DL the week AFTER New Years??

[cloudconnected1039]

DBF and I are both APs now that I got him one for his Christmas present (early, yes...) and my best friend has an AP now too. So we all (me, DBF, my best friend, and my best friends boyfriend, who is also my DBFs best friend...confused yet??) ending up thinking that we would take a DL trip for New Years. I am COMPLETELY aware that New Years eve is going to be a complete disaster but I'm going in fully knowing that we'll mostly be there to just have fun and not worry so much about riding rides that day. We'd drive down to DL on the Friday 30th and leave to drive back home on Wednesday the 4th (dates aren't set yet). And I was just wondering what the week after New Years was like crowd-wise?? I know that the days between Christmas and New Years are crazy, but what about on the other side??

TIA!

 

[skiingfast]

It will still be busy. Lots, not all, but lots of school will be off then. It won't be insane like when you arrive so you might enjoy the gently decreased crowds.

 

[starshine514]

It will still be busy. Lots, not all, but lots of school will be off then. It won't be insane like when you arrive so you might enjoy the gently decreased crowds.

Yup, skiingfast is completely correct here. We were supposed to go that week last year, but due to unforeseen medical problems, we had to cancel just days before the trip. I remember watching here on the boards and reading all the posts that were saying how crowded it still was and thinking those sure weren't the 2 and 3 crowd levels that touringplans.com had predicted.

 

[cyclenut]

I do think the crowds stay higher than you might ordinarily think for those first few days after New Years. The week after that is a different situation altogether.

The thing about it is that 12/30, 12/31 and 1/1 are some of THE busiest days DL sees all year long, so the days after that could very well feel like a bit of a relief.

The week after that though should see crowds drop significantly.

 

[Sherry E]

Yep - I think skiingfast is correct as well. It will still be busy past New Year's Day - for a few valid reasons - but it probably will not be New Year's Eve-level crowded.

While some basic elements will remain true - there should be somewhat of a mass exodus after the New Year's holiday because many folks have to get back to work and school - some schools will still be on break and the "official" holiday season (meaning it is advertised on the Disneyland website and everything) is extending through January 8, 2012, which will automatically keep a healthy number of people in the parks until that time.

This 1/8/12 ending date means that the majority of holiday offerings will probably still be in full swing, and that may attract some folks during that post-New Year's week who, perhaps, were not able to get to DLR to enjoy the holidays up to that point, or people who want to experience the season a second time (and capitalize on sales!) before it ends, with less stress and lowER crowds.

Also, certain annual New Year's Day events such as the Rose Parade are not going to happen on New Year's Day this time around, and are, instead, happening on Monday, 1/2/12. That will change the flow of traffic in DLR a bit too, as some Pasadena tourists/visitors stop in Anaheim for a couple of days after they are done with the parade and game.

So I would expect that the crowds will diminish to a degree, but you will still probably find many more folks all over DLR than you expected to see in the week after New Year's.

 

[disneychrista]

Also, certain annual New Year's Day events such as the Rose Parade are not going to happen on New Year's Day this time around, and are, instead, happening on Monday, 1/2/12.

Yep can't have the Rose Bowl/Parade on a Sunday. I am actually surprised that after all these years that hasn't changed.

 

[cloudconnected1039]

Wow!! Such analytical thinking going on here Thanks for all the input!! I figured this would be the resounding answer, but a girl can hope can't she?? That's ok for us though, we're not as concerned with riding EVERY single ride in the parks, it's more so a time for us all to be together and do something that's on all of our bucket lists It'll be great fun no matter how crowded it will be, so hopefully our plans pull through!!

 

[acf_1991]

Well since they already told you it will be busy, ( it will ) just know that you will have fun regardless. The best advice i can give you is go the opposite way, so in other words don't start with tomorrowland. And take advantage of the fast pass system. If you do that you should be okay.