Memorial Day week crowds

[kandbp]

We chose the Tuesday through Thursday after Memorial Day (in park May 26-28) for our trip dates because that was the soonest we could go and the isitpacked predictor showed those as the last "it's alright" days before Summer started. Unfortunately, that changed two days ago to "it's packed". We're trying not to be too bummed, even though we are not fans of crowds at all. Does anyone have any predictions of what we might expect that week? I'm starting to worry that with the Anniversary the 22nd, maybe that week will be just as bad (or worse??) as Summer? I had hoped that the Memorial Day weekend would get most of the Anniversary crowds, and then it would die down again for that week. I did have trouble finding reservations for a place to stay, though (just reserved a few days ago). We require a room for 6 though, which makes it a lot more challenging than if we were a smaller family.

Are their any plans out there for laid back people traveling during crowded times? We have nothing we MUST see or do, and don't care about seeing any particular shows or doing character dining, or anything like that. This is our second trip there (last was 6 years ago) and we just want to go and enjoy the park and have a good time. Is there any good advice out there for that kind of trip? Even just knowing if there are particular rides that don't tend to have big lines, even during crowded times. (Like last time, Winnie the Pooh never had a line at all--that was great and we rode several times.)

Thanks!

 

[TheMorrisFour]

I don't really have any advice, but we're going that week too (Wednesday -Friday)! I booked it months ago before I knew about the anniversary starting around then and the two grad nights during our stay. I'm a little bummed about the crowds, because I thought I planned our days pretty carefully to avoid them, but I'm still way excited. We're just going to go with the flow, no real plans at all, except to get there as early as we can, stay as late as we can, and have our California Adventure day on Thursday lol. I figure it's Disneyland, crowded or not, how could you NOT have fun?!

 

[gottalovepluto]

And count me in the group too... We were hoping to get a jump on summer crowds by hitting that week but by the looks of the onsite hotels this morning that ain't gonna happen. We've done heavy summer crowds before, July-Aug after Cars opened, and my best tip for crowd avoidance is EARLY. Get to the parks for EMH if you stay onsite or be at the park for rope drop on the opposite park from the EMH if you aren't staying onsite. The crowds are at their lightest the earlier it is in the morning. Take afternoon breaks to get some time away from the people and the heat (although it hasn't looked hot down there but we shall see), utilize the FP system and make any dining reservations you're interested in now.

 

[Blue32]

Our first day in the parks will be May 28th this year. I am expecting crowds. With that said, one thing you have going for you is long hours. Even on very busy days you can get ALOT done in the first couple hours the park in open. From about 8 to 10:30 ride the some of the slow loaders or popular rides. Then make good use of FP and ride the some of the less popular attractions in the afternoon and early evening. If you need a break from the crowds, take a break. Or head to DCA where the crowds won't be as bad. Also if you are not interested in night time shows, the new entertainment will pull thousands of people out of ride lines. That will make it a little easier to do some rides in the evening too. Don't sweat it too much. Expect crowds and go with the flow. And if at all possible, get to the parks before they open for the day. Have fun! I know we will!

 

[momtohms]

We'll be in the parks that week too Ditto the others, our plan is to get there early in the mornings (we're staying onsite so we'll have EE every day, Disneyland may be one of the only places I get up before 6am willingly! Ha!) and just go with the flow. I'm glad we decided to go for 5 day park hoppers so we can spread it out a bit, but I'm definitely going to be prepared for crowds & lines galore. Anything less busy will be a pleasant surprise!

 

[Nicolette11785]

I will be there at that time too (7 full days). There will be lots of grad nites but I am hoping that with 7 says it will still be enjoyable.

 

[kandbp]

Get to the parks for EMH if you stay onsite or be at the park for rope drop on the opposite park from the EMH if you aren't staying onsite. The crowds are at their lightest the earlier it is in the morning.

I had to do a search to find out what EMH was . So, how do I know what the opposite park from EMH is? We're staying offsite. I need to look at grad nights again to figure out which day we should do CA. I know one of our days is not a grad night.

Appreciating all the advice here. Like I said, we've only been once before, and my memory is short these days and I don't remember anything I learned in my research last time, so I'm starting over, lol. I have had less than a week to plan the trip so far, and only a week now until we leave, so haven't had time to do my usual research and planning. I have a copy of the 2014 Unofficial Guide here, so if nothing else, I will read it in the hotels on the drive down and figure out our plan. This forum was so helpful last time we went, and I may find myself doing what I did part way through our last trip: posting a "help!" thread. I got great advice in response to that.

 

[jammyjam25]

I went just after July 4 weekend two years ago and the park was very busy the entire week.

