October vs December

[MacMama0930]

I'm contemplating doing a surprise Christmas break DLR trip with my kiddos the week after Christmas. I realize it's incredibly crowded during that week. My question, though, specifically, is was anyone there in October? The week of the 10th through the 14th specifically? Because we were there that week and it was uncharacteristically busy, days were "10s", and staff was not prepared. So, while it WAS busy, it wasn't unbearable. We stayed onsite and used MM and took afternoon breaks.

So I'm wondering...what has always scared me about Christmas break, might not be so bad? In fact, when I was planning for our October trip, all onsite hotels were completely booked at least a month out. As of right now, theremstill seems to be a lot of availability in all onsite hotels. This has me wondering....is there anyway our October week could've been even busier than Christmas break? I'm thinking with MM, plus the holiday magic, plus seeing PTN, might make the high crowd level bearable.

I'm only 25% sure I'm going to book. The hotels are awfully pricey. Anyways...any suggestions? Advice? Experience specifically related to those crazy October crowds?

 

[minnieralyks]

We were there the same week in October. It was busier than anything we've ever experienced before. However, it did not once close for capacity.

Christmas is the time of the year when Disneyland is most likely to close for capacity issues. Because of this, I'm assuming it's much worse than what we experienced in October. Hopefully someone who has been there during this time can chime in with their experience.

 

[tarheelalum]

October is very busy. Christmas time is extremely busy.

 

[MacMama0930]

I wonder if the AP price increases will help control crowds over the holiday break. I guess only time will tell.

 

[MacMama0930]

Also the park hours. We'd be looking at a lot longer park hours, which may help crowd control - whereas in October we had pretty early closing hours as well as early closing a for Mickey's Halloween Party. I'm thinking with having MM every day in the week, we'd still be able to get a lot done in the morning. Plus, there's still plenty of reservation openings, including PTN packages and WOC dessert party. CAn you tell I'm talking myself into it?? Or trying to anyways...

 

[dec2009mama]

we were there during the same week as you in October (8th to 15th) and could not believe how busy it was, we knew it was going to be busy but didn't think it was going to be as busy as it seemed to be...
Many years ago we did go for new years eve and the park did shut for capacity reasons and it was very very crowded and for us we would not go during that week again, if at all possible. We did just book a last minute trip as an xmas present to our 7 year old and we are going Jan 6th to 10th, hoping to have less crowds than in October but still enjoy slightly longer hours and the tail end of the holiday decor

 

[MacMama0930]

we were there during the same week as you in October (8th to 15th) and could not believe how busy it was, we knew it was going to be busy but didn't think it was going to be as busy as it seemed to be...
Many years ago we did go for new years eve and the park did shut for capacity reasons and it was very very crowded and for us we would not go during that week again, if at all possible. We did just book a last minute trip as an xmas present to our 7 year old and we are going Jan 6th to 10th, hoping to have less crowds than in October but still enjoy slightly longer hours and the tail end of the holiday decor

So you would say that although October was very crowded it wasn't at all like New Years Eve?
I'm still so surprised that reservations are still so readily available for things, including hotels. I distinctly remember all of the hotels being booked for that week in October, which was my first suspicion that it was going to much more crowded than I had anticipated.
I, too, thought about taking the kids the first week in Jan since our APs open back up on the 4th, but the kids are still out. But sometimes I wonder if the AP days are even more crowded since our DL is so locals driven??

 

[minnieralyks]

Also just remembered something... we had reservations booked for the first week in January (1st-7th), but cancelled that trip once we realized the rest of the country would be off for Christmas break too (just reminded myself that we still gotta cancel those hotel reservations that we made). Personally, I would never go during this time, but if you just want to be "there" for Christmas and are not expecting to ride very many rides/wait earlier than normal for parades and shows, it should be okay.

Actually, I think I remember you saying in the October thread that you didn't have to wait more than 20 minutes for anything during that super busy week (we're seasoned Disneyland vets and weren't even able to do that well during that crazy week!). I bet if you follow that same touring plan, you will be fine.

 

[MacMama0930]

Also just remembered something... we had reservations booked for the first week in January (1st-7th), but cancelled that trip once we realized the rest of the country would be off for Christmas break too (just reminded myself that we still gotta cancel those hotel reservations that we made). Personally, I would never go during this time, but if you just want to be "there" for Christmas and are not expecting to ride very many rides/wait earlier than normal for parades and shows, it should be okay.

