Opening Date For Cars Land?

[skiingfast]

What are the crowd levels like at DL compared to WDW parks in FL?

One things I notice, is that while the amount of attractions is almost the same, in WDW they are split over 4 parks and in DLR2. So you have less attractions per park in WDW, and less E-Tickets per parks in WDW. So the E-Tickets in WDW get bigger lines, compared to the same attractions in DLR.

Then there is the night shows. Because MK was built to be more spread out then DL, it's easier to find a good spot to watch fireworks. For parades though it's about that same because the parade routes are longer in DLR.

One DLR, problem or advantage comparitively, is crowd disrtibution over the year. WDW visitors come for a full week. WDW works hard to spread crowds out by making the offseasons more atrtactive and adding more events to lure in the guest, Star Wars Weekends, F+W, ecetera. When the Holidays end the effect will be very pronounced.

Take the 12th-14th coming up. In WDW each days will have similiar crowds levels. In DLR, Thurday the 12th will be empty, Friday the 13th, quite morning busy evening. Saturday the 14th busy. All because DLR is a locals park, and locals relax and get out on Friday after works, and weekend when thier is no school.

In summary, WDW demands much more FP usage. DLR you can easlily plan around busy days.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Probably yes and I would do the same.

I think the responses about TP - at least my response - was geared towards the idea that TP will update their crowd predictions later. That is not their issue.

I suspect they will improve over time. But right now I have no idea what a "5" or a "10" means when I go on those days and they look the same to me.

Thanks for the input. That's what I'm going with for now. I'm sure it will be fine. This will be our 4th trip to DL, and we've been to WDW about 20 times, so even if it's crowded, we'll be okay. And, really, even if we miss the Cars Land, that's just another reason to come back to beautiful California ;-)

 

[texasteacher35]

It is hard to compare the two. The parks at DLR are smaller than at WDW and so similar number of people feels more crowded because walkways are narrower.

On the other hand DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks put together. So that means even when there are more people inside the parks, many of them are in line for rides and not on the walkways. In other words DLR has more places to put people inside the parks.

And still another difference is that DLR parks tend to have longer hours than WDW parks so that spreads people out more.

And finally DLR has a much larger number of AP holders and many of them live in SoCal close to DLR. They can and do "pop in" for just a few hours and then leave. So quite a few of the DLR guests are not there all day. So that reduces crowds.

I think it is fair to say that - in general - crowds at DLR feel similar and maybe a little more crowded than at WDW. But it depends heavily on many factors.

Here is a good starting point for WDW vets. I have never disgreed with the author of this thread:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Wow! Thanks HydroGuy!! Tons of good info! Makes sense to me for sure!! Does that link that you gave me have a crowd calendar? I was just wondering when I use the crowd calendars for WDW, and let's say the crowd level was a 5, I can invision what that crowd looks like and feels like in the parks...we have been there so often! I just wondered if I found a crowd calendar for DLR, and it said a 5, if it would feel the same. Lol that's the math teacher in me, I have to analyze everything, especially Disney! Haha Thanks so much!!!

 

[texasteacher35]

One things I notice, is that while the amount of attractions is almost the same, in WDW they are split over 4 parks and in DLR2. So you have less attractions per park in WDW, and less E-Tickets per parks in WDW. So the E-Tickets in WDW get bigger lines, compared to the same attractions in DLR.

Then there is the night shows. Because MK was built to be more spread out then DL, it's easier to find a good spot to watch fireworks. For parades though it's about that same because the parade routes are longer in DLR.

One DLR, problem or advantage comparitively, is crowd disrtibution over the year. WDW visitors come for a full week. WDW works hard to spread crowds out by making the offseasons more atrtactive and adding more events to lure in the guest, Star Wars Weekends, F+W, ecetera. When the Holidays end the effect will be very pronounced.

Take the 12th-14th coming up. In WDW each days will have similiar crowds levels. In DLR, Thurday the 12th will be empty, Friday the 13th, quite morning busy evening. Saturday the 14th busy. All because DLR is a locals park, and locals relax and get out on Friday after works, and weekend when thier is no school.

In summary, WDW demands much more FP usage. DLR you can easlily plan around busy days.

Thanks, skiingfast!
I agree about the WDW crowd levels going up and down. We love to go during the off season because I do not like all those crowds and everyone is more irritable during July and August, when it's soooooo stinking hot! Haha it can get pretty ugly at WDW when people are misbehaving! Bahaha
Does DLR ever get really uncrowded?? Like January and February are pretty light at WDW? I was just trying to figure the best time to go to DLR. Also, how hot does it get in Cali??? Is it miserable like FL can be?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Wow! Thanks HydroGuy!! Tons of good info! Makes sense to me for sure!! Does that link that you gave me have a crowd calendar? I was just wondering when I use the crowd calendars for WDW, and let's say the crowd level was a 5, I can invision what that crowd looks like and feels like in the parks...we have been there so often! I just wondered if I found a crowd calendar for DLR, and it said a 5, if it would feel the same. Lol that's the math teacher in me, I have to analyze everything, especially Disney! Haha Thanks so much!!!

