Going to DLR in October question...

[Iris1974]

Hi,

I read that the first week in October was super crowded at DLR last year. I read on the crowd calendars(yes with a grain of salt) that that time should be low to moderate crowds. Do any of the veteran DLR goers think it will be this way again? I really want to go to DLR on October 1-5 in 2018, but have alternate dates for September 17-21 2018. This will be my first time going to California and any Disney theme park in more than 20 years. I've only been to WDW. I will have a friend with me who has never been to anything Disney in her life. What would your advise be? Also is it really hot on either of those times in Anaheim? If you could help me decide I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

 

[figment_jii]

It's hard to say whether things will be much different this year. October is generally popular in DLR because of Halloween. A number of schools have Fall breaks in October and Gay Days and Columbus Day weekend are in approximately the same spot (first weekend of the month). It also depends on whether there are any special offers or deals. Basically, I haven't seen anything to indicate whether it will be supper crowded or not, but I generally just assume the parks will be busy.

In terms of September, those dates are right around when HalloweenTime is likely to start (based on the last few years). So it might mean crowds (especially on weekends) and it might be mean Halloween Parties (or not - the dates probably won't be announced until mid-summer).

Both time frames have the possibility of being scorching hot.

Personally, I would probably go with the October dates because they have a much higher chance of being after HalloweenTime and MHP starts and those are two of my favorite things at DLR.

 

[Geemo]

Hi,

I read that the first week in October was super crowded at DLR last year. I read on the crowd calendars(yes with a grain of salt) that that time should be low to moderate crowds. Do any of the veteran DLR goers think it will be this way again? I really want to go to DLR on October 1-5 in 2018, but have alternate dates for September 17-21 2018. This will be my first time going to California and any Disney theme park in more than 20 years. I've only been to WDW. I will have a friend with me who has never been to anything Disney in her life. What would your advise be? Also is it really hot on either of those times in Anaheim? If you could help me decide I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

You are aware of the possible crowds during Halloween time which is good.
Crowd wise, I'd expect the October dates to be busier.
Another thing to keep in mind are park hours during the dates you're considering.
And the park holding the MHP will close early on party nights. 2017 the park closed at 6pm or 7pm for a MHP.

 

[chickapin parterre]

avoid the three day weekend in October, folks could be using thursday and friday to buttress a long vacation with family.

If i understand, you have not been to WDW since 1998? I suggest you purchase a guide book if this is true, it has drastically change the way to tour a disney theme park.

The way to beat the heat, is arrive an hour before gate opening, leave 1-4 and go back to lodging to hydrate and eat, then return fresh in the evening. Disneyland is a whole different experience at night.

 

[Mysteryincorp]

I think your Sept dates may be a little less crowded. It will most likely be hot for both of those weeks, though last year later in October had some more mild, cooler temperatures.
My advice would be: for at least one day get Max pass and focus on rides,one day hang out and go into the parks at night for a Halloween party, one day meander, explore and soak in the atmosphere, shows and parades.

 

[Iris1974]

