DL AP or one trip?

[theluckyrabbit]

Halloween Time is super fun, but also can be super busy. Make sure to check the threads here on the school calendars and events going on during late September and through October. There are school breaks for CA, AZ, UT, NV, etc. that fall throughout that period. Gay Days Convention coincides with Columbus Day Weekend (did last year, think it does this year, too). UEA is always a very crowded weekend. You can still have lots of fun during these times, but will need to do extra planning because of the surge in crowds. Also, party dates that coincide with these events sell out more quickly.

 

[Pdollar88]

Halloween Time is super fun, but also can be super busy. Make sure to check the threads here on the school calendars and events going on during late September and through October. There are school breaks for CA, AZ, UT, NV, etc. that fall throughout that period. Gay Days Convention coincides with Columbus Day Weekend (did last year, think it does this year, too). UEA is always a very crowded weekend. You can still have lots of fun during these times, but will need to do extra planning because of the surge in crowds. Also, party dates that coincide with these events sell out more quickly.

Thank you! I'll try to keep my eyes on the threads. I assume everyone will be discussing school breaks or busy times? It'll either be mid-September after the switch to Halloween or mid-October.

I'm also looking at some crowd calendars - but like WDW, never sure which is best or how accurate they actually are. I just feel an extra bit lost since I'm such a DL newbie.

 

[tarheelalum]

Thank you! I'll try to keep my eyes on the threads. I assume everyone will be discussing school breaks or busy times? It'll either be mid-September after the switch to Halloween or mid-October.

I'm also looking at some crowd calendars - but like WDW, never sure which is best or how accurate they actually are. I just feel an extra bit lost since I'm such a DL newbie.

The crowd calendars for Disneyland are all pretty much a joke.

 

[Pdollar88]

The crowd calendar for Disneyland are all pretty much a joke.

Good to know and not unexpected.

 

[tarheelalum]

Good to know and not unexpected.

The key to Disneyland and California Adventure is to get to the gate before rope drop because you can ride pretty much everything you want in the first hour. Also you want to go to the park that does not have early entry on that day if you can help it. And stay away from the holiday weekends that the banks are closed for because they tend to be brutally crowded. To me everything else is just regular crowded and not that big of a deal.

 

[Pdollar88]

The key to Disneyland and California Adventure is to get to the gate before rope drop because you can ride pretty much everything you want in the first hour. Also you want to go to the park that does not have early entry on that day if you can help it. And stay away from the holiday weekends that the banks are closed for because they tend to be brutally crowded. To me everything else is just regular crowded and not that big of a deal.

That’s very good to know! And comforting. I’m a rope dropper anyway, so I think that sounds manageable.

And it doesn’t sound like you need a crazy complex strategy like you can at WDW (unless you’re there on a holiday, as you note).

 

[tarheelalum]

That’s very good to know! And comforting. I’m a rope dropper anyway, so I think that sounds manageable.

And it doesn’t sound like you need a crazy complex strategy like you can at WDW (unless you’re there on a holiday, as you note).

It's nothing like the planning people do for WDW. They plan like they are running a military operation. To me that is super stressful and not a very fun way to take a vacation. You don't have to make reservations months in advance unless it's some special limited thing. We often make dining reservations the day before. But you do need to be flexible and have a go with the flow attitude because rides break down sometimes (Indiana Jones) and fireworks do at times get canceled due to winds. Always have an alternative in mind and you'll be fine.

 

[Pdollar88]

It's nothing like the planning people do for WDW. They plan like they are running a military operation. To me that is super stressful and not a very fun way to take a vacation. You don't have to make reservations months in advance unless it's some special limited thing. We often make dining reservations the day before. But you do need to be flexible and have a go with the flow attitude because rides break down sometimes (Indiana Jones) and fireworks do at times get canceled due to winds. Always have an alternative in mind and you'll be fine.

I tend to overplan for WDW. But I am very flexible and am used to adjusting on the fly.

That’s awesome about dining reservations! It would be nice to not plan those out 180 days in advance.