Saturday vs Sunday crowds

[Ross3half]

Which is typically more crowded, Saturdays or Sundays? We usually go on the weekdays so I'm not sure what to expect if we include a weekend day this time.

 

[MsTiauna27]

Sunday and Wednesdays are lovely, Saturdays are a headache. If its a busy weekend hhmm goodluck.

 

[DisneyZane]

We've had great luck with Sundays, particularly in the morning and afternoon. I think the people who are leaving are busy packing and getting going and the people who are showing up haven't arrived yet.

 

[MsTiauna27]

I figured it was due to church being on that day.

 

[DisneyZane]

I figured it was due to church being on that day.

Good thought too. I sort of assumed that everyone would be traveling, but I forget how many are locals. We've never attended services while on vacation.

 

[MsTiauna27]

Wednesdays are awesome as well

 

[Ross3half]

Thanks everyone. It looks like the Electric Light Parade has its final showing the Sunday we're there so I imagine that will pack the parks even more than a usual Sunday. It sounds like maybe we could get some good time in in the morning and early afternoon before the crowds pour in though.

 

[heatherleigh]

Sundays are less crowded.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I hear Saturdays may be less crowded nowadays... Something about 1 million AP holders and black-out days. HydroGuy will be in here shortly to explain...

 

[HydroGuy]

I hear Saturdays may be less crowded nowadays... Something about 1 million AP holders and black-out days. HydroGuy will be in here shortly to explain...

I was surprised to see all the posts in favor of Sunday visits. Not sure if this is based on historical patterns, but it is common knowledge that with Saturdays being AP blockout days and Sundays not being blocked out that Saturday is a better choice then Sunday. This has become true over the last year or two. It was not necessarily true in years past.

Here is the link Duck was thinking about "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[camouseketeer]

I cannot remember the last time I was at DLR on a Saturday, but I have been on many Sundays. Perhaps it is because I had not learned about the impact of AP blackout dates.

Whatever the reason, I do know that Sunday mornings are lovely! Whether it be due to church or a late night on Saturday, the park is very empty until around 11 or noon on Sundays. (This may also be the case on Saturdays; I just don't have experience with it.)

But once crowds come on a Sunday, they come! Sunday afternoons are very busy. It sounds like Saturdays , as a whole, are less busy. I will probably try that test out this summer!

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks everyone. It looks like the Electric Light Parade has its final showing the Sunday we're there so I imagine that will pack the parks even more than a usual Sunday. It sounds like maybe we could get some good time in in the morning and early afternoon before the crowds pour in though.

Sorry, but this really hurts my eyes.

There is not and never has been an Electric Light Parade at DL or DCA. When at DL it was called the Main Street Electrical Parade (MSEP). And at DCA it was renamed to Disney's Electrical Parade (DEP). For short it is just the Electrical Parade (EP).

 

[Ross3half]

Sorry, but this really hurts my eyes.

There is not and never has been an Electric Light Parade at DL or DCA. When at DL it was called the Main Street Electrical Parade (MSEP). And at DCA it was renamed to Disney's Electrical Parade (DEP). For short it is just the Electrical Parade (EP).

Thanks for the correction! I'm not so great with the DL lingo but glad you figured out what I was talking about.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Sunday a.m. is definitely good. We try to get there at opening (pretend that we are on vacation, gotta get up early for all the fun) but about 11 a.m. or so the guests start streaming in. That's when we usually cross over to DCA and spend some time there. Typically we will cross back over to DL using the FP we collected earlier in the day.

And yes, since most APH are blocked out on Sat. but not Sunday, you can expect many locals to crowd the parks on Sunday. Luckily, most of them don't seem to want to get up early to get there at opening. APH are the same reason Friday evenings/nights are crowded as well. Darn us APH!

 

[PAL_1]

Crowd patterns at Disneyland have changed dramatically over the past couple of years. We really noticed it once the monthly AP payment plans were introduced. Off season Sundays that had been calm and quiet into the afternoon turned into crowds clogging the walkways by noon. After many years, we let our APs lapse, preferring the occasional visit during blackout days instead. Go then!