Be there for EMH/MM if possible, utilize fastpass, and eat your meals just before or after "busy" times, etc. and you should hopefully be able to avoid the worst of the crowds/lines! Even with packed summer crowds I think the longest line we waited in all week was 30 minutes for TSMM, and were able to ride several of our favorites multiple times.

Hopefully your go with the flow approach with help you navigate the worst of the crowds! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the "its packed" prediction doesn't turn out to be true.

 

[2boysmom1998]

I'm not going over Memorial Day week but shortly there after June 2- June 5 I will be in the parks. I have 3 grad nights when I'm there and also one of the days is the last day that the pass holders aren't blocked out. I really wish that I could have gone later in June but that was the only week I could schedule it. I read over and over again how bad grad nights are. I subscribe to Touring Plans and have been watching the wait times during grad night days and they are really, bad after 2. If I can get as much in as possible in the morning I will be happy. It's crazy I have to plan my trip this way. I would love to enjoy my nights there but it doesn't look like that is a possibility. I thought that the grads had to be at CA by 10:00 but I guess they are pretty lenient about it because from watching the wait time at DL this evening they are there until 12:00 when DL closes they must be allowed to head over to CA. Space Mountain was 120 wait at 10:00 this evening! To me they should have to be at CA at 10:00 and if they aren't in there by 10:00 they can't get in and they can't get back into DL but they don't do that! So frustrating!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I had to do a search to find out what EMH was . So, how do I know what the opposite park from EMH is? We're staying offsite. I need to look at grad nights again to figure out which day we should do CA. I know one of our days is not a grad night.

The nights that aren't grad nights are listed to offer 2 world of color shows instead of just 1 fyi. Here is the link to the Disneyland calendar, it includes show schedules as well, super helpful for planning. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendars/month/2015-05-16/ Find the date you are looking at and it will tell you which park has EMH/Magic Morning. Go to the other park. The early entry parks will already have people filling the lines at the attraction queues who had access to the park before you did, by going to the other park everyone is on a more level playing field upon entry.

 

[kandbp]

I read over and over again how bad grad nights are. I subscribe to Touring Plans and have been watching the wait times during grad night days and they are really, bad after 2.

Oh dear! Not what I hoped to hear. Well, we'll make the most of the mornings and then plan to do the less popular things after 2. I'd still love to know if there's a list anywhere of rides that don't tend to have long lines even when the park is busy.

The nights that aren't grad nights are listed to offer 2 world of color shows instead of just 1 fyi. Here is the link to the Disneyland calendar, it includes show schedules as well, super helpful for planning. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendars/month/2015-05-16/ Find the date you are looking at and it will tell you which park has EMH/Magic Morning. Go to the other park. The early entry parks will already have people filling the lines at the attraction queues who had access to the park before you did, by going to the other park everyone is on a more level playing field upon entry.

Thanks for this, it's really helpful. So, could anyone help me and tell me if I'm thinking correctly that for being in the park the 26th, 27th, 28th, we should do our Magic Morning in Disneyland the 26th, Show up at regular DL opening time (well, awhile before) on the 27th, and then do our CA day on the 28th, also showing up for opening time. We do have the option of being in the park Friday the 29th in place of one of those other days, but that would pretty surely be the worst of the days, right?

Other question, where should I buy our park tickets? I don't have them yet. We're staying at the Portofino and I see they say they have them at the front desk. Is that a good way to do it, or better to get them online ahead of time? I thought I would get the three day, one park a day park hopper. Sound like a good choice? Last time we were only there two days, so we never even went into CA, even though we had regular park hoppers at that time.

 

[SMD]

Other question, where should I buy our park tickets? I don't have them yet. We're staying at the Portofino and I see they say they have them at the front desk. Is that a good way to do it, or better to get them online ahead of time? I thought I would get the three day, one park a day park hopper. Sound like a good choice? Last time we were only there two days, so we never even went into CA, even though we had regular park hoppers at that time.

If you want to order them in advance you can save a little money from places like way.com, getawaytoday or AAA. Otherwise there's really no difference between buying at a Good Neighbor hotel or the ticket booths. There are one park per day tickets, but they are not hoppers. If you're worried about avoiding crowds then you can definitely benefit from hoppers by going to the other park before and during parades or nighttime shows. But if you've already done a multiday trip without hopping then get the one park per day ticket. You could also upgrade if you decide to hop.

 

[mgd]

Oh dear! Not what I hoped to hear. Well, we'll make the most of the mornings and then plan to do the less popular things after 2. I'd still love to know if there's a list anywhere of rides that don't tend to have long lines even when the park is busy.

