Last minute August trip

[DHSbutcher]

Help! Just booked a trip for August 3-7 for my mom and I, our park days starting the 3rd, a sunday, around noonish. Our plane lands at 10 am, we found a great rate on a town car from LAX, and we're staying at the Hyatt Regency Orange County using points.
This is our second visit to DLR, we went for the first time last September, on which we were told were some of the slowest days all year. So yikes. We're not quite sure how this August will go. We are WDW locals and visit the parks weekly, however we avoid the crowds at all costs. Did we make a mistake coming the first week of August? Last time we visited we were only in the parks for about 2 days, and we went commando, saw everything to the point where now it is all a blur. Are the crowds so bad we need to plan everything out, or should we just relax and stroll and hope we take it all in again? We're so used to going to WDW and doing what we feel like whenever, sometimes we end up sitting on a bench for hours- not the best way to use our DLR time.
I did a ton of research for our first trip last year, but because of the last minute-ness of this one I'm hesitant. Where do I even start? GAH! More or less needing someone to help me get my plan in order!

 

[chabelita545]

August is extremely crowded, but you can still have a great time. Almost everything is up and running and there's more entertainment than other times of the year. My advice is figure out which attractions you most want to experience so you know what to do first. Plan to arrive before rope drop and stay until late. Obviously the parks are least crowded early in the morning and late in the evening. The entrances to both parks open 30 minutes before rope drop. Arrive then and leisurely stroll up Main Street or Buena Vista St. At rope drop, do the big ticket items on your list. Grab fast passes when you can and when they make sense. As the day progresses and the crowds get bigger, do smaller queue rides and/or head to shows and things that won't have you waiting too long. Ideas: Tiki Room, Golden Horseshoe, Aladdin, Animation Academy, etc. This is also a good time to stop and smell the roses (literally and figuratively). Do your "sit on a bench people watching" in the afternoons, preferably while staking your claim to a parade viewing seat. If you get hot and tired, ride the Disneyland Railroad, visit the air conditioned shops, get wet on a water ride or head back to your hotel to refresh and then return later. If it's too inconvenient to head to your hotel, there are places you can relax a bit, like the lobby of the Grand Californian. If you plan to eat in the parks, before or after the lunch/dinner rush is best. Have a great trip!

P.S. Have a plan, but you don't have to go commando to get the most of your two days. Just prioritize what you want to do and let the rest fall into place. You can walk with purpose, going to your next destination, without speeding so fast you miss all the interesting things in between. Sometimes, people (myself included) are so focused on their destination that they don't enjoy the journey! And so much of the magic of Disneyland is because of the little unplanned surprises and spontaneous moments that happen when you are relaxed enough to notice them.

 

[rentayenta]

First off, congrats on the trip! There isn't a bad time to visit Disneyland in my opinion.

For August, I'd make sure and get there by rope drop every morning. The early mornings are your friend. It's cooler and less crowded. Duirng busy times, we like to plan our mornings, take midday breaks, and then return in the evening.

Take advantage of FP and be aware of the return window times and when you can obtain another FP.

 

[minniecarousel]

We just booked a stay in August and we know what to expect. We will be there before rope-drop (we are staying on-property and will do EE). I suggest that on each day, you go to the Park that doesn't have EE for on-site guests.

Get as much done as you can in the AM. If possible, go back to your hotel in the early afternoon and return at dinnertime for the evening. As avid Disneylanders, I was disappointed in the hours at the Parks at WDW. Disneyland will be open until midnight and California Adventure until 10. It seemed that the Florida Parks closed too early.

And the weather won't be as humid as Florida (but it might be quite hot!)

 

[HydroGuy]

August is extremely crowded,

I have to disagree with this. I would say August is moderately crowded and sometime surprisingly lightly crowded.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I have to disagree with this. I would say August is moderately crowded and sometime surprisingly lightly crowded.

I agree with HydroGuy. August is the new October!

