Crowds - what to expect this week?

[Samsma]

Hi! I'm arriving on Thursday morning, leaving DL Sun morning. Does anyone have any idea of the crowd projections? I have read recent trip reports and posts that have led me to believe the 50th frenzy may be over. Can I be so lucky?

 

[crazyj4488]

I was there the week right before Halloween. It was real quiet Wed and Thursday but Friday was INSANE especially after 5 PM thru Midnight when the locals started showing up for the evening entertainment. I planned my trip, specifically, to avoid the weekends at the park. I arrived Wed and left on Saturday. I didn't step foot into the parks on Saturday given what I've been hearing...it was a travel day for me. You'll be fine on Thursday and Friday up until right after lunchtime (make sure you arrive at opening time on Friday). After that, get ready to use those Fastpasses and grab a good seat early for the shows. Overall, you'll be in Disneyland...so no matter what the crowds are like, just enjoy yourself!! = )

I will be there this week Wed thru Sat once again...same plan for me. Tour Wed thru Friday and then get on a plane Saturday. It will be my second time to DL in Cali....I just couldn't get enough on my last trip a couple of weeks ago and had to return before the holiday mess out there.

Again, enjoy!!!

-J

 

[noryglory]

Truly it was fantastic for us Saturday Nov 5-Wednesday Nov 9. Saturday was busy but totally managable. Obviously the reports of Veteran's Day weekend has been a lot different, but now that you'll be going the week after and well enough before Thanksgiving you will LOVE it. Have fun.

 

[Samsma]

Thanks for the input- please respond to new thread about my Ridemax plans!

 

[Brina78]

My sister and I were off on November 11, and went up there. I'm just glad we have passports. It was HORRIBLE!!! Didn't matter that it was a weekday, it was a holiday. The weather was overcast and cloudy, something I like because at least it wasn't hot. We stayed till 8:30 and then left.

 

[psimon]

My sister and I were off on November 11, and went up there. I'm just glad we have passports. It was HORRIBLE!!! Didn't matter that it was a weekday, it was a holiday. The weather was overcast and cloudy, something I like because at least it wasn't hot. We stayed till 8:30 and then left.

We were there as well on Friday..... what a nightmare! It was the exact opposite of the two days prior. On those two days we saw large patches of ground. On Friday, we never saw ground, just feet the entire time we were there.

On Friday, the waits were 60-85 minutes per ride! The previous days were walk-ons or a 5-10 minute wait!

I haven't seen crowds like that since the first year I tried to do something silly like visit WDW on a weekend in the summer!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[ZeusNike]

We always try and go over the Veteran's Day Holiday (Remembrance Day here in Canada) but we have NEVER seen it like it was this year! The park closed to newcomers twice. We went in early and all was fine but it was crazy by noon so we left and went to CA (which was busier than I have ever seen it too....I heard a rumor of 25,000). I was thinking that the 50th anniversary must be the difference. It was busier than the year we went on the 4th of July!

We still managed to do lots of major attractions by using fastpasses. We left the parks from about 7 PM until 9 PM for dinner and then went back to DL after and closed the park at midnight. In the last few hours we got on Splash (1/2 really...it went down and we had to climb out!), Big Thunder, Matterhorn, Indy and Jungle Cruise...not too bad really.

Despite the crowds, we had a TERRIFIC time!

 

[yeartolate]

We were there Thursday through Sunday (today). Crazy busy doesn't even cover it. We are pretty laidback travelers with exceptional fastpassing skills so we fared well. My major complaint was that DD was just as busy. No grabbing a quick "to go " to take back to the hotel. LInes everywhere.

We did survive and had a great time to boot. Lots of parents losing their tempers and little kids, though.

 

[tinkerbell13]

I may go Tues, will let you know how it is, I expect it to be great

 

[MoniqueU]

I was at CA adventure the 13th and Disneyland. DCA was busier then I have ever seen it. Disneyland, Space Mountain was out of fast passes at 4 pm. Most other rides later in the day were manageable like POTC, BTMRR, Jungle Cruise etc.

 

[Brina78]

Even after we told our family it was horrible on Friday, the 11th, they still went on Saturday, the 12th. It was just as bad. My sister and I got our Space Mountain fast passes at 11 a.m. and the return time was between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. When our family went, they got up to Space Mountain at 9 a.m., the fast passes were up to 11 p.m.!

 

[xmelissax]

My sister and I were off on November 11, and went up there. I'm just glad we have passports. It was HORRIBLE!!! Didn't matter that it was a weekday, it was a holiday. The weather was overcast and cloudy, something I like because at least it wasn't hot. We stayed till 8:30 and then left.

I was there on Friday as well. I didn't realize it was veterans day when I chose that day to go redeem our annual passes. We got there during the parade and had to take a long time trudging through the crowds on Main St to get something to eat thinking the line for annual passes might be shorter after we ate, it wasn't so we just waited for the passes then left. No way I'm waiting in line 60-85 minutes for a ride. We will be going back the week after Thanksgiving on a weekday.

 

[jocotter]

We had low crowds, on the days Nov. 7,8,9 (M-W), then didn't go on Thursday, and tried to go Friday. M-W were wonderful days and good weather.

On the 11th, Friday, the lines to just get into Disneyland were insane all afternoon and they wouldn't let us in (we had park hoppers). They said the State Fire Marshall closed the park at Noon. They wouldn't even sell my husband a ticket so we could all go in on the next day, Saturday. People were yelling at the ticket booths, and Disney managers who were working the ticket areas and the entrance areas. We saw some truly incredible exchanges. Parents yelling, kids crying because they had made a trip for the weekend and couldn't get in. The Disney people were offering $$ back on park hoppers, etc for that day.

We ate dinner in DTD and continued to see the crowds trying to get in. I was so glad they hadn't let us in.

On Saturday AM, we got there at 7:30, with the gates opening at 8 AM. (our last day). We were able to get in and ride many of the big rides before it started to get really crowded at noon. That's when I had to leave.

 

[TallMidgetGirl]

We were there Nov. 11-13. VERY CROWDED all the days. Cast Members told us that both parks were full to capacity on Friday and that it was unexpected. They also said the park was unusually crowded for Veteran's day weekend, and that the attendence had been very very unpredictable. I think the upcoming weekend should be better than the one following Thanksgiving, but who knows! Good Luck!
I do want to mention that even though it was extremely crowded, be did it all with very little trouble or wait in line. USE your morning time! It is the most valuable. Collect those fast passes early, they do not expire and go and get another one as soon as you are able. Have a wonderful time!

 

[jediannie]

I'm going tomorrow (Wednesday) through Sunday the 20th. Now I'm nervous to go! I hope the lines and such won't be too bad!

 

[yeartolate]

USE your morning time! It is the most valuable. Collect those fast passes early, they do not expire and go and get another one as soon as you are able. Have a wonderful time!

YEs yes yes.