Disneyland hit capacity today?!

[stardusty21]

My daughter and I were there Friday and I thought it was the most crowded I had ever seen. The reason we picked last week is it was predicted to be low crowd levels. Apparently every else got the same memo! Also, it was crazy hot for us Oregonians. When we left at 10:30pm Friday, it was shoulder to shoulder and we were shocked to see the lines half way across the esplanade trying to get into Disneyland. Luckily, we were able to go on all of the rides earlier in the week. We did the BB Fantasmic package. The server told us to go to the viewing area at 8:30. Luckily, I had read on here to get there no later than 7:50. We walked by at 7:30 and the line was already formed and long. We got our spot in line and waited until 8:00 to be let into the reserved area. It was crazy, people running all over to get a spot, the cast members trying to direct the crowd. I am sure there were a lot of people in the premier viewing area that did not buy the dining package. It was a great show and the fireworks after Fantasmic were icing on the cake.

 

[disneychrista]

I was in both parks yesterday and it felt really busy, but not capacity busy. We hopped with ease, but man o man, it felt hottttttt!!! Especially with a petticoat, I felt like I was melting into the pavement and my feet are just just blistered stumps, no more dapper shoes for me.

Just think that is how women used to dress at Disneyland all the time.

 

[LoriLovesMickey]

We're here now, went into DL about 6 yesterday and didn't think it was too bad. Had BB F! and really enjoyed dinner and the show. We got to sit at the center steps since DH had hip surgery not too long ago. Great view and loved the fireworks after. Now today was a whole other story. So hot and crowded, left around noon and we'll try and go back at 6 for RSR FP. We still have two more days so not too worried.

 

[BryANDJessMom]

We were there Friday (and California Adventure Saturday) and Disneyland this morning. It was super crowded. More crowded than the actual anniversary day. Didn't get really bad until late afternoon/evening.

I had to use a scooter this trip because I broke my foot. honestly, it was the hardest most stressful thing I ever had to deal with at the park. I had two duds and Apple scooter had to meet me outside the park twice to change scooters. Took up about 2 1/2 hours for that. Luckily I could get back in.

Driving the scooter after the parade/fireworks was scary. People kept darting in front. It was just a mass of people and I couldn't stay with the rest of my family. We finally got to a place where we could wait for the shoulder to shoulder crowds to die down.

Today it was just really crowded and it didn't help that there was a private event early morning so DL opened an hour later than DCA (9). So it was all ready really hot there by 9. It was well over 100 by the time we left at 1;30.

Still managed to have fun but it did make for a more stressful trip.

 

[MychaelP]

My wife and I were there from 2pm till 7pm, did not seem that crowded. I would say a 7/10. No line at Golden Horseshoe for ice cream and lots of seats available 1st and 2nd floor. Noticed Indy was down and Pirates was closed, but lines were not bad. At 5pm Star Tours was 30 minute wait. I wonder if they changed the capacity to be lower due to heat?
At DCA we entered at 7:30 with about a 5 minute wait to get in. Then the park was crowded, but not bad really. Easily found benches to rest on and lines not too bad.
Earlier a nice surprise on our way in was the Dapper Days Expo at the hotel, free to go in. Fun to see everything for sale and everyone dressed up.

 

[DisneyPeanut]

So I'm a bit concerned now since you were there at a "low crowd" time. We plan to go the 28 and 29 of this month and according to the website it's packed , it is supposed to be a ghost town.

 

[sun8]

We were there at early entry Friday and it was our most productive morning. Although early entry was 7....by 10 we had done Matterhorn, Dumbo, Storybook boats, big thunder mountain, splash mountain, Winnie the Pooh, and Haunted Mansion. We noticed when we got off HM it all of a sudden was super crowded!

 

[ludari]

I went on Friday and it sure was crowded so I just went home... The benefits of being a local.

 

[goooof1]

Yeah, Friday morning was great.....until 11/12:00. then crowds built up and continued. We did hop on Friday but I don't remember the times we entered Disneyland Park. Ride lines were pretty good during the PTN parade and fireworks!! Saturday seemed pretty busy until Sunday....wow! crazy! and HOT!

 

[AngM0680]

We had a girls weekend and entered Disneyland right during Paint the night, no one was moving on the sidewalks at all! So we just watched and tried to move up any opportunity we could. After we went as close to the hub as possible and watched fireworks. We ended up in a great spot!! I took my girls the 2nd week of June and I thought that was crowded, didn't even compare to Friday! The rest of the weekend seemed packed but manageable. Overall the entire weekend was busier then my mid June trip. I think I'll stay away during Halloween weekends from now on!

 

[wonderfuller]

I was there on friday with my husband and we got the fantasmic blue bayou package. we tried to head to Indy to use FPs after dinner but well before the show but it was down (and then we headed to thunder and it also was down). We then went to try to ride Pooh (this was around 7:30-7:45) and got swept up in the absolute chaos of people trying to get seated for Fantasmic. It actually was terrifying. The flow of traffic just completely stopped. Cast members were freaked out. I've been to Disneyland many times including NYE and I've never seen anything like that. There were not enough cast members to direct traffic and nobody knew where to go. It was awful. Eventually we ended up having to take our seats in the blue bayou seating area way early because there was no way out of the crowd. BUT, our seats were AWESOME, the show was amazing, and we loved seeing the fireworks right from our fantasmic seats. So it was worth it. I think. Lots of rides were down during our time at the parks. I HIGHLY recommend using Ask Otto before returning to a FP or grabbing a new fastpass. It saved us from fruitless park crossing attempts many times when we found out a ride was down or the FP window wouldn't work for us.

 

[iKristin]

I really wish Disney would lower the allowed capacity of the park.

 

[sheetz]

I really wish Disney would lower the allowed capacity of the park.

I think the problem is not the overall park capacity but the crowding when people flock to certain areas due to shows and parades. If they could somehow keep the guests more evenly dispersed throughout the park there wouldn't be a problem.

 

[JCinMN]

We were there last Friday (DL only) and it was great first thing in the morning and we grabbed Fantasmic Fastpasses. The rides were either walk on or a short wait until about 11. Was glad we had a lunch reservation for Orleans at 11:30 to sit and relax. Crowds definitely grew as the day went on and it was warm, but it was nothing like WDW in July, so I won't complain. We left the park at 4:30 for an early dinner then returned to a bit of a line at 7:20 pm. We found the yellow Fantasmic FASTPASS area at 8 and the pre-queuing area was already full. The group proceeded in an orderly fashion once we were released and we felt like we had a good spot. We sat on the ground until they made us stand at 8:45. We stayed for fireworks then the parade and didn't try to do any rides due to the waits. Ir was great seeing all the Dapper folks but I figured a lot of ladies would have painful feet the next day.