Disneyland during Christmas Season Crowds?

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

I think I might try and plan a DLR trip before or after Christmas, but in general the holiday season. Are the crowds dramatically worse? I've never been to DLR, WDW 3 times (never at Christmas), but I know it gets hectic there. Any thoughts? TIA

 

[SMD]

The week between Christmas and New Year is the single busiest week of the year with multiple gate closures. The first few days after New Years are also pretty crowded with lower level APs becoming unblocked and people coming back for one last look at holiday offerings. However last year DLR changed their 365 day AP and split it into 2, where 1 is only blocked for the last 2 weeks of the year and to get those 2 weeks is significantly more expensive. This year there will still be some of the old premium APs out there. By next year we'll see how this change shifts the crowds to either the week before or the week after the blockout period. Generally Disney is crowded all of the time, and Halloween and Christmas decorations, overlays and promotions are designed to draw crowds, and they are successful at it.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

The week between Christmas and New Year is the single busiest week of the year with multiple gate closures. The first few days after New Years are also pretty crowded with lower level APs becoming unblocked and people coming back for one last look at holiday offerings. However last year DLR changed their 365 day AP and split it into 2, where 1 is only blocked for the last 2 weeks of the year and to get those 2 weeks is significantly more expensive. This year there will still be some of the old premium APs out there. By next year we'll see how this change shifts the crowds to either the week before or the week after the blockout period. Generally Disney is crowded all of the time, and Halloween and Christmas decorations, overlays and promotions are designed to draw crowds, and they are successful at it.

That's what I figured, but interesting to hear about the AP block out dates. Thanks for your help!

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

Recommend to checkout Themeparkinsider. He thinks, relatively speaking, if anyone ever visits DLR during the Christmas season, Dec 2016 is the time to do it. He believes the Christmas over crowding will be slightly diminished this year due to the more expensive APs and ride closures due to SWL construction. It will still be incredibly busy, but not as busy as Christmas past. Once SWL opens, Christmas season at DLR will be out of this world.

 

[Malcon10t]

Disneyland is exceptionally busy at Christmas time. We are there every Christmas from a few days before Christmas to a few days after New Years. (Since 1998.) Turnstiles will close many days during this time frame. Annual Passholders only represent about 10% of the attendance. It will be a LOT of tourist visitors. But everyone for the most part are in good spirits. It is a great time for us. But we don't expect to do a lot. We enjoy seeing the park in all its glory. We do a few rides, have reservations for meals, and just relax.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

Aloha,

Recommend to checkout Themeparkinsider. He thinks, relatively speaking, if anyone ever visits DLR during the Christmas season, Dec 2016 is the time to do it. He believes the Christmas over crowding will be slightly diminished this year due to the more expensive APs and ride closures due to SWL construction. It will still be incredibly busy, but not as busy as Christmas past. Once SWL opens, Christmas season at DLR will be out of this world.

That's very interesting...it makes sense because I read DLR is really more of a locals park compared to WDW. I keep looking too, but does anyone know exactly when SWL is opening...? Thanks for the advice.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

Disneyland is exceptionally busy at Christmas time. We are there every Christmas from a few days before Christmas to a few days after New Years. (Since 1998.) Turnstiles will close many days during this time frame. Annual Passholders only represent about 10% of the attendance. It will be a LOT of tourist visitors. But everyone for the most part are in good spirits. It is a great time for us. But we don't expect to do a lot. We enjoy seeing the park in all its glory. We do a few rides, have reservations for meals, and just relax.

I am dying to go to DLR and I want to do everything (or as close as I can to everything!), so I'm worried if it's that crowded I won't be able to. But I also love Christmas/Christmas decorations. Maybe go one time not during the holidays, one time during the holidays so I can experience both.

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

Everything I've heard is saying that this year is probably a good year to do it at Christmas, for the reasons listed above (ride closures, etc.) Keep in mind, a lot of travelers made it a point to go during the 60th, or are planning on holding back until SWL opens. Depending on when during the holidays you go - last year we were there the beginning of December, and it wasn't bad until the last day we showed up, at which point the crowds seemed to double overnight.

 

[Malcon10t]

That's very interesting...it makes sense because I read DLR is really more of a locals park compared to WDW. I keep looking too, but does anyone know exactly when SWL is opening...? Thanks for the advice.

Well, at Christmastime, it is a LOT of tourist, and very little locals, simply because they know to stay away. And Star Wars Land opening? Since they haven't made a large dent in it yet, we won't have a clue of "exactly" for another 2 years or so.

 

[Malcon10t]

Everything I've heard is saying that this year is probably a good year to do it at Christmas, for the reasons listed above (ride closures, etc.) Keep in mind, a lot of travelers made it a point to go during the 60th, or are planning on holding back until SWL opens. Depending on when during the holidays you go - last year we were there the beginning of December, and it wasn't bad until the last day we showed up, at which point the crowds seemed to double overnight.

I understand this thinking. I remember everyone thinking 2006 would be a good year to go for Christmas because the 50th was done. And it was PACKED.

A reminder that a big part of the park being packed that week is all the groups that come to California from around the world to participate in the Rose Bowl Parade. The announcement of teams starts the 26th. Then comes all the bands who march in Disneyland. And most of the players, cheerleaders, bands, flag teams, etc come with families. ANd if the Ducks are part of it, it will be BUSY!

 

[Kindermouse]

I understand this thinking. I remember everyone thinking 2006 would be a good year to go for Christmas because the 50th was done. And it was PACKED.

A reminder that a big part of the park being packed that week is all the groups that come to California from around the world to participate in the Rose Bowl Parade. The announcement of teams starts the 26th. Then comes all the bands who march in Disneyland. And most of the players, cheerleaders, bands, flag teams, etc come with families. ANd if the Ducks are part of it, it will be BUSY!

Agreed. I also think that when major sites and blogs post that its a good less crowded time to go, by doing so they make it much busier.

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

I would definitely agree with the critiques. Christmas is going to be busy regardless, but it's likely to be somewhat less busy, at least with out of towners. If you're doing a once in a lifetime or once every several years trip, you aren't going to pick the time when a bunch of rides are closed and they've just finished the 60th. I know I'm thinking about WDW and waiting until after Avatar land is built. That being said, it's nearly impossible to totally predict, especially given what you're saying. I would go earlier in December to avoid the crowds rather than going at Christmas proper, if possible.

 

[Malcon10t]

Here is what I hear every year at Christmas time -
I didn't think it would be this busy because....

people usually stay home with their family during the holiday...
the 50th ended.....
Micechat/Dis/Touring Plans said it wouldn't be busy...
why would people come when so much is down...
it rains during winter (yep, really heard this)
it's cold...

 

[LizzyS]

It was really busy when we took our one and only Christmas trip to DL, but I've since found out that it was the last day before a lot of APs were blocked out before the end of the year, so my advice would be to really pay attention to the AP block out dates and try to schedule around their last days of eligibility to go into the parks if you can. I mean, it was wall to wall people at the bottleneck in Tomorrowland, which we had never experienced before.