Going to Disneyland for Spring Break? Bad idea? Crowds!

[NicholeB630]

So I am a new Disneyland goer. We've been to DW 4 times now with our kids. We went to DW the week of Labor Day a couple years ago and it was great. It was horribly hot but the crowds were great. We did the parks after Monday ( did not go in a park on Labor Day)

Ive read and been told that it will be a good time in Disneyland as well. We would plan on doing parks the Tuesday - Friday after Labor Day. Again avoiding the parks on Labor Day. One of those days we'll do universal. Now upon further research I am being told its gonna be a cluster and possible max capacity because of Star Wars land opening in the summer. I know its hard to predict and really know what the crowds will be but I don't want to go and it be shoulder to shoulder which Ive been told it will be Im so torn and don't know what to do. We've been to DW when its been shoulder to shoulder and its just not enjoyable. To get in a park not be able to walk, find anywhere to eat and even the non popular rides have 45 min waits by 11am. I know its Disney and won't ever be empty and there really are no more true low times. But theres a difference in kinda crowded and manageable and miserable. I don't know what to expect now?

Any advice would be great. I am just so torn on what to do. This will most likely be our last Disney trip as a family as my husband is over Disney ...

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Check the AP blockout calendar for that week (found on the DLR website). The lower APs should all be allowed back into DL by then (they should have been allowed in to DCA either all summer or much earlier than Labor Day). If the lower APs are all good to go that week, it WILL be crowded, on top of all the "normal" SWGE crowds at DL. For DCA, no one really knows yet how the new crowd patterns and the new AP blockouts will affect that park. Now, the morning and early afternoon hours could be better because some schools will be back in session by then (not all, but definitely some). But the late afternoon/evening crowds will show up if their APs are good that week.
Is there any way you could visit a few weeks earlier? The lower APs (Deluxe, So Cal, So Cal Select) are blocked from DL until the third week of August. (Deluxe is the first pass allowed back in around 8/23.) So, while DLR will be crowded in August, things will be more manageable because the parks will be prepared and staffed for the summer crowds with longer hours, no/low refurbs, rides running at full capacity, full entertainment schedule, etc. By early September, Disney will have moved to the non-peak/low season schedule with shorter hours and less entertainment, possibly less staffing, possible refurbs starting, and prepping for Halloween Time. Haunted Mansion will go down for the Halloween overlay around the third week of August -- it will come back up when Halloween Time starts. Space Mountain will go down in early September for a few days before HT start for its Halloween overlay. If these rides matter, try to visit earlier. Just some thoughts...

 

[NicholeB630]

Check the AP blockout calendar for that week (found on the DLR website). The lower APs should all be allowed back into DL by then (they should have been allowed in to DCA either all summer or much earlier than Labor Day). If the lower APs are all good to go that week, it WILL be crowded, on top of all the "normal" SWGE crowds at DL. For DCA, no one really knows yet how the new crowd patterns and the new AP blockouts will affect that park. Now, the morning and early afternoon hours could be better because some schools will be back in session by then (not all, but definitely some). But the late afternoon/evening crowds will show up if their APs are good that week.

Not all schools are back after Labor Day? Most East coast schools go back after Labor like the Tuesday after. But I noticed Cali most schools are going back in August, which is how my county is in VA.

Is there really any good time to visit DL? It seems like most of the time its a pretty big crowd. Makes it so hard

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Not all schools are back after Labor Day? Most East coast schools go back after Labor like the Tuesday after. But I noticed Cali most schools are going back in August, which is how my county is in VA.

