Dapper Day (weekend) crowd questions

[goldrings]

Ugh... So I used touringplans to look at the crowd calendars when I booked our trip and crowds were very low. Now I see this Dapper Day stuff and I am worried that our "low crowd" vacation is going to be crazy busy. We fly in on Thursday morning and have the afternoon in the CA, I was planning to do Disneyland on Friday, arriving early before rope drop so DD could meet Anna & Elsa, and then letting the kids pick between Disneyland and CA for Saturday.

Now I'm worried that it'll all be busy... Can anyone provide some insight from last year as far as crowds? Or tips to make it a better weekend?

We don't have park hoppers, so it's not like if Disneyland is crazy on Friday that we can just go over to CA to get a break.

SO bummed...

 

[Disneyluvr2]

I'm sorry, but yes, you should expect it to be crowded. Each Dapper Day the crowds seem to increase in numbers. Thursday may not be too bad but expect large crowds for Friday and probably through the weekend. I know a lot of people coming for Dapper Day are staying several days. I'd keep your plan of getting there early on Friday for the rope drop, and get as much done as you can in the morning hours. Look on the bright side....you'll get to see a lot of very cool dapper outfits!

 

[auteur55]

Yes weekend will be packed. I've come to realize that the crowd indicator is pretty useless. I'm arriving Sunday the 14th and staying till Friday that week. I booked it because it was supposed to be low crowd. I'm hoping Dapper doesn't keep people in the park throughout the week.

 

[nicolispicoli]

Unfortunately, the consensus is likely correct. Not to make it worse, by I went in February (granted it was Saturday) and it was insanely busy. More busy than it's ever been when I've gone, which is usually low season, but still weekends.

 

[Astylla]

Is there any possibility of upgrading to park hoppers to give you more options ?
The reality is it will be busy - just from the small portion who post here that is apparent as well as the rooms for the event booked , etc.

Honestly the best advice is get as much done as you can early. It likely will be very busy but having a positive attitude about it going in versus dreading it could help too. Make a priority list and go from there that way you won't feel like you missed out.

While we are staying for Dapper Day - we arrive Tuesday the 9th - Sunday 14th.
I imagine most will arrive Thursday or Friday and stay for the weekend , so the best you can do is decide what is best for your family.

 

[goldrings]

I read online and I think we can upgrade to park hoppers at the ticket booth at the parks, so I am going to try that on Thursday when we get there, that way if one of the parks is just unbearable, we could try the other...

Thanks everyone

 

[Tyggress]

As a PP said, Dapper Day in February was INSANELY busy. I've never seen crowds like that. I expect that this one would be a little less so, being on Friday, however; it is ALSO the first day/weekend of Halloween Time, so it's a double-whammy for crowds.

I would agree that upgrading to PH's if you can afford to do so will help tremendously in giving yourself options. Also, going early and preparing for the worst as far as crowds go...have a plan for which rides you absolutely have to go on, etc.

Have a great time! Even if it's busy, it's DL!

 

[julesann]

I was there in February for DD and it was quite crowded and busy and I'll be there again this weekend because having a great time at DLR when it is crowded is very doable for me as I've learned to tell myself I am in the land of magic and I enjoy each moment. I also now know that less crowded weekends at DLR are still crowded. I used to think darn, I picked another busy weekend, now I know to expect it and I even choose to go when I know it is crowded because of my work schedule and I like the DD hotel rates.

I also love to ride many rides and I think a key to enjoying DLR is to be in line before rope drop on both days. If you upgrade to 3 day parkhoppers on Thursday, you will have early admission at DL on Saturday. I get there at least 1/2 an hour before rope drop and I find I can ride pretty much everything that's important to me by noon. It will get crowded in the afternoons on Friday and Saturday in DL this weekend and you could take a break and also hop over to DCA at this time and hop back for evening entertainment like fireworks and Fantasmic. If there are two adults or an older child, I'd also suggest you have a runner go and get RSR FP for you if you are at DL in the morning to ensure you can go on that ride without a long wait.