October 21st Crowds

[Ginger Renae]

I was planning a trip for October 18-21. However, when I checked the anticipated crowd levels on touring plans, Friday, the 21st is an 8 and DCA is a 10. Does anyone know what is going on to cause such high crowds that day?

Thanks!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Mickey's Halloween Party in Disneyland happens that night.

 

[Ginger Renae]

They do the Halloween party on several different nights. Also, it has DCA as a 10 and DL as only a 2.1 so far as crowd level. The party takes place at DL, not DCA, doesn't it?

 

[tzeitel]

The 21st is a Friday which is a big day for locals to catch the party. DCA might be busier because ppl will just wait until they can use their party ticket (after 3pm) to go into DL. Or they just want to avoid DL altogether when it is a party day since it would be a short day (unless they are also going to the party that night).

 

[nunzia]

Yes, the party is at DLR now, although a couple years ago it was at DCA. I don't know what can be making the crowd projection wacky unless they haven't changed it to reflect the Halloween Party is at DLR..and really..since you have to pay for the party, maybe they are guessing that those that have to leave DLR will flock to DCA? But this shouldn't impact the daytime crowds I wouldn't think.
We'll be there those days and are doing the party on the 21st

 

[tzeitel]

I think Utah schools are out on their Fall break that date (?)

 

[geekypeach]

I think Utah schools are out on their Fall break that date (?)

Yep. UEA, and we'll be there then. It's going to be a mad house! UEA is traditionally the first weekend in Oct, but it's very different this year.

 

[Sharron379]

What's UEA? We will be there Oct. 21-24, I was so looking forward to low crowds. Why is DCA a 10? Especially with the Halloween party being at DL that night. Should we really be concerned about huge crowds. There are two annual pass blackouts for that weekend. Any thoughts?

 

[HappyHaunt]

October has become a pretty packed time of year to go over the last several years. There's the Gay Days event, the Fall breaks, and of course all the Halloween stuff draws huge crowds. We've done it twice, and while a few of our days were okay, most it was just packed. Wall to wall people. I just don't find it fun that packed.

 

[Cal-Pie]

What's UEA? We will be there Oct. 21-24, I was so looking forward to low crowds. Why is DCA a 10? Especially with the Halloween party being at DL that night. Should we really be concerned about huge crowds. There are two annual pass blackouts for that weekend. Any thoughts?

UEA is a teacher's convention that closes schools in Utah. Many people from Utah head to DL. Some people say it makes the parks super crowded, other people say it makes little difference. I'm going that weekend too, preparing myself for crowds just in case, and planning on having a great time no matter what. The crowds in DCA come from people leaving DL when the party starts at 7pm.

 

[Sharron379]

Good to know, especially considering we are going to the party that night! i hope the crowds aren't to bad! We have dealt with WDW in June for Stars Weekend and Gay Days. So we have dealt with tough crowds. Considering two AP's will be blackout for that weekend, will it really be that crowded?

 

[lifesgr8]

I was planning a trip for October 18-21. However, when I checked the anticipated crowd levels on touring plans, Friday, the 21st is an 8 and DCA is a 10. Does anyone know what is going on to cause such high crowds that day?

Thanks!

It's called..... UEA. Utah's fall break!!! Avoid it! All of Utah escapes to Anaheim!

 

[singitalto]

Wow- I'm glad that this board exists!!! We are WDW veterans going to DLR for the first time, Oct 20-23.

Since it's going to be so crowded, should we avoid the parks on the 21st and do other California stuff?? Would it be better to do the Halloween party at night instead of doing the park during the day on the 21st? There is so much to see in California that i almost don't mind that the park will be so busy. Otherwise I'd want to spend all my time in the parks!!!

 

[lifesgr8]

We have done UEA several times. I have sworn off it, all together. I don't think it's worth the crowd. Technically, UEA doesnt start until Thurs the 20th. So the kids have school mon-wed. We have had luck some years coming early in the week. Other years we had the same idea as all of Utah! We did the Halloween party when it was at CA and loved it, it was awesome!! Not sure how it is crowd wise now that they have moved it?! If you were dead set on parks try early in week, I wouldn't bother Thurs-sat

Wow- I'm glad that this board exists!!! We are WDW veterans going to DLR for the first time, Oct 20-23.

