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

[theluckyrabbit]

Well this is good to know. Id rather avoid the heat. If I want 108 I'll go to DW again in Sept HAHA. I hope its swim weather in April

One great thing about DLR is the weather -- hot or cold, sunny or raining, the humidity here is NOTHING compared to WDW! Even the worst humidity here (which is unusual) is not like the humidity in Orlando. And it's almost always swim weather here! Pools are heated year round, so bring those swim suits and jump on in. Look into renting a cabana by the DLH pools if that's something that might be relaxing for your family on a non-park day.
Detailed Weather Data for DLR

 

[NicholeB630]

One great thing about DLR is the weather -- hot or cold, sunny or raining, the humidity here is NOTHING compared to WDW! Even the worst humidity here (which is unusual) is not like the humidity in Orlando. And it's almost always swim weather here! Pools are heated year round, so bring those swim suits and jump on in. Look into renting a cabana by the DLH pools if that's something that might be relaxing for your family on a non-park day.
Detailed Weather Data for DLR

Yes we def were planning on renting a cabana for a down day. I was thinking the last day were in Cali. Just relax and enjoy our day We went to San Diego years ago in December and I loved the weather!!!

 

[NicholeB630]

Go in September. The week after labor day is always dead. Even with Star Wars, by that point, so many people are tied up with school that it won't be a "madhouse."

I don't think the SW hype will extend as long as people think it will. What will actually happen by September is that SW LAND will be crowded daily, but the rest of the park and DCA should be pretty easily manageable.

You are the first person to give me this advice. Everyone else I've spoken with seems to think it will be extremely crowded even until September and Labor Day week. Its really a hard choice.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

You are the first person to give me this advice. Everyone else I've spoken with seems to think it will be extremely crowded even until September and Labor Day week. Its really a hard choice.

It is a hard choice, but I think it's easier to go with what is known (Spring Break pre-SWGE), then to go with what is de facto unknown (post Labor Day w/SWGE). "Always" is something that just can't be said with accuracy about any time after the new land opens -- how can we predict "always" about something that isn't even known yet? All we do know is that SWGE is going to be a total game changer and that DLR (mostly DL) will never be the same after this June. Especially with your husband's sensitivity to crowds, it's just too close to call. I would hate to have you bet everything on September, only to have your husband hate his trip because of crowds and extreme heat. That "could" happen in April, too, but the odds are much lower.

 

[NicholeB630]

It is a hard choice, but I think it's easier to go with what is known (Spring Break pre-SWGE), then to go with what is de facto unknown (post Labor Day w/SWGE). Especially with your husband's sensitivity to crowds, it's just too close to call. I would hate to have you bet everything on September, only to have your husband hate his trip because of crowds and extreme heat. That "could" happen in April, too, but the odds are much lower.

I appreciate your input. Now I know that there will be crowds and Im prepared for that and with early mornings and max pass I think we'll be ok. My only concern which Im not sure if you can really give me an answer or not but do you think over spring break there would be a chance that parks are wall to wall people at times? Not meaning for parades, fireworks but in the middle of the day. To where you can't walk? That is really the big concern and when it becomes just not enjoyable anymore I can handle lines to rides etc. Its when you can't physically move around the park.

Oh let me add we did do DL once before. That trip to San Diego we took, my kids were 4 and 18 months. We took a over Christmas break trip and did so many fun things, well since we were in Cali I said we had to go to DL well we went on Jan 2nd. And well it was a *** show. I don't even like to say Ive been because I don't even count it LOL .. Im sure you're aware the crowds that day. But you def could not move and I think we rode like 4 rides all day

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...Oh let me add we did do DL once before. That trip to San Diego we took, my kids were 4 and 18 months. We took a over Christmas break trip and did so many fun things, well since we were in Cali I said we had to go to DL well we went on Jan 2nd. And well it was a *** show. I don't even like to say Ive been because I don't even count it LOL .. Im sure you're aware the crowds that day. But you def could not move and I think we rode like 4 rides all day

