Disneyland Crowd Predictions

[katiemac1875]

I am been reading some pretty scary stuff about the crowds here lately. Does anyone know if there is a DLR crowd predictor calendar on the internet? I have found plenty for WDW, but I really want to see one for DLR. Help!

 

[johde]

Touringplans.com has a crowd calendar for DL and WDW. You can see some dates for free but you need to pay for dates coming up.

 

[blackjackdelta]

With the new stuff I doubt anyone will be able to predict, but it will be busy, especially when the passes are unblocked.

Jack

 

[stubby]

I am been reading some pretty scary stuff about the crowds here lately. Does anyone know if there is a DLR crowd predictor calendar on the internet? I have found plenty for WDW, but I really want to see one for DLR. Help!

Hi. No help sorry but wanted to say we will be there around the same time as you. And I am expecting it to be bad.

 

[cougarfan84]

I am been reading some pretty scary stuff about the crowds here lately. Does anyone know if there is a DLR crowd predictor calendar on the internet? I have found plenty for WDW, but I really want to see one for DLR. Help!

touringplans.com has a crowd calander for DLR, but you need a subscription to view your desired dates as a previous poster has mentioned. I will tell you that the end of July is right in the peak of the summer, so the crowd levels will be busy (I think it's a projected 10/10 on touringplans.com).

However, with the changes happening in DL and DCA this summer (Star Tours, LMAUA, etc.), I'm not sure how accurate the predictions will be.

 

[katiemac1875]

Thanks everyone! I was afraid of that. This will be our first time at DLR. We are very excited. We go to WDW regulary and I always use a touring plan that I generate based on the crowds and our party. I have always used TourGuideMike. I am looking for something a little more DLR oriented. Would you all recommend Touringplans.com for their touring plans. I am a little freaked out by this 10 by 10 thing and would consider moving the vacation but it is all paid for. Any suggestions? I feel like I am spinning my wheels. I am reading tons of stuff, but I don't feel like I am prepared for this. What do you guys think?

 

[cougarfan84]

Thanks everyone! I was afraid of that. This will be our first time at DLR. We are very excited. We go to WDW regulary and I always use a touring plan that I generate based on the crowds and our party. I have always used TourGuideMike. I am looking for something a little more DLR oriented. Would you all recommend Touringplans.com for their touring plans. I am a little freaked out by this 10 by 10 thing and would consider moving the vacation but it is all paid for. Any suggestions? I feel like I am spinning my wheels. I am reading tons of stuff, but I don't feel like I am prepared for this. What do you guys think?

Touringplans does have plans for Disneyland, but there aren't as many options as they have for WDW, and as of right now all their plans are out of date as they haven't factored in the new ST or LMAUA rides into their plans.

My personal recommendations would probably be to pay for Ridemax if you are wanting a touring plan. That way you can tailor the plan to the exact rides that you want to go on. When I go to DLR in August, I plan on incorporating info from touringplans.com, ridemax.com, and info from this site when determining my plan of attack for visiting the parks.

 

[Bungle]

You could also look up is it packed. They were pretty accurate for the time we were there.

 

[tykayausjake]

Touringplans does have plans for Disneyland, but there aren't as many options as they have for WDW, and as of right now all their plans are out of date as they haven't factored in the new ST or LMAUA rides into their plans.

My personal recommendations would probably be to pay for Ridemax if you are wanting a touring plan. That way you can tailor the plan to the exact rides that you want to go on. When I go to DLR in August, I plan on incorporating info from touringplans.com, ridemax.com, and info from this site when determining my plan of attack for visiting the parks.

Totally OT but just thought I would say hi from a fellow Utahn and Cougar fan. We've had season football tix for about 16 years now.

Sorry OP

 

[ArchOwl]

Thanks everyone! I was afraid of that. This will be our first time at DLR. We are very excited. We go to WDW regulary and I always use a touring plan that I generate based on the crowds and our party. I have always used TourGuideMike. I am looking for something a little more DLR oriented. Would you all recommend Touringplans.com for their touring plans. I am a little freaked out by this 10 by 10 thing and would consider moving the vacation but it is all paid for. Any suggestions? I feel like I am spinning my wheels. I am reading tons of stuff, but I don't feel like I am prepared for this. What do you guys think?

I just wanted to say that I wouldn't freak out about touringplans.com and their crowd predictions. They don't have very much data for Disneyland and their numbers don't make much sense. I have been to Disneyland on two different holidays (President's Day and Memorial Day) this year. At least some of our days were predicted 10/10 and while it was crowded, it certainly wasn't the busiest I have seen. So I wouldn't get too upset about it.

Like others have said, get Ridemax and make a personalized itinerary for DL. They are doing their best to get the new information about Star Tours and Little Mermaid incorporated, so best to read the boards here for information on how to handle those rides. So ask questions as needed.

With a good touring plan and if you get there early in the day, you will be able to see what you want. So don't worry and have fun!

 

[cougarfan84]

Totally OT but just thought I would say hi from a fellow Utahn and Cougar fan. We've had season football tix for about 16 years now.

