Here at the DLR and a few surprises (kinda long)

[Alice28]

I think when I was planning this trip I heard that the first 2 weeks of October a lot of kids were on Fall Break. That, and with Columbus Day and Gay days it would explain the recent crowds. Hopefully it won't be as bad next week.

I hope not too! We'll be there the 20th-23rd. I expect next Saturday to be busy, hence why I am planning on doing DCA that day. But I'm hoping Sunday will be a little quieter, and Monday for sure.

 

[wdw4life]

I hope not too! We'll be there the 20th-23rd. I expect next Saturday to be busy, hence why I am planning on doing DCA that day. But I'm hoping Sunday will be a little quieter, and Monday for sure.

Sunday, the 21st, is the CHOC WALK so expect that day to be busy. The whole weekend really as a lot of walkers stay the weekend.

 

[twingirlsmom2]

Me too! Our last trip was in July so I was hoping for peace this time.

 

[Alice28]

Ack, what is the CHOC walk? Hours of it? I want to plan on being in DL at opening and knocking out as many rides as possible.

Repeated question- we are getting a 3 day pass thru the military and staying at the Grand CA- is there a morning we get into DL an hour early? We're there Sat afternoon, Sun and Monday.

Never mind, googled it. Well, I guess we'll just suck it up and deal with it! I just want to get on Space Mtn a few times, and call me happy.

 

[ShawnaF]

Wow Alice - we're there same time! We'll be at the GC the 21-26. We always go around my daughter's birthday (the last couple years since she was born anyway!) and the crowds have been fabulous for us - her birthday is the 24th and we usually avoid weekends as much as possible. I hope it will be slow!

The CHOC walk is a charity benefit, Children's Hospital I believe - teams. There is a post on here about 3 weeks old from someone participating and she explained it much better than I possibly could.

 

[bumbershoot]

Repeated question- we are getting a 3 day pass thru the military and staying at the Grand CA- is there a morning we get into DL an hour early? We're there Sat afternoon, Sun and Monday.

Staying onsite means that you can have Early Entry each day it is offered during your stay. So if you're there VERY early on Saturday and check in (even if your room isn't ready), I think you could have EE that morning, but you'd definitely get it on Monday.

 

[heatherfeather24]

I wouldn't necessarily right off October because of one busy week (which makes sense with Gay Days, Columbus Day weekend, etc.)

We were just there Oct. 1-3 and crowds were nonexistant. The longest we waited for anything was 15 minutes and we never used fastpass. Maybe it was just better because it was early in the wee?

 

[pixleyyy]

Visiting at a less-busy time is always a concession when we're planning our next trip so I'll be watching this thread for advice on future years. Sounds like mid-October might not be a great time.

 

[Alice28]

Staying onsite means that you can have Early Entry each day it is offered during your stay. So if you're there VERY early on Saturday and check in (even if your room isn't ready), I think you could have EE that morning, but you'd definitely get it on Monday.

Thank you. We will plan on EE for Monday then. We don't get there til about 1pm on Saturday. Is it still Fantasyland & Tomorrowland generally open for EE?

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

Early entry is the key. We have been at DL since Tues. Tues, Thurs & Sat were early entry. Friday was a madhouse. It was crazy busy. By Friday night it felt like Thanksgiving Day. The crowds were the worst I have ever seen them.

Today (Sat) the park opened at 8 am, so early entry was 7 am. We got to the lines at 6:40 and were surprised that the lines for early entry weren't long at all. It was overcast and sprinkling for the next couple of hours. We bought ponchos as soon as we entered the park (at the Star Tours shop). We rode 8 rides in two and 1/2 hours. They were all walk-ons. It was wonderful. We left and went to CA Adventure and later returned to DL at 6 pm. We ate dinner and were able to ride only two rides in the next two hours. So, if you want to make the most out of your day, go to early entry.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We were there this week and experienced the same thing obviously. We really enjoyed the decorations, but I doubt we'll do October again. It was worse then when we went in June! Friday evening we went back in to catch a few more favorites one more time, but I just couldn't handle the crowds.

We saw many rides at 75-90 minutes even on Friday. If we didn't have my brother along with us (who's in a wheelchair) I doubt we would have rode half the things we did. Although it was very difficult moving a wheelchair around the park with wall to wall people (he isn't able to drive the electric ones).

Of course we still had a great time, it is DL after all. But like July I may have to take it off my list of good times to go! Just isn't as fun when it's THAT crowded.

