It's really busy at DL

[Steven G]

Hi all,. Still in Disneyland, we have one more FP for btmrr, and then dinner at carnation cafe, then we will finally hit swlaunch bay and back to hotel.

So at least for me , today is less than yesterday, but not by much.

I had problems at.two different fast passes where it registered my ticket but no fast passes came out. Had to wait both times for a cm to help. Also Winnie the Pooh keeps on shutting down. Cm said it gets like that when it's busy, and a customer takes a while to load or leave the ride. Lots of people, not us, were stuck in ride for around 15 minutes. We waited, and luckily our ride was fine.

Besides the fast pass problems and Winnie ride and just crazy crowds,. Today is better than yesterday for us.


I'm hoping tomorrow, our last day in DCA will be better.

 

[ToDisney2017]

Curious how today is if anyone is there?

 

[MacMama0930]

I've been keeping a watch on wait times via the app today and it seems to be pretty mellow. Wait times for RSR were 45 minutes earlier. Haunted Mansion is at 35 mins, Soarin is 45 mins, Hyperspace Mnt is 65 mins right now. Sat, these numbers were easily in the triple digits!

 

[JuicyFruit]

Just plan ahead and head out early

 

[Nevada Jen]

It was crazy crowded this weekend. Even today it was pretty intolerable. I think a lot of people stayed through the day today that were planning on going home last night or first thing this morning. Or hotel was relatively open when we went to bed last night and by this morning it was packed with people who stayed an extra day. Heard lots of people calling kids in sick to school which I have never heard before. CMs seemed to think it was the weather being nice and they weren't staffed for capacity because it wasn't expected.

 

[dshimel]

It was packed.

I started the day in DCA. RSR was having issues and didn't open with the rest of the park. It opened for a few minutes around 10am, but then immediately closed again. When it finally opened, standby quickly jumped to 2.5 hours, and it even took a half-hour to ride with FastPass.

Tower gone, GRR down for refurb, RSR didn't open on time, then Screamin' went down. That is a lot of top attractions off line, and pushed people into the few other options.

About 3, moved to DL to find it equally packed.

I think this was the first time I have ever seen Tiki Room over-fill. People couldn't find a seat so had to go back out and wait for the next show.

By 8 they were announcing that ALL viewing areas for 8:30 MSEP were over-full, and if you don't already have a spot you will have to wait until the 10:30 showing.

 

[Tabarr06]

I am nervous for our trip this weekend. I am hoping that the cooler cloudy weather will make it not as crowded. Touringplans said it was an 8 yesterday. It is insane that the end of January is as crowded and July. A few weeks ago I was hoping for crowds of 2-3. Now I feel like I would be lucky to get 6.

 

[dshimel]

I am nervous for our trip this weekend. I am hoping that the cooler cloudy weather will make it not as crowded. Touringplans said it was an 8 yesterday. It is insane that the end of January is as crowded and July. A few weeks ago I was hoping for crowds of 2-3. Now I feel like I would be lucky to get 6.

Don't count on a few clouds reducing the crowd level.
1) Arrive at the gate atleast half-hour before opening. That means an hour before opening at parking if driving in.
2) Do the rides that will have the longest wait times later in the day, first. HyperspaceMt, RSR, Midway Mania, Peter Pan, Matterhorn. Make the most of the first 2-3 hours.
3) FastPass... FastPass... and.... ummmm... oh yeah. FastPass! This last weekend we got FP to Space (8:40 return), rode Space, Matterhorn. At 8:45 got FP to Indy(9:25 return), Rode Indy and BTMRR. Then on way to use Space FP, got FPs for Star Tours and Buzz (disconnected from other rides). Then we used FP for Space, then Indy, then Buzz then got FP to mansion and rode Pirates, then used Mansion FPs, then over and used Star Tours... After that, it was all gravy.
4) Don't stress or worry. Plan, then enjoy.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I am nervous for our trip this weekend. I am hoping that the cooler cloudy weather will make it not as crowded. Touringplans said it was an 8 yesterday. It is insane that the end of January is as crowded and July. A few weeks ago I was hoping for crowds of 2-3. Now I feel like I would be lucky to get 6.

Well, unfortunately Sunday is the Super Bowl, which has been super-crowded for the past few years. If you're there Friday, since there is some rain predicted, that might help (and even the threat of it might keep away people who would have come to watch "Remember..."), but I think that show returning is going to bring in some heavy local crowds. Definitely use your mornings well, and just be prepared to go with the flow - still lots of fun to be had!

It was packed.

I started the day in DCA. RSR was having issues and didn't open with the rest of the park. It opened for a few minutes around 10am, but then immediately closed again. When it finally opened, standby quickly jumped to 2.5 hours, and it even took a half-hour to ride with FastPass.

Tower gone, GRR down for refurb, RSR didn't open on time, then Screamin' went down. That is a lot of top attractions off line, and pushed people into the few other options.

About 3, moved to DL to find it equally packed.

