Crowd levels?? Good plan??

[TinkBride]

DH and I are going to be at the DLR (first time! ) on Tuesday August 23, 24, and 25th. According to touring plans the crowd levels are 5 ish. But with D23 expo the weekend prior - will that effect the crowd levels drastically mid-week? From what I have read and researched, this seems to be a slower time because of school starting and being mid week, but I am concerned the expo is going to effect that.....thoughts?

We only have 2.5 days at the resort, on the 23rd we are doing a dining package at Ariels Grotto for WOC. We plan on arriving at DCA around 1:00 and exploring, having dinner at 7:20, and then seeing the 2nd WOC. Then on the 24th doing the left half of DL, then on the 25th doing the right half of DL and with any extra time heading back to DCA to catch anything we previously missed. We are two adults, no kids, and have never been to DL. Been to WDW MANY times, and we have made a priority list of attractions to hit from HydroGuy's list.

I know we can't see everything in 2.5 days, so our goal is to hit the DL only attractions, and the attractions that are "shared" with WDW but superior at DL (based on HydroGuy's tips) and then adding in the other shared attractions as we have time.

It is going to be a long 2.5 days, but I am sure all worth it to be where it all began!!!

 

[rbbs]

SLEEP LATE That was the plan we used to perfection!! We had 4 awesome days of hitting the park(s)

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around 10am -close each night and this seemed to work well for us. Nevermind magic mornings....we had "magic nights" and it was great!! Crowds seemed to burn off later in the day and into the evenings and we got a lot done using this technique. Not sure if it was just the time that we were there but I would recommend it!! Not even sure what a rope drop looks like? Never been there or done that..... To the beat of the rhythem of the night

 

[HydroGuy]

DH and I are going to be at the DLR (first time! ) on Tuesday August 23, 24, and 25th. According to touring plans the crowd levels are 5 ish. But with D23 expo the weekend prior - will that effect the crowd levels drastically mid-week? From what I have read and researched, this seems to be a slower time because of school starting and being mid week, but I am concerned the expo is going to effect that.....thoughts?

We only have 2.5 days at the resort, on the 23rd we are doing a dining package at Ariels Grotto for WOC. We plan on arriving at DCA around 1:00 and exploring, having dinner at 7:20, and then seeing the 2nd WOC. Then on the 24th doing the left half of DL, then on the 25th doing the right half of DL and with any extra time heading back to DCA to catch anything we previously missed. We are two adults, no kids, and have never been to DL. Been to WDW MANY times, and we have made a priority list of attractions to hit from HydroGuy's list.

I know we can't see everything in 2.5 days, so our goal is to hit the DL only attractions, and the attractions that are "shared" with WDW but superior at DL (based on HydroGuy's tips) and then adding in the other shared attractions as we have time.

It is going to be a long 2.5 days, but I am sure all worth it to be where it all began!!!

Touring plans is wrong. Sorry. They were wrong about early June and they are wrong about late August. They have not learned yet the idiosyncrasies of DLR.

Not to scare just inform you, the issue is not the D23 Expo. The issue is the SoCal AP blockout lifting on August 21. The week which follows will be busy.

With that said, be smart about how you tour and you will have a blast.

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

 

[TinkBride]

Touring plans is wrong. Sorry. They were wrong about early June and they are wrong about late August. They have not learned yet the idiosyncrasies of DLR.

Not to scare just inform you, the issue is not the D23 Expo. The issue is the SoCal AP blockout lifting on August 21. The week which follows will be busy.

With that said, be smart about how you tour and you will have a blast.

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

You confirmed what I was thinking. I had a feeling that touring plans may be off on this one.

Thanks for the link, I will check that out.

I am not going to freak out, we will have fun either way, I am just excited I get to go!

 

[cougarfan84]

DH and I are going to be at the DLR (first time! ) on Tuesday August 23, 24, and 25th. According to touring plans the crowd levels are 5 ish. But with D23 expo the weekend prior - will that effect the crowd levels drastically mid-week? From what I have read and researched, this seems to be a slower time because of school starting and being mid week, but I am concerned the expo is going to effect that.....thoughts?

We only have 2.5 days at the resort, on the 23rd we are doing a dining package at Ariels Grotto for WOC. We plan on arriving at DCA around 1:00 and exploring, having dinner at 7:20, and then seeing the 2nd WOC. Then on the 24th doing the left half of DL, then on the 25th doing the right half of DL and with any extra time heading back to DCA to catch anything we previously missed. We are two adults, no kids, and have never been to DL. Been to WDW MANY times, and we have made a priority list of attractions to hit from HydroGuy's list.

