Just back.... Very busy!

[Lollipop's Mom]

We were in Disney last Thurs/Fri (11th/12th) and crowds were not bad. Busy at times but managable. Less than I thought for Canadian spring break. It was quite cool as well.
We went back to the parks this past Mon/Tues and it was SUPER BUSY. Weather was hot too. It was like the crowds had doubled. Most rides had a 60 min wait. Very rarely did we see much under that unless it was a less popular ride. It was so crowded in the New Orleans area at one point that we simply could not move through the crowds. People were just backed up and standing there!
Go early and do the good stuff EARLY, then go back to the hotel in the afternoon for a swim, and head back at dinner time until closing. This seemed to work best.

 

[Sherry E]

We were in Disney last Thurs/Fri (11th/12th) and crowds were not bad. Busy at times but managable. Less than I thought for Canadian spring break. It was quite cool as well.
We went back to the parks this past Mon/Tues and it was SUPER BUSY. Weather was hot too. It was like the crowds had doubled. Most rides had a 60 min wait. Very rarely did we see much under that unless it was a less popular ride. It was so crowded in the New Orleans area at one point that we simply could not move through the crowds. People were just backed up and standing there!
Go early and do the good stuff EARLY, then go back to the hotel in the afternoon for a swim, and head back at dinner time until closing. This seemed to work best.

What you are describing about the New Orleans Square area is exactly what I encountered this past December. There were so many people backed up in and around NOS that it was tough to navigate through, and I gave up my plan to browse the NOS shops because it was too daunting trying to push through the crowds. It was almost like that in October as well, but not quite as bad. But that was December when I encountered the hideous crowds. I don't know that I would expect it in the middle of March, but maybe...

This really makes me wonder what the crowds will like in both DL and DCA when World of Color opens and when Toy Story Midway Mania gets all new games in June. I have a feeling 2010 will be even busier on a whole than 2009 was, and 2009 was up 15% in crowds from what 2008 was!

 

[Disney Dreams]

It's the beginning of the month long run of Spring Break at Disenyland. I would expect it to be busy - and remain so for the next few weeks.

 

[rmom]

any idea of when the spring break crowd is over?

I would like to do a quick trip with just my mom and I before the end of April.

thanks!

 

[tlovesdis]

Yep! The schools in my area are all off for two weeks right now! Lots of peeps heading to DL!

 

[jlmarr]

DW went today and said that AP holders had to get hand stamps because they anticipated big crowds, maybe closing to new entries at some point during the day.

 

[Disney Dreams]

any idea of when the spring break crowd is over?

I would like to do a quick trip with just my mom and I before the end of April.

thanks!

I just took a quick peek at the resort hours on the calendar at Disneyland.com. If you take a look, you'll notice that both Parks have extended hours everyday through April 12th. And then they cut back even moreso on the 19th.

I just looked up Easter. It's April 4th this year. So... high schools that have the week after Easter off are on vacation until April 11th.

Then add in the final performances of Disney's Electrical Parade 4/16/2010 - 4/18/2010.

I would expect it to be crowded until then. Of course, my crystal ball is as good as anyone else's.

- Dreams

 

[CrazyDuck]

Less than I thought for Canadian spring break.

Wait!!!! You mean there is Spring in Canada? I thought it was always Winter there!!!

 

[rangermom]

Yep, been there all week and never seen it this busy.

 

[cccdisney]

Yep! The schools in my area are all off for two weeks right now! Lots of peeps heading to DL!

Yep! I'm in Brentwood! Lots and lots of people from this area head down during our 2 weeks spring break. We leave tomorrow!

 

[Anj]

Our (BC, Canada) spring break started March 6 (when we headed down to DLR for that week) and one of the CMs at Ariels Grotto mentioned to us that 'Spring Break' to DLR is 7 weeks long starting around March 12.
We found it busy in Adventureland and New Orleans the week we were there, it was difficult to manouver easily with 3 kids. That was our first family trip to DL, while we enjoyed it, the crowds made us decide we won't go back for at least 5 years (when our youngest DD is closer to 7).

 

[jory29]

Wait!!!! You mean there is Spring in Canada? I thought it was always Winter there!!!

You thought right!! Yesterday where I live in Alberta, Canada, it snowed a lot, and was around -17 degrees Celcius some times. (1.4 degrees F) Anyway right now it is around -4 degrees Celcius (24.8 F) and I have the windows open to get some nice cool winter's air in here. It feels awesome! Very 'crisp' and fresh on the lungs.

We were the ones wearing shorts and T-shirts a couple of weeks ago when people were wearing Parkas. There were still a lot of people dressed more lightly than that though, we figured they might not be locals.

It's strange to me to see how people can acclimatize to their own region over time. What feels warm to us Northern Canadians must feel so cold to Californians. That's what makes Disneyland so special though, the diversity of people. We really enjoyed meeting so many good people over there when we went. Everyone is so friendly!!

We did see Canada Geese coming 'home' in the last few days; the honk loudly overhead, and are in the classic 'V' formation, it is very cool to see, it does let us know that Spring IS in the air, LOL!

 

[mathmom32]

Thanks for posting. We were at DLR March 7-11 and were pleasantly surprised with how uncrowded it was. Sounds like we picked a GREAT week to go!

I know what you mean about being acclimated to where you live. We were wearing shorts all last week at DLR. One morning, as we were getting out of the car in the parking garage, the garage attendant saw us in shorts and said, "There is a KMart not too far away if you want to go and buy some sweats." We thanked her and told here we would be fine, but she wasn't convinced.

Today, in my town, it is 47 degrees. You'd think it was summer, with all of the people out in their shirtsleeves playing outside! Everyone has their road bikes, dirt bikes, 4-wheelers, etc, out enjoying the sunshine! HAPPY SPRING!

 

[Raindown]

DW went today and said that AP holders had to get hand stamps because they anticipated big crowds, maybe closing to new entries at some point during the day.

Yesterday they hand stamped me, not sure what it was for.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Yesterday they hand stamped me, not sure what it was for.

Your handstamp (and your park ticket) shows that you have already entered the Park once that day. If they start to limit Park entry due to capacity issues, that handstamp could be the difference between getting in the gate and being turned away.

- Dreams

 

[Raindown]

Your handstamp (and your park ticket) shows that you have already entered the Park once that day. If they start to limit Park entry due to capacity issues, that handstamp could be the difference between getting in the gate and being turned away.

- Dreams

Good to know! I usually just shrugged off the hand stamp.