So...Why The Crowds Now??

[S. S. Columbia]

From what I've read, it seems locals make a bigger impact on DLR crowds than we do at WDW. We're going in July, when most locals are apparently blacked out. Does this keep the summer crowds from being packed to the max or is that just wishful thinking?

Unlike LuLusApple, I like visiting DLR in the summer.

We visited DLR this summer, just after the SoCal AP summer blackout started. The parks were busy, but the crowds definitely weren't 'crazy crowded.'

Here's a quote from Al Lutz, from this link:

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al061609a.htm

"... once a few hundred thousand Annual Passholders become blocked out for the summer ... the daily attendance estimates drop by huge numbers."

- Al Lutz (June 16, 2009)

Source: link

The Disney execs will try to counter this trend, but that's the way it was last July.

HTH

 

[HydroGuy]

Unlike LuLusApple, I like visiting DLR in the summer.

We visited DLR this summer, just after the SoCal AP summer blackout started. The parks were busy, but the crowds definitely weren't 'crazy crowded.'

Here's a quote from Al Lutz, from this link:

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al061609a.htm



The Disney execs will try to counter this trend, but that's the way it was last July.

HTH

My experience is similar to SSC. Crowded but not crazy. Also with SoCal APs blocked out you get less of the unusual behavior of people camping out for hours and hours for new rides. It sort of levels the playing field. The people who do go to DLR are not as savvy.

 

[pppiglet]

We were there today. No crowds walking around, until after the parade at everyone was heading home. BUT.....The lines still took forever as they cut down the number of employees working during the week, Blue Bayou took no walk-ins at all today, only had 1/2 of Calif Screamin open and only 3 cars running, only two trains running that I saw, etc......Plus two main attractions were closed for the Halloween refurb. I have to admit it was nice to be able to walk around and not bump into people all the time.

 

[sahbushka]

We were there today. No crowds walking around, until after the parade at everyone was heading home. BUT.....The lines still took forever as they cut down the number of employees working during the week, Blue Bayou took no walk-ins at all today, only had 1/2 of Calif Screamin open and only 3 cars running, only two trains running that I saw, etc......Plus two main attractions were closed for the Halloween refurb. I have to admit it was nice to be able to walk around and not bump into people all the time.

Woo Hoo! We will be there Wednesday so I hope the crowds stay away!

Sarah

 

[deejdigsdis]

Since I brought up the characters in the original post... I'm wondering if they just meander around the park anymore? Or do they just have a post where they are stationed and you have to line up for ridiculous amounts of time to meet them? There are certainly lots more Disney characters now than there were 20 years ago. What's the deal?

 

[HydroGuy]

Since I brought up the characters in the original post... I'm wondering if they just meander around the park anymore? Or do they just have a post where they are stationed and you have to line up for ridiculous amounts of time to meet them? There are certainly lots more Disney characters now than there were 20 years ago. What's the deal?

The latter. They have posts.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Since I brought up the characters in the original post... I'm wondering if they just meander around the park anymore? Or do they just have a post where they are stationed and you have to line up for ridiculous amounts of time to meet them? There are certainly lots more Disney characters now than there were 20 years ago. What's the deal?

I would say it's mainly posts, but some do wander around. We have seen Goofy and Frozone wandering around DCA.

We have also seen Jessie walking around Frontierland.

Princesses and other characters show up in front of the Mickey floral at the park entrance (not sure if that counts as a post or not).

Aladdin in Adventureland....

Splash Mt characters walking in Critter Country.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Oh good...I'm glad there's still some wandering around by the characters. I would really like SOMETHING to be unchanged from 13 years ago. Even though there aren't as MANY characters walking around, it's still something... Not finding much else unchanged, I'm afraid. Hopefully I'll be able to recognize the place after all these years.

 

[pigby]

In an odd way I find this kind of freeing. I like that we won't hit super bad crowds if we go when the kids are off school now and that there isn't a ton of benefit from pulling them out of school. Especially if you pick the weeks that the So-Cal passes are blocked

This is how I am thinking for our first ever trip to Disneyland Resort next summer. We are in the area for a couple of weeks and planning at the moment to get Deluxe Annual Passes (so hopefully we can go next year as well!) Our schools finish at the end of July till the Beginning of September. Traditionally when we have gone to WDW we have chosen last two in August for lighter crowds there. I am thinking that it will work differently next year as I see that the So-Cal passes open up again mid August - we are now thinking of going late July - plus I read some reports on here saying that crowds weren't too bad in July. What do you guys think as we're looking to book flights pretty soon now.

 

[godalejunior]

We got here yesterday afternoon and I was surprised at how many people were at the park. Sceamin and TSM were both 40 min waits. MB only had one tower operating and was 20 min wait.

 

[HydroGuy]

This is how I am thinking for our first ever trip to Disneyland Resort next summer. We are in the area for a couple of weeks and planning at the moment to get Deluxe Annual Passes (so hopefully we can go next year as well!) Our schools finish at the end of July till the Beginning of September. Traditionally when we have gone to WDW we have chosen last two in August for lighter crowds there. I am thinking that it will work differently next year as I see that the So-Cal passes open up again mid August - we are now thinking of going late July - plus I read some reports on here saying that crowds weren't too bad in July. What do you guys think as we're looking to book flights pretty soon now.

