crowd levels 10/4, 5, 6

[kailuagirl]

What do you think? My sister is going with her family for the first time and I'm starting to get worried about the crowd level for them with it being gays days and columbus day weekend.

I really want them to have a great experience as my family loves DL and we rave about it all the time, and I want them to love it so they go back with us. Should I be worried? They might be able to move their dates up 1 day, but I don't know.

Thanks!!

 

[kailuagirl]

I forgot to mention, the are staying at the GCH in case that helps any.

Thanks!!

 

[Tiradan]

Sorry, I have no idea how crowded it's going to be, but I'm going 10/5-10/8 at the GCH as well (thanks to the GD rate), so there will be at least two groups representing the 50th state there on the 6th

 

[stubby]

I don't think anyone can answer this question. We went two years ago and crowds were great compared to what we endured in July. However, I hear that last year crowds were horrible. It is pretty much going to be wait and see. We are going to be there the 5th thru the 11 and are hoping for light crowds but, even if it is the busiest ever we know we will have a great time.

 

[Jazzheffa]

I think it's going to be a little high traffic. Only reason. I wanted add a day to my vacation package and all the concierge rooms @ DLH were booked. They had to release a "just in case" room. I had been calling for 3 weeks. They expect most of the crowds to be @ DCA. With Anaheim gay days, Halloween parties, CM said it should be like a spring break wave.

Its Disney there is something always to do!! I say get your RSVP in though.

I wish I had that Disney feeling at work.

 

[mousedaddyof2]

as an fyi the 5 6 and 7 are gay days

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

We went for gay days in 2008 around those same dates, and I would never, ever do it again. Ever. There was the Halloween draw which made things bad, but then the extra folks there due to gay days just made it insane, people were comparing it to the height of Christmas crowds.

 

[BoltzNBrew]

I found This Thread that shows estimated crowd levels.

 

[Sherry E]

Columbus Day weekend will bring in crowds. Halloween Time will bring in crowds. Gay Days will bring in crowds.

I was there 4 years ago (same time as Rainforest_Elf!!). It was a triple whammy of the Halloween party, Gay Days and Miley Cyrus' birthday party all happening that weekend. So it was crowded. I found that it got worse on late Saturday afternoon, Saturday night and into Sunday. Otherwise, it was just crowded in general because it was Halloween Time. Halloween Time attracts crowds.

But...I am usually not one who likes to say "This is what happened 4 years ago or 5 years ago - or even 3 years ago - so this is what will happen this year." I think that a lot can change in the course of several years. Maybe last year would be a good indicator of what could happen in 2012, but I'm not sure if my experience from 4 years ago would be a good indicator. Crowd patterns can change.

We have already been hearing that Disneyland's crowds have gone down a bit, while the crowds in DCA have picked up due to Cars Land, Buena Vista Street, etc. Seeing that the most of the Halloween festivities are in Disneyland and not in DCA anymore, it could be that the crowds go back to DL and out of DCA, or it could be a nice balance between the two parks! It may be that the crowds spread out.

In any case, I wouldn't worry. It is what it is. It may not end up being as bad as it seems like it could be.

 

[KalamityJane]

Thanks for that crowd calendar! That gives me hope that the only the weekend will be hectic! It looks like the weekdays aren't too bad at all.

 

[kailuagirl]

Oh dear, not good. We are going right before them and overlap one day (Thursday), wish they could move their dates up and join us. Bummers. Looks like Saturday will be the worst.

Thanks everyone!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Gay Days!!! Woot Woot! BTW you should expect a large Hawaii presence since everyone has that week off for fall break....

 

[Minnie21]

Yes I am a teacher and will be there with my husband!

 

[rokstedy]

For what it's worth, only once so far since the opening of cars land etc. have the parks been busy enough for me to say "damn, it's busy". Whereas I have often found myself saying "where is everyone?" So...it may not be so bad!?

 

[disneymayz]

I see gay days starts the 5th when do people start coming? When is this Hawaii week off?

 

[Minnie21]

The Hawaii fall break is from October 1-5.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I personally know of atleast 10 families (mine included) that are going to DL that week. Because Hawaii is one of the few states that have this fall break I think a lot of families use this as an opportunity to try and beat the crazy summer/holiday crowds. I think it will begin to get as popular as the UEA week.

 

[IBLarsen]

We too were in the parks the first weekend of October in 2008! Although our first day was Wed and was DEAD, walk on everything, Thursday, a little busier but fine still and Friday the start of Gay Days got really busy that evening and the weekend stayed busy. The following year in 2009, we went the weekend and week leading up to Gay days, but out of the parks before the start. And every single weekday was crowded. DL extended park hours each night based off of the increase in crowds for each day. This year we are going Oct 10-14, and I am prepared for anything. The previous two October trips I just mentioned were a good indicator to me that you can never tell!

Just be prepared and have fun anyways!

 

[chrissiecutie]

Ok- I'm not sure how accurate this calendar is?? Several days on there that you would naturally assume to be extremely busy are NOT. Unless I'm reading this wrong and 1 out of 10 means busiest??

Halloween- Oct 31st is listed as a 1 out of 10. To me, 1 means not at all busy. And this just doesn't make sense to me...Halloween night should be super busy, no?

 

[disneygrl4ever]

I didn't even look at Halloween, but you are right. The calendar states 1 is lowest and 10 is busiest. I hope it is accurate. My days state lower crowds