Nervous about week of 9/25 crowds...

[redwingsmickey]

We're taking our first trip to DL the week of 9/25, and I just noticed on Expedia that all 3 DL hotels are booked solid that week! Is that unusual for the last week of September? At WDW, full hotels often equate to full parks, but it seems that DL attendance is more dependent on local visitors. What should we expect for crowds? We will be in the parks Monday - Thursday.

Thanks!

 

[Michelle2]

I hear ya...We will be there a week before you (9/11-17), and on the weekend we are coming and leaving, they are booked solid too. I would go expecting crowds, then you can prepare for them and not be disappointed. That is what I am doing. I know that conventions and things could mean that the hotels are booked up, yet doesn't affect the crowds too much, and being the 50th plays a part too.

At least you will be there on great days (midweek). I think the weekends will be a little more crowded, and I think that the first Monday will be more crowded than the other 3 days, but you never know! I think that it will still be a great time! Since I will be there right before you, I will be sure to remark on the crowds...

 

[tlovesdis]

Just an FYI...

When the Disneyland Hotels are all booked up in the off season, it is usually due to a convention in town. If you check other hotels for those same time periods you will probably see plenty of rooms available.

Both of the above weeks are off season, so crowds will be lighter than summer, but with the 50th going on things are are probably going to be busier than normal. The last Friday in September is also the opening of HMH, which brings in a good crowd.

Sept & Oct are great times to go, even though the are getting more crowded. They are still way less busy than any summer day for sure!!!

Have fun!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Also, just because Expedia is showing sold out does not mean the hotels themselves are sold out. Disney sells a block of rooms to Expedia and so after Expedia has sold those packages/rooms they have no more to offer unless Disney sells them some more. Just as an example our original dates were September 9-12. I purchased 4 nights at Paradise Pier way back when on Expedia with the stay 4 nights, get one night free deal. After getting a great deal on airfare we decided to extend our vist to September 7-14. I called Expedia but they had no rooms left at all three Disney hotels. So I called Disney directly and they added the three nights on, I wanted to keep my Expedia deal since the price was so good. So Disney added one night on before the Expedia reservation and two after. So now I actually have a total of three reservations! Also, I was told by the Disney agent that they had availablity at all three hotels (Expedia showed the DLH and GC sold out for my dates as well).

As far as crowds the weekends will be crazy as always but weekdays should be good once Labor Day is over. I hope!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

We were there last Sept. It was a spur of the moment trip and we called the day we left for a room. Diseyland Hotel (our usual) and Paradise Pier were completely full and Grand Californian had a few rooms at $500 a night (leading to our first ever offsite stay ). Anyways, the parks were dead. I have pictures of Fantasyland around 10am and we are the only ones there (this was a weekday). We had soo much character interaction, and never waited more then 5 minutes for anything. Now I wouldn't expect that this year since they have had much higher attendence with the 50th. But I really don't think you need to worry about Sept crowds.

 

[pjinaz]

One reason why the Disney Hotels may be booked for most of September are that they are offering the 4th night free, also a lot of time in September they offer really good AP rates. You just never know for sure with Disneyland if it will be busy or not. September is usually slow, but so is February, if you avoid presidents day. We went last February and it was busier than holidays and mid summer. I am going in early September after labor day and I think it will be okay crowd wise, but if not, oh well I am still at the happiest place on earth.

 

[karylrocks]

Have you checked to see if they have AP rates available for your dates? I had a reservation through Expedia (4th night free) during the week before Labor Day and then called Disney to add on one night. I later called back to see what the AP rates were and cancelled my Expedia ressie because I am now getting 5 nights for the same price as the original 4, and the AP rates are even lower for after Labor Day. It might be worth upgrading to AP if you can get a better deal.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Have you checked to see if they have AP rates available for your dates? I had a reservation through Expedia (4th night free) during the week before Labor Day and then called Disney to add on one night. I later called back to see what the AP rates were and cancelled my Expedia ressie because I am now getting 5 nights for the same price as the original 4, and the AP rates are even lower for after Labor Day. It might be worth upgrading to AP if you can get a better deal.

I think we are buying AP's anyway so yes I need to call! We had AP's last year and I never did manage to snag a rate. I'll call them tomorrow. Thanks so much for the heads up! I wonder though if I need my AP to make the reservation? I won't get it until the day after we arrive since we get in late.

 

[MousseauMob]

What's an AP rate?

I just called and booked - hoping to get the first week of October and they told me that the hotels are booked from end of September to most of October due to conventions. We ended up having to book the week of October 23rd instead. If I'm lucky the crowds and conventions will have cleared out by then.

 

[Brina78]

We were just there on Sunday, August 14, and the main park was half empty. It was very nice that night. You'll discover it better to go during the week than on weekends. We actually rode Peter Pan's Flight and didn't wait very long! That's when you know it's a good day. That ride is ALWAYS crowded.

 

[Amy&Dan]

What's an AP rate?

I just called and booked - hoping to get the first week of October and they told me that the hotels are booked from end of September to most of October due to conventions. We ended up having to book the week of October 23rd instead. If I'm lucky the crowds and conventions will have cleared out by then.

An Ap Rate is for Annual Passholders. With an annual pass you are eligible for dining, shopping and resort rooms discounts. There is an Annual Passholder section on the Disneyland website that will tell you more about it.