Since it's going to be so crowded, should we avoid the parks on the 21st and do other California stuff?? Would it be better to do the Halloween party at night instead of doing the park during the day on the 21st? There is so much to see in California that i almost don't mind that the park will be so busy. Otherwise I'd want to spend all my time in the parks!!!

 

[Sharron379]

We can't cancel our trip for Oct. 21-24. Our hotel and air is non-refundable so we will just make do! Do you suggest ridemax to help out with the park planning. Have any of you experienced the crowds in June for WDW. If they are comparable then I am ok with it all. The weekend does have two ap blocked.

 

[lifesgr8]

Yes, do ridemax! Also be there really early, if you are first in the park you will be able to do either tomorrowland or adventureland before the lines get to long. Do CA on Saturday, usually the crowds there are less than DL. If you don't want to wait for Peter pan, watch fireworks by standing at the pole next to mr toads wild ride, they form a line & the minute the show is over.. They escort the line straight to Peter pan, after you ride Peter pan you can usually do the others in fantasyland pretty easy. Not a great view of the fireworks but it is a trade off. I also use mousewait app on my phone to keep an idea of ride wait times.

We can't cancel our trip for Oct. 21-24. Our hotel and air is non-refundable so we will just make do! Do you suggest ridemax to help out with the park planning. Have any of you experienced the crowds in June for WDW. If they are comparable then I am ok with it all. The weekend does have two ap blocked.

 

[alwaysmb20]

Y'all are freakin' me out with all this crowd talk on the 21st. We will be there Oct. 20-23, and doing both the Happiest Haunts Tour and the Halloween party on the 21st. It will be just me and dh, so no little ones to keep track of...but still! Will the crowds be comparable to the Magic Kingdom at WDW on Christmas Day? We did that back in '06...and boy howdy! was that a cattle call not to be believed! Regardless, we are going. We will ride rides, we will eat Tigger Tails, we will go "trick-or-treating," we WILL have FUN! Afterall, it's Disneyland, how can that be bad thing?!

 

[lifesgr8]

Y'all are freakin' me out with all this crowd talk on the 21st. We will be there Oct. 20-23, and doing both the Happiest Haunts Tour and the Halloween party on the 21st. It will be just me and dh, so no little ones to keep track of...but still! Will the crowds be comparable to the Magic Kingdom at WDW on Christmas Day? We did that back in '06...and boy howdy! was that a cattle call not to be believed! Regardless, we are going. We will ride rides, we will eat Tigger Tails, we will go "trick-or-treating," we WILL have FUN! Afterall, it's Disneyland, how can that be bad thing?!

Awesome attitude have fun!!!

 

[modmama]

We'll also be there that week - All of Minnesota's schools are also closed. I figure it can't be as bad as when we went at the end of Sept. last year, when it was both crazy-crowded AND the HOTTEST DAY EVER ON RECORD FOR LA. Not hottest for that day, or for the end of September, but EVER. WOW, that was nuts!

I'm a little disappointed, of course, to hear it will be a crazy week, since I looked all over the place online and all sources said the 3rd week of October wouldn't be bad. Oh well!

Hey, I'm kind of a newbie here - what are the touring plans that give a numeric rating for each day?

 

[gabsandalex]

Add us to the list of visitors that week! But we will be arriving the weekend before (Sat. 15th) - Salt Lake City school district is closing elementary schools for UEA for 3 days this year (Wed - Fri) instead of the usual 2. We decided to pull our 2nd grader out of school the 17th & 18th and drive down early. That way, we can leave on the 15th & spend Sunday - Wednesday in the parks (with the Tuesday Halloween party!) and also add in some beach time before driving back Thursday. My thought was that my daughter is going to need a day or two home to recover before returning to school lol.
Missing the LA to Vegas I-15 traffic on Friday the 21st is an added bonus.