DLand on Dec 30th

[jp2gen]

December 30th is our 10th Anniversary! We're planning on going to Disneyland that day and were wondering what the crowds would be like. Any input?
Thank you
Danielle

 

[ConnieB]

Week between Christmas and New year is considered busiest of the year. But go with that knowledge, plan accordingly and enjoy your anniversary!

 

[MattsPrincess]

That's our anniversary too!

We were going to go then as well (29th-1st), but after reading up on here and asking around, we decided against it and went about a week ago instead. It would have been nice to be there on such a special day, but we had a wonderfully magical time that more than made up for it.

I get really panicked in big crowds, so the thought of being packed in like sardines and not getting to go on any rides, meet characters, or shop was awful. New Years Eve is considered the most crowded day of the year, and it usually closes due to reaching capacity...don't know how much better the 30the 30th would be...but we sure got scared off.

 

[alleycatmom]

I was actually thinking of something similar -- going Dec. 29.

Here's my reasoning: After looking at the threads about Thanksgiving week, the general consensus seemed to be that the reason it was so crazy early in the week was that those were not blackout dates for the AP holders. Whereas the week after Christmas, it's all blacked out. And the 29th is a Wednesday -- maybe people will be working? And I think it's not a "Magic Morning."

We don't want to go if it's shoulder-to-shoulder people. We just want to be able to see the cool Christmas stuff and go on a few rides, mainly Haunted Mansion and Small World.

We've been to Disneyland twice, and only for one day each time (we live 10 hours away). If we don't do this one-day thing on the 28th, 29th, or 30th, we won't be able to go to Disney at all for at least a year.

 

[Sherry E]

I was actually thinking of something similar -- going Dec. 29.

Here's my reasoning: After looking at the threads about Thanksgiving week, the general consensus seemed to be that the reason it was so crazy early in the week was that those were not blackout dates for the AP holders. Whereas the week after Christmas, it's all blacked out. And the 29th is a Wednesday -- maybe people will be working? And I think it's not a "Magic Morning."

We don't want to go if it's shoulder-to-shoulder people. We just want to be able to see the cool Christmas stuff and go on a few rides, mainly Haunted Mansion and Small World.

We've been to Disneyland twice, and only for one day each time (we live 10 hours away). If we don't do this one-day thing on the 28th, 29th, or 30th, we won't be able to go to Disney at all for at least a year.

I think there is way too much focus on AP holders and when they are blocked vs. when they are not blocked as being the main reason for any crowded periods at DLR. I see this happening more and more on the DIS. There are still vacationers and tourists who come from all over the world to DLR, and there always have been.

Sure, the increasingly large number of AP holders in the last two years is a big contributing factor to crowds during times when it was not normally crowded in the past. Certain times that used to be uncrowded are now crowded - and vice versa, based on AP blackout days.

However, there are wildly busy days that have absolutely nothing to do with AP holders and it is a zoo. The day I was there last December was blocked to everyone but Deluxe and Premium AP holders...meaning the 2 SoCal level AP holders were blocked - and those are the ones who are thought to be the reason for huge crowds (according to popular opinion).

The week between Christmas and New Year's has always been the busiest or second busiest week of the entire year - that is a known fact - and that has never had much to do with AP holders. It is simply a crazy madhouse because lots of people from all over the U.S. are off of work and school for the whole week, free from family holiday obligations, and they flock to the parks in droves with holiday money in hand, ready to spend.

You can still have fun during busy times, but it can get very oppressive on those massively busy days when you can't move around. You just kind of have to go in knowing what to expect and be ready to adjust your priorities if need be.

 

[alleycatmom]

Thanks!

I guess my real question is, will it be too crowded to be fun?

We want to see Disneyland at Christmastime, but not if it is a "bad" experience -- as objectively speaking as possible. Keeping in mind we are not frequent visitors.

 

[jp2gen]

We will be coming back for two more days on Jan 4 & 5th, so I'm sure that we can just go with the flow on the 30th and appease the kids with the promise of less busy days when they can go on all the ride that they want in the following week.

Seeing Fantasmic is a big priority for me and it's not playing on the Jan 4-5 week, so we'll be doing that on the 30th.

 

[jp2gen]

hmm, looks like Christmas stuff is still happening on Jan 3, as well as Fantasmic. That may be an option.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks!

I guess my real question is, will it be too crowded to be fun?

