Parks were empty today!

[sonnyjane]

Just came back from a day trip. I had a job interview this morning at Sea World, so I didn't get to the parks until almost noon. I was a little worried, especially since it was a magic morning day, but there was NOBODY there! I didn't need a FastPass OR Single Rider Pass once today! Everything was walk on, except TSMM which was 10 minutes. One nifty thing was that since it was so dead, I guess POTC was running at half speed, so I noticed so many things I wouldn't normally! Oh, and the crab is back, for anyone that was concerned. Still only one cat, and a pig is missing Also, Elvis is missing from IASW, even though they still have the holiday decorations. I wonder if he wasn't supposed to be there??

I had a few MAJOR firsts today! The first is TSMM. Yes, I've been there four times and NEVER wanted to wait in line for it, but since it was so short, I did, and I can't believe I didn't sooner! What an awesome ride! I rode on both of the sides of the Matterhorn one after the other (never did that before). I also went on Mickey's Death, er I mean Fun Wheel in a swinging car (the on-board motion sickness bags were a nice touch), had my first ride on the train (I know, another surprising first), and, my personal favorite, my first chicken fusilli from Pizza Port. WOW is that stuff delicious! It was a big portion too. I'll definitely be having that again.

All in all, it was another great day at DLR! Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[NVDisMom]

Good luck with that interview!

So, what did you think of the wheel from @&#!?

 

[sonnyjane]

Good luck with that interview!

So, what did you think of the wheel from @&#!?

Thanks! I had an interview with the San Diego Zoo on Sunday so I'm hoping I get an awesome job sometime soon

I'll say this - the wheel LOOKS worse from the ground than it is in the sky. Not too bad, but I did feel a little nervous that maybe my giant chip cookie beforehand was a big mistake. It was neat to see all of the construction from that vantage point though.

 

[Sherry E]

You mean to tell me that you had not been on TSMM before today because of the line? I am glad you finally made it on! I, too, cannot believe you hadn't been on it before, as that is one of the few rides in all of DLR that I actually feel IS worth a bit of a wait in line! I mean, I would prefer to not wait - and 10 minutes IS basically a walk-on for TSMM, by the way - but because the ride is so awesome, I am willing to stand there, as are my friends, for 40 minutes! We are all TSMM addicts in my group! For example, I love Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin...but not enough to wait 40 minutes. I love Haunted Mansion Holiday, but I will be hesitant about getting in a 40-minute line (though I have done it, reluctantly). But TSMM? No problem! I need to be on that ride, so I will wait 40 minutes!!! I would have been thrilled with a 10-minute wait, and I would have gotten off the ride and then right back on it again for that short of a wait!!

 

[sonnyjane]

Ha forgive me Sherry! Since I had never been on it, I didn't know what I was missing! I kind of figured it was exactly like Buzz in DL based on what I'd heard, so I didn't see the need. I was so wrong! By the way, I am surprised more people don't like Buzz. I've never seen a line for Buzz longer than 10 min. and I'm not sure why. I really like that one too.

 

[Sherry E]

Ha forgive me Sherry! Since I had never been on it, I didn't know what I was missing! I kind of figured it was exactly like Buzz in DL based on what I'd heard, so I didn't see the need. I was so wrong! By the way, I am surprised more people don't like Buzz. I've never seen a line for Buzz longer than 10 min. and I'm not sure why. I really like that one too.

I agree! I enjoy Buzz too! What's funny is that my scores on Buzz are really, really, really bad (no exaggeration) and they do not improve. I just cannot master that gun and the hand-eye coordination involved, I suppose. But I love the ride anyway, even if my scores keep getting lower and lower each time!! With TSMM, my scores do improve over time, for some reason. They still are not fantastic, but I can see improvement. I guess it is easier to hit targets on TSMM than it is on Buzz, but I love them both!

I went on Buzz for the first time in 2007, and the first few times I rode it, there was basically no line at all. We just walked right into the building and got on it. 2008 saw slightly longer lines. However, in October 2009, and especially December 2009, there was a line. A long, very slow line. The TSMM line - even when it says it is a 40-minute wait - seems to zip along pretty fast, but for some reason that Buzz line in December was very, very slow-moving. Not sure why.

 

[Mom2Joce]

I know what you mean about TSMM. We rode it for the first time last Feb. (me, hubby, 8 year old and 2.5 year old...my mom said she didn't want to go)

I was going with the baby and as we slid into our seats he went right through and grabbed onto the cast member for dear life...he was NOT going to ride. She gave me a single user ticket and we exited.

I gave the baby to grandma and got into my (no line..line) and rode it by myself...I could NOT get over how much fun it was!! I came off saying, "MOM!! YOU HAVE TO GO ON THIS RIDE!!!" She said, "oh no, it's ok, not that big of deal" I was like, "NO, YOU ARE GOING!!!" She took our 7 year old with her and she too was surprised how much fun it was

Glad you got to finally enjoy it!

 

[californiamomof4grls]

Just came back from a day trip. I had a job interview this morning at Sea World, so I didn't get to the parks until almost noon. I was a little worried, especially since it was a magic morning day, but there was NOBODY there! I didn't need a FastPass OR Single Rider Pass once today! Everything was walk on, except TSMM which was 10 minutes. One nifty thing was that since it was so dead, I guess POTC was running at half speed, so I noticed so many things I wouldn't normally! Oh, and the crab is back, for anyone that was concerned. Still only one cat, and a pig is missing Also, Elvis is missing from IASW, even though they still have the holiday decorations. I wonder if he wasn't supposed to be there??

