They have a FP queue, but they do not always use it. Last year, they did not open it at all during the time HMH was open. It was used for the Jack and Sally M&G instead.
This is the first day of the Halloween season and Dapper Day weekend...hardly considered off season.
I totally agree. There are possibly certain weeks here and there throughout the year that have lower crowds than other weeks, and they are slower than other times. I would not think that Dapper Day combined with the start of Halloween Time would be a slow day. It might not reach New Year's Eve-level crowds, but it will be a busy day.
September and October are only considered off-peak season by Disney in terms of overall attendance numbers -- meaning those months are not peak summer season, peak holiday season or random holidays (Thanksgiving or New Year's Eve) that increase crowds tremendously. That sort of thing.
For the average visitor, though, the crowds in the park today will not seem low, or like off-peak season crowds, because Halloween Time is extremely popular.
Even beyond the popularity of the Halloween Time season in general, many people go to DLR on opening day (just as they would go on opening day of the holiday season too) to see what is new, missing, changed, etc., in terms of décor, treats and merchandise. Many podcasters, bloggers, moderators and other people from various minor news outlets and
Disneyland-related discussion forums go on opening day of any season or special event, specifically to report back.
(I would be there today myself, doing that very thing, if it weren't so hot and miserable!
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