Getting scared of the crowds!

[nottellin']

Last time we went to DL was in Novemeber the week before Thanksgiving. We will be there this Saturday and I'm starting to panic about the crowds! I am picturing masses of people. How busy do you think it will really be?

 

[clairabell29]

This weekend is the premere of the new parade so I would imagine it will be busy, and next week the hours are long and its spring break. We will be there next week as well, but are using hydroguys tips on summer crowds to get through it. Use FP and shut down the park at night, and take an afternoon break. Read what people who are there now are saying and remember if you don't get everything done, its a great excuse to come back again!

 

[Queenbillabong]

Last time we went to DL was in Novemeber the week before Thanksgiving. We will be there this Saturday and I'm starting to panic about the crowds! I am picturing masses of people. How busy do you think it will really be?

I think it will be really busy! It's a weekend plus Spring Break - I would expect masses of people, long waits, etc. Just go there with a plan, use FastPass, Magic Morning if you have them, and know that it will be busy. It is still doable when the parks are crowded - just be prepared

 

[JadeDarkstar]

outch i cant ever plan on going in summer or spring. I like the low crowds ive found in winter an fall. I have read the tips tho an if i had to go id be following them to the letter. also remember lots of water. an try to have something (paper an pen) to distract the kids. (my son can draw for 6hours stright an not be bothered except (look momy what i drew now) lol

 

[avalon451]

Yikes, yeah, it's going to be slammin'. Just read up on Hydroguy's Tips and go with a plan. Get out of Dodge during the midday during the worst of the crowds; go back to your hotel and rest if at all possible.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Spring break baby! Bring on the crowds! Plus as a PP mentioned the new parade/street party starts so local may come check it out. Just relax and make a list of things to get done...once the list is done everything is a bonus. Have a great trip!

 

[toni1227]

At least you KNOW ahead of time it will be packed! Just expecting it and plan accordingly will help. Like someone else said on a thread here it is still better than being at work LOL!

 

[Corpsebride]

(my son can draw for 6hours stright an not be bothered except (look momy what i drew now) lol

That is so cute! I was like that as a child. I could draw for hours too!

 

[Saskiwi]

I am freaking slightly at the prospect of mega-crowds for our visit April 4-11.

It is the first trip in 10 years for DH and I, so lots has changed (including DCA - and bigger crowds!) and our first ever trips with DS's 9 and 6.

We never really get big crowds anywhere in NZ (there's only 4 million people in the whole country, which is about the same geographic size as CA - so we have plenty of empty spaces!)

I am trying to prepare the kids for the concept of LOTS of people in an enclosed area..... hoping the Disney magic will kick in and they won't even notice the seething masses....!

I have memorised HydroGuy, Hound and DarkBeer's Tips, crammed every nuance of FastPass usage, and we've downloaded RideMax, so bring it on!!

If you see a couple of gob-smacked boys with 'First Time' badges - that will be us! (have a feeling we will be trying to get picked at Jedi Academy every day of our 6-Day pass - BIG Star Wars fans....!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Hey, Saskiwi, welcome to the dis boards! We'll be there April 6 and 7!

I'm also getting scared about the crowds. The main problem is that we're going with DH's family and they are not planners at all. They like to just wing it and with the crowds I'm expecting I don't think this will be a good way to see DLR. They have good intentions but I'm not sure if they will follow through with getting up early enough for park opening. It will be an interesting 2 days, that's for sure.

 

[Saskiwi]

Luckily DH and I are BIG on being organised - we have this trip so organised it's nuts - I'm doing itineraries for every day - where to eat, which rides to hit, back up plans etc etc...
Our friends think we're mad, but we know spontaneity is all very well , but DL during Spring Break is neither the time nor the place!!
Hope you and in-laws cope ok!

 

[Mugglemama]

we live in idaho, but my daughter's friend called her from Knott's Berry Farm today, saying it was crazy busy and that they'd heard Disneyland had actually been closed (the only thing i could think of was that they might be turning people away because they'd reached capacity?). not sure how reliable the information is, but if it's true, then you are probably looking at big crowds during your visit! don't worry, it's still possible to have fun!

 

[Disney Dreams]

It'll be crowded. Simple fact.

Yesterday we went by the times board for anniversary buttons for some friends. At about 6pm (I think) there was an hour's wait on 3 or 4 of the rides.

Main Street was very crowded during fireworks.

It's Spring Break time.

Just go knowing there will be crowds, use FPs if those rides are important to you, and take time to enjoy everything else the park has to offer. It's Disneyland - crowds or not.

Have fun!

...they'd heard Disneyland had actually been closed (the only thing i could think of was that they might be turning people away because they'd reached capacity?). not sure how reliable the information is...

After reading this, I picked up the phone and called Disneyland. They said that the park has been open all day and is not closed for capacity (or any other reason).

 

[nottellin']

At least you KNOW ahead of time it will be packed! Just expecting it and plan accordingly will help. Like someone else said on a thread here it is still better than being at work LOL!

This is very true! I've brushed up on hydroguys tips, and prepared DH for the fact that it WILL be crazy! He is now on boards woth the "break" mid day to go back to our hotel and relax (and hopefully nap). Good thing we're there for so long so we won't feel like we will miss anything.

 

[Mike_M]

After reading this, I picked up the phone and called Disneyland. They said that the park has been open all day and is not closed for capacity (or any other reason).

That's a relief. I can handle crowds, and super long lines. Getting turned away at the gate is something completly different.

 

[ratherbe@disneyland]

I agree with what others have said. Just realize it will be busy and plan accordingly. The thing I think most people need to realize is there is no way to tell when it will be busy. Its always a maybe. If you can just realize that crowds could hit, and adjust your plan you will be fine. Also realize you are at Disneyland and have the best time of your life in that moment!

 

[Mugglemama]

After reading this, I picked up the phone and called Disneyland. They said that the park has been open all day and is not closed for capacity (or any other reason).

that's why i made sure to mention that i didn't know how reliable the info was, lol. that's teen reliability for you! glad to hear they were misinformed....i was thinking what a bummer it would have been for people to have traveled to DL only to be turned away!

 

[LoveTheDuck1934]

I'll be there April 2nd and 3rd which is a Thursday and Friday. I'm guessing that it'll be busy both of those days too. Will Thursday have lighter crowds than Friday?

Either way I've resigned myself to the fact that it will be crowded.

 

[MichaelColey]

Some simple things that helped us get the most out of our days despite the crowds:

1) Get there before they open. The lines are much shorter that first hour or two.
2) If it rains, take full advantage of it. Most rides remain open and the lines are far shorter.
3) For the first ride, pick something without Fast Pass that will have a long line later in the day (Nemo, Peter Pan, Materhorn, etc.).
4) Accumulate Fast Passes every chance you get. Send a runner. Some Fast Passes run out earlier, so grab one of those first before they're 2+ hours out. (Maybe have the runner skip the first ride to get Indiana Jones or Space Mountain FPs.) Keep in mind that FPs for the two parks are not connected (and Roger Rabbit isn't connected to anything) so you can actually have concurrent FPs for DLR, DCA, and Roger Rabbit.
5) Use accumulated Fast Passes during the busier times.
6) Fill in the time with some of the rides that have shorter lines or rides where the wait is worth it to you.
7) If part of your group heads home for a nap, leave the passes with someone else in the group so they can accumulate FPs.

 

[Tikiroom1963]

F.Y.I.
This won't help. There is a cheer competition this weekend at the convention center. My daughter will be competing. We are premium pass holders so more than likely we will be going over to DL between performances. Just remember that it could be worse. You could be in a crowd at Wal-Mart.