Is there really any good time to visit DL? It seems like most of the time its a pretty big crowd. Makes it so hard

School districts around here are traditional, year round, and home school -- that's a lot of different schedules. Also, there are university schedules -- some schools don't start until late September. And the school districts that affect DLR are in: CA, OR, WA, NV, UT, AZ. You get the picture! There is always someone on break, coming off break, about to go on break, etc.
The best time to visit DLR is the time that works best with your schedule. Truly. That sounds trite, but it is true. What good is a low crowd day if it's the worst time for your work and school schedules? Pick a few times that work really well for your family. Then come here to double check that nothing crazy will be going on at the same time. e.g. conventions, holidays, major crowd events, etc. We can help with all the planning, strategies, discounts if any. DLR in the summer is actually a good time -- you want the parks to be prepared for crowds. Things run much more smoothly then and you don't feel the crowds as much as you do when the parks aren't prepared or when the staffing is low. There are low crowd times at DLR, but the are getting fewer and they aren't predictable any more. And, if it's any consolation, max capacity (= gate closures) don't happen all that often at DLR. And when they do, they only last for a fairly short time -- like for a parade to finish and for lots of people to leave the park so that more people can enter.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...We've been to DW when its been shoulder to shoulder and its just not enjoyable. To get in a park not be able to walk, find anywhere to eat and even the non popular rides have 45 min waits by 11am. I know its Disney and won't ever be empty and there really are no more true low times. But theres a difference in kinda crowded and manageable and miserable. I don't know what to expect now?...

SO glad you asked here first!

If that is how you felt about WDW absolutely DO NOT go to DLR that week. Odds are it will be one of the busiest weeks of the year. As mentioned above low level APs will have their first chance to see SWL starting that Tues. I expect insanity starting that Tues.

When are crowds light? I agree with above, aside from avoiding key crazy times (like the week you’re looking at & Xmas-New Years) go with what works for your schedule. And if you really don’t like crowds I cannot in good conscience recommend you go to DLR at all post-SWL opening in 2019. The crowd pressure on DLR is expected to be high until WDW gets their SWL up and running late fall.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you really want to see DLR in it's pre-SWGE state, visit before this June. Bob Iger announced in a recent interview that June will be the opening month at DL. There is a current ticket promotion (a very sweet deal) that is good until mid-May.

 

[NicholeB630]

SO glad you asked here first!

If that is how you felt about WDW absolutely DO NOT go to DLR that week. Odds are it will be one of the busiest weeks of the year. As mentioned above low level APs will have their first chance to see SWL starting that Tues. I expect insanity starting that Tues.

When are crowds light? I agree with above, aside from avoiding key crazy times (like the week you’re looking at & Xmas-New Years) go with what works for your schedule. And if you really don’t like crowds I cannot in good conscience recommend you go to DLR at all post-SWL opening in 2019. The crowd pressure on DLR is expected to be high until WDW gets their SWL up and running late fall.

That is crazy to me that the week of Labor Day would be so crowded. Unlike WDW where it wasn't bad at all crowd wise but I guess it makes a difference when so many east coast schools are literally just getting back into school the day after Labor Day so it makes sense its not crowded. But if Cali has so many more pass holders and schools are different then it makes sense its more crowded. Especially with SWGE coming. I am so upset because I don't know when else to go. Its getting harder to take our kids out of school and that week I picked because they would only miss 4 days instead of 5. My daughter does competition cheer so going anywhere from November till April is really out of the question unless we go over holiday breaks which well that obviously doesn't solve anything I don't know what to do honestly.

We went to DW this past Feb and I was in shock of the crowds because of all the foreign travel. I mean mobs of people. It was insane. You'd see tour groups the size of 50 people or more marching through the parks with their flags up in the air. It def impacted our trip and what we were able to do in what was considered the best time to go.

 

[NicholeB630]

If you really want to see DLR in it's pre-SWGE state, visit before this June. Bob Iger announced in a recent interview that June will be the opening month at DL. There is a current ticket promotion (a very sweet deal) that is good until mid-May.

There really is no good time though right? I mean unless I pulled my kids out of school randomly in Feb or March which isn't an option for us right now I am guess spring break would be a horrible idea. Our break is the week leading up to Easter.