Thanks so much for the advise and suggestions. I am planning on getting a guide book and studying it like I would for a college exam. I may tell my friend to get one or I'll get another one and send it to her (we're in different states) I'm thinking the October dates work better for us. I am planning on getting MHP tickets for both of us. I also have 2 costume ideas in the running depending on how my friend feels about them. We would fly in on a Monday and leave on a Friday. I'm from Massachusetts and will need a little extra sleep to get the jet lag to wear off. I'm terrible with jet lag so going to MHP that I assume is on a Tuesday and spend time catching up with my friend and going to DTD will give me time to be cognizant enough to enjoy myself. I don't think I would do rides at the party because I plan to go to Disneyland on Wednesday. I'm not really a big ride person I have a neck problem so I can't go on roller coasters. I'm a big and tall girl so If I can't fit it won't bother me. I also have a slight knee problem and couldn't climb out of some rides. My friend is outgoing and will go on rides herself. Then DCA for Thursday. I'm really going for the ambiance, shows, parades and food. Oh and Characters. I'm going to spend a lot of MHP getting pictures and autographs from the characters. I know it's corny to get pictures with characters at 44 years old(when we go I'll be 44), but when I went to WDW I only got a few pictures with characters and I barely remember it. That was when I was 11 and 13 years old. When I went when I was 20 in 1994 for the last time we could find a character anywhere. So when we asked a CM when we were going out on our last day where all the characters were The CM said Toontown. We had no idea what or where Toontown was and I was a bit disappointed, but i was fine with it after about an hour. Now I regret not having that many pictures with Characters. So now I want them badly and if I'm in costume that would be great. I'm sure my friend would love to do that too. I'll take the advise and go an hour before park opening and take a break around 1:00pm and then come back later in the evening. I really appreciate the suggestions and all of your wisdom. Thanks so much again.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Thanks so much for the advise and suggestions. I am planning on getting a guide book and studying it like I would for a college exam. I may tell my friend to get one or I'll get another one and send it to her (we're in different states) I'm thinking the October dates work better for us. I am planning on getting MHP tickets for both of us. I also have 2 costume ideas in the running depending on how my friend feels about them. We would fly in on a Monday and leave on a Friday. I'm from Massachusetts and will need a little extra sleep to get the jet lag to wear off. I'm terrible with jet lag so going to MHP that I assume is on a Tuesday and spend time catching up with my friend and going to DTD will give me time to be cognizant enough to enjoy myself. I don't think I would do rides at the party because I plan to go to Disneyland on Wednesday. I'm not really a big ride person I have a neck problem so I can't go on roller coasters. I'm a big and tall girl so If I can't fit it won't bother me. I also have a slight knee problem and couldn't climb out of some rides. My friend is outgoing and will go on rides herself. Then DCA for Thursday. I'm really going for the ambiance, shows, parades and food. Oh and Characters. I'm going to spend a lot of MHP getting pictures and autographs from the characters. I know it's corny to get pictures with characters at 44 years old(when we go I'll be 44), but when I went to WDW I only got a few pictures with characters and I barely remember it. That was when I was 11 and 13 years old. When I went when I was 20 in 1994 for the last time we could find a character anywhere. So when we asked a CM when we were going out on our last day where all the characters were The CM said Toontown. We had no idea what or where Toontown was and I was a bit disappointed, but i was fine with it after about an hour. Now I regret not having that many pictures with Characters. So now I want them badly and if I'm in costume that would be great. I'm sure my friend would love to do that too. I'll take the advise and go an hour before park opening and take a break around 1:00pm and then come back later in the evening. I really appreciate the suggestions and all of your wisdom. Thanks so much again.

If you want Halloween I think your decision to go in October is wise. Expect big crowds and be happy if you luck out and get lower crowds. Wednesday is my favorite day to go to DL... l feel like it's less crowded in general than other days, although sometimes you get big crowds no matter what. It is not corny for adults to take pictures with the characters, people do that all the time. Just don't be "that" person who cuts in front of the 2 year old who is first in line at Mickey's house (yes this happened to us!).

Also, since you like taking it easy, I would suggest taking some of your first day to explore the Disney hotels and maybe have a drink or meal at Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel. It was one of my favorites!

 

[Geemo]

