IT WAS PACKED! Anyone else there the past coupls of days?

[Peace.love.mickey]

We just got back last night and I have to say I have not seen DL that packed in a long time. Yesterday, they sold out of DL tickets before noon. POTC line wrapped all the way almost down to HM at only 10:00. FP tickets for most of the rides were gone early. It was insane! A CM told us that tomorrow they will most likely end up shutting the gates.

I noticed a lot of big tour groups, tons from other countries and A LOT of Rose Bowl football fans....

I am looking forward to going back when it is less crowded!

Maybe...just maybe the economy is getting better

Anyone else there?

 

[Sherry E]

We just got back last night and I have to say I have not seen DL that packed in a long time. Yesterday, they sold out of DL tickets before noon. POTC line wrapped all the way almost down to HM at only 10:00. FP tickets for most of the rides were gone early. It was insane! A CM told us that tomorrow they will most likely end up shutting the gates.

I noticed a lot of big tour groups, tons from other countries and A LOT of Rose Bowl football fans....

I am looking forward to going back when it is less crowded!

Maybe...just maybe the economy is getting better

Anyone else there?

It is traditionally a madhouse at DLR in the week between Christmas and New Year's, because many people are off work for that whole week, not to mention the fact that many people either got APs/tickets for Christmas presents, or they got money to buy APs/Hoppers, and the masses then descend upon DLR. It will only be worse on New Year's Eve, when the crowds are insane.

Actually, strange as it may seem, the huge crowds this year at unexpected times - as well as expected times - may be an indicator of the economy not improving too much yet! There is a massive number of folks with APs of all levels now (getting close to one million, I think), many of whom got their APs using the SoCal resident monthly payment plan. It is believed that lots and lots of folks in CA and bordering states, in an effort to save money, have chosen to visit DLR and stay closer to home - perhaps a more affordable vacation than, say, going to visit Grandma Mary in Virginia for a week, or going to WDW in Orlando. The AP is a fantastic bargain, as daunting as the price may seem up front, considering the amount of entertainment you can get with it in a full year. In 2008, the DLR hotel bookings were down and there was lots of availability at all 3 hotels all the way through Christmas, as more folks were opting to stay offsite at less expensive places. I will be interested to hear the stats on the hotel bookings for 2009, as I wonder if they are still down or if that improved.

I was at DLR on December 19, which is the same exact weekend I was there in 2008 and 2007, and it was way busier than the previous two years! I was not expecting that because it had been so manageable in '08 and '07. The POTC line was longer than I have seen it since the late '80s (but it moved very fast), the RoA/NOS area was totally congested with people watching Tiana's Showboat Jubilee, the line for HMH was 45 minutes before 11:00 a.m., the line for Buzz Lightyear was long and slow, the lines for food and snacks were very long, Main Street (especially at night) was packed with people - it was crazy! Oddly, the line for TSMM was not as long as I have seen it and moved very fast!

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Oddly, the line for TSMM was not as long as I have seen it and moved very fast!

We found the same thing...crazy!!!!

I have been at this time before and it was worse to me!

I go back in Feb, it should be better!!!

 

[Disney Dreams]

It is always busy from Christmas to New Years, with New Yeaer's Eve being the day of days at DL.

- Schools everywhere are on vacation.
- Everyone wants to see the Christmas decor / entertainment before it goes away.
- The weather in So. Cal beats the weather across most of the country.
- Rose Bowl folks are in town.

The key is to plan around the crowds and enjoy!

Hope you had fun!

- Dreams

 

[CrazyDuck]

'Tis the season!

If ya don't like crowds ya need to plan better.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

I know about the crowds...I didn't say I cared, I was just shocked! We rocked everything and did it all perfectly! I was there 2 weeks ago and it was not crazy at all! Last year, same time, not as crazy. Next year, the plan is for a nice weekend in between Turkey Day and X-mas!

I guess I had never seen so many tour groups from other countries! Dollar is in the pooper!

 

[pigletforever]

yipee for a college age son on break, a 7 year old that is home schooled (he agreed to do work this week so he can have 3 days of vacation next week) and a hubby who can work from anywhere (usually home) We are going next week after everyone else gets back to school and work.

We actually almost went this week and upgraded our AP's to premium but DS can't handle those crowds so we opted for next week. I think after seeing pics and hearing stories we made the right choice. I am sure everyone is having a magical time despite the crowds. how can you not? It is Disney after all.

 

[julw]

Yep, we were there and it was totally crazy busy. Busiest I have ever seen it. Ever. Seemed like yesterday (29th) was the busiest of all our three days there.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Heard DLR was packed on the 28th and 29th. My Bro-in-law was going by Knott's this a.m. and said it was so busy they were directing traffic on Beach Blvd. Guess all those we didn't get DLR AP got Knott's ones.

Just imagine if this week wasn't a blocked out week for most AP. Guess Disney knew what they were doing when they blocked most of the AP and employees as well.