 

[NicholeB630]

School districts around here are traditional, year round, and home school -- that's a lot of different schedules. Also, there are university schedules -- some schools don't start until late September. And the school districts that affect DLR are in: CA, OR, WA, NV, UT, AZ. You get the picture! There is always someone on break, coming off break, about to go on break, etc.
The best time to visit DLR is the time that works best with your schedule. Truly. That sounds trite, but it is true. What good is a low crowd day if it's the worst time for your work and school schedules? Pick a few times that work really well for your family. Then come here to double check that nothing crazy will be going on at the same time. e.g. conventions, holidays, major crowd events, etc. We can help with all the planning, strategies, discounts if any. DLR in the summer is actually a good time -- you want the parks to be prepared for crowds. Things run much more smoothly then and you don't feel the crowds as much as you do when the parks aren't prepared or when the staffing is low. There are low crowd times at DLR, but the are getting fewer and they aren't predictable any more. And, if it's any consolation, max capacity (= gate closures) don't happen all that often at DLR. And when they do, they only last for a fairly short time -- like for a parade to finish and for lots of people to leave the park so that more people can enter.

Good to know thanks. I am glad I am getting more input. I am leaning more towards not going now which really makes me sad because I was looking forward to it. But this will be our only DL trip so to go and not enjoy it would just be disappointing. I know there is a way to make the best out of most situations but for my husbands and kids sakes horrible crowds just would not be good. Honestly its not so much the waiting for rides thats bad. I don't expect to go and walk on all the rides all day long. I expect to go get there at rope drop ride one or two rides and then waits climb which Im cool with but its the crowds on the side walks, eating areas etc that get me. Again the shoulder to shoulder feel. Getting rammed in the ankles by careless stroller pushers LOL I know no one can know for sure and its a gamble but its sounding more and more like that week and really any week after SWGE opens will be a complete crap show.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread will have good general information for your trip planning: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. It can really help with knowing what you'll be working with. Spring Break isn't necessariy a "horrible idea" because Easter is so late this year. That means most schools probably won't be centering their breaks around the holiday itself. Peak Spring Break here tends to be the two weeks before and two weeks after Easter, with the heaviest emphasis on the week before and week after. But, again, the actual holiday is pretty late this year. So school breaks are pretty spread out from March through the end of April. So not everyone will be taking the same weeks off. There is a thread on this forum that lists the major school breaks, holidays, and conventions. If you do a search, you'll find it. DLR is really doable durng Spring Break with good planning (hey, you're already here asking questions, right?) and a positive attitude. MP (digital FP) makes things much easier -- using the DLR app on your phone, you can book FPs as soon as you activate your tickets at the gate and keep going in both parks throughout the day. Some people have reported getting 20+ rides a day using MP! TS reservations for restaurants and dining packages (e.g. F!, WOC -- if it's back from hiatus) can be booked 60 days out. So you're not behind the game if you start planning now. It's doable!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Labor Day week last year was a ghost town until Halloween started that following weekend. But this year, with Star Wars, all bets are off!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... Honestly its not so much the waiting for rides thats bad. I don't expect to go and walk on all the rides all day long. I expect to go get there at rope drop ride one or two rides and then waits climb which Im cool with but its the crowds on the side walks, eating areas etc that get me...

You can do a LOT more than 1 or 2 rides if you get there at RD! The morning hours at DLR are great! Use those early hours to get the most done, before the crowds start climbing around noon or so. Then, have a TS lunch reserved or go back to the hotel for a swim and a rest. During that time, be booking FPs using MP and stacking them for your return later in the day. You can come back to the parks when the weather is cooler, after a swim and a nap, with 4 or 5 FP rides ready to roll. Dining packages take care of waiting for shows -- F! is a great example of this: the best views with the least wait using dining packages. At DLR, it's much more relaxed than WDW -- yes, there are crowds -- and there are ways to avoid them or get around them, even during Spring Break. You'll see them, but they won't necessarily stop your trip!
This thread has very helpful info on hotels (very different from choosing a hotel for WDW): www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/.

 

[NicholeB630]

This thread will have good general information for your trip planning: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. It can really help with knowing what you'll be working with. Spring Break isn't necessariy a "horrible idea" because Easter is so late this year. That means most schools probably won't be centering their breaks around the holiday itself. Peak Spring Break here tends to be the two weeks before and two weeks after Easter, with the heaviest emphasis on the week before and week after. But, again, the actual holiday is pretty late this year. So school breaks are pretty spread out from March through the end of April. So not everyone will be taking the same weeks off. There is a thread on this forum that lists the major school breaks, holidays, and conventions. If you do a search, you'll find it. DLR is really doable durng Spring Break with good planning (hey, you're already here asking questions, right?) and a positive attitude. MP (digital FP) makes things much easier -- using the DLR app on your phone, you can book FPs as soon as you activate your tickets at the gate and keep going in both parks throughout the day. Some people have reported getting 20+ rides a day using MP! TS reservations for restaurants and dining packages (e.g. F!, WOC -- if it's back from hiatus) can be booked 60 days out. So you're not behind the game if you start planning now. It's doable!