We want to see Disneyland at Christmastime, but not if it is a "bad" experience -- as objectively speaking as possible. Keeping in mind we are not frequent visitors.

You can have fun. I had fun on the crazy busy day I was there last year - mainly because of the friends I was with...but I got very little done in terms of my normal Disneyland routine because of the crowds. It was kind of daunting. I must be honest!! If I had gone in with the expectation that crowds would be huge, then maybe I would have adapted to my surroundings better. I think I was taken by surprise by how crowded it got so early in the day, when it had not been that bad on the same exact weekend the previous two years.

So, here's the thing... on the one hand I would say to go on whichever day you can make it during the holiday season because it's such a beautiful, magical time in the parks. There are so many cool things to see, like IASW Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday and the snow on Main Street, etc. The Winter Castle is just gorgeous at night. I would go for one day during the holidays over any other one-day trip to DLR at any other time of year.

On the other hand, I would say that if you are really, really bothered by heavy crowds, you should probably avoid that week between Christmas and New Year's.

There are basically two schools of thought about going on super-crowded days - one thought is that you can go in expecting the worst crowds and with low expectations of how much you will actually get accomplished (number of rides, shopping, etc.) and sort of resign yourself to just taking in the atmosphere without much of an agenda. Anything that's better than what you imagine will be a happy bonus!! This would be the trip you make if you don't really need to get on a lot of rides but just want to kind of roam around.

The other school of thought is the one in which you efficiently collect as many Fast Passes as possible and strategically plan your day to avoid certain rides at certain times and be at this area when that area is busy, etc. It takes a lot of planning, preparation and work but it can be done.

So I guess it comes down to whether or not you want a more laid back trip in which you might not get much done, or a more commando-type trip in which you push through and get lots done. OR...just skip the super busy times altogether!

 

[Sherry E]

hmm, looks like Christmas stuff is still happening on Jan 3, as well as Fantasmic. That may be an option.

No. The season ends on January 2 in 2011, not 1/3/11. Haunted Mansion Holiday will be closed. The snow will stop falling on Main Street. The Winter Castle will stop lighting up. Santa leaves. The Reindeer Round-Up closes. All the decorations start to come down. There is a slight chance that IASW Holiday will remain open for a couple of extra weeks, but that is not guaranteed. They kept it open longer this year because they didn't want IASW and Haunted Mansion down at the same time.

 

[Sherry E]

See the piece in this post from Disneyland News, which states the DLR holiday season dates as 11/12/10 through 1/2/11:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39058454&postcount=2959

All of the official Disney sources (Disneyland News, the Disneyland Resort website, Disney Destinations, etc., etc.) have always had 1/2/11 as the end date for this holiday season. Only the unofficial sources - like other websites which report about Disney - mistakenly had the end date as 1/3/11. We had a big ongoing thing about that on our Disney at Christmas thread a few months ago.

 

[jp2gen]

I was just looking at the Disneyland Entertainment schedule here (argh, it won't let me post a link!! -- anyway, straight from the Disneyland site under January 3 entertainment schedule it lists "Christmas Fantasy Parade")

So there wouldn't still be a Christmas parade on Jan 3??

Thanks for your help!

 

[Sherry E]

I was just looking at the Disneyland Entertainment schedule here (argh, it won't let me post a link!! -- anyway, straight from the Disneyland site under January 3 entertainment schedule it lists "Christmas Fantasy Parade")

So there wouldn't still be a Christmas parade on Jan 3??

Thanks for your help!

If the parade happens on that day - and I don't know if it will or won't - that would be the only thing. The rest of the season ends on 1/2/11. If I were you, I wouldn't expect to see full holiday offerings. All of the dates I have seen from any official Disney source have indicated 1/2/11 as the end date, so that means they are officially ending their season after that day. It even says 11/12/10 - 1/2/11 in the holiday section of the Disneyland website. I would go by that date, just to be on the safe side, unless you don't need to see any of the holiday stuff.

 

[sonnyjane]

I was just looking at the Disneyland Entertainment schedule here (argh, it won't let me post a link!! -- anyway, straight from the Disneyland site under January 3 entertainment schedule it lists "Christmas Fantasy Parade")

So there wouldn't still be a Christmas parade on Jan 3??

Thanks for your help!

It looks like the official Disneyland.com site lists Jan. 2nd as the end of the holiday season, but you're right, they do have the Christmas fireworks and parade listed on their entertainment calendar? That is the last day though of the parade on their calendar.

