Rides lines less during Parades etc?

[Porsche4]

Just wanted people's opinions. We have 8 days booked for the very last week of April which of course is exactly when all the night time spectacles star up again. Everyone is predicting a huge surge in crowds which I am hoping will be proved wrong but I am guessing will probably be correct. With that said my daughter and I are not that interested in seeing the night time entertainment and was wondering if people think that crowds will be more manageable at the rides while these shows are on. We are going to rope drop every morning, have a mid afternoon break and then head back to the park about 5:00 for dinner and some night time wandering with hopefully a smattering of rides. Do people think that the parades and firework shows will pull the crowds away enough from rides like Big Thunder for us to be able to ride them stand by with a reasonable wait. Would love people's thoughts.

 

[starlite_]

During the Fireworks and Fantasmic yes, not so much during the parades. Keep in mind that some areas close during the fireworks.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I agree with the PP. I would further note that you ought to plan ahead about your attraction choices during a parade. I mean pick and land and stay in it. Trying to cross the park during a parade is no good.

 

[Pluto468]

Agree with PP about choosing where you want to be during the parade. You could look at the parade route and decide which section of the park you want to be in when it starts. Nothing like having to wait for ages just to cross the street when the parade is happening!

One thing about Fantasmic and the fireworks....After Fantasmic ends there can be a big rush to get from Rivers of America over to main street. Something like Big Thunder could be right in the middle of those crowds. (At least that's how it was last time I was there.) And as someone else mentioned, not all parts of the park are open during fireworks.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

I agree with everyone’s advice. Also if you are going to be in the parks for 5 or more days I wouldn’t even stress it at all. You are going to be able to do everything you want more than once at a leisurely pace (I know that crowds and lines are never fun).

 

[Porsche4]

I agree with everyone’s advice. Also if you are going to be in the parks for 5 or more days I wouldn’t even stress it at all. You are going to be able to do everything you want more than once at a leisurely pace (I know that crowds and lines are never fun).

Yes that's what I was thinking. Most of our visits, touring and planning have been at WDW which we have visited several times and because there are so many parks there and so much to do we tend to just go, go , go the whole time which we are happy to do. I think this time at DL I need to change my touring mindset completely with full on mornings, then leisurely afternoons by the pool followed by roaming around the parks at night just soaking up the atmosphere. I am kind of looking forward to experiencing the parks in a different way. Getting excited now as its only two weeks till we leave, woo hoo.

 

[PHXscuba]

And don't count on using the train during a parade -- the route crosses the tracks in 2 places and it can take forever as they wait out the entrance/exit.

PHXscuba

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

And don't count on using the train during a parade -- the route crosses the tracks in 2 places and it can take forever as they wait out the entrance/exit.

PHXscuba

I did not know this! What two places? I can see maybe by It’s a Small World but the exit for the parade on Main Street seems pretty far away from the train tracks.

 

[PHXscuba]

I did not know this! What two places? I can see maybe by It’s a Small World but the exit for the parade on Main Street seems pretty far away from the train tracks.

I'm not 100% percent on this, but I believe the parade equipment still has to cross the tracks south of the jungle Cruise, west of the main gates. If you look on Google Maps, there is really not much room once they exit before you get to the tracks. So unless they store it right there until later, they're going to have to cross tracks.

PHXscuba