Hmmm that is something to think about then. I appreciate you input on this. I def stress about all this and worry probably a little too much ha. But Ive told my husband I won't drag him on any more Disney trips after this haha So Im trying my hardest to make it most enjoyable for everyone. The MP does sounds great and sounds like you can do way more than the FP system in place at DW. Our spring break is the week leading up to Easter so that is when we'd need to come April 13-20th give or take a day or two depending if we left Friday or Sunday etc. I am wondering if bc of SWGE opening and the predicted crowds if spring break would be anymore crowded?

I have been told that crowds at DL aren't the same like DW, is this true? Im sure you get to max like DW does on certain days. Honestly as long as we can walk comfortably and get fast pass after fast pass and find places to eat I think we'd be ok. Its just the thought of walking in and feeling like sardines.

 

[gottalovepluto]

That is crazy to me that the week of Labor Day would be so crowded. Unlike WDW where it wasn't bad at all crowd wise but I guess it makes a difference when so many east coast schools are literally just getting back into school the day after Labor Day so it makes sense its not crowded. But if Cali has so many more pass holders and schools are different then it makes sense its more crowded. Especially with SWGE coming. I am so upset because I don't know when else to go. Its getting harder to take our kids out of school and that week I picked because they would only miss 4 days instead of 5. My daughter does competition cheer so going anywhere from November till April is really out of the question unless we go over holiday breaks which well that obviously doesn't solve anything I don't know what to do honestly.

We went to DW this past Feb and I was in shock of the crowds because of all the foreign travel. I mean mobs of people. It was insane. You'd see tour groups the size of 50 people or more marching through the parks with their flags up in the air. It def impacted our trip and what we were able to do in what was considered the best time to go.

I love DL so I'm usually all about getting people to try DLR but it you're looking at a one and done situation and your kids are getting older they might get more enjoyment out of DLR in a couple years when Marvel Land opens in DCA.

Also, summer can be nice in DLR (outside of this year, SWL supposed to open in June) as the parks run full hours and full entertainment schedules (fireworks and Fantasmic every night) so I wouldn't avoid summer "because it's busy". I'd take a summer trip over post-Labor Day trip any time! Traditionally summer will also see a lot less refurbishments.

 

[NicholeB630]

Labor Day week last year was a ghost town until Halloween started that following weekend. But this year, with Star Wars, all bets are off!

Damn Star Wars LOL

 

[NicholeB630]

I love DL so I'm usually all about getting people to try DLR but it you're looking at a one and done situation and your kids are getting older they might get more enjoyment out of DLR in a couple years when Marvel Land opens in DCA.

Also, summer can be nice in DLR (outside of this year, SWL supposed to open in June) as the parks run full hours and full entertainment schedules (fireworks and Fantasmic every night) so I wouldn't avoid summer "because it's busy". I'd take a summer trip over post-Labor Day trip any time! Traditionally summer will also see a lot less refurbishments.

I don't think my kids would care about Marvel. Maybe my son but even he isn't that big into it. I think I wanna avoid going after anything new opens I do see your point in not as much being opened. We did encounter that at DW before and a whole lot of rides having issues.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...I have been told that crowds at DL aren't the same like DW, is this true? Im sure you get to max like DW does on certain days. Honestly as long as we can walk comfortably and get fast pass after fast pass and find places to eat I think we'd be ok. Its just the thought of walking in and feeling like sardines.