 

[the donut]

December 30th is our 10th Anniversary! We're planning on going to Disneyland that day and were wondering what the crowds would be like. Any input?
Thank you
Danielle

I just looked at the touring plans crowd calendar, and it lists the 29th as a 10 out of 10 (wow!) and the 30th as an 8 out of 10. If you guys end up going on those days, it would be great if you could report back. I'm trying to figure out how accurate this tool is.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I just looked at the touring plans crowd calendar, and it lists the 29th as a 10 out of 10 (wow!) and the 30th as an 8 out of 10. If you guys end up going on those days, it would be great if you could report back. I'm trying to figure out how accurate this tool is.

What calendar is this? Out of curiosity, what does it say for 12/31?

I was actually thinking of something similar -- going Dec. 29.

...Whereas the week after Christmas, it's all blacked out. And the 29th is a Wednesday -- maybe people will be working? And I think it's not a "Magic Morning."

We don't want to go if it's shoulder-to-shoulder people. We just want to be able to see the cool Christmas stuff and go on a few rides, mainly Haunted Mansion and Small World.

The week after Christmas is blocked out because it will be so busy without AP holders there, that Disney doesn't "need" AP holders in the Park. It is a VERY busy time. The crowds tends to build as the week goes on. So the 29th will be busier than the 28th, but not as bad as the 30th. "- - maybe people will be working?" made me smile because it is the hope that everyone has. No one else will be there, so we will go then. Everyone (and their cousin) will be there.

Now, that said...
Can you join the masses? Sure! Can you see the Park all decked out? Sure! Will everything take longer? Yes! Will you need to bring your patience? Yes! Can you see and do everything in one day? Not that week.

If we don't do this one-day thing on the 28th, 29th, or 30th, we won't be able to go to Disney at all for at least a year.

Well, now see, that's a different thing. If it is one day that week or not at all, pick a day, know it will be C R O W D E D and just roll with it. Whatever you see and do will be better than nothing at all. Just plan extra time for everything, bring your patience, and enjoy DL - it's gorgeous this time of year.

- Dreams

 

[bbangel]

I just looked at the touring plans crowd calendar, and it lists the 29th as a 10 out of 10 (wow!) and the 30th as an 8 out of 10. If you guys end up going on those days, it would be great if you could report back. I'm trying to figure out how accurate this tool is.

Good to know. I will be there those days (as well as the 27 and 28). I am defiantely prepared not to see or do everything.

 

[GrandBob]

What calendar is this? Out of curiosity, what does it say for 12/31?

Hi Dreams,

The calendar is here (hope they don't censor the link). And of course it shows 12/31 as a solid 10 -- I believe folks here consider that the busiest day of the year, no?

-Bob

 

[Curiouser&Curiouser]

DH, Mom, Sister and I will be there Dec. 31 and Jan. 1... we know it will be crazy crowded BUT we chatted about what we're willing to skip in order to fit in exactly what we really really want to see/do.

We went a few years ago during the Holiday season, don't remember what week exactly, but it was a mad house, and we just went with the flow.

We're skipping DCA altogether since the refurb is still going on... most likely passing on Indiana, Splash Mountain, and a few others notorious for long lines, except HMH and IASW.

Just gotta keep swimming and stay stoked about getting to have some Holiday Magic at the park!!

Would be cool to meet fellow DISers on New Years!!

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

Thanks!

I guess my real question is, will it be too crowded to be fun?

We want to see Disneyland at Christmastime, but not if it is a "bad" experience -- as objectively speaking as possible. Keeping in mind we are not frequent visitors.

I hate to be a naysayer, but I wanted to give my honest opinion about that week from personal experience...

About 4 years ago, when I was first finding my way back to Disneyland after a college-years hiatus, I went to DL on December 27th (that date is burned in my brain forever). We arrived around 10:30am and were told on the tram from the parking lot to the resort that they were expecting DL to sell out. At the time, I hadn't been to DL in years, and I certainly wasn't a member of the DIS, so I didn't know what that REALLY meant. Well, when we got into the park, I saw what that means - and it was scary.
We walked to about Indiana Jones area (which literally took about 30 minutes due to the crowds) and turned around and walked out (sidenote - I cried driving home because I was so disappointed )

Now, I do think it's possible, especially with the knowledge I have gained here on the DIS since that time. The biggest key is to get there at opening and start securing FPs, however, I would never go back during this week unless it was my ONLY option.