June?

[nemofans]

I know WDW very well & know when & how to book a WDW trip. I'm not familiar w/DL as much.
I am trying to figure out a good time to go w/o big crowds & my DS not missing much school. I was wondering if early June was a good time or if it's crowded then.
Can anyone tell me about their experience going in June?
Thanks!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Personally, I wouldn't go in June. For the summer months I'd pick July. This year we are actually going the first week in Aug. If Socal APs are not blocked out it will probably be very busy. Also, schools often go for end of the year trips and then there are the grad nights, which I don't know off hand what days they are. Add in the WOC and I'm guessing it will be crowded. We went at the end of June last year and the days the Socal Aps where not blocked were crazy. But, by getting there early and using FPs we got on a lot of rides. I just expect evenings all summer to be very crowded because of WOC.

 

[skiingfast]

I'd say if you can avoid the weekends. If you go early in June the better for crowds. If you go later there is more but i imagine you will pay the price. Starting the 11th is Summer Nightastic. It features a enhanced Fantastmic, a new firework show called Magic, and the new show in DCA called the World of Color. These two new shows and the update to Fantasmic will bring in the APs like Pinkbudgie suggests.

Here's a link about Summer Nightastic
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...cialEvents/detail?name=SummerSpecialEventPage

Here's one about Grad nights also a day to avoid since the parks close early.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Disneyland/Events/grad-nights.html

 

[HydroGuy]

Be careful about weekdays in early June. See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

Also, after June 11 DLR will be swamped. See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[nemofans]

We're not planning on going this June, actually either June 2011 or June 2012. I like planning & usually start my WDW planning way in advance. I know DL doesn't need as much planning as WDW, but I like having an idea of when we will go.
So, then June would have manageable crowds if I stick to weekdays? We don't mind missing parades.
How is the weather in June? We don't care for hot weather (90's).

 

[HydroGuy]

We're not planning on going this June, actually either June 2011 or June 2012. I like planning & usually start my WDW planning way in advance. I know DL doesn't need as much planning as WDW, but I like having an idea of when we will go.
So, then June would have manageable crowds if I stick to weekdays? We don't mind missing parades.
How is the weather in June? We don't care for hot weather (90's).

Weather in June is delightful IMO. See "Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

No, June will not have manageable crowds on weekdays. This year the BIG THING is World of Color likely to open on June 11. Plus Nightastic starts on June 11. Before that weekdays should be modest crowds. This year. After that it will be slammed. Like in 2009. See my post on AP blockouts.

Next year 2011 Little Mermaid is supposedly going to open in May. That will likely make all of June very busy on days APs are not blocked. In 2012 all of Radiator Springs is supposed to open in May as well. Same thing.

See MiceAge Al Lutz http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al033010a.htm and MiceChat Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker IX

Not sure what to tell you for times far off in 2011 or 2012 except June is very hard to predict because of the APs and grad nights. July is much easier to predict for the lack of the these things.

 

[Timchat2]

The thought of impending crowds has made our plans to visit from June 18-20 rather intimidating. We're aware of the AP factor and these are the best dates we could find with our admittedly tight window.

Will there be a relatively slight advantage to visiting DLR on the blackout dates during June after WOC opens, or will the "normal" crowds overwhelm any difference in the crowd levels with or without the APs?

I'm mostly just looking for some comforting thoughts as we head into a potentially crazy weekend at DLR this June...

 

[kkmcan]

What about June weekdays before WOC opens? Our dates keep changing but for now they are June 6-9 Sunday-Tuesday.

Any ideas on crowds since WOC won't be open yet?

 

[HydroGuy]

What about June weekdays before WOC opens? Our dates keep changing but for now they are June 6-9 Sunday-Tuesday.

Any ideas on crowds since WOC won't be open yet?

You should be fine. With Fantasmic re-opening on May 27 after being down for 5 months there will be a surge in interest for that. But I was primarily talking about June 2011 and 2012 and it will be busy all month then if the current schedules hold.

 

[HydroGuy]

The thought of impending crowds has made our plans to visit from June 18-20 rather intimidating. We're aware of the AP factor and these are the best dates we could find with our admittedly tight window.

Will there be a relatively slight advantage to visiting DLR on the blackout dates during June after WOC opens, or will the "normal" crowds overwhelm any difference in the crowd levels with or without the APs?

I'm mostly just looking for some comforting thoughts as we head into a potentially crazy weekend at DLR this June...

Here is the calendar MousePlanet's Integrated Blockout Calendar

You should be fine. June 18-19 are blockouts. June 20 is not. That day will be really busy. Based on June 2009 the APs swamp everything else in June. We are talking about 30,000+ AP holders each day when not blocked. DL capacity is like 45,000-50,000 at any one time.