Crowd patterns are different at DLR -- mornings are good to great, noon starts getting crowded, evenings get more crowded as local APs come in. The APs are what swing our crowd patterns more than tourists -- keep checking the AP blockout calendar (look on the DLR website) -- this is one reason why touring plans aren't reliable or accurate for DLR. Gate closure/capacity crowds are rare here and don't last for long when they occur -- just long enough for the parade or fireworks to end so that enough guests exit so that more guests can enter. The whole packed-like-sardines thing can be avoided by simply hopping to the other park when the park you're in gets too crowded. Hopping is so easy at DLR -- the parks are about a football field's length apart! CS food and certain TS is better at DLR than at WDW. CS is certainly easier to order now that we have Mobile Ordering. That can really save a lot of time! Read through that thread for WDW vets -- you'll find lots of good info. And here is a thread on MP with great info: www.disboards.com/threads/maxpass-fastpass-an-overview-and-some-strategy.3726246/. Almost all WDW posters who've used both have said that they really like MP better than FP+.

 

[NicholeB630]

You can do a LOT more than 1 or 2 rides if you get there at RD! The morning hours at DLR are great! Use those early hours to get the most done, before the crowds start climbing around noon or so. Then, have a TS lunch reserved or go back to the hotel for a swim and a rest. During that time, be booking FPs using MP and stacking them for your return later in the day. You can come back to the parks when the weather is cooler, after a swim and a nap, with 4 or 5 FP rides ready to roll. Dining packages take care of waiting for shows -- F! is a great example of this: the best views with the least wait using dining packages. At DLR, it's much more relaxed than WDW -- yes, there are crowds -- and there are ways to avoid them or get around them, even during Spring Break. You'll see them, but they won't necessarily stop your trip!
This thread has very helpful info on hotels (very different from choosing a hotel for WDW): www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/.

Wow that is crazy and great news. I love early mornings. And I see DL has some as early as 7am. We have no issues with that and considering were coming from the East coast we'll be up and ready early because of time change. I like your ideas, my kids are getting older so I think later nights will work more for us now. We typically don't take breaks and just go till were done because kids were young and we just wouldn't stay late at night. I still am kinda confused about the FP though .. So it is possible to have more than one at a time correcT? You can book a new one every 90 min without using the next one? I have heard its much more relaxed which I like. DW causes STRESS.

So in your opinion assuming you know a lot about DL and hearing my concerns, needs would you recommend we keep our trip as it is and chance the crowds being awful after Labor Day or consider spring break which for us would be the 13-20th. Thank you for your help!!

 

[skippytx]

I agree about the AP blockout dates affecting crowds more than anything. We've only been twice, but you can tell the difference in crowd level when the AP's get unblocked. We went last year over MLK weekend thru Wed, smooth sailing all weekend and crowds were higher on Tues and Wed when the AP's were unblocked.

 

[NicholeB630]

Crowd patterns are different at DLR -- mornings are good to great, noon starts getting crowded, evenings get more crowded as local APs come in. The APs are what swing our crowd patterns more than tourists -- keep checking the AP blockout calendar (look on the DLR website) -- this is one reason why touring plans aren't reliable or accurate for DLR. Gate closure/capacity crowds are rare here and don't last for long when they occur -- just long enough for the parade or fireworks to end so that enough guests exit so that more guests can enter. The whole packed-like-sardines thing can be avoided by simply hopping to the other park when the park you're in gets too crowded. Hopping is so easy at DLR -- the parks are about a football field's length apart! CS food and certain TS is better at DLR than at WDW. CS is certainly easier to order now that we have Mobile Ordering. That can really save a lot of time! Read through that thread for WDW vets -- you'll find lots of good info. And here is a thread on MP with great info: www.disboards.com/threads/maxpass-fastpass-an-overview-and-some-strategy.3726246/. Almost all WDW posters who've used both have said that they really like MP better than FP+.

Ok so only two of the five type of annual passports are blocked out that week we could go for spring break. Only one is blocked out for the week of Labor Day. Do you think there is huge differences in parks when it comes to crowds? Say DL is packed and we want to go to CA do you think that there would be that big of a difference?

As far as rides that don't use Max pass? Are they going to be something we NEED to hit first thing in the morning or we will be waiting a long time to ride later in the day or do those rides typically not get the longer waits?