DL vs WDW...lets talk about crowds shall we?

[Amy&Dan]

I agree, but would add I've also experienced the occasional human traffic jams at WDW. In particular mid morning at AKL on their narrow trails & also at Epcot before & after Illuminations. The crowds often stop in their tracks.

Yes, in particular, that area back in Asia by EE is often a mess. And I have experienced human traffic jams at Epcot and MK after the nighttime shows. But I guess at DL the difference is that I have experienced them more, just in the middle of the day. Disneyland is older, Walt and the designers of DL couldn't have anticipated the amount of people it would still be packing in over 50 years later! In 12 visits to WDW, at all different times of the year, I have never seen the consistent crowds that DL brings in, weekends in particular.

But I tell you one thing MK lacks in the way of avoiding the human jams that DL has: the Big Thunder Trail. I miss that so much as a great way to beat the crowds when I am at the MK in WDW!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Yes, in particular, that area back in Asia by EE is often a mess. And I have experienced human traffic jams at Epcot and MK after the nighttime shows. But I guess at DL the difference is that I have experienced them more, just in the middle of the day. Disneyland is older, Walt and the designers of DL couldn't have anticipated the amount of people it would still be packing in over 50 years later! In 12 visits to WDW, at all different times of the year, I have never seen the consistent crowds that DL brings in, weekends in particular.

But I tell you one thing MK lacks in the way of avoiding the human jams that DL has: the Big Thunder Trail. I miss that so much as a great way to beat the crowds when I am at the MK in WDW!

oh i love that area anyway...its so nice and calm back there and very cool when its hot and it smells good

 

[Inkmahm]

No, the experience at DL is quite different than at DHS and in my and most people's opinion better at DL.

At DL Fantasmic is performed on Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America (ROA) inside DL. Seating is more along the lines of a parade or fireworks where people stand or sit on the ground. I agree the seating part is not as good as DHS but the setting around the ROA is magical and they make use of the two ROA ships in the show.

Is the show itself the same as the one at DHS?

I'm having a hard time picturing the Fantasmic show that I know being done on Tom Sawyer Island.

 

[HydroGuy]

Is the show itself the same as the one at DHS?

I'm having a hard time picturing the Fantasmic show that I know being done on Tom Sawyer Island.

Yes and no. I would say it is about 75% the same. It just feels more different than that because of the different setting. At WDW there is the water in front and the boats/rafts that come by. They do the same at DL but use the ROA. Also, the show at WDW is done behind the river on the stage there. At DL that stage is just a special area of TSI with a stage. The river and stage on TSI is not what feels so different IMO. That feels more the same. The bigger difference is that you are not in a stadium so it is more open and more immersed in the whole DL park.

Interestingly, the stadium at DHS can handle 5,000 for a show if memory serves. The setting around ROA at DL can handle up to 16,000 a show.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I thought I read somewhere that DLR was going to make Fantasmic even better with fancy projectors and stuff. Did anyone else read that or is this all in my head. Don't remember where I thought I saw it.

 

[DangerMouse]

I thought I read somewhere that DLR was going to make Fantasmic even better with fancy projectors and stuff. Did anyone else read that or is this all in my head. Don't remember where I thought I saw it.

Yes, you probably read it in one of Al Lutz' updates over on MiceAge. F! is currently under refurbishment installing some of the new improvements, and it will run for a while in Dec for the holiday period, but will then go down again early in the year to add the rest of the improvements. I believe they are trying to have it finished by Spring Break peak season.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Yes, that must be where I saw it. I wonder if the difference will be noticable.

 

[DangerMouse]

Yes, that must be where I saw it. I wonder if the difference will be noticable.

After a 5-6 month refurb, I would hope so! The new technology they are using with the screens in the water is supposedly remarkable. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvements.

