June 24--Capacity crowd expected???

[danacath]

DH and I, along with a group of 21 youth/adults from our church, will be at DLR on June 23 and 24. With all of the PofC movie hype, I'm really starting to dread facing the anticipated crowds, especially on the 24th. Do you think the crowds could reach capacity that day? How important would it be to have the group there by 6:30 AM? Will DCA be just as crowded? Also, any helpful touring strategies you have for that busy time would really be appreciated! TIA

 

[yensiD naF]

Although the rumormill makes it sound like it happens all the time, the truth is Disneyland rarely reaches capacity, to the point where they stop letting people in. It was rumored that it would happen on the 50th anniversary last year and it didn't even come close all weekend long.

For it's part, Disney contributes to the fears by suggesting that people arrive early and don't leave because if the park fills up, you won't get back in until it is safe to re-open the gates. Why do they do this? To keep you in the park, spending money. Disney doesn't want people going off-property, to non-Disney hotels and restaurants.

When it was only Disneyland, the odds of the park filling to capacity were much greater. Today with DCA, 3 hotels and Downtown Disney, there's plenty of things to do and hardly a chance that the MK is going to fill up.

As for POTC crowds. If you are going on the day that the park is closing early for the premiere, I'd just stay away from the Pirates ride. The rest of the park may be crowded, but could be manageable. Otherwise, just do yourself a favor and stay away from the park on that day. Go to DCA. I'm sure it won't be crowded, or just do something else alltogether.

 

[karylrocks]

Although the rumormill makes it sound like it happens all the time, the truth is Disneyland rarely reaches capacity, to the point where they stop letting people in. It was rumored that it would happen on the 50th anniversary last year and it didn't even come close all weekend long.

I think that "capacity" depends on the circumstances. For instance, I was there on December 10th last year and it did close. I could not get in so spent some time at DCA and shopping in DTD. It was still closed when I decided to leave later that afternoon. The next day I heard CM's saying that there had been 75,000 people in the park that day. I don't know if that is always capacity, it might just be that they didn't have enough staff to handle more than that. Capacity might be more during the busiest times because they are staffed for more people. I still have no idea why it was so crowded that day.

The Pirates ride will not be opening until the 26th. I think a lot of people going on the 24th will be locals lining up to see celebrities; the rides might not be any busier than usual. Just my guess.

 

[ZeusNike]

We were there the week of Veteran's Day last year and they closed the park on the 11th. I have been to DL on really busy days but this day was packed. That being said, we still had a fabulous day.

Our plan:
We arrived early (never quite as early as we plan to...we were travelling in a group too) and stayed until it got really crowded (early afternoon).
We grabbed a fastpass for Space Mountain to use later that night and then headed over to DCA.
DCA was busier than usual still perfectly manageable.
We grabbed a fastpass to Soarin then sat down for a snack at the wine place.
Then we headed to Screamin and got a fastpass and went over and used our Soarin one.
In the middle there somewhere we got a Grizzly pass (that one is not connected so we could get a pass anytime).
The other attractions were not difficult to see and we did/saw lots of that before we rode Screamin.
A family was leaving and had a bunch of Screamin fastpasses they couldn't use that they gave to us so some of us rode Soarin again (hurray!) before we headed off to get TOT fastpasses to use later that night.
As we were leaving the park we rode Grizzlie and got soaked (that was the plan...to go on Grizzlie right before we headed to the hotel for a clean up break).
We hit the hotel and cleaned up then walked to DTD (from the CCI) for our reservations for dinner at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen.
On the way to DTD we popped into DCA and rode TOT.
After dinner we headed back into DL, which by then was open again, and rode everything we could until the park closed.

We had a blast despite the crowds!

 

[danacath]

Thanks for the input, everyone. ZeusNike, way to work the fast passes! It sounds like you were able to see a lot in spite of the crowds. I love researching park strategies before each of our Disney trips. ( Yes, this is a pic of me, most definitely! lol)

If anyone else has helpful info on how to handle June 24, please feel free to chime in. For example, I'm wondering what order you'd do the "big rides" in (including FP's as needed) in order to avoid the crowds as much as possible...

 

[doombuggy]

I would expect June 24th to be very busy. I don't know if the official Disneyland website has any details about the event, but check there first. You might want to go to DL early in the morning (assuming that the events are going to take place later in the day) and then spend the rest of the day as DCA.

Good luck & have a great trip!

 

[disneychrista]

While it might get crowded with local AP'ers, I personally would think anyone "planning a trip" around this time would avoid the Park that day because of the shortened hours.

 

[hawkrn]

are resort hotel guests guaranteed admission? I thought I read that somewhere. We do not fly in till 1030 on the 24th and since I already have my tickets, I'm a little peeved. The "Johnny" fans are planning on being there at 630am and finding a spot and that's all. No leaving except for bathroom breaks. I know this because I work with one of them. Apparently there are a lot of them too-but they won't be on the rides.

 

[disneychrista]

The "Johnny" fans are planning on being there at 630am and finding a spot and that's all.

I hope they are not disapointed because as of right now there has not been any thing officall saying that they will be allowed to stay and watch the "red carpet arrival" of the stars, like they did last time.

 

[turtle51]

If we are allowed to stay where are people lining up at to watch the celebs?

 

[disneychrista]

If we are allowed to stay where are people lining up at to watch the celebs?

Along Main Street USA