Nemo Opening and crowds ?

[momto2nenas]

Our last day at DLR will be the opening day of the new Nemo ride. Is it going to be crazy crowded that day? Its also a Friday (June 15th).

 

[DR64]

YES! I'd recommend getting there an hour early and making a beeline for FNSV and, even if it isn't open immediately, wait it out. If FNSV doesn't sound interesting to you, the rides on the opposite side of the park shouldn't be crowded for a while.

 

[mystic_path]

Is the date for the opening set for sure yet?

 

[HydroGuy]

The date of the opening is supposed to be June 11, not 15. And it will be crazy busy that week - especially around the sub ride.

 

[momto2nenas]

Okay, it opens the 11th! That sounds better than a day while we are there, lol. But you think the park is going to be crazy busy all week long?! I was hoping the Wednesday/Thursday would be slower (for June anyway). Oh well, I can only hope huh?

I really don't know anything about the ride, but I'm sure we will ride if it time allows since.

 

[HydroGuy]

Okay, it opens the 11th! That sounds better than a day while we are there, lol. But you think the park is going to be crazy busy all week long?! I was hoping the Wednesday/Thursday would be slower (for June anyway). Oh well, I can only hope huh?

I really don't know anything about the ride, but I'm sure we will ride if it time allows since.

This is a beloved ride that has been down for 8 years, and AP holders (of which there are 600,000+) in particular will flock to DL that week for day trips. June 11 is a Monday and some of the APs will hold off until the following weekend. And some of them will come after work on the weekdays in the late afternoon or evening just to stand in the Nemo line which most people are expecting to be 4 hours long.

The demand for that ride wil be huge for the rest of the summer, and it is a slow loader - maybe 900 per hour. Thus they can accomodate perhaps 12,000-15,000 per day, out of 40,000+ people who will be at the parks on any given day. This can be compared to the POTC refurb in 2006 when they re-opened the ride and lines went all the way back to Main Street and were four hours long. And that ride has a capacity of 3,000+ per hour and was only down for 3-4 months. POTC can handle 30,000-40,000 riders per day, and still had incredibly long lines the first week.

So, yes, I think the parks will be a lot busier than a typical June 11 week. Especially as the day progresses and AP holder filter in just to get in the Nemo line and ride.

If I were going that week, I would make it a point to ride Nemo first thing in the morning and then get out of that area. On the weekdays, it will be doubly important to get an early start at the parks that week, especially at DL. I would not expect DCA to be any more crowded than normal, though, which means DCA should not be that crowded. If you get an early start at DL, use your Fastpasses, and be ready to head to DCA should DL get overly crowded, you should be fine.

 

[VWCat]

hehe,thanks hydroguy,our trip is starting the day of the nemo opening ,thanks for the tips

 

[camouseketeer]

Any chance of any soft openings June 1-3?

How do I know if there is a soft opening?

 

[MATTERHORN]

I am absolutely counting on soft oepnings while there. I know I shouldn't but it's happened with two other rides and I've gotten very lucky so 3rd times a charm right?? I mean they HAVE TO run it a few times before they open it fully so here's hoping!!


Andrea

 

[carolina_yankee]

I can't believe they wouldn't do some soft openings, unles they reserve them for AP holders the way WDW did with Expedition Everest.

As for how to know: read the Disneyland forums in the various Disney fan sites or hang out around the attraction the day you're there. They tend to not announce, just do. I suspect once they start, though, it will be a sure thing for each day until official opening (unless they have a huge "gee, no one thought that would happen" disaster!)

Dirk

 

[momto2nenas]

Well, gee. Now I'm kinda bummed. I know we'll STILL be at Disneyland no matter what but will the crowds ruin our trip? We are traveling w/ our DDs 4 and (then) 22 months. I was debating going back to the hotel for naps but now I'll be scared to leave the park b/c of "full capacity". That would be horrilble!

HydroGuy thanks for all the great info! I do have another ? for ya: If most of the expected APs come for Nemo, will they leave the rest of park alone? As in Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, etc. will be less crowded? "A dream in a wish your heart makes" huh?!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Some AP's will come just for that, especially if it's after work and they have to work the next day and have to wait in line for 3 hours just for Nemo!!

I don't' think it will be that much worse than regular June crowds. Even if Nemo wasn't opening then, June is still crowded so I wouldn't expect it to be low crowds either way. I really don't think Nemo will add that much, but we leave the day after it supposedly opens so it won't affect me much!

Andrea

 

[momto2nenas]

Well we'll just hope for the best and follow all HydroGuy's "rules"! Thanks everyone!

 

[HydroGuy]

HydroGuy thanks for all the great info! I do have another ? for ya: If most of the expected APs come for Nemo, will they leave the rest of park alone? As in Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, etc. will be less crowded? "A dream in a wish your heart makes" huh?!

Andrea may be right during weekdays, for APs coming in the evening. If the Nemo line is super long, I think Andrea is right that that is all they have time for. But some APs will stay for longer than just Nemo, with many coming for a whole day. Those who come for a day or half-day will probably do other things while they are there, and that will mean more crowds than otherwise might have occurred.

In any case, I was not tying to scare you with the "crowd predictions", just prepare you. If you follow the advice out there for early arrival, Fastpasses, afternoon breaks, etc., then you will be fine.

I checked the calendar that week and DL and DCA close early on Wed/Th June 13-14, which I believe are due to grad nights. When the parks close that early then afternoon breaks do not help as much. I would make the breaks shorter on those days, and longer on Mon/Tue that week when the park hours are longer and you can stay a little later in the evening. With the age of your kids you will be able to make the call on how late is too late.

 

[momto2nenas]

Andrea may be right during weekdays, for APs coming in the evening. If the Nemo line is super long, I think Andrea is right that that is all they have time for. But some APs will stay for longer than just Nemo, with many coming for a whole day. Those who come for a day or half-day will probably do other things while they are there, and that will mean more crowds than otherwise might have occurred.

In any case, I was not tying to scare you with the "crowd predictions", just prepare you. If you follow the advice out there for early arrival, Fastpasses, afternoon breaks, etc., then you will be fine.

I checked the calendar that week and DL and DCA close early on Wed/Th June 13-14, which I believe are due to grad nights. When the parks close that early then afternoon breaks do not help as much. I would make the breaks shorter on those days, and longer on Mon/Tue that week when the park hours are longer and you can stay a little later in the evening. With the age of your kids you will be able to make the call on how late is too late.

Well ya did scare me a little. but its not going to keep me from going, lol. I want to absorb the atmosphere as well as everything else so rides are not #1 on our agenda.. although we will be busting it the first day as much as our 2 DDs will allow!

 

[mystic_path]

I am just hoping that opening day wont close the park due to over crowded parks

 

[momto2nenas]

I am just hoping that opening day wont close the park due to over crowded parks

We won't be there opening day but I am worried that would happen maybe that Friday while we are there. We'll be afraid to leave the park!

 

[Adi12982]

I can't believe they wouldn't do some soft openings, unles they reserve them for AP holders the way WDW did with Expedition Everest.

Dirk

The soft openings for AP holders were only the initial one's in January the ride didn't officially open until April. I was there in March and my husband and I rode it several times. . . .

So I can see initial soft opening to be for AP holders and then general public oft openings. . . .