I have a subscription to www.touringplans.com and they have crowd calendars for WDW and DL/CA

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Thanks, skiingfast!
I agree about the WDW crowd levels going up and down. We love to go during the off season because I do not like all those crowds and everyone is more irritable during July and August, when it's soooooo stinking hot! Haha it can get pretty ugly at WDW when people are misbehaving! Bahaha
Does DLR ever get really uncrowded?? Like January and February are pretty light at WDW? I was just trying to figure the best time to go to DLR. Also, how hot does it get in Cali??? Is it miserable like FL can be?

While DL is going to have some timeframes that are different, crowd-wise than WDW, generally, the slow times at DL are when school is in session, just like WDW. We have been in the third week of May and DL and CA were almost empty. We went in 2010 during Labor Day weekend to DL and CA and it was very hot, not sweltering, humity hot like WDW, but it was still hot. It was also very crowded that weekend.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I have a subscription to www.touringplans.com and they have crowd calendars for WDW and DL/CA

While TPs does have a crowd calendar for DLR, it hasn't quite figured out how to predict.

 

[SarafinaPink]

It will be interesting to see how Disney handles it if they do get CL complete by May. Rumors and educated guesses by those on this forum would suggest that Disney will not want to open the final changes to DCA piecemeal. To get the biggest bang for the buck, they will want to open them all together as part of a grand re-opening of DCA. So even if CL is done by May that does not mean it will open in May - or even June. A big unknown here is the Buena Vista Street retheme of the park entrance. It is going to change the feeling you get when you enter the park and that is crucial. Like Main Street does at DL.

Last year Star Tours was ready to re-open several weeks (maybe a month) before it actually opened. Why was it kept closed? Because Disney wanted the Florida version of ST at DHS to open first and their opening was tied to Star Wars Weekends there in late May. Plus DL had the POTC 4 movie premiere in mid-May and Disney wanted to focus marketing on that before they focused on ST. So DL delayed opening ST until June even though it was ready in early May.

I suspect that Disney is:

A. closely monitoring the schedule of each CL and BVS

B. coming up with plans to open them together and contigency plans to open them separately

C. working hard to figure out how to maximize the marketing push of all the new stuff at DCA

Very interesting!

Oops, I did forget to mention that BVS is also still on target according to am imagineer working on the Carthay Circle Theater (and who is dialed in on the whole project). I have heard the rumors that they are delayed, but she keeps telling me that she only hears that they are right on time and there is no delay right now. But I totally agree, if one is held up, I'm sure DL will try it's absolute hardest to wait a bit and have them both open at the same time.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Princess Tiffany (BTW you were so helpful on the dining plan forum!) I'd plan during block out days and as late into June as you can get.

Thanks for the compliment and thanks for the info!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Oops, I did forget to mention that BVS is also still on target according to am imagineer working on the Carthay Circle Theater (and who is dialed in on the whole project). I have heard the rumors that they are delayed, but she keeps telling me that she only hears that they are right on time and there is no delay right now. But I totally agree, if one is held up, I'm sure DL will try it's absolute hardest to wait a bit and have them both open at the same time.

Interesting . . . . I hope all of the new construction opens on time, that will be great

 

[HydroGuy]

Oops, I did forget to mention that BVS is also still on target according to am imagineer working on the Carthay Circle Theater (and who is dialed in on the whole project). I have heard the rumors that they are delayed, but she keeps telling me that she only hears that they are right on time and there is no delay right now. But I totally agree, if one is held up, I'm sure DL will try it's absolute hardest to wait a bit and have them both open at the same time.

As we have discussed in other threads, I hope you and your contact are right!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

As we have discussed in other threads, I hope you and your contact are right!

Me too!

 

[skiingfast]

Oops, I did forget to mention that BVS is also still on target according to am imagineer working on the Carthay Circle Theater (and who is dialed in on the whole project). I have heard the rumors that they are delayed, but she keeps telling me that she only hears that they are right on time and there is no delay right now. But I totally agree, if one is held up, I'm sure DL will try it's absolute hardest to wait a bit and have them both open at the same time.

Watching reports of the construction I have little doubt. BVS is progressing well and the west side is wrapping(construction term, not firgurative) very nicely.

I'm wondering more if the CCT walls will come down as well as the fountain or if they keep them in place until the grand opening of BVS. It would be nice to get some down or pushed out for Spring Break.

Carsland on the other hand is looking done in some spots. Close in others and not far from done in the rest. I agree with what Hydroguy said that they may wait to open it at the same time as BVS. But to unstress the crowd situation It may have soft openings for a long time.

Does DLR ever get really uncrowded?? Like January and February are pretty light at WDW? I was just trying to figure the best time to go to DLR. Also, how hot does it get in Cali??? Is it miserable like FL can be?

Cali weather is better 360 days of the year. In general much less rain, less humidity, so it feels less hot. Look down this link for some comparitive charts. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158


DLR is dead on a rainy day. No kidding, people in SoCal are scared of rain. Yes those months are great at DL for crowds. Weekends always busy but midweek walk on everything, aside for the Holiday periods.