How does D23 Expo Affect the Parks?

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I was planning to go n July 15 (Saturday), but found out it is D23 Expo weekend. Does that make the parks insane?

 

[SMD]

It's a weekend in July, so it will be crowded. Let's put it this way, people who go to D23 are either locals who probably have park admission or people who are big enough fans to fly in for the convention. Wouldn't you go to the parks in the evenings if you were already there?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Well, the other option for us would be the weekend prior (July 8 or 9) so it will still be a weekend during the busy summer season, which I'm expecting. But if D23 crowds push things really over the top I would opt for the previous weekend.

 

[SMD]

Have you checked the difference in hotel rates? If D23 is driving up hotel rates, that would be an easy choice. I don't think either will be ideal, you're probably going to see a lot of people making July 4th a whole week. Again, it's July, it will be crowded either way.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I should clarify... we are local and just going for one day, no hotel. I actually have an annual pass which will be blocked, but I'm going with a friend who wants to see the MSELP before it's gone. She can only go on weekends so we are a limited to that. She has a friend who works for Disney who can give us both guest passes.

 

[SMD]

I should clarify... we are local and just going for one day, no hotel. I actually have an annual pass which will be blocked, but I'm going with a friend who wants to see the MSELP before it's gone. She can only go on weekends so we are a limited to that. She has a friend who works for Disney who can give us both guest passes.

I'd probably go on the early weekend. Just because I think most people at D23 can make it to the park in time for MSEP. It might not have as much impact during the day, but if you're going for the parade, choose your date based on that.

 

[DebbieB]

I've gone to the last 3 D23 expos. We always arrive the Sunday before, do the parks through Thursday and then the Expo on the weekend. Last time I did spend the morning and early afternoon on Sunday at California Adventure, then headed to the Expo to meet my friends. Crowds were not bad during the week. I wonder if July will be different this year.

 

[jeffbeardreams]

It's a weekend in July, so it will be crowded. Let's put it this way, people who go to D23 are either locals who probably have park admission or people who are big enough fans to fly in for the convention. Wouldn't you go to the parks in the evenings if you were already there?

In my case, no ... because big conventions always leave me exhausted at the end of the day when I crawl out of whatever convention center I'm in. We're hitting the parks for 4 days before D23 and then not worrying about doing that during the con. I know plenty of people who are traveling in for D23 doing that or the reverse ... spending their park time after the con.

But knowing Disney geeks like I do, yeah. You'd better plan on those evenings during D23 being one or two notches more crowded.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Thanks for the advice! I think we'll go the weekend before or maybe the weekend after if my friend can swing that.