If it was me I would definitely choose late July over late August for the reasons you listed here. Be aware that Disney may be tinkering with the AP blackout schedule to maybe stagger it a bit more, but I doubt that will reach into July. Even if it does then the blackout surge will start to lose impact because a short blackout will not build up to a surge. So either way July is likely to be a safer bet.

Also, if you are thinking about DAPs I would consider not getting those until you are at DLR. Unless there are some other discounts you get to offset, or unless you are staying at a Disney propery, buy regular park tickets so you can get a Magic Morning. Then upgrade to APs when you are there after your MM.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

According to this Al Lutz article (link), another advantage of late July is that Cast Members are blocked out from letting people in for free.

Here's the quote

"... the Cast Member blockouts kick in from mid July through the end of August, denying tens of thousands of Disney Company employees in Southern California the ability to get people in for free, the average attendance estimates for Disneyland drop again and range from a comparatively measly 38,000 to 45,000 each day..."

- Al Lutz (June 16, 2009)

Link: http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al061609a.htm

FYI, the AP blackout schedule is posted until August 2010:

Compare Annual Passports:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nding?name=AnnualPassholderLandingPage&bhcp=1

SoCal Select AP Blockout Dates:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nualPassholderSoCalSelectBlockoutCalendarPage

SoCal AP Blockout Dates: (SoCal AP is not blocked out on July 1 or July 2)
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...ame=AnnualPassholderSoCalBlockoutCalendarPage

Deluxe AP Blockout Dates:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...me=AnnualPassholderDeluxeBlockoutCalendarPage

Hope this helps.

 

[HydroGuy]

According to this Al Lutz article (link), another advantage of late July is that Cast Members are blocked out from letting people in for free.

Here's the quote


FYI, the AP blackout schedule is posted until August 2010:

Compare Annual Passports:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nding?name=AnnualPassholderLandingPage&bhcp=1

SoCal Select AP Blockout Dates:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nualPassholderSoCalSelectBlockoutCalendarPage

SoCal AP Blockout Dates: (SoCal AP is not blocked out on July 1 or July 2)
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...ame=AnnualPassholderSoCalBlockoutCalendarPage

Deluxe AP Blockout Dates:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...me=AnnualPassholderDeluxeBlockoutCalendarPage

Hope this helps.

Well it helped me. Thanks! It looks like last week of June is not going to be as good as it used to be because the SoCal AP holders are not blocked out.

 

[pigby]

Also, if you are thinking about DAPs I would consider not getting those until you are at DLR. Unless there are some other discounts you get to offset, or unless you are staying at a Disney propery, buy regular park tickets so you can get a Magic Morning. Then upgrade to APs when you are there after your MM.

Never thought of that - we are due to arrive on Friday afternoon so our first full day would be Saturday (a blackout day on DAP but a day we would really like to go in the park even though we know it will be busy) - which leads me to another question - wonder if we should buy tickets for the Friday and Saturday and up to whenever the first MM is - would we then get a full refund of the tickets against our DAP's?

 

[HydroGuy]

Never thought of that - we are due to arrive on Friday afternoon so our first full day would be Saturday (a blackout day on DAP but a day we would really like to go in the park even though we know it will be busy) - which leads me to another question - wonder if we should buy tickets for the Friday and Saturday and up to whenever the first MM is - would we then get a full refund of the tickets against our DAP's?

Check with Disney but I am 99% sure the policy is you can apply the full amount of your entrance tickets towards an AP. What I am not sure about is whether you need to do it before you leave or within 14 days. I think the latter. Never had an AP so can't say for sure. Again, check with Disney.

 

[pigby]

Check with Disney but I am 99% sure the policy is you can apply the full amount of your entrance tickets towards an AP. What I am not sure about is whether you need to do it before you leave or within 14 days. I think the latter. Never had an AP so can't say for sure. Again, check with Disney.

Just to let you know, I e-mailed Disney and this is their (very quick) response

''Dear Sue,

Thank you for taking the time to write Disneyland Resort Ticketing &
Reservations.

I am understanding your concern and I have just the solution for you!
Feel free to purchase your 3 or 4 day Parkhopper ticket! Before you
leave the park on the last day of the ticket's usage, should you decide
to go ahead with the upgrade, the full value of the ticket will be
available for upgrade to the DAP (or any AP that you like). However,
the start of the year will be backdated to the first date of your visit.

Blackout dates will require an entry fee (which I belive is about 35 or
40$).
To make full use and avoid blackout date fees, I would recommend
purchasing a Parkhopper ticket that would cover any blackout dates that
you plan to visit the park, then request the upgrade on the last day
(assuming you have such a wonderful time you decide to come back, that
is!).
Please note! The upgrade must take place BEFORE you leave the park on
the last day, otherwise, the ticket is no longer valid for upgrade.

I hope this is of help to you.

Again, thank you for contacting us. If you have any further questions,
please e-mail us directly at ticketinquiries@disneyonline.com. Be sure
to include your full name, order number, and e-mail address for future
correspondence.

Sincerely,

Disneyland Resort
Ticketing & Reservations''

Thought that this might be useful to someone else on here as well - you were right again Hydroguy

 

[HydroGuy]

Sounds like you have a plan!

 

[deejdigsdis]

Thanks for sharing that info, Pigby. Very helpful.

Cast members can get friends and family in free?? I need to go make some new friends...