If you were at DL on Jan. 2nd -- which counts as Christmas Week (12/25 - New Year's/whenever Holiday Time ends) -- then you've survived DL at its MOST crowded. (4 rides on a day like that is normal -- NYE is like that almost every year.) Spring Break is nothing compared to that. Christmas Week is known as the most crowded time of the DLR year. If you survived that (with babies!), then keep the frame of mind that "nothing can be that bad" -- you've BTDT, you've survived, and this time around, you've got better skills, a better plan, more knowledge, more research, MP (!), and the DIS Boards on your side. With patience, planning, and a positive attitude, you're going to be just fine and have a great trip!

 

[DLgal]

Well, the So Cal ticket offer has a blackout between April 14-22, so you won't have those people to contend with. On the other hand, the blackout is likely in place because Disney expects huge crowds that week, so be prepared for lots and lots of people. Personally, I will be staying FAR away from the parks that week. I can visit anytime since I live so close, but I avoid high crowd weeks because it's just not fun for me. But a lot of the aggravation for me comes from the process of parking and going through security and the tram ride, which, on really busy days, can take more than an hour and just frustrates me to no end. As a vacationed, you won't have to deal with the parking part, at least, right?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... But a lot of the aggravation for me comes from the process of parking and going through security and the tram ride, which, on really busy days, can take more than an hour and just frustrates me to no end...

Totally hear you on this! It's so stressful trying to figure out if/hoping that parking will still be open by the time we get to the parks! I have to keep checking Twitter all the way to the parks to make sure we can still park. Friends have told us that parking was open when they got off the freeway and when they arrived at M&F, it was closed! So frustrating! And being re-routed to TS can add an hour to the time it takes to get to the gates...

 

[DLgal]

You are the first person to give me this advice. Everyone else I've spoken with seems to think it will be extremely crowded even until September and Labor Day week. Its really a hard choice.

I get that. But "everyone else" also seems to think the middle of summer is always super crowded at DL and it's actually not. There are a lot of misconception about crowds at DL floating around.

Here's what I really think. (I stand ready to be proven completely wrong, though.) The Star Wars "die hards" will get to DL close to the opening of the new land. June, July...definite madhouse. Even the APs who are blacked out will find a way to come during the blackout. Honestly, a one day ticket is nothing to a true SW fan, my husband spends more than that routinely on SW collectibles and Lego sets. There will be significant hype for about 6 weeks. By September, I expect things to simmer down on that front considerably. Disneyland is just not like WDW, with a sustained high number of vacationers year round. What happened at Pandora won't happen here. DL relies SO much on local guests that after the summer vacationers have left, it will be back to a manageable level (crowded still, but not insane). Disney's price increases have had a definite effect on the local population. The So Cal ticket offer and the CONSTANT advertisements on the radio and FB targeted ads for "become a passholder today" are evidence that the numbers of local visitors is falling. It's ironic that Disney explains away their price increases on wanting to better manage crowds while at the same time increasing their advertisements targeted at locals to buy APs. This is very telling.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I get that. But "everyone else" also seems to think the middle of summer is always super crowded at DL and it's actually not. There are a lot of misconception about crowds at DL floating around...

Actually, on this forum, this past summer was often said to be a very good time to go. Crowds were manageable. Weekends, especially Saturdays, were very good (if you had good organization and used FP/MP). On that point, most "everyone else" agreed with you. I also agree about the misconceptions about DLR floating around out there -- mostly because so many people assume that what's true for WDW must be true for DLR.

 

[DLgal]

Actually, on this forum, this past summer was often said to be a very good time to go. Crowds were manageable. Weekends, especially Saturdays, were very good (if you had good organization and used FP/MP). On that point, most "everyone else" agreed with you. I also agree about the misconceptions about DLR floating around out there -- mostly because so many people assume that what's true for WDW must be true for DLR.