 

[DHSbutcher]

Thanks guys! I'm hoping for the best. Just got back from a day in the parks here at WDW- 95+ degrees out all day, even hotter in the sun, and we lasted a long 12 hour day! Guess i'll consider it a warm up for disneyland, although I doubt it will be quite as hot. Last time we visited we stayed onsite but only took advantage of EE one of the days. We're sadly just not morning people even coming from the east coast and the 3 hour time difference being in our favor. But we will aim to get there as early as possible. How are the crowds late at night? Here at WDW we usually end up coming for a few hours and staying til close, and we find it often has less or equal crowds compared to the am especially after the fireworks and everyone clears out. Since I know we can't go from 8am-12am every single day, something's gotta give. Either we end our park day a few hours early, or start it a little late.
Last time we didn't do any sit down meals so possibly this might be a good time for that? I've started looking at menu's so perhaps I'll start planning this trip around food. I'm hesitant to make reservations, how good of a chance do I have walking up and getting a table for one or two during this summer season? Specifically as soon as they open, as our stomachs never do adjust to the time change
Another question- any recommendations for killing time during the afternoon away from the parks? I can't remember if downtown disney has any indoor activities or not, or is there anything local? While I will want to spend as much time as possible in the parks, doing something away from them for a few hours might be a good break. We won't have a rental car this trip so I'm a bit worried this might make it just a bit harder for us. And our hotel is close to 3 miles away. They offer a shuttle, but it seems like such a hassle to go all the way back unless we have to. Plus we're not ones to hang out in the room.

 

[HydroGuy]

Last time we didn't do any sit down meals so possibly this might be a good time for that? I've started looking at menu's so perhaps I'll start planning this trip around food. I'm hesitant to make reservations, how good of a chance do I have walking up and getting a table for one or two during this summer season? Specifically as soon as they open, as our stomachs never do adjust to the time change

For most places your chances are excellent.

Another question- any recommendations for killing time during the afternoon away from the parks? I can't remember if downtown disney has any indoor activities or not, or is there anything local? While I will want to spend as much time as possible in the parks, doing something away from them for a few hours might be a good break. We won't have a rental car this trip so I'm a bit worried this might make it just a bit harder for us. And our hotel is close to 3 miles away. They offer a shuttle, but it seems like such a hassle to go all the way back unless we have to. Plus we're not ones to hang out in the room.

In August, swimming pool is always a good idea. In DTD there are some things to do. The ESPN Zone has a large video game section upstairs. There is a Lego store. A RideMakerz store. Build-a-bear. AMC movie theater complex.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I agree with HydroGuy. August is the new October!

I went in mid-October a few years ago and thought it was very crowded! But I believe that is now due to the Halloween theme draw.

Prior to the Halloween stuff, was October slow? I will also be visiting in August and am very worried about the crowds for the same reason the OP mentioned!

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Y

I went in mid-October a few years ago and thought it was very crowded! But I believe that is now due to the Halloween theme draw.

Prior to the Halloween stuff, was October slow? I will also be visiting in August and am very worried about the crowds for the same reason the OP mentioned!

Yes, October used to be wonderfully dead! We have gone for DD7's birthday each year and the last 2 years have been ridiculously busy. Cars Land, fall breaks, the Halloween parties...they all add up to more people in the parks now! It is still tons of fun but I do miss walking on to rides like we used to in October!

 

[Aladora]

Help! Just booked a trip for August 3-7 for my mom and I, our park days starting the 3rd, a sunday, around noonish. Our plane lands at 10 am, we found a great rate on a town car from LAX, and we're staying at the Hyatt Regency Orange County using points.
This is our second visit to DLR, we went for the first time last September, on which we were told were some of the slowest days all year. So yikes. We're not quite sure how this August will go. We are WDW locals and visit the parks weekly, however we avoid the crowds at all costs. Did we make a mistake coming the first week of August? Last time we visited we were only in the parks for about 2 days, and we went commando, saw everything to the point where now it is all a blur. Are the crowds so bad we need to plan everything out, or should we just relax and stroll and hope we take it all in again? We're so used to going to WDW and doing what we feel like whenever, sometimes we end up sitting on a bench for hours- not the best way to use our DLR time.
I did a ton of research for our first trip last year, but because of the last minute-ness of this one I'm hesitant. Where do I even start? GAH! More or less needing someone to help me get my plan in order!

You should come over and join the August 2014 thread!