Just back- a few thoughts

[todzwife]

Hubby and I went without our kids for 3 days. Thursday the crowds were EASY. It was quiet until almost noon and even after that, it was easy to get around and the lines weren't bad at all. Weather was awesome.

Friday it started to get busy. We expected this and weren't surprised. It was on par for the end of February when we went with the kids. Touring plans saying 7/10. I'd hate to be there at a 10.

Saturday crowds were insanity. I have NEVER seen Pirates at an 85 minute wait. Almost everything was over an hour. We only rode HM and hubs got a migraine so we ended up booking it over to Red Rose and scored some cups and tried the gray stuff. It was REALLY good with the cupcake underneath. By itself it was ok. The rose cake was ok. Not as good as I had hoped. We ended up leaving early and calling it quits due to the crowds and wait times. It was more than his poor head could handle.

The blueberry funnel cake at Hungry Bear was AMAZING. Try that if you like blueberries!!

We saw several people being turned away at the turnstiles because they had the SoCal 3 day tickets and no ID. Kids could get in fine without ID.

Indiana Jones was closed and even yesterday the walkway was SO much easier through adventure land than it is when IJ is open. It was SO nice.

Pirates was an 85 minute line. It went to HM and back and forth. They had it roped off all over the place so getting around NOS was just miserable.

It was a fun trip and I'm super glad we went. It was nice without the kids and MUCH easier. LOL!

 

[BriannaRuth]

Wow, I've never seen an 85 minute wait at POC! That's crazy.

Made a note of your comment about the blueberry funnel cake, btw!

 

[tarheelalum]

People probably think Johnny Depp is going to show up again at Pirates.

 

[hootey]

Glad to hear about the Blueberry funnel cake at Hungry Bear. Will have to try it next time we are there

 

[julieheyer]

Thanks for the feedback...I am. It surprised at the crowds but glad you got a few lighter days too! Hoping next week isn't too bad!
Crowd prediction question-it's packed. Anyone validate its accuracy? It's saying Memorial Day weekend will be crowded but not forget about it...seems wrong to me. Trying to choose our days next week. Any advice?

 

[CAbryan]

We spent all day SAT at DCA and sounds like it wasn't nearly as bad as the DL side. Touring plans puts out the actual crowd numbers after the fact and they rated Sat as a 9 - Mothers Day weekend / School Trips / Grad Nights / Marathon - was a big weekend for DL

 

[cruisehopeful]

I went for a while yesterday. I didn't realize it was a race weekend until Friday. I'm sure that's why you experienced the crowd levels that you did. When I found out it was going to be a race weekend, I decided that I'd still go, but only plan on going on POTC and would be grateful if I got to do anything else. I don't trust any of the crowd predictors. I seem to read here often how off they are.

I ended up having a good time. I used FP for Haunted Mansion, which literally put us first in the doors when we returned, FP for Big Thunder, which was nearly walk on with a FP and we watched Great Moments with Lincoln (something I've only done a few times in my gazillions of DL trips) and happened to be sitting on a bench in the front plaza when they announced Soundstational Parade was going to start in 15 minutes. So, we watched that and I thought it was really good. We were on a roll with not having to wait long for stuff until I went to POTC. I had been watching the wait times for the ride the whole time we were there and finally got in line when it said 45minutes. It was a little longer than 45 mins and the ride had issues. We were stuck in front of the pigs for at least 5 minutes and since all the boats were backed up, it took a while to get out and off the ride. We spent a long time watching a bird catch fish in the pond near the frontierland entrance.

From what we heard from other people, they weren't so lucky. Lots of people saying they couldn't do anything because the waits were too long for everything. We parked in the Pumbaa lot and when we got out of our car, the people next to use said they spent 2 hours driving around Anaheim trying to get to an open parking lot. They live 10 minutes away. Really crazy weekend. I'll try to remember to look at Figmentjii's list of events and avoid race weekends if possible, unless I don't mind only going on one or 2 things.

 

[mich311e]

People probably think Johnny Depp is going to show up again at Pirates.

LOL - I was at Disneyland last Monday and had texted my husband to say I had never seen the line for Pirates so long - all the way to the fountain area at NOS! And my husband had the same reply as you!

 

[agamble]

Crowd prediction question-it's packed. Anyone validate its accuracy? It's saying Memorial Day weekend will be crowded but not forget about it...seems wrong to me. Trying to choose our days next week. Any advice?

Saturday and Sunday of Memorial weekend are both blockout dates. So that lowers AP visits as only those with the Premium passes can visit. I think Monday may actually be more busy as it is NOT a blockout day.

 

[Angrose]

Thanks for the feedback...I am. It surprised at the crowds but glad you got a few lighter days too! Hoping next week isn't too bad!
Crowd prediction question-it's packed. Anyone validate its accuracy? It's saying Memorial Day weekend will be crowded but not forget about it...seems wrong to me. Trying to choose our days next week. Any advice?

I remember reports from last year saying that Memorial Day weekend wasn't bad at all. I specifically remember because we had planned on going that weekend but cancelled at the last minute and I was kicking myself for cancelling!

I also just checked Touring Plans and sure enough, last year was only 5 or 6 out of 10 for crowds. They are predicting 7 out of 10 for this year, but you never know these days!

 

[todzwife]

Lower tier AP's were blocked out Saturday but it was still super busy. I think until the special 3 day SoCal tickets are expired, the weekends are just going to be super busy.
Crowd predictors seem to be a joke now. I wouldn't even bother using them to plan anymore. It's just crowded. Period. Go when you want and expect a crowd and then if you're lucky to run into a day that it's not then YAY!!

 

[agamble]

Lower tier AP's were blocked out Saturday but it was still super busy. I think until the special 3 day SoCal tickets are expired, the weekends are just going to be super busy.
Crowd predictors seem to be a joke now. I wouldn't even bother using them to plan anymore. It's just crowded. Period. Go when you want and expect a crowd and then if you're lucky to run into a day that it's not then YAY!!

SoCal tickets are only good until May 25.