the third week in Sept. Let's hope there's no Hannah/Miley concert or anything like that or something similar or I won't be happy camper.

Goodness... It's so much harder to decide when to go to DL compared to WDW. They really should start expanding so the place doesn't get so crowded y'know.

BTW Sherry, I promise to be good. No hanky panky from me... I'm in general too tired for hanky panky anyways. A baby tends to do that

Ooh could someone explain the AP blockout date thingy? Are we supposed to avoid the blockout dates or GO on the blockout dates?..

Well, you know, back when you were last at DLR in 10/08, it wasn't as difficult or tricky to plan when to go based on the least crowded times. Even though it was in 2008 when the economy really took a nosedive, for some reason it didn't appear to 'catch up' to DLR as much in numbers until 2009. So, while you would expect that economy would have driven crowds way down at DLR, the opposite effect happened due to the extremely affordable APs and monthly payment plans, as well as people deciding to make those "less expensive" mini-trips to DLR rather than big, 2-week trips to WDW. There are something like one million AP holders and counting now, and a huge portion of that number of people got them in December 2008 or January 2009. Hence, the crazy crowds when they were not expected and the less crowded times when they were expected in 2009 (take 4th of July, for example - previously a very busy time; in 2009, all reports said it was downright slow at DLR on the 4th!!), and the mega-mega-crowds during the usually very busy periods like the holidays. So now, the logic is to try to go during the AP blockout days to avoid all the Passholders converging on the parks. And, again, since World of Color debuts this year and Captain EO returns after a long, long absence, no one knows how these attractions will affect the crowds - they may make them worse, they may make them better by balancing them out, they may make them worse before they get better - we just don't know!!

Now you said you made the reservation for the third week in September - will you be there long enough to see the first day of the Halloweentime stuff, which is September 24th? Or will you be gone by then?

 

[Karebear]

We went in Sept. 09. We were there 9/21 through 9/25. It was a great time to go in terms of low crowds. 9/21-9/24 were pretty empty in the parks. 9/25 was the kick off of Halloween and much more crowded, but we were prepared for that. It was great because we got to see the Haunted Mansion and the Halloween fireworks on that day. Have a great trip!

 

[lulubelle]

I went early/mid September of '09 and it got a tiny bit busy on the weekends, but nothing insane, and the weekdays were just perfect. Outside of the ride closures for refurbishments and overlays it's a perfect time to go IMO.

I agree with you completely, Belle Ella.
And OP (SherryE's friend), I think you picked a great time to go. Yes, all the Halloween stuff is really cool, but it is soooo much more croweded in Oct than in mid-late Sept. You and your little one will be grateful for the lower crowds. Have fun planning the next six months!

 

[cseca]

A good thread to read about blockout dates is by frequent contributor and DLR guru Hydroguy here.

In a nutshell, if you DON'T have an AP, it may be better to go on AP blockout dates during busy times, because the SO Cal APs can really swing the numbers. I don't think it will apply as much to you going on weekdays in September, but it might affect your weekend day/days. If nothing else, it's nice to know ahead to prepare for the effects.

PHXscuba

Thanks PHXscuba!
I read that link and thought I knew what it said. And then I kept reading it and got confused...
Thanks for the explanation. Helped a lot. Thank you!

Well, you know, back when you were last at DLR in 10/08, it wasn't as difficult or tricky to plan when to go based on the least crowded times. Even though it was in 2008 when the economy really took a nosedive, for some reason it didn't appear to 'catch up' to DLR as much in numbers until 2009. So, while you would expect that economy would have driven crowds way down at DLR, the opposite effect happened due to the extremely affordable APs and monthly payment plans, as well as people deciding to make those "less expensive" mini-trips to DLR rather than big, 2-week trips to WDW. There are something like one million AP holders and counting now, and a huge portion of that number of people got them in December 2008 or January 2009. Hence, the crazy crowds when they were not expected and the less crowded times when they were expected in 2009 (take 4th of July, for example - previously a very busy time; in 2009, all reports said it was downright slow at DLR on the 4th!!), and the mega-mega-crowds during the usually very busy periods like the holidays. So now, the logic is to try to go during the AP blockout days to avoid all the Passholders converging on the parks. And, again, since World of Color debuts this year and Captain EO returns after a long, long absence, no one knows how these attractions will affect the crowds - they may make them worse, they may make them better by balancing them out, they may make them worse before they get better - we just don't know!!

Now you said you made the reservation for the third week in September - will you be there long enough to see the first day of the Halloweentime stuff, which is September 24th? Or will you be gone by then?

sigh... that's the million dollar question. I want to stay at least for 1 weekend but I don't know if DH is going to be ok with it or not. I figure with the baby now we need at least a full day at home to recover. So maaaybe just maaaybe I can swing to go home on saturday morning. That way we'll have friday night to go do/see the halloween specials... oy vey!

We went in Sept. 09. We were there 9/21 through 9/25. It was a great time to go in terms of low crowds. 9/21-9/24 were pretty empty in the parks. 9/25 was the kick off of Halloween and much more crowded, but we were prepared for that. It was great because we got to see the Haunted Mansion and the Halloween fireworks on that day. Have a great trip!

Thank you so so much! I hope this year will be as great as it was for you in 2009. Here's to crossing my fingers and toes!!!

I agree with you completely, Belle Ella.
And OP (SherryE's friend), I think you picked a great time to go. Yes, all the Halloween stuff is really cool, but it is soooo much more croweded in Oct than in mid-late Sept. You and your little one will be grateful for the lower crowds. Have fun planning the next six months!

I sure hope I pick a good week. I hate to go through crowded parks. When it was just me or just DH & I it wasn't so bad. I'm an expert at weaving through the crowds. But with a stroller I don't think I can manage as well.

I'm going to think positive and hope that there's no new events popped up during that week that'll scramble our plans.

Thank you so much everyone! You guys are great!!!!