Okay, now I am getting scared

[Minky]

I have been reading all the reports on Disneyland on these boards and I am honestly terrified. I have been to WDW many many times, its like home, this will be our first trip to DL and it sounds like the crowds are of monstrous proportions. I know, I know and I picked the best time to go, the 3rd week in August but it was the ONLY time we could go before the matterhorn gets closed for refurb and the 50th celebration would still be going on.

It sounds like from the SECOND the parks open every ride has a 2-3 hour wait and you cant walk anywhere because its too congested and or theres prop work set up.
Is it really like that? Am I overreacting? Is there a secret to how people can do this? Is there really life in space??

Would LOVE to hear some feedback!!

Thanks so much!!!

Minky

 

[spazzyjazzy]

Yes, you are overreacting.

The waits are not that long maybe for Pirates.

It can get crowded but not as crowded as people make it out to seem. A big crowd can have a different meaning for different people. It can get kinda tight sometimes in Tomorrowland in the space between Buzz and Star Tours but, ya just gotta push your way through. Also, it can get crowded in Adventureland. But, other than that it is not too bad. Thankfully, me and the hubby have been to many concerts and know how to crowd surf. My son just holds on to my bag or shirt.

I don't know what the prop set up is.

I love Disneyland! There are no secrets, go in and enjoy yourself. I would hate for you to go in with doubts. Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!

 

[flipturngirl]

okay calm down.....are you better/ good! it is not that bad i promise

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree with the others. The crowds are manageable. In fact I personally would choose DLR in the summer over any other time of year - even with the crowds such as they are. Why? Because the park hours are maxed out, the weather is (usually) great, and most all of the rides are up and the shows are also maxed out.

What will detract from your experience is the same thing as WDW - namely, showing up late when the lines are at their longest and waiting in them during the heat of the day.

If you will follow a few simple principles you will avoid most of the crowds.

1. Arrive at the parks early - at the gates 20-30 minutes before park opening

2. Focus on rides for the first couple hours before turning to shopping and characters

3. Use FastPass for the headliners

4. Take a break back to your hotel (hopefully it is close by) during the afternoon when the lines are longest and take a nap.

5. Come back to the parks at 5-7PM refreshed while everyone else is tired from too many long lines in the heat and are in the process of leaving. Stay until the park closes as the lines go way down the last couple hours.

We went to DLR early August 2005 - busier than your late August. We did every single ride at DL, did all of the thrillers multiple times, saw every show, and did most of the rides at DCA. And we never waited in a line longer than 20 minutes over four days. Usually the lines were 5-10 minutes and were walk ons in the early morning and late evening.

 

[heidimn]

I was only in Disneyland once in recent times in the first week of August 2004 - it was crowded but not as bad as Magic Kingdom in WDW in 2nd week of July 2001. So take a breath, you can do it! Actually the worse was magic kingdom in April 1989, right before MGM opened - with only 2 parks in WDW - that was a nightmare. If it gets too much go to CA and then back to DL. We are going to be there July 3rd & 4th - I didn't let the crowds bother me - just follow the tips and see what you can - your on vacation better then being at work.

 

[Disneyenthusiast]

Disneyland is great! Yes, there will be people there, but the big advantage is that things are close together so less walking in the heat. You don't waste any time moving between the two parks. You have most of the same rides as WDW. Humidity is non-existant. Lots to love! Enjoy!!!

 

[Pirate-Emery]

Wait... Matterhorn closes for refurb? Where was this news?

 

[Minky]

AWWWWWWW, Thanks guys I love you all so much I feel SOOOOOO much better now!!! I really appreciate all of you taking the time to share with me, really made a HUGE difference!
Thanks for all the great advice too!

Pirate-Emery, Im sorry to be the one to say that, The matterhorn goes down on August 27th I believe, its on the disneyland calendar

 

[hlbtimes2]

If you are really worried about wait times, you might want to spend the $16 on ride max. I recomend using it for a day or two, not everyday of your trip. Go to the park the first day and get a feel for things. Relax, take in the sights, sounds, smells, etc of the park. Meet some characters, see some shows. Then the 2nd day use ride max for the first 1/2 the day. You'll get a LOT done. Then take a break when the park is full and its hot. Come back in the evening and either use ridemax again or take in the evening entertainment.

 

[azgal81]

Relax! The people that get stuck in the 2 hour lines are the ones that go to a major ride (Splash, Space) at say 1 in the afternoon and don't use fastpass. You just have to be smartier then those people. Get there early and get fastpass for the big rides. In all the times I have been to DL including the summer I have never waited more then 20 minutes to ride anything and I was able to get all the rides/shows etc done multiple times!

