Questions on the 24 hour event in May

[wdwfan22]

We will be in the parks for 6 days (one in Knotts) from May 17-22. So our plan was to stay until closing on May 22 - figured it would be 12, then sleep for a while and get up on the 23rd and drive to Vegas for the day, show my daughter the sites, she is only 19, so no gambling, then drive back to Denver on the 24th. It would help break up the 16 hr drive.

But now there is the 24 hour event which has me stumped. We could add a night in Anaheim, staying all night at the event, sleeping and resting the 23rd, and getting up super early the 24th to drive back to Denver (we have to be back on the 24th).

But I'm wondering if it's worth staying for the event. While it sounds super fun, and may be a once in a life time event, I am not sure how crowded the park will be and if it is worth it.

So, to make a short story long, , is there anyone out there that can share their experiences with me? Are the parks crowded the whole 24 hours, or are there any slower times?

Thanks so much for any experiences you can share with me!!

 

[figment_jii]

I went to the 24-hour event last year and wrote up a trip report (link is in my Signature). In terms of last year, there were definitely periods that were busier than others. I found that the crowds were fairly manageable from morning to mid-afternoon and again late at night. I truth, it wasn't nearly as busy/crowded as I expected it to be. The parks didn't reach capacity, so it was pretty easy to park hop. Some places had longer lines than others (especially the food locations late at night!).

Now, that being said, no one knows how the debut of the 60th anniversary shows will impact the crowds for this year's 24-hour event. If I had to guess, I would say that the crowds will still be manageable in the morning through mid-afternoon, but it will pick-up as folks get off work and come to the parks to see the new shows. How late into the night the crowds last will probably depend on whether they do any late night showings of the parades or WoC (I think there will be only one round of fireworks). My guess is that crowds will be higher this year in the evening/night than last year. If capacity closures happen, I think it'll happen closer to the debut show times and then taper off as the night progresses.

 

[wdwfan22]

I went to the 24-hour event last year and wrote up a trip report (link is in my Signature). In terms of last year, there were definitely periods that were busier than others. I found that the crowds were fairly manageable from morning to mid-afternoon and again late at night. I truth, it wasn't nearly as busy/crowded as I expected it to be. The parks didn't reach capacity, so it was pretty easy to park hop. Some places had longer lines than others (especially the food locations late at night!).

Now, that being said, no one knows how the debut of the 60th anniversary shows will impact the crowds for this year's 24-hour event. If I had to guess, I would say that the crowds will still be manageable in the morning through mid-afternoon, but it will pick-up as folks get off work and come to the parks to see the new shows. How late into the night the crowds last will probably depend on whether they do any late night showings of the parades or WoC (I think there will be only one round of fireworks). My guess is that crowds will be higher this year in the evening/night than last year. If capacity closures happen, I think it'll happen closer to the debut show times and then taper off as the night progresses.

Thanks Figment! Did the hours at CA remain normal, such as an 11:00 closing? So if crowdes were crazy at DL around then, you wouldn't be able to hop to CA?

 

[figment_jii]

In 2014, both parks were open from 6:00 am on Friday through 6:00 am on Saturday. They didn't schedule a grad night for that day, so that helped with some of the issues from 2013 (I think it was 2013).

 

[vladimir p]

i'd say that since you are doing 5 days at the park and one of those days is the 22, you can see the new fireworks, parade and world of color and be done at midnight so you can stick to your original vegas plan.

 

[wdwfan22]

In 2014, both parks were open from 6:00 am on Friday through 6:00 am on Saturday. They didn't schedule a grad night for that day, so that helped with some of the issues from 2013 (I think it was 2013).

Whoa! I didn't know it included both parks! Now that sounds like fun. I'm thinking I might just have to do that! Sweet!

i'd say that since you are doing 5 days at the park and one of those days is the 22, you can see the new fireworks, parade and world of color and be done at midnight so you can stick to your original vegas plan.

Do you think they will show the new fireworks, parade and WOC all before midnight? And that it would be possible to hit all three without sprinting inbetween. After 5 days in the parks, (we go pretty comando), I'm not going to be sprinting anywhere! Maybe hobbling! Haha!

I just with they would publish the schedule at least 60 days in advance so people can plan!

 

[SMD]

I don't think that they would do a midnight fireworks show in consideration of the surrounding neighborhood.

 

[wdwfan22]

I don't think that they would do a midnight fireworks show in consideration of the surrounding neighborhood.

I just read Figment's report from last years 24 hour event, and the DL events happened before midnight, but they had a 3 am showing of WOC. If I could possibly last the entire time (boy do I need to start exercising!!) It sounds prettty amazing. I'm thinking Vegas might have to happen another time!

 

[elmoandzoey]

I just popped into the DIS with similar questions than wdwfan22 had! Trip is from May 19th to the 23rd.

Thanks for linking your review from last year, figment. It helped me a lot - especially seeing that while it says 6am to 6am, a lot of the attractions will actually close hours before 6am. Which is understandable, they do need to do their nightly maintenance. Since not all attractions were on the list, I assume those not listed (e.g. Peter Pan, Space Mountain and Star Tours) were open 24 hrs? I think doing opening to early afternoon, then back to hotel to nap and evening to 6am sounds like a plan.

How were the crowds during fireworks? I experienced full to capacity fireworks at WDW and would rather plan to be elsewhere if it was this crowded at DL last year. Also, a 3am WOC sounds amazing!

 

[starshine514]

I have a similar dilemma. We have to check out of our hotel by 11 am on the 23rd. Not sure how much of the festivities we can partake in (with a 10 hour drive ahead of us that day). A 24-hour day wasn't even on my radar when I made our hotel reservations 10 months ago!