Sorry OP

Fun to see another cougar fan here. With the exception of the '03 and '04 seasons, I've been to nearly every home game since the 2000 season myself. My parents have been season ticket holders since before I was born (in '84), so I grew up on BYU football.


Don't wanna hijack this thread, though.

 

[katiemac1875]

Thank you thank you thank you for quelling my fears! I will def check out ridemax. You all have been awesome! And don't worry about the football talk! I LOVE college football!

 

[HydroGuy]

touringplans.com has a crowd calander for DLR, but you need a subscription to view your desired dates as a previous poster has mentioned. I will tell you that the end of July is right in the peak of the summer, so the crowd levels will be busy (I think it's a projected 10/10 on touringplans.com).

However, with the changes happening in DL and DCA this summer (Star Tours, LMAUA, etc.), I'm not sure how accurate the predictions will be.

Given that TP had June 3 predicted as a "3" day (and according to reports it much have been more like a 9 or 10 day), a lot of us around here are very skeptical that they are maintaining their data or are paying enough attention to DLR schedules or know enough about DLR works to make good predictions.

I think they eventually will get it figured out. But for now I do not have much confidence inthem at DLR. I do have higher confidence for their WDW predictions.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Given that TP had June 3 predicted as a "3" day (and according to reports it much have been more like a 9 or 10 day), a lot of us around here are very skeptical that they are maintaining their data or are paying enough attention to DLR schedules or know enough about DLR works to make good predictions.

I think they eventually will get it figured out. But for now I do not have much confidence inthem at DLR. I do have higher confidence for their WDW predictions.

I was there on June 1-4. I paid for touring plans, and what a joke. Never again. I'll be back with Ridemax, and using the Mousewait app for up to the minute waits. I was at DL solo Wed/Thurs. this week and found Mousewait's times and crowd levels to be very accurate. I did not use any kind of "plan" for those days because I was just relaxing!

I was shocked that Touringplans didnt take the biggest roll-out of new rides in years into consideration. Crowds were crazy and a better plan would have helped us make the most out of June 3!!

 

[nana50]

Given that TP had June 3 predicted as a "3" day (and according to reports it much have been more like a 9 or 10 day), a lot of us around here are very skeptical that they are maintaining their data or are paying enough attention to DLR schedules or know enough about DLR works to make good predictions.

I think they eventually will get it figured out. But for now I do not have much confidence inthem at DLR. I do have higher confidence for their WDW predictions.

totally agree. I used them twice and they were so far off. They said three and it was easy an 8 one time and a 7 another. We managed but I was disappointed.

 

[merriwthr]

Great. *NOW* I read this thread! The day after I sign up for Touring Plans for our trip to DL. Cheesh! That'll teach me! Check here FIRST!! lol Wonder if I can get my money back?

{sigh}

On a brighter note.... only 5 more work days until my vacation! And 10 days until I'm in DL!

 

[CrabbyPatty]

Just checked Touring Plans crowd calendar, which shows a whole string of "10s" for the week prior to our August 13-18th trip (checked the "free" calendar online). Oh, boy ...... and this is without them factoring in the new Star Tours and Little Mermaid rides?

 

[HappyHaunt]

Eh, they don't need to make anything like that. The answer is always crowded, with sometimes even more crowded!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Eh, they don't need to make anything like that. The answer is always crowded, with sometimes even more crowded!

A great estimate!

Jack

 

[cmwade77]

Ok, we have premium passes and go frequently, here is a good rule of thumb (doesn't always work, but is about 90% accurate):

I will list the days of the week from lightest crowds to heaviest crowds below.
Off Season:
Wednesday
Tuesday/Thursday
Monday/Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Note: Dates that are blackout dates for the So. Cal Select and So. Cal passes will be busier compared to the same day of the week., dates where Deluxe passes and below are blacked out will be lighter compared to the same day of the week.

Peak Season:
Monday-Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Note: The more levels of passes that are blacked out, the lighter the crowds will be. I know this seems counter intuitive, but this is based on what we have seen personally.

I would generally define Off Season as Mid January - Mid March, Last week of April - Week before Memorial Day, day after Labor Day - Sept. 30th, First two weeks of November, first week of December. Please be aware that if any of the following are happening, then that time frame should be considered peak season:

• Halloween Time
• it's a small world holiday has opened (except the first week of December)
• Opening of Carsland
• Spring Break for ANY school in the U.S.
• The entire week of Thanksgiving
• First two and last two weeks of ANY So. Cal. promotion

In general to determine if Christmas Eve will be busy, look at Christmas Eve last year and see if there were reports of massive crowds, if there were then generally the crowds will be EXTREMELY light, if there weren't, then generally the crowds will be EXTREMELY heavy.

Also, rain (particularly heavy rain), even if it only lasts 30 minutes will usually reduce the crowds by about 40% (on busier days I have seen it reduce the crowds by about 80%, especially on new Year's Eve).

Aside from Cars Land, if a major attraction is opening, crowds will be generally light on all other attractions on opening day, this effect lasts for two-three days, then everything starts getting a lot busier.

Again, your mileage may vary, as this is based solely on our (and our friends') experiences.

Another thing to look at is when the resort hotels offer the lowest rates (or best specials), that generally indicates that they will be less crowded as they want to attract more people.