Oct. 3-5 Is it a mistake?

[JayP]

My co-worker and I decided at the last minute to surprise our kids with a trip to DL in Oct. After reading about the AZ and UEA fall breaks and of course Columbus Day, we settled on Oct. 3-5 and already booked the rooms. Now I understand that Gay Days will be held that same weekend. I've read a couple of divergent opinions about how that effects park attendance. One person said to stay away at all costs, but another found that it doesn't really have that much noticable effect. I'm mostly concerned about ride wait times rather than overall crowds.

We may be able to change our room reservation to the prior weekend... but we already told the kids they get to attend the Halloween party.

Any advice or reassurance is appreciated... as I have to book the airline tickets this weekend. Thanks!

 

[avalon451]

It's a weekend-- there are no slow weekends at DL, regardless, unless maybe it's raining. And, it's a Halloween party weekend, so it WILL be busy. But, you know, I'm thinking it'll be better than the next couple of weeks after that. I think you'll be ok.

You've read Hydroguy's tips for managing your time during high season, right? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483 Just be sure and get there before opening, and collect FPs for use later. You'll be fine. Have a great time!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Gay Days had 30,000 people at their events last year. Also don't forget that on Oct 5 Disneyland closes at 5pm. Busy Disneyland is still better than No Disneyland!

 

[Sherry E]

If it IS a mistake to go that weekend, then you are not alone, JayP! I will be making the same mistake (see my ticker below) and there are at least five other members of DISboards that I know of who are going that same weekend too! That was not even the weekend that my friend originally wanted, but we could not get any hotel rooms for the weekend of October 9 - 12, so had to take what was available. I am beginning to think we got the better deal. First of all, it turned out to be better for all of my friends who are coming along. Also, I have a hunch that the following October weekends, as Gail pointed out, will be worse, attendance-wise. A busy weekend in October is usually not as bad as a busy weekend in summer or right around Christmas. So far, the summer attendance numbers were way down from last year, and I am hoping that October will be the same. Yes, DL is doing more with Halloween festivities now and that is a draw, and they are offering special Fall Season hotel rates which attracts more people, but the fact remains that the economy - especially in California - is terrible, unemployment rates are way up (that almost affected my own Disneyland trip) and gas prices are bad. So it might even have an effect on the Gay Days crowds, you never know. You will have a great time. You can never escape crowds at Disneyland, but I don't think it will be as bad this year as we expect it to be.

Even a hint of rain that weekend (we should be so lucky) will drive down crowds considerably, but early October in SoCal tends to be hot and dry

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

It is never a mistake going to disneyland

Go and enjoy it so there are people oh well just use fastpass and enjoy the weekend is there really a down time

 

[disneegrl4eva]

but early October in SoCal tends to be hot and dry

early oct. nov., dec., march, april, may, june, july, aug., sept.... heck it never rains in california except for a couple of weeks a year here and there...

 

[Sherry E]

early oct. nov., dec., march, april, may, june, july, aug., sept.... heck it never rains in california except for a couple of weeks a year here and there...

I think it rains more than most non-resident people expect it to out here (they think that we never see a drop of rain for ten years at a time), but not enough and not a LOT compared to other states. No one expects it to drop down to 30 degrees during winter, but it can and it sometimes does. It always seems to rain when I DON'T want it to rain, and then it doesn't let up for two weeks straight. But when I would like it to rain, it is 100 degrees. Last year, it POURED rain on our Fall Disneyland trip - so much so that it was too awkward to walk around and do anything. My friends got frustrated with it and just found a bench to sit on. It was TOO rainy. The only good part of that was that it drove the crowds down when the rain finally let up for two hours and there were no lines for anything, but then it began to pour again. It really made things hard to do - we couldn't take out our cameras because they would get soaked, we couldn't see two feet in front of us because it was just too rainy.

I don't want it to be like that again at Disneyland when I am there, but some light rain would be nice because it would keep a lot of people at home! And it tends to rain every year between Christmas and New Year's too!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

rained nov 30th dec 1st last year lol
and i dont think it will be as crowded due to money issues. alot are being hit hard

 

[Sherry E]

rained nov 30th dec 1st last year lol
and i dont think it will be as crowded due to money issues. alot are being hit hard

Money issues are REALLY hitting hard for many people. I was SO close to cancelling my October 2-5 trip (and I know you can relate to this, Jade!) because something unexpectedly came up two weeks ago to make my money situation even worse (and it was already bad since I lost my job in February!) and it just didn't seem possible to go to Disneyland. But I took a couple of weeks to think about it and figured out a few ways to make it possible, so as of now, it looks about 90% certain that we WILL keep the October plan. But if I am struggling this much in California, I can imagine that there are many other people also struggling out here. It IS the highest unemployment rate in five years. So I think that WILL have a big impact on Fall crowds like it did on Summer crowds.