 

[figment_jii]

i'd say that since you are doing 5 days at the park and one of those days is the 22, you can see the new fireworks, parade and world of color and be done at midnight so you can stick to your original vegas plan.

We don't yet know what the schedule of entertainment will be, so it's hard to say at this point if it would be possible to see all three shows in one night before midnight. My guess is that seeing fireworks and the parade or WoC will be doable, but given that they're all new shows, I don't think guests will be able to wait until the last minute to show up and get a good viewing spot for any of them.

Do you think they will show the new fireworks, parade and WOC all before midnight? And that it would be possible to hit all three without sprinting inbetween.

Yes and no...I do think all three shows will debut before midnight, but I don't know how easy it will be to see all three before midnight. I really think there will be large crowds to see the new shows, so the viewing areas will probably fill up well in advance of the shows so that folks that arrive at the last minute will not be in ideal (or even decent) viewing locations.

Since not all attractions were on the list, I assume those not listed (e.g. Peter Pan, Space Mountain and Star Tours) were open 24 hrs?

Yes, those attractions that didn't have special operating hours were (in theory) open the entire 24-hour period. There were unplanned closures like any other day.

How were the crowds during fireworks? I experienced full to capacity fireworks at WDW and would rather plan to be elsewhere if it was this crowded at DL last year. Also, a 3am WOC sounds amazing!

I don't know exactly what "full capacity" fireworks means, but fireworks and F! were the two places where it felt busy. I know they announced the F! viewing area was full before the show started and I had never heard that announcement before. Given that it's going to be debut of the new 60th shows that night, I would expect capacity or near capacity crowds at all three shows (parade, fireworks, and WoC).

 

[elmoandzoey]

Figment, when I said full to capacity fireworks, I meant that the park was almost full to capacity. It took us an hour after fireworks to get from the hub to the exit. And from there another 60mins+ before we could get on a ferry back to the parking lot. There were so many people you couldn't move. Or even fall over for that matter. Pretty cluttered.

I'm just trying to figure out what to expect. I don't know what near or at capacity means at DL. I just know what it means at WDW and that I just found dreadful.

 

[marciemouse]

So California Adventure will likely be open 224 hours, too? I want to avoid crowds, so I was thinking we'd spend that day over at DCA, but maybe that plan won't work, huh?

 

[Gisele]

I have a similar dilemma. We have to check out of our hotel by 11 am on the 23rd. Not sure how much of the festiIvities we can partake in (with a 10 hour drive ahead of us that day). A 24-hour day wasn't even on my radar when I made our hotel reservations 10 months ago!

How much of a probability might there be that you may stay an additional night or two or three?

 

[figment_jii]

Figment, when I said full to capacity fireworks, I meant that the park was almost full to capacity. It took us an hour after fireworks to get from the hub to the exit. And from there another 60mins+ before we could get on a ferry back to the parking lot. There were so many people you couldn't move. Or even fall over for that matter. Pretty cluttered.

I'm just trying to figure out what to expect. I don't know what near or at capacity means at DL. I just know what it means at WDW and that I just found dreadful.

It wasn't that when I was there last year, but with the new shows debuting that night, I wouldn't be surprised if the park reaches capacity around the time of fireworks. I guess, I would go with the expectation that it will be very crowded (like a capacity level crowd) so that way you are prepared (mentally and physically) to deal with it.

So California Adventure will likely be open 224 hours, too? I want to avoid crowds, so I was thinking we'd spend that day over at DCA, but maybe that plan won't work, huh?

Yes, DCA will also be open for 24-hours that day. I don't think there is really any way to avoid crowds in the evening on the 22nd. The mornings and mid-afternoon might be okay, but by the time the new shows are starting, I would expect big crowds in both parks. DL has two new shows (fireworks and a parade) and DCA has a new WoC show. I'm not a huge fan of WoC, but for a lot of folks, it's one of the best nighttime shows in DLR, so I expect folks to be there wanting to see the new show.

 

[Gisele]

So California Adventure will likely be open 224 hours, too? I want to avoid crowds, so I was thinking we'd spend that day over at DCA, but maybe that plan won't work, huh?

Woa Nellie,

224 hours?

 

[elmoandzoey]

I guess I will just prepare to be either in DCA during fireworks then or watch them from elsewhere in DL like say from the Small World area. I assume it will be less crowded there. I don't mind crowds or having to wait 90mins to get on a ride. As long as I have space and can move I am good or the crowd itself is moving I am more than fine. What I mind though is being stuck in a huge pile of people and not being able to move in any direction at all.

 

[figment_jii]

I think IaSW Mall will be less busy than Main Street, but by no means will it be uncrowded. IaSW Mall is probably the second most popular location to watch the fireworks from (with the Rivers of America area being the third). IaSW Mall is popular enough that DL uses the IaSW facade for the projections that appear on the castle. I've read in the announcements for Disneyland Forever, that the projections will be on the Castle, the Matterhorn, and IaSW facade.

 

[justgot2havefun]

Woa Nellie,

224 hours?

I was thinking the same thing. hehe. THAT would be a tough trip...

 

[jkolkemo]

Did you find the ride schedule difficult to handle as so many shut down for general main. during the night, as I looked at the schedule, or is that when it is slowing down and you just head for the food. I didn't see in your post that you saw any of the movies playing? Thoughts that if they do that again, another great place to get a little cat nap if needed. One of my thoughts is take each section of the park and do everything in that section and then move on to the next and in between see the shows or parades that are on the route or fit into the schedule. Does this seem manageable or is it more the typical bounce around the park due to long waits and places, and skip stuff.