I also don't think the pirates line will be 3 hours long in August when you go all of the locals that are crowding the park this week just to ride it won't be there in august crowding the park to ride it!

 

[HydroGuy]

Wait... Matterhorn closes for refurb? Where was this news?

Usually www.riderefurbs.com has an up-to-date list but they do not have Maaterhorn listed. Mouseplanet does here:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=dl060626xx#Rehabs

One thing they do not have listed yet is Small World which usually goes down in October/November for 3/4 weeks when they add the holiday overlay. Then it goes down again in January when they remove it all.

 

[my3kids]

What is ride max?

I was there in the summer and didn't find the crowds to be bad. When do SO. CA schools go back? If they return earlier in August you might be there in a slow time.

 

[krueg66]

We are flying out for our first trip in the morning...thanks for all the great info everyone!!!

 

[MulanFan]

I'm so glad to hear this, as we will be there for a day and a half early August with a toddler. I'm not so worried about hitting the headliners as she will be too young/short for most of them anyway, but I would like for DH to see them as this is his first trip to DL ever.

 

[hlbtimes2]

What is ride max?

www.ridemax.com

Its a software program that you download on your computer. You plug in what day and time you'll be at the park. Then you tell it what rides you want, when you want a break (meals, parade, firework, etc) and for how long. It will give you a detailed list of what time you should ride each ride, pick up fast pass, estimated wait times, estimated ride time, etc. It will help you get around the crowds and avoid the "follow the crowd" mentality that we so easily do. You can purchase 3 months or a year at a time. 3 months is about $16.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Ridemax is very helpful, we have used it before and it helped tremendously. It will even allow you to figure in breaks and constructs your touring plan based on how you like to tour the parks, commando style or at a more leisurely pace. Disneyland is crowded and because it is smaller geographically than WDW doesn't handle the crowds quite as well. That said, your knowledge of WDW and fastpass will serve you well. Getting to the parks early is the single most important thing you can do. Use EE as much as you are able, if you are staying onsite, thats every day its available, if you are staying offsite, than your park hopper will give you one EE day. I was just there last week with my family of four plus my brother's family of four. Even with 8 of us (4 of whom were kids) we managed just fine, rode everything we wanted to for the most part, and didn't wait in any long lines. We arrived at opening 4 of our 5 days. And if you are late nighters, I noticed that once Remember was over, the crowds diminished greatly. We did Fantasyland one night after 11:00 and with the exception of Peter Pan it was all walk on. Tomorrowland was always crowded, get your Space Mountain fastpass first thing since they are usually gone by lunch time. And incidentally, ride Space Mtn., it is so much better than WDW's! Enjoy the differences of Disneyland while also enjoying the similarities to WDW. You will have a great time!

 

[AStamm]

As a 5x WDW-goer in the past 3 years, we just got back from our 1st DL trip on Sunday. Some observations on differences between the two parks: (1) keep your eyes out for additional gates opening in the morning. The lines may seem very long, but by scanning your area you may luck into an additional gate opening that you can zoom over to. This happened to us on at least 3 of our 7 days at the parks. (2) if you're interested in characters, be aware that character "handlers" are almost non-existant. Unlike WDW where handlers keep everyone in line very organized, most character interaction is a free-for-all--kids running from all over and just jumping in front of you so they can have a turn with their favorite. (3) don't trust the times they have listed for stand-by. The system isn't anything like WDW where they use actual computer-scanned time cards that automatically update the wait signs. At DL they handwrite the time down on a piece of paper, hand it to a guest who turns it in at the front, and then at some point change the time outside. One person my DH was talking to said what showed a 45-minute wait turned into an hour and 45-minutes!

 

[HydroGuy]

See:

RideMax Critique Plus Conventional and Unconventional Usage on August 1-4 Trip
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885134

 

[Yookeroo]

Ignore the expiration time on your FastPasses. They're good all day once the return time window opens.

 

[YoHo]

One of the things about Disneyland that makes it feel crowder is that the walkways are much narrower compared to WDW. This is most obvious in Adventurland, and the entrance to tomorrowland.

Also, for some inexplicable reason, Splash mountain is always packed.

another problem is that Disneyland is having staffing issues, in particular in food staff, so eating at any counterservice/buffetria is an excersize in stress.

There have been many good suggestions,
I'd add the following.

Single rider isn't available everywhere, but I'd take advantage of it where it makes sense. (If it makes sense)

Adventureland/New Orleans square seems to feel the food pinch more then other locations, Plan to hae a long wait in line for that Chowder or skewer. Or, try Cafe Orleans/BB. Otherwise look to the other parts of the park. Or, if you have the time, move over to DCA for meals.

DCA serves up the same bread bowl soups at the Boudin bakery with much less wait.