I think this was the first time I have ever seen Tiki Room over-fill. People couldn't find a seat so had to go back out and wait for the next show.

By 8 they were announcing that ALL viewing areas for 8:30 MSEP were over-full, and if you don't already have a spot you will have to wait until the 10:30 showing.

Which day are you talking about here?

 

[Nevada Jen]

I also think people are underestimating the nostalgia factor of MSEP for locals in terms of crowd levels. I agree that mornings are key and would even suggest the on mornings when the parks open at 10 that you be at bag check an hour early. Yesterday was a 10 oclock opening and it was nuts. The lines to get into both parks by 9:45 literally filled the entire esplanade and merged in the middle. And if you are thinking 9:45 isn't a half hour early, that is because the security line was insanely long on harbor and it took us a good 15 minutes to get through that and that is only because we happened to hit a line that they added a split to after about 10 minutes. It was easily double for anyone who wsn't lucky enough to be in that line and jump over t the new line right when it opened.
I would be interested to hear how today was. I suspect everyone who played hooky yesterday because they were local enough to drive is now gone and it will be a much lighter day.

 

[dshimel]

Which day are you talking about here?

Same as the OP.... Saturday.

 

[MacMama0930]

Same as the OP.... Saturday.

Thank goodness - I thought you were referring to yesterday!!

 

[dshimel]

I also think people are underestimating the nostalgia factor of MSEP for locals in terms of crowd levels.

I'm sure there are multiple factors.
1) MSEP is a huge draw.
2) First clear days with warm weather for awhile.
3) People are looking for uncrowded times, making those previously uncrowded times crowded. It is almost like, "If touring plans website says it may be light, watch out, because everyone is going to go."
4) SoCal 3-day ticket for $150. Better deal than $120 for 1 day. I saw people being questioned for so-cal ID at ticket booths around me pretty much every time I entered the parks Fri and Sat. "But I'm a college student at UCLA, no, I didn't bring my college ID."
5) I wonder if the 13-month for price of 12 is driving AP sales. January seems like a good month to be able to double up. I got mine beginning of Dec, then remembered I'll be blocked for half of my extra month, so really only get half of an extra month.

 

[DisBabe94]

Also, the NAMM convention that hosted like 100,000 people just happened Jan 25-28. Conventions really make a huge difference to the crowd level and definitely is a contributing factor to the crowds this weekend.
Here is a link to the event. https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2017

 

[DisBabe94]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the convention yet!

 

[MacMama0930]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the convention yet!

You're right!! Oh ya, that's a huge convention! That makes me feel a little bit better about this coming week!

 

[DisBabe94]

You're right!! Oh ya, that's a huge convention! That makes me feel a little bit better about this coming week!

You are gonna have an amazing trip!!!

 

[Steven G]

Hi all,

Yeah, yesterday, Monday, was packed. Touringplans originally showed a 2, and altered it to show an 8 for DCA. I was estimating the crowds myself as an 8 or 9.

I'm back home, and although we enjoyed ourselves, if I had known How busy it was going to be, I would have done other stuff like knott's or universal. I hate crowds, and get frustrated too easily.

On the other hand we managed to ride everything in DCA we wanted to on Monday. The WOC was nice with the extra lunar new year preshow. My son was exhausted though, so we left near the end of the WOC show, oh well. With so many rides closed at DCA, I'm sure that makes it even worse.
On the bright side, there were some times that the ride lines were shorter, and EMH at DCA helped me ride soaring, Luigi and RSR all during EMH. I was planning on riding RSR twice, but that pretty much went away with the crowds.

We also used the Disney visa experience to get a quick visit with dearth Vader in DL and Minnie at DCA. No line for either one thankfully when I went to each. Darth always scares my son, haha.



Oh, as far as the MSEP, I can't remember if I had seen it as a child, but I had no nostalgia going in. Frankly, compared to PTN, I found it boring. The best thing I can say for it is that it was cute, and it was nice seeing the older Disney characters and stories showcased. I wouldn't complain if I never saw it again, but I always look forward to PTN.

 

[ToDisney2017]

We also used the Disney visa experience to get a quick visit with dearth Vader in DL and Minnie at DCA. No line for either one thankfully when I went to each. Darth always scares my son, haha.



Oh, as far as the MSEP, I can't remember if I had seen it as a child, but I had no nostalgia going in. Frankly, compared to PTN, I found it boring. The best thing I can say for it is that it was cute, and it was nice seeing the older Disney characters and stories showcased. I wouldn't complain if I never saw it again, but I always look forward to PTN.

Is it usually best to go right at the beginning or end for the Disney visa experience or is it really hit or miss on if you get a line? Also can you go multiple days to see different characters or is it once per card?

 

[Steven G]

It's always the same character as far as I know.. darth in DL, minnie in DCA, until they change of course.

I went to both of them in the middle of the time slot approx.
actually darth was about to leave on a break, but was nice enough to do one more with us.

They didn't seem to record my card, so I guess you could go multiple times.