This forum is "woke" regarding crowd levels. Saturdays in July are the best days of the year to visit, for sure. But the general public assumption is "summer is crazy at Disneyland." It's just not, though. The OP said everyone she "spoke with" so I assumed people NOT on this forum.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... But the general public assumption is "summer is crazy at Disneyland." It's just not, though. The OP said everyone she "spoke with" so I assumed people NOT on this forum.

And the general public assumption that Mondays must be good, not busy days at DLR is the reason that Mondays are generally now crowded, busy days!

 

[DLgal]

And the general public assumption that Mondays must be good, not busy days at DLR is the reason that Mondays are generally now crowded, busy days!

Yup. Ugh, my kids have a random day off Monday, Feb 11 for staff development in our district and I stupidly told them we would go to DL. I'm an idiot.

 

[DLgal]

And the general public assumption that Mondays must be good, not busy days at DLR is the reason that Mondays are generally now crowded, busy days!

Along these lines, the general public assumption that SW land opening at DL will result in CRAZY, unmanageable crowds might actually cause the opposite to happen, as people stay away. It will be interesting to see how it actually plays out. It's interesting to me that all my local friends have NO plans to go anywhere near DL this summer...and several people who have APs expiring soon are not going to renew because of the perceived "craziness."

Over at WDW, though...SW land is going to have a huge impact for years to come. It's gonna be crazy over there.

I compare SW land at DL to the opening of the Harry Potter land at Universal Hollywood. It just wasn't anything like what they saw in Universal Orlando. I think the majority of visitors will go to WDW to see it, not Disneyland.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Along these lines, the general public assumption that SW land opening at DL will result in CRAZY, unmanageable crowds might actually cause the opposite to happen, as people stay away. It will be interesting to see how it actually plays out. It's interesting to me that all my local friends have NO plans to go anywhere near DL this summer...and several people who have APs expiring soon are not going to renew because of the perceived "craziness."...

See, many of our local friends are swing dancers in the parks who visit weekly (usually on Saturdays). They may or may not have any interest in SWGE (it divides pretty evenly by age), but they are not letting their APs expire! I haven't heard anyone say that they're planning on staying away from DL. Maybe they'll stay away from the new land because they have no interest in it anyway, but they'll be in both parks all summer (as long as they can find parking...)!

 

[DLgal]

See, many of our local friends are swing dancers in the parks who visit weekly (usually on Saturdays). They may or may not have any interest in SWGE (it divides pretty evenly by age), but they are not letting their APs expire! I haven't heard anyone say that they're planning on staying away from DL. Maybe they'll stay away from the new land because they have no interest in it anyway, but they'll be in both parks all summer (as long as they can find parking...)!

We seem to be the holdouts among our group of family and friends. My sister and her family live in LA and have been passholders for years, but she told me she is over the aggravation of going to DL and the CONSTANT price increases and crowds and she said they will just buy one day tickets going forward, and visit once or twice a year. Her pass expires in May and she has a SW obsessed son, and even then she said they won't go anywhere near DL until well after summer is over. Several friends have similar stories. Meanwhile, we upgraded to Signature passes because we cannot accept being blocked out of Disneyland all of July. We are die hards!

 

[NicholeB630]

Totally hear you on this! It's so stressful trying to figure out if/hoping that parking will still be open by the time we get to the parks! I have to keep checking Twitter all the way to the parks to make sure we can still park. Friends have told us that parking was open when they got off the freeway and when they arrived at M&F, it was closed! So frustrating! And being re-routed to TS can add an hour to the time it takes to get to the gates...

