Starting to regret this

[Tinkerbell19672]

We will be at DL on May 22 and I'm not a fan of crowds. Sounding like it will be packed that day and with the short hours the days before, feels like we booked a bad time to go

 

[Malcon10t]

It is going to be very crowded, but it will be manageable. We will be there for the weekend. Is there any way to move your dates? I had planned on it since last year assuming there would be a 24 hour event. Can you move your dates? Memorial Weekend is usually a pretty busy time.

 

[Imdboss]

We will be at DL on May 22 and I'm not a fan of crowds. Sounding like it will be packed that day and with the short hours the days before, feels like we booked a bad time to go

Are you only going for two days?

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

Can't move our dates without a penalty on airlines. Plus it's the only time we can go this year . Saying it will be manageable makes me feel a little better, thanks.

What happens if we have dining reservations and they get so full they won't let us in? I think I'm most disappointed in the short hours the 2 days before. I figured Friday would be crowded but was hoping to be able to stay in parks later on those days.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

You are right in the fact that it will be busy. But, you are lucky enough to be a part of disneyland history. You will be there when they debut the new parade, fireworks, and WOC. You will be among the first to fly with peter pan, or come close to a yeti attack as you whiz by on a bobsled. And please don't join the hatbox ghost and become the 1000th soul to live in the haunted mansion. most of the other people who will be there are people who love and cherish disneyland. I can only imagine the positive energy that will be floating around the park that day. The park will be looking its best that day, and I am sure that all the CM's will proudly be working and doing there best to spread some magic. Just try to utilize fastpass, and try to stop and smell the roses that day. When things get too crowded stop and enjoy a dole whip on main street and enjoy the ambiance. You will have a wonderful time.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

Are you only going for two days?

Arrive May 19 but not in parks until 20th. Leave 24th

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

You are right in the fact that it will be busy. But, you are lucky enough to be a part of disneyland history. You will be there when they debut the new parade, fireworks, and WOC. You will be among the first to fly with peter pan, or come close to a yeti attack as you whiz by on a bobsled. And please don't join the hatbox ghost and become the 1000th soul to live in the haunted mansion. most of the other people who will be there are people who love and cherish disneyland. I can only imagine the positive energy that will be floating around the park that day. The park will be looking its best that day, and I am sure that all the CM's will proudly be working and doing there best to spread some magic. Just try to utilize fastpass, and try to stop and smell the roses that day. When things get too crowded stop and enjoy a dole whip on main street and enjoy the ambiance. You will have a wonderful time.

Not trying to be Debbie Downer and I know we will have fun. Just saying all the talk of how crowded it will be has me a little nervous.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

As much as I love Disneyland I would only consider those days if I went without kids. I remember taking my children during crowded times years ago and it just wasn't worth it. Stroller age made for tough crowd movement and holding hands in a sea of humanity was incredibly stressful.

Yes, it will be a historic and memorable time, but I would consider something else if I had small kiddos. Tons of this to explore in Southern CA!

Good luck and best wishes, OP!

 

[lorijohnhill]

Go early, get the big stuff done in the first few hours, then slow down and just enjoy being there. When the crowds start to get to you try a boat ride or take a ride around the park on the train. Just remember to take a deep breath when you start to get anxious. You will be fine and your trip will be amazing!

 

[bsjs0708]

Hmmmm...I'll be there from the 19th-22nd...any guesses on how crowded tuesday-Thursday will be?

 

[Imdboss]

I would say don't try to plan your entire day start to finish. Just try to have maybe 4-5 rides that are a must do for each day then count everything else as bonus. Since you will be there for the 24 hour event maybe plan to go back to the hotel in the afternoon for a nice nap, plan dinner offsite, then go back for some later night hours. I think the idea from another poster of riding the train is a great one, it gives the feet a break plus gets you out of the crowds. You can also pop into the cinema or Moments w/ Lincoln, a couple areas that are often overlooked (I'm guilty of this). Otherwise try to take in the atmosphere and excitement of the 24 hour event, I would love to attend that someday just to say I did it!

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I love the train idea. I've been to DL 8-10 times and don't think I've ridden the train so I definitely need to plan on doing that.

