Disneyland - New Year Time

[fernoppi]

It's been awhile since I've visited the DISboards. I never even finished my DW TR. How sad. Anyway, the search box is not working for me tonight, so I thought I'd post.

There is a slight chance that I'll be heading to Disneyland around the New Year time. It might be for one day or for two days. Ahh such dilemmas. I know the holidays are busy, but is it SUPER ridiculously busy? Like is it even worth extending my stay in California to go to Disneyland? My DH and I have been there before, but we have not been to Disney California. But it will be the first time for my two brothers. I feel like since we'll be so close, we might as well go!

Some ideas/options I am throwing around in my head:

- 12/31 & Another day maybe 01/02 - I thought it might be fun to be at Disneyland for New Year's Eve. 2-day hopper so that we can see both parks and see stuff that we might have missed. A negative is that we'll probably be staying up north near Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. So 12/31 might be a hassle. Might return home 01/03. How is the drive from Anaheim to Pasadena?

- 01/02 & 01/04 - 2 day hopper with a break in between to rest and do other stuff. After the Rose Bowl, we'll probably stay in a Good Neighbor Hotel in Anaheim. This plan would require staying until 01/05.

I know it's ultimately up to us, but just wondering what you guys would do if you were in my planning situation? Thanks!!! I hope I made sense.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...I thought it might be fun to be at Disneyland for New Year's Eve...

Okay, you have several scenarios going on here, but let me address this one.

DON"T.

Okay, that said...

Picture the busiest you can possibly imagine Disneyland could be. Then picture Main Street being elbow to elbow with your closest strangers that you have never met in such a way that you cannot even move without touching another person. Then add about 100 more people to fill in the empty spots.

Welcome to Main Street at midnight on NYE.

It was SO crowded that there are no trams running at 1am because there would be so many people waiting for them it would be impossible to accommodate. So instead they line the tram roadway to the structure with trams and CMs to create a safe enviroment and everyone walks.

I have said many times on DIS, it was fun. I had to do it. And I think everyone should do NYE at Disneyland........ONCE. And once you do, you will tell everyone you know, "Unless you adore crowds beyond your wildest imagination - don't do it.... except MAYBE once (just so you know how crowded it really is and you will know you will be content never doing it again)!"

- Dreams

 

[ArielMelody]

I have been in disneyland one time on new years eve and it was THE WORST day in DL I have ever experienced!!

It was so full they stopped letting people in around 3pm and I actually ended up leaving at 6pm (lame I know but I COULD NOT handle it!)

It has to be the worst time to visit the park, but I'm sure if you stay until midnight its a great experience...maybe? lol...

I was so fried I didn't make it in on new years day so I can't help you out with that one.

I would definitely go with your second option, I'm guessing people will be leaving by the 3rd and 4th, but then again thats a weekend so who knows?!

Good luck in deciding!

 

[fairycat]

Unless you get there insanely early its going to be tough to even get a ticket let alone get in the park. It is so busy they close the park to ticket sales. It is crazy insanely busy. I hope to go but I am a pass holder and insane. Otherwise I do not suggest it!

 

[Canyon girl]

The last time I did NYE at DL was in 1990. I would NEVER do it again. I imagine that it is more crowded now on NYE than it was then. It wasn't even fun! NOT worth the huge mass of humanity! If you are going to go, choose your last option, but just keep in mind that it is still going to be packed!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I will be giving Jan 2 a try. Hopefully many will have gone home, but I don't know. I just wanted to see some of the decorations before they went down. Let us know what you decide and how it went.

 

[fernoppi]

Haha thanks for everyone's response! Yeah...I was thinking it would be super terrible on New Year's Eve. I think I would go more for the convenience of it being a free day than really going for the purpose of NYE. Is after NYE any better? I know weekends are busy, so I was going to shoot for Friday/Sunday if we stay until Monday. I figure of the 3, Saturday would be the worst.

Or maybe Disneyland will be a trip for the future and not this one. =)

 

[MelKeil]

We are planning on being at DLR 12/30 - 1/1... our plan was to go to DL on 12/30, DCA on 12/31, and then back to DL on 1/1. Are the crowds any better at DCA on New Years Eve Day. I don't think we will stay until midnight.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I've done NYE in Disneyland twice and the place is absolutely packed. I can deal with the crowds though as I just liked watching the fireworks from near the castle. Some in my family went to DCA on NYE and said the place was empty. They got on Tower of Terror which had only been open a few months at that point multiple times with a 10 minute wait(earlier that trip, we'd seen 1 hour minimum wait times).

In terms of crowds, the 2nd and 4th are probably better options.