I feel like Im not even more conflicted LOL I wish there was an easy answer. Part of me wants to say hey spring break is so soon so I def want to go and with tips and MP I think we'll be ok .. But then reading others options on Sept I worry we'll miss a chance that it is less crowded. Why must planning a Disney trip be so difficult? I know its so unknown how its really gonna be regarding crowds. I suppose I need to get my husband on board with the Spring trip first to really even consider it ha. I feel like I need a power point presentation as to why its a good time to go and how it won't be like DW lol

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I feel like Im not even more conflicted LOL I wish there was an easy answer. Part of me wants to say hey spring break is so soon so I def want to go and with tips and MP I think we'll be ok .. But then reading others options on Sept I worry we'll miss a chance that it is less crowded. Why must planning a Disney trip be so difficult? I know its so unknown how its really gonna be regarding crowds. I suppose I need to get my husband on board with the Spring trip first to really even consider it ha. I feel like I need a power point presentation as to why its a good time to go and how it won't be like DW lol

TBH, I don't think September will be better. It certainly won't be a ghost town. And it is almost certain to be much hotter. Fall does not = cooler, autumnal weather in Southern California. Fall = hot weather, most of the time. For sure, Haunted Mansion will be down for the Halloween overlay. The parks should be on non-peak scheduling -- that can make the parks feel MORE crowded because of lower staffing, shorter hours, rides running at lower capacity, less entertainment, etc. For Spring Break, the parks will be on peak scheduling -- longer hours, fuller staffing, more entertainment, rides running at fuller capacity. Yes, there will be more refurbs this Spring Break because Disney is trying to get things done before June, but they will try to compensate to keep things running as smoothly as possible.
Read that thread for WDW vets first. Then have your husband read it. DLR really isn't WDW! Both are Disney, but they are different resorts, with different parks, in different states, on different coasts, with different management, and totally different cultures and styles, etc. It sounds silly and obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people don't know this and are shocked when they find out! Neither WDW nor DLR is better than the other; they're just different! Both are good, just different.

 

[NicholeB630]

TBH, I don't think September will be better. It certainly won't be a ghost town. And it is almost certain to be much hotter. Fall does not = cooler, autumnal weather in Southern California. Fall = hot weather, most of the time. For sure, Haunted Mansion will be down for the Halloween overlay. The parks should be on non-peak scheduling -- that can make the parks feel MORE crowded because of lower staffing, shorter hours, rides running at lower capacity, less entertainment, etc. For Spring Break, the parks will be on peak scheduling -- longer hours, fuller staffing, more entertainment, rides running at fuller capacity. Yes, there will be more refurbs this Spring Break because Disney is trying to get things done before June, but they will try to compensate to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

Ok that helps. I am glad you mention the heat because Id like to avoid that. We are never lucky with FL weather and its either stupid cold or overly hot. We rarely get lucky and have Nice weather when we go. Id rather not go to CA and be sweating the whole time HAHA. Now refurbs that are going on now might be done by then right? The castle no biggie but hoping no big rides we can only ride at DL will all be running.

You know the low season less staff etc that you just explained makes a lot of sense when it comes to DW as well. When we went in Feb and it ended up being so crowded I had never seen so many rides down, I mean it was ride after ride. Everyday in every park we'd encounter a ride being down for some reason. Then fast passes to other rides were insanely long because they were sending people to those bc of the rides that were done. I wonder if this resulted BC it was indeed "Off season" and they were seeing more people than expected and didn't have everything running to capacity like a busy time would be.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...You know the low season less staff etc that you just explained makes a lot of sense when it comes to DW as well. When we went in Feb and it ended up being so crowded I had never seen so many rides down, I mean it was ride after ride. Everyday in every park we'd encounter a ride being down for some reason. Then fast passes to other rides were insanely long because they were sending people to those bc of the rides that were done. I wonder if this resulted BC it was indeed "Off season" and they were seeing more people than expected and didn't have everything running to capacity like a busy time would be.

It doesn't necessarily mean that the parks were seeing more guests than they expected (although that could have happened), but it certainly can feel that way when there isn't enough staffing and when rides aren't running at full capacity. Even lower crowds in that situation feel more heavy. Lines for food are longer because there aren't enough CMs to serve everyone quickly. Restrooms don't get cleaned as quickly or as often. And when there is less entertainment offered, all the guests crowd into whatever shows are available. This is why we say that summer isn't really a bad time to visit DLR -- when the parks are ready for crowds and prepared to deal with them, things move pretty smoothly and you don't feel the crowds as much.