It was crowded at the park...

[lildreamer101]

On a Monday??? I guess I lucked out last time my family went to the parks. There was no wait for most rides and not a lot of people. Is it a holiday today?

 

[SMD]

It's just busier these days. I didn't think it was that bad, 40 minutes for RSR and 20 minutes for GSS around noon. Several local districts have pupil free days this Friday because it's the end of the semester. That will probably be crowded.

 

[calilou]

We were in DCA today and it was maybe a little more crowded than I was expecting (the security lines right at 10am park opening were awful), but not too bad. It did feel like a lot of local visitors to me.

 

[Metalliman98]

I think the only time you can practically count on it being slow anymore is Wednesday morning that isn't a holiday or part of a holiday week. Weekends are obviously busy, M and F are busy because of people making trips a three day weekend, with Tu and Th being slight extensions of that.

So yeah, non-holiday Wednesdays from 8-2 are your sweet spot.

 

[tiffjoy]

Interesting. We thought it was great, crowd wise. DCA was practically empty.

DL is never as empty as it used to be years ago. "Quiet days" have a new definition.

 

[sherilaine]

On a Monday??? I guess I lucked out last time my family went to the parks. There was no wait for most rides and not a lot of people. Is it a holiday today?

Just curious as to when the last time was you visited DLR? Just a few months ago or a few years ago?

 

[lildreamer101]

Just curious as to when the last time was you visited DLR? Just a few months ago or a few years ago?

I went late January last year. Same time basically. Both park were practically empty. It could be the 60th thing?

 

[sherilaine]

From everything I have read on here, we are bracing ourselves for the parks to be much busier than our last trip - which will be the exact same time back in 2014 and 2012. We also visited in May of 2013 and it was quite a bit busier at that time of year. We have noticed a steady increase every trip we take, and I am sure that with the 60th celebration and Season of the Force, that it's going to be our busiest visit yet. The only saving grace is if it's busy during what used to be off season periods, imagine what you are avoiding by not coming during spring break or holiday periods!!

 

[agamble]

I went late January last year. Same time basically. Both park were practically empty. It could be the 60th thing?

It seems like there are occasional "dead" days that people report about. I don't think you can plan for them though. In fact if someone said the last Monday in January is a great time to go, then everyone would go that day and it wouldn't be. LOL! It doesn't sound like it was that bad though based on wait times for RSR listed above. I imagine Disneyland feels extra crazy with the walkways closed at Adventureland and between Fantasyland and Frontierland.

 

[GatorChris]

I'm pinning this on the 60th. Disney nailed it with this celebration. We went in Nov '13 on Vet's week and it wasn't bad. Went again in Nov '14 after Vets week and it was practically empty. I remember literally walking on to Big Thunder, then heading to Pirates where we were the only people in line, and then walking right onto Splash Mt. It was Magical! We went again (with an AP) at the end of Feb and it was still pretty quiet. Then we went in June after the 60th started and it was busy, but I chalked that up to the summer. But when we returned Vet's week in November '15, it was madness! It was just as bad that entire week as it was on any Summer day.

I figured the renovations would make an impact, but I guess not.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

Im definetely blaming this on the 60th anniversary! My cousing posted a picture of herself yesterday at Disneyland in front of the castle and I was so bummed they still had the castle decorated! How long must this go on! I am just hoping its gone by the time I go at the end of February (although I doubt it) I just want it to be not so busy.

 

[SuperRob]

Im definetely blaming this on the 60th anniversary! My cousing posted a picture of herself yesterday at Disneyland in front of the castle and I was so bummed they still had the castle decorated! How long must this go on! I am just hoping its gone by the time I go at the end of February (although I doubt it) I just want it to be not so busy.

It's not scheduled to end until September 5th. Sorry.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

Damn that stinks, I didn't realize an anniversary celebration would last so long. I mean I really want 60th anniversay memorabilia but would rather have less crowds.

 

[SMD]

The crowds aren't going to magically disappear on Sept 6th. Disney is marketing to increase them and shift them throughout the year instead of clustered around a few months. They're in business.

 

[chickapin parterre]

The crowds aren't going to magically disappear on Sept 6th. Disney is marketing to increase them and shift them throughout the year instead of clustered around a few months. They're in business.

very sound advice for the next 10 years!!!!!!!!

 

[Gisele]

Yeah, their in business alright. The problem with that is when revenue is the bottom line, much can be blurred or lost in many avenues.

 

[sherilaine]

I think the best thing you can do is show up early and be prepared for crowds. If the crowds don't materialize then bonus but if you show up and think you are going to walk onto rides, even when it's raining, then you are going to be terribly disapointed. Expectations can really make or break a vacation!

 

[Casey's Mommie]

The average consumer is so much more savvy than they used to be. The guide books/Internet tell people to avoid weekends and holidays. They tell them it's worth it to take the kids out of school. Everyone is trying to find the "dead times." The dead times have shorter hours, fewer entertainment options, maybe less cars/trains going on the rides so the lines aren't any shorter than busy days, even though there are fewer people in the parks.

 

[sherilaine]

It is worth it to take kids out of school, at least it is to us. As busy as it is, spring break is only going to become that much worse! By going when we are I am not expecting dead times at all though, I am just trying to avoid insanely busy. I have to wonder with all the closures for Star Wars construction lasting over a full year, that is not going to help busier times at all!!

 

[dotfurio]

Several local districts have pupil free days this Friday because it's the end of the semester. That will probably be crowded.

Aw drat! We're going Friday - trying to squeeze in a couple more trips before our passes expire. At least we only have a couple things on our must do list, unfortunately one of them is SW meet and greets :-/