Mid-November no longer a "secret"

[closetmickey]

I guess that depends on how much you paid for the day at Disney versus what someone paid you to be at work.

Couldn't agree more!! Well said.

 

[wongck]

I think the mid November secret disappeared when they put a marathon weekend at the beginning of the holiday period

That is what good business sense does... put in stuff like these that draws thousands of sports enthu on your lull seasons.

 

[disneychrista]

IMHO, it is weekdays in early May (first three weeks) that are good, nothing really special going on, and most schools are in session to prepare for finals.

Except for those that are there for Senior Trips/Grad Nights. I was there Mid-May this year and it was pretty nuts with groups of "young adults" in school colors. I purposely changed my dates so I wasn't there on a Grad Night and it didn't matter.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

One possible reason for the long, slow entry lines could be that many AP photos have disappeared recently. This means that many guests who would normally go right through the turnstiles, now have to stop to have their photo taken (and talk with the CM to find out what happened to the lost photo). When you add this to all the day guests who must have their photos taken, this just makes the lines move even slower.

 

[MillauFr]

We were there last week, Nov. 5 - 8. It was crowded but manageable on Sat, Sun. Mon was ok but Tuesday was disaster. Took 45 minutes to get through the security line. I heard people claiming it was an hour and I believe them. The ticket lines were a mess as the DL and CA lines all seem to merge into chaos. Haunted Mansion was approaching a 70 minutes wait on some days.

They are jacking the prices through the roof but it isn't helping.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Bummer. I remember when it would be so empty. Have fun though! A crowded day at Disney is better than a day at home or work! : )

it was pretty much empty on Nov 9th and 10th..crowds exploded on the 11th/12Th/13th and then were much less again today (though not as empty as the 9th and 10th). Crowds today did pick up quite a lot after about 4pm or so .

 

[DizMe]

I did see that after I already confirmed my timeshare exchange for those dates. As of now, I am arriving on that Sunday and plan to do the Tea Party at DLH in the afternoon. I am unsure what I'll do that evening. I went once on that night a few years ago and hated it so much that I didn't renew my AP for a couple years. With parts of the park being closed off now, I imagine it will be much worse this year. I am considering just doing Trader Sam's, but may try for TOT and some other stuff in DCA/

Where do you find information about the tea party at DLH? I couldn't find anything that said they were doing it in Dec. Maybe it's all booked?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Where do you find information about the tea party at DLH? I couldn't find anything that said they were doing it in Dec. Maybe it's all booked?

It's the standard tea party that they have been doing all year. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland-hotel/afternoon-tea/

 

[DizMe]

It's the standard tea party that they have been doing all year. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland-hotel/afternoon-tea/

Thanks! I'd looked at it a while ago and for some reason, the entire month of December was not available. Now I see weekends but unfortunately, my dates are Dec 5-8 and there are either no availabilities or no afternoon tea offerings on those dates.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm sure we all realize that, but just want to commiserate about what that does to their park experience.

 

[lcp9]

We were there 2nd-5th and wednesday/thursday/friday were pretty light crowds, saturday was busier esp at DL (probably due to pre-dapper day), DCA was ok. We thought about switching weekends to go over the 10th and then I realized it was the perfect storm of veterans day, marathon weekend and holiday opening and NO WAY. I think relatively good weeks are still there but you have to be super careful about events/holidays/locals being out of school.

 

[DharmaLou]

Yesterday was our last day at the parks. Inside was totally manageable and we got on all the rides we wanted to pretty easily - but I think the half marathon weekend makes a huge difference in crowds. We were there from Thursday thru Monday and Thursday and Monday were definitely the lightest, but still if we got in the parks at rope drop we were able to hit all the rides we wanted to pretty quickly before 11am or so. The exception being Racers because it was down most of the mornings first thing.

 

[MacMama0930]

Interesting because my dad and I were there the last couple of days and we kept commenting about how NOT crowded it was. I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe because I'm comparing it to my visit last month, when park was at capacity every day during the week pretty much! But honestly, I thought the crowd levels were great. We did utilize a lot of FP and SRL and we did everything multiple times and never waited more than 20 minutes. Most were walk ons.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Someone on another board reported that one day tickets are now requiring a photo and signature. This is probably slowing down the lines, too.

 

[MacMama0930]

Someone on another board reported that one day tickets are now requiring a photo and signature. This is probably slowing down the lines, too.

They had my dad write his name on his multi day ticket too.

 

[Mousequake]

I'm here now too and agree that Fri-Sun were insane. Some of the worst crowds I've ever seen outside of the summer and major holidays.

Today (Tuesday, Nov 15), though, was a completely different story. The park was a complete joy to be in. While it wasn't dead, crowds were extremely manageable, lines were for the most part short, and the weather was darn near perfect.

 

[mich311e]

Someone on another board reported that one day tickets are now requiring a photo and signature. This is probably slowing down the lines, too.

I'm convinced the biggest perk for APs would be an AP only entrance line or two. It might be longer than the other lines but would go soooo much faster! No photos, no signing, no paper prints of tickets!

 

[Darkbeer1]

Disneyland has tried AP only lines, and found out that guests just don't read the signage,and it created more hassles than it was worth.

Same issue with "bag less" security lines, too many folks thought a purse or other small bag wasn't really a "bag".

So the current policy is all lines are treated the same. And on Magic Morning/Early Magic Hour lines, you still have issues in regards as to which line I need to be in, and confusion from an average guest.

 

[mommymermaid]

I guess that depends on how much you paid for the day at Disney versus what someone paid you to be at work.

True, but I was just trying to stay positive for the op...Im always looking for that silver lining!

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm convinced the biggest perk for APs would be an AP only entrance line or two. It might be longer than the other lines but would go soooo much faster! No photos, no signing, no paper prints of tickets!

My dad actually suggested something about this on our vacation...that those using tickets for the first time (so those needing photos/signatures) should have their own lines so that those who already have everything all set can get in faster. but, as darkbeer1 said, that requires that people read the signage. Even if you split the turnstiles in 1/2 and said the 1/2 to the right are for first use, 1/2 to the left are for those who already have signatures and photos, you'll still get plenty of people who don't read the signs at all. I have to admit disneyland did a good job with the entry lines and adequately staffing the turnstilea. Even when we were so far back in line that we were closer to dca than dl, it didn't take more than 20 mins or so to get from there through the turnstiles.