Stressing about crowds...

[monorailrabbit]

I read an article last night and it showed pictures with wall to wall insane crowds. The article stated these pics were during "slow times". They look crazy! We are going the last week of Aug. I know that it could still be very busy but we were hoping this would be close enough to the school year that it would slow down a bit, and we are going during the week. Can I really expect wall to wall, shoulder to shoulder people at every turn? In one picture you can barely see the street in Adventureland. I am slightly claustrophobic and these pictures stressed me out just looking at them! We are WDW vets and usually go early Oct which we have found to be very manageable. This is our fist DLR trip and I've gone from very excited to very stressed. Please help me feel better, or at least give me some pointers so I don't have a panic attack with getting squished and squeezed the whole time!

http://micechat.com/121682-opinion-squeezed-out-of-disneyland/

 

[Niltiac]

Some areas are just not built to handle the crowds well, especislly adventureland, and tomorrowland to an extent. If you have trouble with crowds, do what you want in these areas in the morning. If it gets bad, hop over to CA for a while. These pictures look so bad not so much because it's busy (although it has been), but because of the layout of the walkways. CA has much wider walkways like what you're probably used to at WDW.

 

[sherilaine]

We were there end of February/early March this year - it's a lot busier than it was our previous trips in 2014 and 2013. You cannot even begin to compare to our first trip back in 2012 - it was a ghost town back then compared to what it is now. The good news is with forums such as this, one can prepare themselves in how to better manage crowds. The first thing to do is to expect it to be busy - which you have already done. Then the next step is to develop strategies - arriving extra early, getting as much done in those first few hours so you can relax more later in the day when lines get longer and do some of the quieter things in Disney. Using fast passes to their full potential also saves a lot of time and stress. One of the best tips I ever got on here a few years ago was to 'always be holding a fast pass'. That means if you've just handed your fast pass to a CM to ride a ride and you do not yet have another in your hand, then you are losing out on time at Disneyland. So we try to always be pulling another fast pass right when we are able (as it is printed on the fast pass when you are able to pull your next fast pass). That means when we are on the ride enjoying our fast pass the time has already started ticking on getting to our next fast pass return window!

As to the pictures in the article - we have seen that on weekends when we were there - but it wasn't that bad during the middle of the week, although it can get busy at any time it seems and sometimes it might not make sense, but think about it, everyone is trying to avoid crowds, so the off season is now going to be even more popular. We honestly found week days on our last trip as busy as weekends used to be 3 or 4 years ago.

Another thing to mention, if you are going to be there mid week when the park opens at 10AM, then don't be shocked if you show up to very long lines around opening - that is because it's easy for people to get up in time and make it there for a 10AM opening - the lines at security and at the gates might look dreadful - but you'd be surprised how once inside the parks you are still able to get to many of the most popular rides without ridiculous waits in the morning.

Finally, pictures always look worse than they feel - that picture of Adventure land is not wall to wall - those people are moving - the crowds can move quite easily from what I see. Tomorrowland is likely the biggest bottleneck in the place right now - we have found entering and exiting on the Buzz side vs. Star Tours is less busy - but with strollers and ECVs trying to move into that area, you can find traffic can come to a stop on occasion. The key too is to walk single file - don't think you are going to hold hands with your entire family - that is a complete mistake!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Yes, hit your main attractions early in the morning. Relax a bit in the afternoon, take in some of the shows, grab some fast passes, have a good time.

 

[mjdis17]

I went to DLR for the first time last May. We did not go to CA, only DL, because it was a one day trip. It was the Friday after Memorial Day and I was extremely nervous about crowds and navigating the park. After I got over the initial stress of having to once again get actual paper fast passes rather than relying on my Magic Band, as well as sucking up my pride and grabbing a map, it was smooth sailing! There were lines but they were MUCH shorter than I anticipated. The longest was Matterhorn so we stuck to the single rider line to combat that. Also, these short lines were occurring even though Splash Mountain was down for almost the entire day. Luckily we were able to ride it once after being evacuated half way through the first time

We did everything we wanted to do multiple times, went back to the hotel for a break, and headed back for the fireworks. After that the park was pretty much dead and eventually we stopped going on rides because we were too lazy to walk back through the completely empty queue line, ha! In regards to that picture, it only looked like that when the crowds were lining up for parades.

I think that the end of August could be slightly busier than my end of May experience, but I also have gone to WDW at the end of August 6 times out of the last 8 years and the crowds aren't too bad there, so I don't think DLR would be that much crazier. I will say as well that since it isn't as humid (for the most part), it's a little more enjoyable than trudging through Florida air.

 

[ddwlms]

I have close friends who were there last week of August 2015, and they said that most of the rides were less than 10 minute waits

 

[sherilaine]

Keep in mind as well the last week of August will be the last week of the 60th celebration which officially ends on September 5th!

 

[tomato]

I read an article last night and it showed pictures with wall to wall insane crowds. The article stated these pics were during "slow times". They look crazy! We are going the last week of Aug. I know that it could still be very busy but we were hoping this would be close enough to the school year that it would slow down a bit, and we are going during the week. Can I really expect wall to wall, shoulder to shoulder people at every turn? In one picture you can barely see the street in Adventureland. I am slightly claustrophobic and these pictures stressed me out just looking at them! We are WDW vets and usually go early Oct which we have found to be very manageable. This is our fist DLR trip and I've gone from very excited to very stressed. Please help me feel better, or at least give me some pointers so I don't have a panic attack with getting squished and squeezed the whole time!

http://micechat.com/121682-opinion-squeezed-out-of-disneyland/

I feel like those photos are a tad misleading. The first one seems to have been taken on Main Street either before or during a parade. Yeah, it's wall-to-wall when you're trying to get down Main Street at that time. The second one is in a bottle-neck area of Adventureland. The only time I've ever seen it less crowded is first thing in the morning. But by mid-morning and for the rest of the day, that area is busy. However, it opens up into a much bigger, open space.