 

[thmcdonald1]

I'm there 18-22 and I'm getting nervous too. It's my wife's first time and I don't want her to have a bad opinion of DLR since she loves WDW. But, we've only really seen moderate crowds at WDW in the past

 

[canyoncam]

I too am getting a little nervous over the crowds and shortened hours the days before. It will be my first trip to Disneyland so I was hoping I wouldn't have to stress over "scheduling" things as much as WDW. But we have three and a half days so I think it will be ok. I do know that the 24 hr day will be the most stressful. I am hoping to make it through ALL 24 hours and am thinking the first few hours and the very last of the
them in Saturday a.m. should be peaceful. What is concerning me the most right now is the shortened hours the days before. We fly in on Tuesday and most likely won't arrive at the parks until 4 pm. Disneyland closes at 6 pm that night so even though I had planned to make that our first stop it looks like I'd be better off just going to DCA and getting a good five hours in that day without the small loss of park hopping time. I figure it will get busy after DL closes with people hopping over but maybe we will have ridden a few rides and have a FP before those people fill it up and then we can just take in the atmosphere then get in RSR line right before closing and have a decent first day. Just not so sure of the planning for Wednesday and Thursday. I would like to be in bed early Thursday to get rested for the 24 hrs so the 6pm DL closing that day may help though I am sure I will feel like I am missing out on DCA that night!

 

[agamble]

We're going the M-R of that week. And I'm not too bothered by the hours. They're opening early to compensate for the closing early, and at least one park still stays open until at least 9pm. The parks always close around 9pm/10pm at that time of year. In reality, when combined, the parks are open more hours that week than they normally would be (typical hours for that week are 9am-9pm).

Also, I've heard that the 24hour parties are only bad at night. I guess there's an initial rush of people at 6am, and then the parks calm down and are relatively normal until the after school/work crowds begin to arrive for the major party at night. Expect crowds at night, but the FriDAY should be okay. We're not staying for the party, taking the kids and leaving Thursday night.

 

[Masonmj84]

Hmmmm...I'll be there from the 19th-22nd...any guesses on how crowded tuesday-Thursday will be?

We're planning to be there from the evening of the 17th and checking out the morning of the 22nd.

My thinking is that most of the massive crowds won't show up until the afternoon/evening of the 22nd (but I'm a WDW vet who is making his first trip to DL since childhood). Most schools are in session the week of the 18th-22nd and my guess is that a lot of locals who visit frequently would want to wait until the 22nd or later to see all of the new stuff.

Keep in mind that only one park per day is closing early on the 19th-21st and, therefore, I think the only times a park will be abnormally crowded on those days is during the evenings at the park that's still open.

The one exception may be the re-opening of Peter Pan on the 21st. DL opens at 8 am that day (with no early entry) and it's hard to predict the extent that the RD line for that attraction may be longer than usual.

 

[T0rrent]

Go early and don't be afraid to take a mid day break. Wife and I wound up going the day Carsland opened. It was very busy, but also manageable. I wouldn't worry about missing a reservation due to crowds as that level of capacity lockout really only hits on the 24hr events and once in a blue moon on super busy holidays. If you can't get in, let a CM at the gate know and I'm sure they will figure out a way to accommodate you in the event it does hit capacity.

 

[GeneralTso]

It's always crowded! Make the best of it!
Lots of great tips already. I think you will get to see the Diamond Celebration, right? That's really cool.

 

[agamble]

The one exception may be the re-opening of Peter Pan on the 21st. DL opens at 8 am that day (with no early entry) and it's hard to predict the extent that the RD line for that attraction may be longer than usual.

I know it's reopening that day, but I figure that 8am openings are early and a lot of people (especially those not in hotels) don't show up until after 10am. Hoping to ride PP just once!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Since you know that the parks are going to be crowded, I think you're already one step ahead of the game. Just manage your expectations. The weekend IS going to be crazy busy. It's not just the 24-hour event, it's Memorial Day weekend, and the opening of the 60th anniversary. It WILL be crowded.

Having said that, I believe that most people will be there to see the changes, the new parade and shows. You can still have fun. Just note down your "must do's" so that you don't get too distracted by the crowds. Make a loose plan that you can change if you need to, and then make sure that during the 'busy time' you do some fun things that won't be as crowded and take more time to do - Animation Station, train around Disneyland, Mickey's Magical Map, etc.