I know we can't see everything in 2.5 days, so our goal is to hit the DL only attractions, and the attractions that are "shared" with WDW but superior at DL (based on HydroGuy's tips) and then adding in the other shared attractions as we have time.

It is going to be a long 2.5 days, but I am sure all worth it to be where it all began!!!

It may be important to note that while a few months ago tourinplans.com had a crowd prediction of about 5, they have recently increased their prediction up to around a 7. However, I know I am going to DLR around the same time (from August 19-26), and I am expecting the AP holders to be flooding the park during most the time we are there. I'd rather go to the park expecting and prepard for a 10/10 day and have the crowds be a bit lighter than go to the park expecting a 7/10 day and have the crowds be much heavier.

 

[HydroGuy]

It may be important to note that while a few months ago tourinplans.com had a crowd prediction of about 5, they have recently increased their prediction up to around a 7. However, I know I am going to DLR around the same time (from August 19-26), and I am expecting the AP holders to be flooding the park during most the time we are there. I'd rather go to the park expecting and prepard for a 10/10 day and have the crowds be a bit lighter than go to the park expecting a 7/10 day and have the crowds be much heavier.

For a long time they had June 3 predicted as a "2". Maybe they updated it the week before but people do not plan trips that late. I pay little attention to their daily crowd predictions because I them of little use. However, their wait time predictions for rides appear to be better.

 

[cougarfan84]

For a long time they had June 3 predicted as a "2". Maybe they updated it the week before but people do not plan trips that late. I pay little attention to their daily crowd predictions because I them of little use. However, their wait time predictions for rides appear to be better.

I don't really put much stock in their crowd predictions either. Bottom line is that most people who go to DLR regularly will know the best times to go. It isn't something that really needs a complicated formula to figure out. The one main benefit that I see to the crowd predictions at touringplans.com is mainly through their WDW site in deciding which parks to attend each day. Given its layout, that's not an issue with DLR as there are only 2 parks and park hopping is extremely easy.

My main reason for looking at touringplans myself is similar to yours and that is for getting a better handle on wait times for line in the park and how they change throughout the day as that will help me in making a plan of attack that will allow me to have a successful and enjoyable trip even when faced with the hoards or AP crowds that may descend on DLR when I am there.

 

[pinksand]

No disrespect meant to rbbs, but I disagree. I'd advise to be there right at opening, maybe a little early. The lines are pretty short the first couple of hours, and you'd be amazed how much you can get done in that time!

 

[cougarfan84]

No disrespect meant to rbbs, but I disagree. I'd advise to be there right at opening, maybe a little early. The lines are pretty short the first couple of hours, and you'd be amazed how much you can get done in that time!

I agree with this. The first couple hours of the day are generally the shortest lines in the park. rbbs does have a point that the nightime is pretty fantastic at Disneyland.

If you don't have a need to go to bed early (and w/ no kids it shouldn't be an issue), then getting to the park for rope drop and staying until the park closes is generally the best option. You get the short lines in the morning, and the fun atmosphere and entertainment of DLR at night. If you are wanting to take a couple hours off from touring in order to not exhaust yourself, I would recommend taking a mid-afternoon break when lines are long and the temperature is hot rather than skipping out on prime touring time early in the morning.

Of course, no matter which way you go I'm sure you will have a wonderful time and enjoy the magic of DLR.

 

[shamrockshake]

if you want a star tours fast pass, then get there early.

We are going the week before they unblock the so cal APs hoping it is less crowded. schools up here are back in session, but who knows?? either way, we will have fun! have a magical trip

 

[TinkBride]

I agree with this. The first couple hours of the day are generally the shortest lines in the park. rbbs does have a point that the nightime is pretty fantastic at Disneyland.

If you don't have a need to go to bed early (and w/ no kids it shouldn't be an issue), then getting to the park for rope drop and staying until the park closes is generally the best option. You get the short lines in the morning, and the fun atmosphere and entertainment of DLR at night. If you are wanting to take a couple hours off from touring in order to not exhaust yourself, I would recommend taking a mid-afternoon break when lines are long and the temperature is hot rather than skipping out on prime touring time early in the morning.

Of course, no matter which way you go I'm sure you will have a wonderful time and enjoy the magic of DLR.

I think we are going to go with this plan. Mid afternoon, I am thinking we may head to DTD or the resorts to grab lunch and kind of "break" from the park. Then head back for the evening hours.