Help with planning Disneyland/DCA days over the holidays

[alohamom]

I posted this in the Holidays Superthread but I thought I would make it a separate post just in case 'cause I need all the help I can get folks!!!!


There is a possibility my family and I may be headed to SoCal for the holidays and if we do we want to include a Disneyland/DCA visit of at least 3 days (I am Canadian and we have a special discount ticket offer right now for 3+ days)

We would most likely be coming into California around Dec 23 and staying until Jan 3. It is really last minute due to unforseen circumstances but...

What do all of you Disneyland Holidays experts think would be my BEST 3 days to be hitting Disneyland/DCA from a crowd perspective?

I totally get there will be elbow to elbow crowds but there has to be some better days than others, right?

Is there a site or forum that posts info like this for Disneyland/DCA?

Or what has been your experience as a Disneyland holiday time visitor?

Any info is greatly appreciated

 

[MacMama0930]

I think trying to go before Christmas is better. It seems to pick up crowd wise after Christmas Day. Lots of "surprise! We're going to Disneyland" on Christmas morning, ya know? But I think it'll calm down after the 3rd since it seems a large portion of AP holders are still blocked until the 7th this year (I think).

 

[MacMama0930]

I checked the crowd ratings for last year. The 23rd and 24th ranges between 3s and 6s on a 1-10 scale. The 27th, 28th and 29th were all 10s.

 

[alohamom]

I checked the crowd ratings for last year. The 23rd and 24th ranges between 3s and 6s on a 1-10 scale. The 27th, 28th and 29th were all 10s.

Oh WOW-that helps sooo much, thank you!

 

[dina444444]

Oh WOW-that helps sooo much, thank you!

Don’t rely necessarily on last years ratings for the 23rd. We had torrential rain that evening so the parks emptied out early evening before the rain started.

 

[alohamom]

Don’t rely necessarily on last years ratings for the 23rd. We had torrential rain that evening so the parks emptied out early evening before the rain started.

Oh man, that would not be good!

I just want to figure out the BEST days of a very very crowded scenario...

I am wondering if Christmas Eve/24th might be good because people may want to be home and have little ones to bed early

 

[katyringo]

We are going the 26-31st and are prepared for massive crowds every single day. Eve though it’s short notice I might try to make some dinning reservations to help.

 

[alohamom]

We are going the 26-31st and are prepared for massive crowds every single day. Eve though it’s short notice I might try to make some dinning reservations to help.

I was actually just doing that LOL

 

[midnight star]

The closest time I’ve gone to the parks before Christmas was December 20. It was of course packed BUT we managed it by taking full advantage of fast passes (max pass wasn’t a thing yet). Also I would suggest getting there right when the parks open. The first hour or two isn’t that bad so you can get around pretty easy. Since you’re going for 3 days you’ll have some time too, so you may not have to rush through everything.

Maybe day 1 have a game plan for one park, day 2 the next, then third do whatever you didn’t get to?

 

[katyringo]

The closest time I’ve gone to the parks before Christmas was December 20. It was of course packed BUT we managed it by taking full advantage of fast passes (max pass wasn’t a thing yet). Also I would suggest getting there right when the parks open. The first hour or two isn’t that bad so you can get around pretty easy. Since you’re going for 3 days you’ll have some time too, so you may not have to rush through everything.

Maybe day 1 have a game plan for one park, day 2 the next, then third do whatever you didn’t get to?

I agree with this too. We’ve picked 1-2 must do things for each day and make those priority. The rest is gravy.

 

[alohamom]

@midnight star and @katyringo thanks for the input, I keep telling myself that is what we will do. Just being in the parks is a true treat for us so I think it will work hahaha fingers crossed!

 

[SUNNYVEE]

What do you think about jan 4-6 (Thursday -Saturday) thinking about surprising my mom--- hotels are reasonable and flights are great from the Bay Area.

 

[DLmama]

What do you think about jan 4-6 (Thursday -Saturday) thinking about surprising my mom--- hotels are reasonable and flights are great from the Bay Area.

I'm hoping crowds will be better than the week before since we're going to be there those same dates, driving down from the Bay Area. I know the Signature pass will be unblocked as of 1/2 and Deluxe as of 1/3, but the So Cal passes are still blocked. I'm sure it'll still be busy, but hopefully not capacity busy.

 

[cmwade77]

What do you think about jan 4-6 (Thursday -Saturday) thinking about surprising my mom--- hotels are reasonable and flights are great from the Bay Area.

It will be busy, but not as busy as Christmas Day or New Years Eve, I would say the parks will probably reach 70% (Thursday) to 90% (Friday and Saturday) of capacity.