I'll be going back starting Jan. 3rd. DD10 is off track all of Jan. I love going to DLR after the holidays are over and the crowds diminish! My DD10 is offtrack in Jan., May, and Sept. which are all good months to go to DLR. (though Sept. is getting pretty crowded with Halloweentime)

 

[Flitterific]

I was there over Christmas weekend and thought Sunday the 27th was the busiest of the 3. But it definitely sounds a lot worse right now

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Yeah, the 27th was our lightest day!

 

[mamaofthree]

yipee for a college age son on break, a 7 year old that is home schooled (he agreed to do work this week so he can have 3 days of vacation next week) and a hubby who can work from anywhere (usually home) We are going next week after everyone else gets back to school and work.

We actually almost went this week and upgraded our AP's to premium but DS can't handle those crowds so we opted for next week. I think after seeing pics and hearing stories we made the right choice. I am sure everyone is having a magical time despite the crowds. how can you not? It is Disney after all.

I'm curious how crowds will be next week, we are going then too. I'm expecting lighter than Christmas crowds, but since we are still off school next week, I know others are too.

 

[jlmarr]

It is always busy from Christmas to New Years, with New Yeaer's Eve being the day of days at DL.

- Schools everywhere are on vacation.
- Everyone wants to see the Christmas decor / entertainment before it goes away.
- The weather in So. Cal beats the weather across most of the country.
- Rose Bowl folks are in town.

Yes, it's a perfect storm this year, with both Rose Bowl teams having not been there in a decade or so. Plus (per usual) all of the Rose Parade bands that also get to march on DL's Main Street, each band member with parents, siblings, aunt, uncles, grandma and grandpa, etc. And going to DL is on everyone's must-do list.

 

[GrandBob]

Next year, the plan is for a nice weekend in between Turkey Day and X-mas!

Good choice. We went this year right after Thanksgiving. We were in the parks from Sunday 11/29 through Thursday 12/3. It was a dream! Very short lines. Usually 10 minutes for Indy, 10-20 for Matterhorn, and POTC was usually a walk-on! I highly recommend going right after Turkey day.

-Bob

 

[Sherry E]

Good choice. We went this year right after Thanksgiving. We were in the parks from Sunday 11/29 through Thursday 12/3. It was a dream! Very short lines. Usually 10 minutes for Indy, 10-20 for Matterhorn, and POTC was usually a walk-on! I highly recommend going right after Turkey day.

-Bob

And see, that is so funny because that is not at all how it used to be. I can recall going to DLR right after Thanksgiving back in 2001, and the crowds were outrageous. In fact, that period right after Thanksgiving used to be one of the busiest times of the year! But I think there is some real logic to going after Thanksgiving weekend is over, and before anyone is out of work or school for Christmas break in December. That makes sense to me, to go, say, early December. Then again, the crowds seemed to be worse this year when they were not expected to be, and better than expected at other times (like over 4th of July). Who knows what will happen in 2010? I can't wait to read the early January article by Al Lutz and see what the numbers, facts and figures were for attendance and also for new AP holders!! If the AP holder number increased significantly over the holidays as it did in late 2008, that will be our indicator that crowds will probably be crazy again this year at odd times.

 

[Shakthi]

I was there over Christmas weekend and thought Sunday the 27th was the busiest of the 3. But it definitely sounds a lot worse right now

The 25th, 26th and 27th were a breeze compared to any other day this week.

 

[cats mom]

I couldn't believe how long the lines were at both the ticket booths and at security when we were leaving on Monday the 28th. DCA didn't feel horribly crowded to us that morning, but since we left around noon, I'm sure we missed the worst of it.

I thought the crowds might have been a bit lighter yesterday (the 30th) just because the weather wasn't ideal, but it doesn't sound like that was the case, eh?

I'm sure it will be crazy busy today.

 

[jsgrant5]

The Oregon ducks made it to the Rose Bowl so I know there are a tremendous number of fans who will be at the game and everyone I have talked to said they are also going to DL.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...I'm sure it will be crazy busy today.

Busiest day of the year, most likely.

 

[Sherry E]

Busiest day of the year, most likely.

My friend had a birthday today, and she went to DLR this afternoon to pick up her Fun Card, but then went home right away. The people at Guest Services or wherever she got the Fun Card told her that the park had already reached capacity before noon today and they were not letting anyone else in for a while!!! Yikes yikes yikes!

Another friend of mine was saying on Facebook that she was taking her kids to DLR this afternoon after she got off work at 3:00 p.m. I warned her about NYE crowds. She said that was her biggest fear - that it would reach capacity. At that time I did not know yet that DL had reached capacity before noon! Can you just imagine what it will be like tonight - well, heck, what it is probably like NOW, this very moment, on Main Street? The wall-to-wall people, smooshed together, unable to move? Yikes!

Well, I shouldn't be surprised. I was at DL on NYE once upon a time years ago and that was the last tiime I will ever be doing that!! No way!!!