Based on personal experience when there and watching touringplans live wait times:

Rides with low waits: (~10 min max):

DCA:
Little Mermaid
Maters Jamboree
most of bugs land
monsters inc
carousel

Disneyland:
winnie the pooh
carousel

sometimes, but not always light lines:
pinnochio
snow white
canal boats
casey train
small world

 

[coaches24]

I was there for Memorial Day week (Mon - Fri) in 2012. It wasn't too bad really. Check the schedule for grad nights because that can effect crowds in the late afternoon and evenings. I would suggest being there at rope drop if you want less crowded. The first couple hours aren't too bad crowd and line wise and then it really picks up just before lunch time.

In the afternoon when it's really crowded try seeing some shows or attractions that might interest you.

You can have a great time but you might find it easier to do so if you take a little time to make a loose plan. Don't need to make a time schedule or anything but list some things you want to do and try to do the busier ones in the morning (rides mostly). And there is also plenty of entertainment on Main Street and Buena vista street or the pier throughout the day that you can stop and see if you choose.

And there will be times during the day when POC, HM, etc will have shorter lines than normal and you can ride those with shorter waits. Winnie the Pooh has had short or no lines every trip I've been.

Plan on getting fast passes as you walk around. You don't need to go running around to get them just as you wander the parks keep an eye on them and if you see one with a return time that fits you than grab one and come back at that time.

 

[Epek]

I'm not going over Memorial Day week but shortly there after June 2- June 5 I will be in the parks. I have 3 grad nights when I'm there and also one of the days is the last day that the pass holders aren't blocked out.

Only the SoCal Select AP is blocked right after your trip. I have the SoCal AP and am not fully blocked until June 21, I think.

 

[calilou]

We're also there that week! Thurs-Sat. I think the worst of it will be the grad night crowds rather than just it being typically packed like summer. It's been covered above but our plan is to get as many rides in (especially the bigger rides) in the morning and do shows and rides that don't appeal to the grads as much at night. We're staying onsite at DLH so we're excited to get to go back and swim and relax during the day. Our main priority (well MINE actually because it's MY birthday trip LOL are the new anniversary shows, parades, etc). So we're planning our days around those and are fine missing other things if necessary. We're passholders, so we'll be back! I recommend taking advantage of the dining packages for WOC and Fantasmic if you can and are interested in seeing those. So worth it!

 

[2boysmom1998]

Only the SoCal Select AP is blocked right after your trip. I have the SoCal AP and am not fully blocked until June 21, I think.

I know. Thursday, June 4th is the last day that SL passholders aren't blocked for the rest of the summer. It's just the last day for the SL passholders to get their last bit of magic in and see all the 60th anniversary stuff. So I have to deal with them on June 4th which will be crazy and the other days I'm there I have grad nites. There is not hope for me. It'll be a mess. I was there the week Cars Land opened, I will survive, I can handle crowds, I just wish I could have gone later on in June.

 

[snoodledoo]

We chose the Tuesday through Thursday after Memorial Day (in park May 26-28) for our trip dates because that was the soonest we could go and the isitpacked predictor showed those as the last "it's alright" days before Summer started. Unfortunately, that changed two days ago to "it's packed". We're trying not to be too bummed, even though we are not fans of crowds at all. Does anyone have any predictions of what we might expect that week? I'm starting to worry that with the Anniversary the 22nd, maybe that week will be just as bad (or worse??) as Summer? I had hoped that the Memorial Day weekend would get most of the Anniversary crowds, and then it would die down again for that week. I did have trouble finding reservations for a place to stay, though (just reserved a few days ago). We require a room for 6 though, which makes it a lot more challenging than if we were a smaller family.

Are their any plans out there for laid back people traveling during crowded times? We have nothing we MUST see or do, and don't care about seeing any particular shows or doing character dining, or anything like that. This is our second trip there (last was 6 years ago) and we just want to go and enjoy the park and have a good time. Is there any good advice out there for that kind of trip? Even just knowing if there are particular rides that don't tend to have big lines, even during crowded times. (Like last time, Winnie the Pooh never had a line at all--that was great and we rode several times.)

Thanks!

We are going the exact same days as you and now I'm starting to stress about the crowds.

 

[TechGuy]

Don't stress about the crowds. You have no control over them, only what they do to you. GO early, enjoy your trip, roll with the crowd.

I like to do rides and such during the day parades and standard meal times, and eat off peak and stay after the fireworks.

 

[asunutgirl]

I think you should expect it to be crowded this week. My HS senior has a class trip to Disneyland on Thurs - her whole senior class is going and I think it may be a district wide event. As an AP, we have already seen the crowds increasing this spring. My quiet Sunday mornings are gone.

Also - if you are there for Memorial Day weekend, there are two very big dance competitions that weekend as well. One at the Disneyland hotel that is 4 days and one at the Anaheim Hilton that is 4 days. Traffic all over Anaheim is going to be crazy.

Just breathe and give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go.