Crowd Projections for Saturday 12/20

[GQDisneyFan]

We are planning a quick surprise trip to Disneyland this Saturday, but what is making re-think this is the holiday crowds. Do you guys think it will be super busy or will it be manageable enough to get through the day?

 

[figment_jii]

We are planning a quick surprise trip to Disneyland this Saturday, but what is making re-think this is the holiday crowds. Do you guys think it will be super busy or will it be manageable enough to get through the day?

I think it depends a lot on what you mean by "manageable" and what you want to accomplish. Only the Premium and Premier APs are valid, but that also means DLR expects a lot of day guests to be in the parks. I think the park will be busy and there will be long lines for the holiday-themed and the more popular attractions during the day. The first few hours after opening will probably be your best bet to do the most attractions. I was at the parks last Saturday and it was busier than I expected, but it could have been due to the rain on Friday. Basically, I think you can still have fun at the parks on Saturday, but expect high crowds and long lines.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Well, this calendar says "Forget about it"...ha!

http://www.isitpacked.com/disneyland-crowd-forecast-predictor-calendar/

 

[figment_jii]

Well, this calendar says "Forget about it"...ha!

I was there last Saturday, which was also listed as a "Forget about it" day. Given that, I would say you can still get some things done, but don't count on getting a lot done, especially in the middle of the day. I would plan on getting there at or before rope drop and going to whichever rides you want to do the most (especially the ones without a FP - like Jingle Cruise or IaSWH). By mid-afternoon lines for things like Space, Indy, Jingle Cruise, RSR, TSMM were pushing past the hour mark (at a minimum). I remember that IaSWH's line actually wound into the elevated area along Small World Mall at around 8:30 pm!

The crowds for the parades were pretty substantial, as were the F! crowds (although, the F! FP did help with that, I think...). Fireworks crowds looked big on Main Street, but were much thinner on Small World Mall (which surprised me).

 

[Sherry E]

Pre-Christmas weekend is always very busy (in fact, I used to go to DLR on the pre-Christmas weekend every year, and I stopped after 2009 because it was getting way too crowded for my liking). A lot of people who plan to spend the full week at DLR will arrive over the weekend.

Add to that the fact that 12/20 is the first day of the "sneak peek" at Frozen Fun before it officially opens on 1/7/15. On 12/20, Olaf's Snow Fest, the Anna & Elsa meet and greet and the Sing-along will all be open in Hollywood Land in DCA. The new Arendelle addition to the Storybook Land Canal Boat ride will be debuting on or before 12/20 too.

Although many AP holders will be blocked out on 12/20 (all but the Premiums and Premier AP folks, as figment_jii pointed out), I tend to think that the sneak peek of Frozen Fun will somehow manage to bring in a lot of extra visitors anyway, as some folks won't want or need to wait until 1/7 to see it. A lot of bloggers, podcasters, etc., will head out to DLR on 12/20 too -- unless they are given any kind of a media preview on 12/19.

So, yes, unless it rains on 12/20, expect crowds!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Also, most every school schedule I've seen has kids getting out for Christmas break Friday Dec 19 so parents have more freedom to travel starting that weekend. And for what its worth the weather channel says currently 10% chance rain with a high 67 Sat and 0% chance rain with a high of 72 on Sun. So the weather could be gorgeous there this weekend adding to the crowds. If you go, start first thing in the morning, that's my best advice!

 

[GQDisneyFan]

Thank you all for your replies and input. If we do end up going, we were planning to get up really early and get to the parks as soon as possible to knock out as many rides as we can. We haven't been to any Disney parks since our Disneyworld vacation in April and my family has been getting that Disney itch again. I guess if we go into this mini trip knowing that it will be crowded then we wont be too disappointed that it will be crowded that day.