october 2011 and crowds

[cypressmom]

My husband and I are thinking of taking a quick trip to Disneyland in October. We want to go on a Wednesday - Saturday. We have narrowed it down to the 12th-15th or 19th-22nd.

12th-15th
Do you think the Columbus day crowds will still be there or might it have lightened up a bit since it's the end of the week?

19th-22nd
I am reading about kids from Utah being out of school. Do they really crowd the parks that much?


I have one more question and it's about the Grand Californian. Does anybody have any input on what room category maybe the quietest?

Thanks in advance.

 

[cypressmom]

After reading another thread, I checked with Touring Plans and it appears the 12th-15th is a better option.

I'd still like input in the GC if possible. This will be our first time staying on-site.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Just so you know, quite a few Arizona school have their fall break the week of the 10th through the 15th. A lot of families travel to Disneyland over this time. We have been in October when the crowds have been large, but manageable. However, it can still be rather warm in October too.

 

[cypressmom]

Just so you know, quite a few Arizona school have their fall break the week of the 10th through the 15th. A lot of families travel to Disneyland over this time. We have been in October when the crowds have been large, but manageable. However, it can still be rather warm in October too.

Thank you!

 

[JaibuJenn]

Would you be able to share the touring plans link please? I've never heard of it but it seems like a helpful tool. Thanks!

 

[cypressmom]

Would you be able to share the touring plans link please? I've never heard of it but it seems like a helpful tool. Thanks!

Is it ok to post this?

http://touringplans.com/

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

Just be aware:

October used to be "off season" -- but not anymore. Disney has promoted the heck out of HalloweenTime over the past several years, and the crowds have come accordingly.

(And I don't know where "Touring Plans" gets its info. I'd be very surprised to see any days in October rate a crowd level of only 2 or 3 anymore. And they have some Sundays pegged at 4?!? Seriously???? )

 

[Sherry E]

Just be aware:

October used to be "off season" -- but not anymore. Disney has promoted the heck out of HalloweenTime over the past several years, and the crowds have come accordingly.

(And I don't know where "Touring Plans" gets its info. I'd be very surprised to see any days in October rate a crowd level of only 2 or 3 anymore. And they have some Sundays pegged at 4?!? Seriously???? )

I agree with you. I always say that October (and even September, to an extent) is not the same ol' off-peak season that it used to be. In fact, considering that Halloween Time is not even on the same scale as the holiday season in terms of its decorations, highlights, etc., the fact that October is so crowded is quite a testament to how popular the Halloween season actually is.

 

[tlovesdis]

I agree with you. I always say that October (and even September, to an extent) is not the same ol' off-peak season that it used to be. In fact, considering that Halloween Time is not even on the same scale as the holiday season in terms of its decorations, highlights, etc., the fact that October is so crowded is quite a testament to how popular the Halloween season actually is.

I think a lot of it too is that many, many schools are now non-traditional when it comes to their schedules and tons of kids are off usually the first two weeks of October. I know around here it's like that and many people head to DL because of the break.

 

[cypressmom]

So based on comments here, I shouldn't expect one week to be less crowded that the other?

 

[JosieGirl71]

We went in October last year thinking it would be a low season and nothing could be further from the truth. UT schools were out and it was crazy crowded. Now, keep in mind that we have never been to DL during peak season. We usually go the first week in December to avoid major crowds so my input may be skewed. I will say that we will never go in October again.

 

[cari12]

We were there Oct 18-23 in 2009 and crowds were not bad at all. I used some of the tips here on which rides to do when and rarely did we have more then a 5 minute wait for any ride.
The Oct 12 week is also Thanksgiving in Canada so some Canadians go to Disney that week as well.

 

[cypressmom]

Thanks for the additional feedback.

Anyone have input about the Grand Californian? Standard vs DTD view? I'm thinking standard might be quieter, but then are you far away from the park entrances?

 

[dinosaurjim]

I saw someone post that October 2009 wasn't bad for them, 5 minute waits. We ad a very different experience. We went October 15 and 16 in 2009 and I felt like the park was REALLY crowded. On the 16th (Friday) I seriously felt like I was there on a Saturday in August. Well, OK, maybe not THAT bad, but really crowded. The queue for Space Mountain was never less than 90 minutes (we never rode it). Splash mountain said 30 minutes and ended up being 70. Nemo was an hour. Soarin was 45 minutes. Peter Pan was never less than 45 minutes, Dumbo was 40 minutes. In the evening for fireworks and F! the crowds were even worse! We heard from some locals while we were there that Sundays are less crowded than Saturdays and that part of the reason it was so busy those days that we were there was that it had rained for like a week solid just prior to our arrival, so more locals may have been out because any plans to go earlier in the week would have been thwarted by the rain. In short, I was very disapointed in October. We are going September 14-16 this year and I'm cautiously optimistic that the crowds will be lighter. I sure hope so!

 

[Sherry E]

I went on October 24 in 2009 and it was really, really crowded!

Crowds and attendance have picked up so much at DLR in the last 2 years - and Halloween Time has gotten increasingly popular - that things will be different from what they were 2 years ago. Even last year won't be a completely solid guideline to use for what crowds will be like this year, but since 2010 the most recent October we have to go by, it will have to do!

Keep in mind that up until last year, part of the Halloween Time celebration took place in DCA, too. Not everything was concentrated in Disneyland. There were things in both parks. People could spread out a bit more and go see the decorations in DCA.

But since last year, everything Halloween-oriented has been put into Disneyland and taken out of DCA, so that might slightly influence the crowd levels in Disneyland as well.

 

[jkpatrick]

Also Columbus day is not considered a State holiday in California anymore.

 

[cari12]

I saw someone post that October 2009 wasn't bad for them, 5 minute waits. We ad a very different experience. We went October 15 and 16 in 2009 and I felt like the park was REALLY crowded. On the 16th (Friday) I seriously felt like I was there on a Saturday in August. Well, OK, maybe not THAT bad, but really crowded. The queue for Space Mountain was never less than 90 minutes (we never rode it). Splash mountain said 30 minutes and ended up being 70. Nemo was an hour. Soarin was 45 minutes. Peter Pan was never less than 45 minutes, Dumbo was 40 minutes. In the evening for fireworks and F! the crowds were even worse! We heard from some locals while we were there that Sundays are less crowded than Saturdays and that part of the reason it was so busy those days that we were there was that it had rained for like a week solid just prior to our arrival, so more locals may have been out because any plans to go earlier in the week would have been thwarted by the rain. In short, I was very disapointed in October. We are going September 14-16 this year and I'm cautiously optimistic that the crowds will be lighter. I sure hope so!

Perhaps because we arrived on Sunday (but did not go to the parks that day) so our park days were Mon-Wed and we were there at park opening each day (one day was MM) and followed the advice from Hydroguy etc. on which rides to hit first and in what order. We were pretty much done most of our "plan" and heading back to the DLH for some pool time by the time things got busy.

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

Also Columbus day is not considered a State holiday in California anymore.

Maybe not for the State -- but it is for the Federal government and many cities & counties, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Anaheim, Riverside, etc., etc.

Disneyland is scheduled to be open from 8:00AM-Midnight on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Columbus Day). So they expect it to be very busy.

 

[ryalluvdiz]

Las Vegas schools are closed October 27th(Thurs) for a staff development day and October 28th (Fri)for Nevada Day so that weekend will be super packed with us Las Vegans as well...I'm getting worried myself.....

 

[cypressmom]

We decided to book Oct 12-15 at the GCH. All three Disney hotels are competely booked. Thankfully, it's just me and my husband this time. I think it will be a lot less stressful than if we had the kids with us.