Going in August...are we nuts?

[jenpace]

We are DAP holders and have always made trips to DL between Sept. and May. The one exception was a quick visit in July of '06.

This year we've reservations at the GCH during the week of 8/16 for my youngest DD's birthday. I just looked at the DL website and that's the 1st week that SoCal passholders aren't blocked out.

Our plan is to get up early and go to the parks in the mornings until about lunch time, go back to the hotel to have lunch, swim and take a quick nap. In the late afternoon we'll head back to the parks and enjoy the extended summer hours.

Should we brace ourselves for epic crowds? Or would it be exponentially better to try and switch our dates to a week before even though we wouldn't be there for my daughter's actual birthday?

Thanks

 

[HydroGuy]

Our plan is to get up early and go to the parks in the mornings until about lunch time, go back to the hotel to have lunch, swim and take a quick nap. In the late afternoon we'll head back to the parks and enjoy the extended summer hours.

I love summer visits to DLR. Your strategy above will work fine. I have not seen "epic" crowds in August. It will be busy similar to weekends during other times of the year.

I would also add a couple things I am sure you already know. Pick up FASTPASSes in the morning before your break and use them later in the day. I assume you know you can use FPs after the one hour window.

Have a good handle on the air conditioned "filler" rides with short lines all day. I always try to fit in Tiki Room and HISTA at DL, as well as ITTBAB and Animation Studios at DCA, during the hotter part of the day. Since you are being smart and taking afternoon breaks that just means do these right before your break as heat is building or right after when it is still warm out.

 

[MAH4546]

Honestly, yes, based on this year's crowd trends, brace yourself for epic crowds the first week that passes un-block.

Everything we saw last year is thrown out the window. Monday and Tuesday were the last two days for SoCal Select and it was an absolute nightmare. I was told Disneyland hit 65,000 on Tuesday.

This year, Sundays have been a madhouse, Saturdays (usually blocked out to all AP holders except Premium and on some Saturdays Deluxe) very well-paced, and the two emptiest Sundays all year (and I go every Sunday) were President's Day and Easter of all things (the most packed Sunday was definitely the Sunday after President's Day - madhouse; I should also note that a reason that those days felt "empty" was likely because the rides were running at full capacity as if it were to be a very busy day, but the park was not at busy as it should have been. So while there might have been a physically large number of people there, it was far below what the ride capacities were running at, so lines were moving extremely quickly; as opposed to most Sundays when rides are not neccesarily running at capacity and "match" the crowd capacity levels).

Be prepared, but remember that locals rarely arrive before 11AM.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We are DAP holders and have always made trips to DL between Sept. and May. The one exception was a quick visit in July of '06.

This year we've reservations at the GCH during the week of 8/16 for my youngest DD's birthday. I just looked at the DL website and that's the 1st week that SoCal passholders aren't blocked out.

Our plan is to get up early and go to the parks in the mornings until about lunch time, go back to the hotel to have lunch, swim and take a quick nap. In the late afternoon we'll head back to the parks and enjoy the extended summer hours.

Should we brace ourselves for epic crowds? Or would it be exponentially better to try and switch our dates to a week before even though we wouldn't be there for my daughter's actual birthday?

Thanks

Looks like we will be there at the same time. We always do August and the parks are manageable if prepared.

Jack

 

[jenpace]

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies

I'll keep an eye out for you Jack since we'll be there the same time frame as you but I'm guessing you'll be wearing very different clothes than the cold-weather ones in your avatar photo!

 

[HydroGuy]

Honestly, yes, based on this year's crowd trends, brace yourself for epic crowds the first week that passes un-block.

Everything we saw last year is thrown out the window. Monday and Tuesday were the last two days for SoCal Select and it was an absolute nightmare. I was told Disneyland hit 65,000 on Tuesday.

Good point. The APers who did not get to see the new fireworks and updated Fantasmic may load up that week like last.

 

[jenpace]

Good point. The APers who did not get to see the new fireworks and updated Fantasmic may load up that week like last.

Well...I guess we'll just do our best to avoid the congested areas

 

[Boo Bear]

Not as crazy as one of my trip plans! I'm going July 3-6

 

[DaisyLuvr]

I have gone to Disneyland every year for the last Oh...20 years and we normally made at least one trip in the summer time, I have never felt like the crowds were bad. It's fun, we use fast passes and just take our time! Early one year in July we got on Indiana, Pirates, HM, BTMRR and Splash all before 10am! It was great and we did almost all of Tomorrowland before lunch after that

 

[Gidget]

This year we've reservations at the GCH during the week of 8/16 for my youngest DD's birthday. I just looked at the DL website and that's the 1st week that SoCal passholders aren't blocked out.

We will be there during the same week staying at DLH for my oldest DDs bday on 8/21!!! We've been all different times, including the summer during blocked dates/unblocked dates. For us being there for opening or MM is the key!!

 

[disneyfanzz]

We are planning to go this same week and I am a little nervous that the So Cal APers might make this week extra crowded. I am trying to decide if the week before would be better. It is so hard to guess.