Oh, and Jade, you reminded me - sometimes it DOES pour rain right in that week after Thanksgiving too. Some years it doesn't, but when it rains out here, that is one of the weeks it is likely to happen! I was at DL 7 years ago on the Thanksgiving weekend and it rained cats and dogs - again, so much so that we couldn't really get anything done because it was too messy!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

well next year for my bday nov 30th we will do wdw im looking forward to it now lol been on wdw sites all day lol

 

[avalon451]

*points to her webbed feet, courtesy of living in Seattle for 35 years*

Rain? Bring it on. *evil grin*

 

[Sherry E]

well next year for my bday nov 30th we will do wdw im looking forward to it now lol been on wdw sites all day lol

Well, I think if you are going to make one last big Disney trip before you and your family kind of 'retire' from Disney trips for a few years, WDW is the way to go. Go out with a bang! So, I assume you decided to skip the Christmas DL trip this year after all? Or are you still trying to do that? In any case, because WDW has so much to see and do there, I think that will be the perfect way to cap off your Disney adventures for a few years, and then, as you said in another thread, you will make the big return in 2012 or 2013, when DCA has all its new stuff open. And it will get easier. It is tough at first - very tough - to stay away from Disneyland for years (I have done it, sadly), but it gets easier in time, and you don't feel as sad after a while!

 

[Disney Dreams]

If we each had a dime for every thread on this board that asks if (insert date here) is a busy time, we could all own Disneyland.

Is early October a mistake? no
Is it as busy as summer? no
Will it be empty? no (Halloween)
Can you still have a great time? YES!

 

[Sherry E]

If we each had a dime for every thread on this board that asks if (insert date here) is a busy time, we could all own Disneyland.

Is early October a mistake? no
Is it as busy as summer? no
Will it be empty? no (Halloween)
Can you still have a great time? YES!

I also am amused when my long-time seasoned Disneyland-going friends seem annoyed or somehow surprised that there are lines for rides. We have been going to Disneyland since we were wee children, and there have always been lines and crowds, although, obviously the lines shift to other attractions as the years change. It is as if some of my pals think the lines are going to miraculously vanish when they go! Sometimes the crowds CAN be scary (like around New Year's Eve) and that may not be the best time to go for anyone who has panic attacks or gets claustrophobic easily. But there will always be crowds. None of us prefer to stand in long lines, and we all know our limits as far as which rides are worth the wait and which ones are not (like I WILL be waiting to get on Toy Story Midway Mania because I have to!), but it does come with the territory at DL, especially as they add new things.

I personally hate being there when it is super HOT outside AND having to wait in long lines - because I burn very easily and get sick in the heat. But I expect that I will have to wait, and now, as I get older, I try to embrace it more. It is an opportunity to meet people! Waiting in line is no fun, BUT it gives me more of a chance to chat with the people who are with me and ALSO chat with the strangers around me, from all kinds of different places. We are all in the same boat, smooshed together waiting for Haunted Mansion or whatever, so might as well strike up a conversation. Then, if you all get put together on a ride - like on POTC, you end up in the same boat - you can all hoot and holler together as you hit the first drop, and you feel like you have a bigger group of friends than before you got into the line! Also, chatting with strangers is a good way to exchange info. We were stuck in a long line for Carnation Cafe last year and we were telling the people in front of us - who were from Japan - about Goofy's Kitchen, which they did not know about. So they decided to take their little girl there the next day, based on our recommendation. They also told us about something they had done which we had never heard of. So it was time well-spent, and it took our minds off the fact that were hungry!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

no we cant do christmas trip that is why we decied to do dinning plan in dl this time again it was good last time and we leave dl with a big bang then next year a week in wdw then we will stop till 2012 or 13 ill save like every one wants me to do bla lol
the dinning plan at wdw is gona be grate were getting the delux one.
it will be excpincve but it will be well worth it to hold us over for at least two years lol

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Well, if you are hoping for, and expecting low crowds. Yes it is a mistake! Most of October is packed though, it's become a very busy month. If you do go, just make sure and get there early, take advantage of FP too!

 

[Sherry E]

no we cant do christmas trip that is why we decied to do dinning plan in dl this time again it was good last time and we leave dl with a big bang then next year a week in wdw then we will stop till 2012 or 13 ill save like every one wants me to do bla lol
the dinning plan at wdw is gona be grate were getting the delux one.
it will be excpincve but it will be well worth it to hold us over for at least two years lol

Sounds like a great plan! And the 3 - 4 years waiting to go back to DL will go by quickly. And by the time you get back there, with all the new things added in DCA, it will be like a whole new park! I have never tried the dining plan. One day I will have to do that.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We are going Oct 2-6. I am more worried by the Miley Cyrus birthday thing than anything else.

I think we may try for the 6:30 am opening at DL on Sunday. We are from the east coast, so I am hoping we will still be on east coast time.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

when i ordered tickets today the lady was telling me about the bday party. i was telling her oh ya i know about it alot ppl arent happy but hay i know theres nothing i could do in less i wanted to go and couldnt.

she said yes they have tryed to make it up with the early opening and that she was getting alot of rude ppl being more then pissed with her. its sad to think ppl cant understand these cm's cant do anything about it.

but she did say ty to me for being understanding. i said ya i was gona go in dl late night but its ok ill do dtd and world of disney stuff.

any ways thought id just point out what i heard from cm today

 

[JDBlair]

when i ordered tickets today the lady was telling me about the bday party.

any ways thought id just point out what i heard from cm today

Our first day at DL is going to be Oct 4, just in time for this b-day party. Boo!!! We'll likely get to the park SUPER early and do the rides we love the most and then make our way to DCA!