 

[Somegirl]

I guess I can expect crazy crowds June 21 & 22 too! Will the 23rd and 24th be a little calmer then?
My plan is do some rides while Fantasmic! is going on each night. That worked well last time we visited, but that about 6 years ago.

 

[HydroGuy]

I guess I can expect crazy crowds June 21 & 22 too! Will the 23rd and 24th be a little calmer then?
My plan is do some rides while Fantasmic! is going on each night. That worked well last time we visited, but that about 6 years ago.

Yes, but June 24 is a grad night. That should make for a slower day and even slower night (since DLR will close early ).

 

[nemofans]

Wow, there are lots being added. What will be in Radiator Springs? Both my boys would like Cars stuff. That's in Calif Adv, right? So, we'll wait til 2012 then.
So July is better? Not super hot either? We have been to Orlando in July & HATE it. DL wouldn't be that humid, right???
We may do that then. I would avoid July 4th week.

 

[HydroGuy]

Wow, there are lots being added. What will be in Radiator Springs? Both my boys would like Cars stuff. That's in Calif Adv, right? So, we'll wait til 2012 then.
So July is better? Not super hot either? We have been to Orlando in July & HATE it. DL wouldn't be that humid, right???
We may do that then. I would avoid July 4th week.

I called it by the wrong name. The new land will be Cars Land and it will have a major new ride called Radiator Springs Racers that will be like Test Track at Epcot. To open in May 2012.

See Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker IX and http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al033010a.htm

For weather DLR has WDW beat hands down in the summer - "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

For July this may interest you - All-Star FanFest (July 9 - 13) : 150,000 visitors? . You can see from my comments in the posts that it would not overly concern me. Just FYI.

ETA - Oh yeah, forgot you are looking at 2011. No All-Star game then. Only an issue for July 2010.

 

[PinkBudgie]

July can be hot, but not humid. I also like not having to bring a jacket to wear in the morning and evening like you might have to in June.

 

[mcnerthney]

Thanks for everyone's great tips! We're headed for one day at DLR on June 23 with the Get A Day program. For those interested, the GAD blockout dates in June are the 21st and 22nd. I have no idea why; any ideas HydroGuy?

Kristi

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for everyone's great tips! We're headed for one day at DLR on June 23 with the Get A Day program. For those interested, the GAD blockout dates in June are the 21st and 22nd. I have no idea why; any ideas HydroGuy?

Kristi

I have not been paying attention to GAD but looking at the AP blockout calendar:

MousePlanet's Integrated Blockout Calendar

So an educated guess - June 21 and 22 are not blocked out and will likely have "epic" crowds as predicted by Al Lutz since last year. Not only are the days not blocked out (which alone will lead to crowds) they are near the lengthy summer blockout and many AP holders will try very hard to squeeze their visit in before they are blocked for the summer (which will lead to epic crowds). Hence DLR does not want GAD folks there on the sme days as the AP holders or DLR will self-destruct!

 

[nemofans]

I called it by the wrong name. The new land will be Cars Land and it will have a major new ride called Radiator Springs Racers that will be like Test Track at Epcot. To open in May 2012.

See Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker IX and http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al033010a.htm

For weather DLR has WDW beat hands down in the summer - "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

For July this may interest you - All-Star FanFest (July 9 - 13) : 150,000 visitors? . You can see from my comments in the posts that it would not overly concern me. Just FYI.

ETA - Oh yeah, forgot you are looking at 2011. No All-Star game then. Only an issue for July 2010.

Thanks for all the info! My DS loves Test Track at WDW & he was excited to hear about a Cars version. I think I will plan for July, then I don't have to worry about missing school.

 

[Timchat2]

What are "normal" crowd levels on AP blacked-out Saturdays at DLR generally? Conventional theme park wisdom is usually to stay away from any given park on a Saturday, but I suppose the recent AP impact is a uniquely DLR phenomenon unlike what you'd find just about anywhere.

Also, have we ever heard how many SoCal and SoCal Select APs are out there, like the percentage of the total APs? Does one type have a significantly higher number than the other?

 

[HydroGuy]

What are "normal" crowd levels on AP blacked-out Saturdays at DLR generally? Conventional theme park wisdom is usually to stay away from any given park on a Saturday, but I suppose the recent AP impact is a uniquely DLR phenomenon unlike what you'd find just about anywhere.

Also, have we ever heard how many SoCal and SoCal Select APs are out there, like the percentage of the total APs? Does one type have a significantly higher number than the other?

My understanding is that 90% of AP holders are one of the two SoCal types. And yes, the AP phenomenon has changed conventional wisdom about DLR and Saturdays. See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983