I tend to get claustrophobic, too, and I can tell you that I've actually never felt uncomfortable in DLand. Well, maybe in the elevator of the Haunted Mansion, and that's about it. But in all cases, even the Haunted Mansion, you (and the crowds) are pretty much always moving, so for some reason, that makes it feel okay.

I've been in DLR during times when it was shoulder-to-shoulder and also times when you could shoot a cannon down the street and not hit anyone. For some reason, I never really got anxious and stressed about the people. Just another example of the Disney magic, maybe? I don't know. I wish I had more practical suggestions for you. If nothing else, just know that even if you're in a tight area, it's only momentary. Keep moving and it will open up for you.

Good luck and have tons of fun!

 

[monorailrabbit]

'always be holding a fast pass'. That means if you've just handed your fast pass to a CM to ride a ride and you do not yet have another in your hand, then you are losing out on time at Disneyland. So we try to always be pulling another fast pass right when we are able (as it is printed on the fast pass when you are able to pull your next fast pass). That means when we are on the ride enjoying our fast pass the time has already started ticking on getting to our next fast pass return window!

We remember this tactic from back in the day when WDW was paper - we are pros at this!

I have close friends who were there last week of August 2015, and they said that most of the rides were less than 10 minute waits

Oh this is wonderful! I really don't mind waiting for line, I completely get this will happen - it's part of Disney! It was just the lines and people packed EVERYWHERE that worried me! Haha.

Keep in mind as well the last week of August will be the last week of the 60th celebration which officially ends on September 5th!

This is why we are going at this time. We were originally planning to go in Oct, but I want to experience this SOOOO badly! I think it will make our first trip so awesome!

I tend to get claustrophobic, too, and I can tell you that I've actually never felt uncomfortable in DLand.

So glad to hear this!!

Thank you everyone! You have no idea how much better I feel! Back to being super excited!! Love all the tips and ideas! You guys rock my socks off!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Glad you feel better about it. You're going to have an awesome time!

 

[GatorChris]

I'm wondering if once the 60th is over and Star Wars Land is still a year or two away, will crowds start to slip back to normal? Or will DLR forever be a busy place.

 

[lk2500]

I read an article last night and it showed pictures with wall to wall insane crowds. The article stated these pics were during "slow times". They look crazy! We are going the last week of Aug. I know that it could still be very busy but we were hoping this would be close enough to the school year that it would slow down a bit, and we are going during the week. Can I really expect wall to wall, shoulder to shoulder people at every turn? In one picture you can barely see the street in Adventureland. I am slightly claustrophobic and these pictures stressed me out just looking at them! We are WDW vets and usually go early Oct which we have found to be very manageable. This is our fist DLR trip and I've gone from very excited to very stressed. Please help me feel better, or at least give me some pointers so I don't have a panic attack with getting squished and squeezed the whole time!

http://micechat.com/121682-opinion-squeezed-out-of-disneyland/

If it's any consolation; my wife is claustrophobic also. We've been in 4 times, all at the end of June/beginning of July. As other have already posted - just avoid the congested areas/times and choke points and you should be fine. You don't want to be walking down Main St right after the fireworks are over for instance. She had been avoiding line queues but we finally convinced her to try Indiana Jones, RSR, etc.. and she was able to make it through the queues just fine.

Have fun!

 

[MermaidHair]

as well as sucking up my pride and grabbing a map,

This cracked me up. I felt the same way when I first went to MK and could not find Space Mountain! Ha Ha

To the OP - did you say what week in August you are traveling? I am in NorCal and it seems most schools go back the week of 8/22 or earlier this year. I am not sure about SoCal schools but you could check into that info to ease your anxiety about the crowds.

Also, like others said - know your bottlenecks - Adventureland by Tarzan's Treehouse and Tomorrowland entrance are the biggies. If you are really concerned visit those areas early in the day then head over to DCA when it gets too crowded for you. There is always more room to move over there. My Mom visited DLR a couple of years ago after a 35 year absence and she preferred the open spaces and atmosphere of DCA to Disneyland.

 

[monorailrabbit]

To the OP - did you say what week in August you are traveling? I am in NorCal and it seems most schools go back the week of 8/22 or earlier this year. I am not sure about SoCal schools but you could check into that info to ease your anxiety about the crowds

We are arriving 8/28, leaving 9/1. Just a quick trip! Unfortunately we didn't splurge on hoppers, so we are doing just one per day, but all this info helps tremendously!

 

[OneThree]

We are arriving 8/28, leaving 9/1. Just a quick trip! Unfortunately we didn't splurge on hoppers, so we are doing just one per day, but all this info helps tremendously!

We'll be there the same time! Hope you enjoy your trip what ever the crowds may bring!

 

[monorailrabbit]

We'll be there the same time! Hope you enjoy your trip what ever the crowds may bring!

Awesome! Hope you have a great time as well!!