Thanks so much for the advise and suggestions. I am planning on getting a guide book and studying it like I would for a college exam. I may tell my friend to get one or I'll get another one and send it to her (we're in different states) I'm thinking the October dates work better for us. I am planning on getting MHP tickets for both of us. I also have 2 costume ideas in the running depending on how my friend feels about them. We would fly in on a Monday and leave on a Friday. I'm from Massachusetts and will need a little extra sleep to get the jet lag to wear off. I'm terrible with jet lag so going to MHP that I assume is on a Tuesday and spend time catching up with my friend and going to DTD will give me time to be cognizant enough to enjoy myself. I don't think I would do rides at the party because I plan to go to Disneyland on Wednesday. I'm not really a big ride person I have a neck problem so I can't go on roller coasters. I'm a big and tall girl so If I can't fit it won't bother me. I also have a slight knee problem and couldn't climb out of some rides. My friend is outgoing and will go on rides herself. Then DCA for Thursday. I'm really going for the ambiance, shows, parades and food. Oh and Characters. I'm going to spend a lot of MHP getting pictures and autographs from the characters. I know it's corny to get pictures with characters at 44 years old(when we go I'll be 44), but when I went to WDW I only got a few pictures with characters and I barely remember it. That was when I was 11 and 13 years old. When I went when I was 20 in 1994 for the last time we could find a character anywhere. So when we asked a CM when we were going out on our last day where all the characters were The CM said Toontown. We had no idea what or where Toontown was and I was a bit disappointed, but i was fine with it after about an hour. Now I regret not having that many pictures with Characters. So now I want them badly and if I'm in costume that would be great. I'm sure my friend would love to do that too. I'll take the advise and go an hour before park opening and take a break around 1:00pm and then come back later in the evening. I really appreciate the suggestions and all of your wisdom. Thanks so much again.

I have a few things to add....
Disneyland rides are very accommodating for big and tall people. There are a couple of rides that might be a a little tight leg room wise, they are DCA's Goofy's sky school and DL's Matterhorn. Other than that I wouldn't expect there to be a problem. I'm on the shorter side in height and my body is on the larger size. When I'm on a ride with the lap belt, I pull it all the way out before I sit down. On some of the rides I even buckle it before I sit down because once I sit I can't clip it in the bracket.
If you are shopping for t-shirts or a sweatshirt and need a larger size, I have found the stock to be better in the morning. Sometimes the CM's will even call around to other park locations to check inventory for me.
Back to rides... If there is a ride that you aren't going to ride, I encourage you to at least go through the que with your friend. As your friend gets on the ride the CM can direct you to an exit. Many of the ques are very detail themed to the ride and you will enjoy them too.
ToonTown generally opens one hour or so after Disneyland opens. It also will close earlier due to the fireworks. Check with a CM for the daily schedule of TT.
If you get MaxPass it includes PhotoPass. So you can collect as many character and ride photos as you'd like to have.
Geemo

 

[chickapin parterre]

character hints....not written down anywhere....but what I have found...Peter Pan is usually around Dumbo...alice and mad hatter around coke corner, Cruella up by flag pole before flag lowering....woody in Frontierland, jack and sally by NOS train station, Tigger...well they put him in the far corner with pooh. Sparrow is about NOS and random folks by exit of Jungle cruise. Or take a bench on the east side of the halloween tree art and wait for Characters to come out of the mystery door at Main street hub.

 

[Iris1974]

Sorry for not responding sooner. My mom was in the hospital from Jan. 1-6 and was not doing to well since Wednesday. She had to go back in the hospital today and she doesn't want me to worry so my oldest sister is with her now. I'm the baby so she protects me.

I want to thank you all for the wonderful advice and suggestions. I'm going to put this thread in my bookmarks on firefox and refer to it a lot.

SOCALmousemommy I won't be cutting any kids or anyone. I worked with kids for 10 years and love to see them happy. I also have 6 nephews, 2 nieces, a great nephew and a cousin the same age as my youngest niece and nephew who are twins. They were born 9 days apart in the same year. So kids mean a lot to me. I would be the one letting the crying kid behind me go first. LOL I will try the first day to go to a DLR hotel restaurant. I don't drink, but the food would be nice. Thanks for the suggestion.

Geemo Thanks so much for the info on the rides. I also will get MaxPass and get as many pictures as I can get. I don't think I'll be shopping for clothes, but if I do I'll take your advice. You were very helpful.

chickapin parterre Thank you so much for the character's hangouts. This will be very helpful.

You all were so nice and helpful. Thank you again. I love DIS boards.

Shauna in Massachusetts