I had a few MAJOR firsts today! The first is TSMM. Yes, I've been there four times and NEVER wanted to wait in line for it, but since it was so short, I did, and I can't believe I didn't sooner! What an awesome ride! I rode on both of the sides of the Matterhorn one after the other (never did that before). I also went on Mickey's Death, er I mean Fun Wheel in a swinging car (the on-board motion sickness bags were a nice touch), had my first ride on the train (I know, another surprising first), and, my personal favorite, my first chicken fusilli from Pizza Port. WOW is that stuff delicious! It was a big portion too. I'll definitely be having that again.

All in all, it was another great day at DLR! Let me know if you have any questions!

Umm actually my girls and I dubbed it Mickey's Wheel of Terror last year when I cut my fingers on the cage from gripping it so tight. I will freely admit I was terrified! LOL!!! OH and my cage did not move it was the stopping and going and the hieghts! WOW! Who knew I was scared of heights!

 

[Eeee-va]

Sounds like you had a fabulous time! Thanks for sharing your experience...I love living vicariously through others' reports.

 

[DangerMouse]

Hearing about an empty park makes me hopeful. I guess there really are still quiet days at DLR.

 

[sonnyjane]

Hearing about an empty park makes me hopeful. I guess there really are still quiet days at DLR.

I mean, I'll admit, it's right after Christmas, all the schools are back in session, it seems like half the attractions are closed, and it was a weekday during work hours, so I would have been shocked if it was anything but empty. However, there were quite a few AP holders like myself that were there today (nobody was blocked out), all with the same logic that we wanted to wait until the crowds died down, and we all agreed that this is probably the least crowded we've seen it. I'm going during the week before Easter with my sister for three days, and I know that will be a mad house, so I'm glad I get to take advantage of days like these.

For anybody local enough to go often that still is on the fence about getting an AP (I don't know how it's possible after being on these boards), I can't stress enough how much having an AP takes the pressure off of you. I went in, had lunch, rode a handful of rides, ate some more, and then rode a couple other things before going home. I don't feel like I have to ride EVERYTHING. I can pick and choose based on the wait times. It's a great feeling, seriously. And I also saved my receipts from my lunch, dinner, and cookie break (haha) and saved $5.00 with my AP pass. That's just for me, and I was only at the park 5 hours. The savings could really add up during a longer trip with more people.

 

[CrazyDuck]

You have given me hope..... I was worried about the influx of the 1million AP holders durring our trip...

 

[LifeIsTinkIsLife]

Oh that's so great to hear! My first day of my trip in two weeks is on a thursday. So even if the rest of the days are crazy at least I had one relaxing day. I will be going on many firsts too! I've never been on TSMM (lack of interest) and Buzz (same reason), Redwood Creek Challenge, actually watching the RDCT fireworks, eating at BB, and lots more. I AM SO EXCITED.

How have the weekends been so far? I am pretty sure nothing is going on the Saturday and Sunday that I will be there, Jan 30 and 31.

 

[sonnyjane]

How have the weekends been so far? I am pretty sure nothing is going on the Saturday and Sunday that I will be there, Jan 30 and 31.

Ha! Honestly I don't know! The beauty of being unemployed is that I can sneak to the parks during weekdays, and I've actually never been on a weekend.

During your trip, the 30th & 31st are blocked out for the cheapest SoCal passes, and the other SoCal passes are blocked the 30th, so at least those won't be a contributing factor to crowds. I'm really just hoping for your sake that EVERYBODY AND THEIR COUSIN went at some point during the Christmas season, which is what we've heard on the boards, so hopefully you'll have smooth sailing like I did!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

One nifty thing was that since it was so dead, I guess POTC was running at half speed, so I noticed so many things I wouldn't normally! Oh, and the crab is back, for anyone that was concerned. Still only one cat, and a pig is missing

Wow, that's interesting. I swore up and down that on slower days they slow the ride down and another guy on the photo boards swore up and down that they didn't. Said he knew the guy that designed the flow of the water in the ride. Anyway, good to know I wasn't losing my mind. I knew they slowed it down when it was slower.

 

[Albort]

i was told there is a special event going on tonight, might have scared guest away...

 

[LavenderPeach]

Oh man! I was going to go yesterday but didn't! Now I wish I had. DS and I were at CHOC for his feeding therapy and I asked him after he was done if he wanted to go to Disneyland or go home and he said he just wanted to go home. I know, strange child.

Glad you had a good time and that you finally went on TSMM!

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

This is cool - we went about that time 2 yrs ago & the park was dead then too! Nice to know this is a good time ANY yr! Here's hoping next month is dead too!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Yay for a nice day in the parks.

 

[HappieMommie]

Ahahahaha!! Mickey's Death Wheel!??!?! That's HIL-AR-IOUS!!! I couldn't be paid enough money to go on that one!! I almost fainted on the Astro Orbiter!! lol!! YUCK!! I like to look at the big pretty Ferris Wheel, but no way I am getting on that!! Are there really barf bags in there?!

And we just got home yesterday, and our last day was Wednesday. It was sooooooooo slow there!!! I walked on every. single. ride. It was so much fun!!! My kids got lots of time with the characters, too!

As for the weekends, we were at the parks on Friday. At about 3pm it got really, really busy! (Even though the cast members told me it was still slow!) I couldn't walk without bumping into people. Saturday was our flex day where we stayed and played at the HOJO's awesome pool! When we drove by the parks to do some shopping (whoop whoop!!) the street and crosswalk looked CRAZY packed.

During the week it was totally enjoyably calm. Have fun!!