Crowd Prediction Calendars

[jandegumas]

How reliable are crowd predictions right now? We are going October 4-8 (all 5 days are park days) and the crowd calendars I’m finding on Google have me concerned. They all show that it’s going to be really busy. Is the general consensus that the predictions are accurate lately?

 

[djmeredith]

I will be there 8-13 and I have seen comments on here about fall school breaks and Columbus Day potentially affecting your week and the next. You will probably get luckier than me since you are leaving before the official holiday weekend.

 

[V.I.N.CENT.]

Not really accurate, but a general idea of what to expect. However, this year everything is off due to the re-opening, Magic key, and other factors. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best and relax when you are there regardless. if it's packed, make sure to do rope drop, take a long afternoon break and head back in the evening.

 

[jandegumas]

Not really accurate, but a general idea of what to expect. However, this year everything is off due to the re-opening, Magic key, and other factors. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best and relax when you are there regardless. if it's packed, make sure to do rope drop, take a long afternoon break and head back in the evening.

In all previous years, the calendars were pretty spot on. I just didn’t know if Covid is affecting the calendars currently. We definitely relax and go with the flow. We don’t strategize, plan, etc. Now that our kids are older (12 and 15) we don’t take afternoon nap breaks. We stay at GCH though, so it’s easy to stop for a break and replenish backpacks, etc. Looking forward to it no matter what!

 

[jandegumas]

I will be there 8-13 and I have seen comments on here about fall school breaks and Columbus Day potentially affecting your week and the next. You will probably get luckier than me since you are leaving before the official holiday weekend.

I always forget about fall breaks since our schools don’t do that.

 

[jandegumas]

Another question: what is the current capacity set at? 50%?

 

[l4dyj8]

I've always found online crowd predictions for Disneyland unreliable in the past. But the calendar of events that used to be listed here a better indication. As in, noting school breaks and holiday, as well as pass holders. There's also conventions to be aware about.

Locally, not many schools have Columbus Day off nor do we have fall school breaks. So the crowd during that time would be those from out of town, and perhaps not Magic Key holders. Long term planners vs the last minute planner. I feel like the reservation system may help too...? Extreme weather can be a factor to help crowds. (Heat or rain. I don't mind the rain. But hate the heat. I know plenty of locals that will cancel due to the heat.) But the reservation system takes away that spontaneity that was the problem for Sundays and after work hours.
I'd be more aware of OBB party days (S, T, Th).

 

[jandegumas]

I've always found online crowd predictions for Disneyland unreliable in the past. But the calendar of events that used to be listed here a better indication. As in, noting school breaks and holiday, as well as pass holders. There's also conventions to be aware about.

Locally, not many schools have Columbus Day off nor do we have fall school breaks. So the crowd during that time would be those from out of town, and perhaps not Magic Key holders. Long term planners vs the last minute planner. I feel like the reservation system may help too...? Extreme weather can be a factor to help crowds. (Heat or rain. I don't mind the rain. But hate the heat. I know plenty of locals that will cancel due to the heat.) But the reservation system takes away that spontaneity that was the problem for Sundays and after work hours.
I'd be more aware of OBB party days (S, T, Th).

I always hope it’s “hot” or rainy. It definitely deters people. I live in Vegas so Anaheim’s “hot” isn’t anything to turn me away.

 

[upritbass]

I always hope it’s “hot” or rainy. It definitely deters people. I live in Vegas so Anaheim’s “hot” isn’t anything to turn me away.

Sure, but the humidity is WAY above 10%. Ick!

We'll be there the week before you go, at the end of what is typically Low Season.

 

[jandegumas]

Sure, but the humidity is WAY above 10%. Ick!

We'll be there the week before you go, at the end of what is typically Low Season.

True about the humidity. I grew up in Southern California so I know that it does get hot. It’s still not near as bad as here in Vegas, though.

 

[GatorChris]

When it came to DL, I felt the crowd calendars were always wrong, even before C19. It's almost like people would read the crowd calendars, go on the "light" days, and make them busy days.

That said, I'm finding reservations for dining impossible that week while others in other October weeks seem to be getting lucky. Either Disney forgot to load that week into the reservation system, or my family is in for a busy time. Which would just be my luck. It's completely empty now. But when I go.....

 

[jandegumas]

When it came to DL, I felt the crowd calendars were always wrong, even before C19. It's almost like people would read the crowd calendars, go on the "light" days, and make them busy days.

That said, I'm finding reservations for dining impossible that week while others in other October weeks seem to be getting lucky. Either Disney forgot to load that week into the reservation system, or my family is in for a busy time. Which would just be my luck. It's completely empty now. But when I go.....

I’ve never gone in the summer (as an adult) so I can’t truly compare..but I’d like to think that October weekdays are much slower than the middle of the summer when school is out!

 

[DawnAK]

Another question: what is the current capacity set at? 50%?

I am wondering what the current capacity is as well. We are going over Veteran's day weekend and I am expecting crazy crowds. But, isn't capacity supposed to be less than normal?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I’ve never gone in the summer (as an adult) so I can’t truly compare..but I’d like to think that October weekdays are much slower than the middle of the summer when school is out!

Nope! Halloween time has been super busy for the past three or four years at least. (Was it before then as well? I don’t know as I wasn’t really coming regularly prior to four years ago.) I personally have always found October weekdays to be busier than summer weekdays. But this year who knows!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I am wondering what the current capacity is as well. We are going over Veteran's day weekend and I am expecting crazy crowds. But, isn't capacity supposed to be less than normal?

On days the park is sold out it is crowded. “Capacity” means nothing for the crowds. Even the lower capacities are TONS of people and with no parades or shows to suck people up it can get busy. That said, some random days it’s very very “uncrowded” but I haven’t found a way to predict when those days will be.

 

[Britrawr]

I know I went on a forget about it day.. it was so crowded rides were over two hours I never saw it like that before. I never went back in December lol