 

[Alice28]

that is so interesting about Friday. I can't help but wonder.....the entire state of Oregon had yesterday off of school for a statewide inservice. I wonder if a ton of Oregonians went to Disneyland on Thursday night, and helped with some of those crowds. I also wonder if perhaps some LA area schools had the day off, instead of the previous Monday? Egads!

We will definitely be doing EE....I think the park doesn't open til 10am on that Monday, so it will be no problem getting to the gates at 0840 or so.

 

[cats mom]

that is so interesting about Friday. I can't help but wonder.....the entire state of Oregon had yesterday off of school for a statewide inservice. I wonder if a ton of Oregonians went to Disneyland on Thursday night, and helped with some of those crowds.

Honestly I would not discount that as a possibility. We happened to hit the parks during UEA one year (apparently the same type of thing for the entire state of Utah, except they had both Thursday & Friday off)
The parks were sooo crowded and almost everyone we talked to was from Utah.
I swear the whole state must have packed up and headed to California for the long weekend.

btw, I just checked and UEA is scheduled for a Monday and Tuesday this year (Oct 29 & 30) Maybe it won't have as much of an impact since it's so close to Halloween.

 

[DisDancerina]

Just remember.. There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day. There's a great big beautiful tomorrow and tomorrow is just a dream away! Man has a dream and that's a start. He follows his dream with mind and heart and when it becomes a reality, it's a dream come true for you and me! There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day! There's a great big beautiful tomorrow and it's just a dream away!

Hehe. Keep It Positive and remember...

I didn't know it was a frisbee until it hit me... KEEP YOUR PEEPERS OPEN!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you. We will plan on EE for Monday then. We don't get there til about 1pm on Saturday. Is it still Fantasyland & Tomorrowland generally open for EE?

Yep, Fantasyland and parts of Tomorrowland (for instance Space Mtn, Nemo, and Buzz are sometimes/often/usually (not sure which one is correct LOL) open).

 

[Alice28]

Yep, Fantasyland and parts of Tomorrowland (for instance Space Mtn, Nemo, and Buzz are sometimes/often/usually (not sure which one is correct LOL) open).

Thank you! I think we will hit Fantasyland first and get in Tomorrowland about 0940 to go on Space and Buzz and get another FP for Space for later.

One more question- I remember in the past, the Canal Boats were not part of the EE....is this still true? That, Matterhorn, and Mr. Toads are truly the only two 'must dos' in Fantasyland for me this time, since Alice is down, and we just went on the WDW counterparts of the other rides this spring. (and Pinocchio never has a line anyway....)

 

[Hound 109]

Thank you! I think we will hit Fantasyland first and get in Tomorrowland about 0940 to go on Space and Buzz and get another FP for Space for later.

One more question- I remember in the past, the Canal Boats were not part of the EE....is this still true? That, Matterhorn, and Mr. Toads are truly the only two 'must dos' in Fantasyland for me this time, since Alice is down, and we just went on the WDW counterparts of the other rides this spring. (and Pinocchio never has a line anyway....)

I think all of your assumptions are correct. (But even a small line at Pinocchio can be a slow one. Since I love the details & story of Pinocchio, I like to take the 2 min. that it takes to ride it during EE & then also catch it again).

But your strategy to bail FL after 40-45 min. of EE & do Buzz & pick up a SM FP is a good one (especially since Alice is down), imo. Have a great time.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We were there last week as well. I've seen the crowds a lot worse during Veteran's Day. While there were lines, with the exception of Nemo, they weren't extraordinary. We waited an average of 20 minutes tops for most all other rides. We only fastpassed Soarin'.

 

[Aust]

We arrived 30th Sept, the weekdays from Monday 1st Oct to Friday were not crowded at all, the most we waited for any rid e was 15 - 20 minutes (except Nemo, that was 35 min), and lots we didn't have to wait at all. We did other stuff on that weekend, but Monday and Tuesday last week were much busier, I expected that on Monday due to the public holiday but we were surprised how busy it still was on Tuesday. I'm just glad we got in all the rides the week before!

 

[minniebeth]

The crowds this past week were much more than I anticipated, even knowing that a lot of schools had off and it would be a busier week. DCA was very crowded and never being there, was surprised so since everyone was saying it is never that busy.
With EE and Fast Passes and we were lucky enough to get Dream Fast Passes, the rides were very doable. We did most everything we wanted to do. But what was frustrating were the "other" lines....
the lines to get into the parks, the lines for the bathrooms, the lines for food, the lines for concessions like soda and ice cream, and the lines to purchase merchandise at stores!!!
We were good though, and very patient. Can't say so much for some other folks though . "Patience is a virtue" that my mom told me when I was little got me through this week!
Despite it all, what an awesome time!!!