Gay days Anaheim crowds

[abminer]

I posted this on the GLBT board and didn't get much of a response so I'm trying here.

DP and I are WDW vets making our first trip to DLR this October for Gay Days. I've heard that October has become very popular out there and that this event really draws crowds. Just how bad should I expect crowds to be? We'll only have Fri-Sun since I've got to work on either end. I'm thinking we'll do the Friday night Halloween party and then get two-day park hoppers, but I'm afraid we won't be able to experience much if wait times will be crazy long. Our real priority is experiencing things they don't have at WDW. We won't be broken hearted if we never ride Splash, for instance, but would be bummed to miss Matterhorn, RSR, the Halloween overlay rides, unique shows...

We've never been able to go to Gay Days Orlando because it's such a pricey time of year and we only stay onsite. For this trip we're able to stay at DLH and finally experience a Gay Days event. We're excited, and I'm a crazy obsessive planner with my trips - just trying to be prepared.

 

[Amilo]

I posted this on the GLBT board and didn't get much of a response so I'm trying here.

DP and I are WDW vets making our first trip to DLR this October for Gay Days. I've heard that October has become very popular out there and that this event really draws crowds. Just how bad should I expect crowds to be? We'll only have Fri-Sun since I've got to work on either end. I'm thinking we'll do the Friday night Halloween party and then get two-day park hoppers, but I'm afraid we won't be able to experience much if wait times will be crazy long. Our real priority is experiencing things they don't have at WDW. We won't be broken hearted if we never ride Splash, for instance, but would be bummed to miss Matterhorn, RSR, the Halloween overlay rides, unique shows...

We've never been able to go to Gay Days Orlando because it's such a pricey time of year and we only stay onsite. For this trip we're able to stay at DLH and finally experience a Gay Days event. We're excited, and I'm a crazy obsessive planner with my trips - just trying to be prepared.

There is an October Trip thread and a Halloween time thread, where the people are super helpful. Sorry I do not know how to do links :/.... I think the Matterhorn may be down for refurb during that time. You can get on some of the Halloween rides without waiting on line by taking the Happiest Haunts tour

 

[SMD]

Saturday will be very crowded. Also, the Halloween party on the Friday before sold out last year. It is the only non-school night party with an AP discount, so it goes quickly. I've never personally gone to Gay Days, but I know many locals who go every year. I don't know how much they really go on rides, I think it's more for the parties and to be in the parks. At DL the walkways are so compact, it affects getting between rides. As hotel guests, take advantage of EMH, and consider park hopping to DCA, since on Saturday many guests will have 1 park tickets. One unknown factor is that DLR has stopped selling blockout day tickets, so many So Cal APs who can't get into the park Saturday may go on Sunday. That's this year's wildcard.

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

Over the last few years, Gay Days has gotten very popular and the crowds have grown. Friday will be busier than average and the Halloween party will sell out very quickly. Saturday you can expect big crowds, particularly at DL. Sunday is officially DCA day, but the crowd tends to spread between both parks. At its busiest, it's still below peak, but you can expect longer waits.

Our tactic has always been to hit the parks early, and it works particularly well during Gay Days. The late night parties mean that it takes a few hours for the crowds to really grow.

Also, know that Gay Days at DLR is much diffferent than at WDW. Very mellow, with lots of families. Just lots and lots of fabulous red shirts.

 

[Jazzheffa]

We went last year during this time, and we just did the opposite park from the Gay Day website activities. Fast pass is a must.

 

[Nonsuch]

...I'm thinking we'll do the Friday night Halloween party and then get two-day park hoppers, but I'm afraid we won't be able to experience much if wait times will be crazy long...

This might be a popular approach for tickets. The Friday Halloween party of Gay Days was the first to sell out last year, and will almost certainly sell out again this year.

This will be my third consecutive visit during Gay Days
Saturday is very busy, so take advantage of EMH and take it easy in the afternoon.

Don't miss the "Big Red Boat" Mark Twain photo op
I don't ride the boat (which would require waiting in a long line), but just watch from the waterfront.

 

[aleighc1]

My husband and I went on Saturday during gay days weekend last year. (we were in CA on business, which was why we only did one day) It was definitely busy, but we really didn't think it was too bad. I think the fact that it was just the two of us and that we didn't have our kids, probably helped us to manage with such ease. The longest lines we waited in was for Toy Story and the Haunted Mansion Holiday. We were happily willing to wait the hour for Haunted Mansion though because we'd never seen the overlay and knew we might not get the chance again for a while. We were incredibly tired that day and took things at a *very* relaxed pace. Even so, we still managed to do a lot and did not leave feeling disappointed or like we had missed out on anything. I've never been to the Halloween party, so I have no advice on that. If you use the fast pass system and go into it with a positive attitude, you will have lots of fun!

 

[scrappymel]

The Matterhorn is down during October. Boo! I hope you have a great trip anyway!

 

[alvernon90]

The longest lines we waited in was for Toy Story and the Haunted Mansion Holiday.

I went with my daughter in 2012 and everyone is right, the parks are extremely crowded. In 25 years of going to Disneyland I have never seen a longer line for POTC than the one I saw that Saturday -- and we still waited in it because the other lines were also very long.

Most disappointingly long lines: the beer carts! Good luck getting a drink during Gay Days.

That said, we had a great time and I would go again. The crowds were EXTREMELY festive, there was just such an air of fun throughout the whole place despite the crowds. And the on-site hotel deals were AMAZING. But unfortunately, the year we went was the last year you could hoard Fastpasses for the crowded afternoon and early evening hours. It's even more important to stay on site and take advantage of EE every day.

 

[bumbershoot]

In 2012 it also coincided with Columbus Day weekend, which brings in the crowds all on its own*. Very crowded combo!


*True C. Day is my birthday, and in '09 we went during that time...we had APs and upon entering DCA we were made to get our hands stamped, that's how crowded it had been that weekend...

 

[abminer]

Sounds like we'll have to be super strategic, but it'll be really fun. I just put a reminder in my phone to buy MHP tickets the day they go on sale. I'm hoping we can get a couple rides checked off our list that night making time in DL on Saturday a little less panicked and yes, we plan to use EMH to its fullest. I know we can get discount tickets for the parks through gay days, but I haven't been able to figure out if we can get MHP tickets at a discount too

Bummer about Matterhorn; I knew we'd face some closures for refurbs on the off season, but shame it's not affecting a less iconic ride.

Low key as opposed to WDW's gay days actually sounds good to me.

 

[tanyaegangibson]

We were there during the October Gay Days weekend last year. Saturday was incredibly crowded--both in the park and in the bars in the Grand Californian (where we were staying). My kids were laughing when our family tried to go downstairs to get a "quick drink" at the Hearthstone. Yeah, not so much "quick" with the drink.

On the other hand, my daughter is still talking about how cool it was to see everyone's red shirts. (The Mark Twain was a sea of red when it came down the river at one point.) Our kids are fortunate to be growing up in a time and place (Northern California) where same-sex couples holding hands is commonplace. But this weekend also gave us the opportunity to explain that it's not commonplace everyplace. And that all those red T-shirts--the very visibility of them--mean something very important.

All of which is to say that our kids came home excited about all the cool red shirts and didn't complain at all about the lines. It's an awesome weekend.