Actually, I think I remember you saying in the October thread that you didn't have to wait more than 20 minutes for anything during that super busy week (we're seasoned Disneyland vets and weren't even able to do that well during that crazy week). I bet if you follow that same touring plan, you will be fine.

True, the way we toured the park, we really didn't wait much in lines. Using the MM and fast passes, we did pretty good, and we did WOC dessert party and MHP so that helped, too. Honestly, it is the cost, more than anything, that is really holding me back. I'm sure we'd handle the crowds reasonably, but the costs associated with making it "smoothest" (i.e staying onsite, parade and WOC reservations, etc) is just so steep! I'm very torn between being fun and spontaneous and being responsible and level headed!

 

[dec2009mama]

So you would say that although October was very crowded it wasn't at all like New Years Eve?
I'm still so surprised that reservations are still so readily available for things, including hotels. I distinctly remember all of the hotels being booked for that week in October, which was my first suspicion that it was going to much more crowded than I had anticipated.
I, too, thought about taking the kids the first week in Jan since our APs open back up on the 4th, but the kids are still out. But sometimes I wonder if the AP days are even more crowded since our DL is so locals driven??

October was not as busy as NYE but is was a close second to one of our busiest trips (crowdwise)

Kids are still out in Jan??? Here in Vancouver, Canada our kids go back Jan 3

 

[MacMama0930]

October was not as busy as NYE but is was a close second to one of our busiest trips (crowdwise)

Kids are still out in Jan??? Here in Vancouver, Canada our kids go back Jan 3

We don't go back until Jan. 9th! That's why I was surprised to see my AP block out stops on Jan 4th.

 

[Nevada Jen]

First, I think that first week of January is going to be a nightmare that Disney is not at all prepared for. I know more people who are going than people who are not. . . and I live in Phoenix! Second, I was there that same week in October and I thought it was hell. I actually think the park was over capacity for the areas that were actually opened and Disney got away with it because the fire marshall was not fully clued in as to how little space was actually available in the park. I honestly can't imagine it being any worse than that.
I also think most annual passes being blocked the week you are thinking of is going to have a huge positive effect on predicted crowd levels. I also think there is a good chance that hotel availability doesn't mean much in the calculation. THe fact that no one in their right mind would have a convention the week between Christmas and New Years probably accounts for the open rooms. You might consider saving money by staying the first night in an off site hotel and then moving the next day to an onsite hotel. That would get you MM every day and save you a few hundred bucks.

 

[dec2009mama]

We don't go back until Jan. 9th! That's why I was surprised to see my AP block out stops on Jan 4th.

i hope the 9th and 10th of Jan are quieter due to kids being back in school - can't be any worse than October

 

[MacMama0930]

i hope the 9th and 10th of Jan are quieter due to kids being back in school - can't be any worse than October

Oh I'm sure it will be!

My main purpose of trying to fit in this trip is....Paint the Night. We haven't seen it and I'm so worried that'll go east coast after the holidays!

 

[dec2009mama]

here is a what touring plans shows for my dates in Jan

 

[dec2009mama]

here is the last week of December

 

[dec2009mama]

Oh I'm sure it will be!

My main purpose of trying to fit in this trip is....Paint the Night. We haven't seen it and I'm so worried that'll go east coast after the holidays!

i want to see PTN again as well -- we only saw it once thru a dining package and after than couldn't be bothered to camp out and wait
might to Aladdin this time......maybe!!

 

[MacMama0930]

here is a what touring plans shows for my dates in Jan

View attachment 207282

I think touring plans is way off on their January dates. Even though I'm hoping to take the plunge and go then, I know not to expect '5's. Not only are a lot of CA still out of school on the 5th, 6th and 7th but regular So Cal select pass holders can go in. I'm almost thinking those days will be just as busy as the week before.

 

[MacMama0930]

The 9th and the 10th are probably accurate but not the week before!

 

[minnieralyks]

Wow! I wonder what data TP is using for those numbers? That seems off. Resort predictions for New Year's Eve and day are only 6 and 7 out of 10??