 

[Inkmahm]

Yes and no. I would say it is about 75% the same. It just feels more different than that because of the different setting. At WDW there is the water in front and the boats/rafts that come by. They do the same at DL but use the ROA. Also, the show at WDW is done behind the river on the stage there. At DL that stage is just a special area of TSI with a stage. The river and stage on TSI is not what feels so different IMO. That feels more the same. The bigger difference is that you are not in a stadium so it is more open and more immersed in the whole DL park.

Interestingly, the stadium at DHS can handle 5,000 for a show if memory serves. The setting around ROA at DL can handle up to 16,000 a show.

Actually, the stadium holds 10,000. Can they really fit 16,000 around ROA? If it is like parades though, are the people in the crowd 4 and 5 deep so you really can't see the show well unless you got there way in advance to get a front row seat?

I'm thinking I'm just going to need to see Fantasmic at DL myself to be able to see how it works.

 

[michelle1]

thank you all for your help...Im going next year starting the weekend of Thanksgiving and will be there till the 6th of Dec. I am expecting larger crowds during the weekend but when I was told that it will be a breeze for me because I know well about how crowded it can get in DL, I just had to get some weigh ins...

Any holiday at WDW is busy but early December is typically a slow week. If you are staying on site then you can take advantage of the extra magic hours..there are morning ones and evening ones where the park stays open for on site guests for 3 hrs after the regular closing time. We were in DL in July and didn't find it too bad although we were there during the earthquake which might have affected crowds for a few days. I did find it very congested because of the narrow paths and Fantasmic to me was a nightmare with so many people crammed in to get a good viewing spot. I don't think I got the full effect of the show because of where we were sitting...it really is so much nicer to sit on benches in a theatre.

 

[Amy&Dan]

oh i love that area anyway...its so nice and calm back there and very cool when its hot and it smells good

Lynn, I like to go back to that area just to sit down and relax! No matter how packed the park, that Big Thunder Trail is always a nice break from the crowds and heat. But at the MK, there is no such thing unfortunately! Just a dead end by BTMRR sad to say!

 

[Krissy Marissy]

It only SEEMS less crowded at WDW, because there are more parks and the parks themselves are bigger, with wider walkways, etc. Because of DL's limited space, the crowd's have fewer options of where to go.

The lines are just as long during popular times.

This is it exactly. DL is much smaller, walkways are not as wide and when the crowds gather there is less room for them to go. I think most people are not taking that into perspective when they measure the crowd level.

And although DL's fantasmic doesn't have as much seating is truly is a much better show.

 

[OnePrincess]

We've been to WDW twice. The first time we left the day after Thanksgiving and were there throught the first week of December. Crowds were nothing, it's an off peak season and we plan to go back then again next year. The second trip was towards the end of September last year. It was hardly crowded like the year before.

We just went to DLR last month for the first time. All I can say is that was insane. It was way more crowded than both of my WDW trips put together.

 

[HydroGuy]

Actually, the stadium holds 10,000. Can they really fit 16,000 around ROA? If it is like parades though, are the people in the crowd 4 and 5 deep so you really can't see the show well unless you got there way in advance to get a front row seat?

I'm thinking I'm just going to need to see Fantasmic at DL myself to be able to see how it works.

Back when they realized Fantasmic's popularity they redesigned the area around ROA to handle the Fantasmic crowds. Yes, they can handle 16,000. And for the first show on a busy night they pack out. The second show (if there is one) is not as bad.

Regarding your other question, yes, it is like a parade with people 4 and 5 deep (or more). The area near the river is for sitting only. This is on concrete of course, but many people bring blankets to spread out. This will fill up with people. Further back it is standing only. Like a parade, that is tough if you have younger kids who can't see. It is worth it to get there early and get a spot near the river if you have kids. Without kids, being further back works.

I do not know very much about the standing area. We did it only once as we were not planning to see the show that night. We usually sit. When our youngest was four, we did the 90-minute early arrival for show #1 and got a sitting spot near the river. Ever since the youngest turned seven we have gone to the late show at 10:30 (with an afternoon nap essential) and have been able to get a sitting spot 30-45 minutes early.

Thanks for the correction about the DHS stadium capacity.