Summer crowd management/tips

[amdgoogles]

Hello fellow DIS members! I have been to Disneyland several times, but it's always been off season and either at the Ramada maingate, or DL hotel. This time we're going June 20-24 (sat-Wed) I'm well aware crowd levels will be crazy.. especially considering were arriving on a Saturday. But can anyone give me their experience managing kids in the crowds, average wait times for rides like space, thunder, splash.. I've read hydroguys thread recommending going early, taking a break, then coming back in the evening which I think will be a great plan. We have a 3 kids 6, 4 and 2. The 6 and 4 year old are tall enough to ride most all the rides, we will take advantage of child swap and trying to get as many fast passes as we can. But can you share your experiences going in summer I'd love to hear your experiences and tips and suggestions!

We're also staying at the paradise pier hotel for the first time. Anything to keep in mind when staying there?

Thanks!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

PPH is a great hotel. I don't have too many tips about it, but it's a great hotel. The fastest way to walk to the park entrances is to go through GCH, but that's about the only tip I have.

Summer isn't really too bad. You've already read Hydroguy's tips, and that about sums it up. The lines really aren't much worse than a Saturday or Sunday any time of year (and if you've ever been during the winter holiday season, it actually can be less crowded than that). Prioritize the important rides during your trip, use extra magic hours wisely, and stay cool with a hydration system, cooling bandana, etc. You'll be fine.

 

[amdgoogles]

Thanks! I'm sure it will be fine.. it is Disneyland after all!! I've also heard they tend to open up more ride vehicles to help keep things running smooth anyone know if that's true? But If anyone has anything that they've found that works great or anything to add I'm all ears!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We love going during the summer! The most important tip is the one you already know- arrive early, take an afternoon break, then come back.
One thing we do is pick one day that we will start in Fantasyland. We are AP holders and stay off property and do not have any type of Early Entry so we go do this on a non early entry day. Since you will have that, take advantage of it to do Fantasyland. It gets so crowed by late morning but you can do everything there with little waiting if you get there early and do it first. We start with Peter Pan and go from there. After we've done all those rides, we head over to IASW to finish it off.

 

[Congo Queen]

Summer is our favorite time to visit. Refurbs are few or none. Weather is warm so it's fun to get drenched on GRR and Splash. Evenings are lovely and comfortable, and we look forward to long break at hotel pool in heat of midday knowing we will have a beautiful evening ahead in the parks with all the lights and magic of Dland after dark. Yes it is crowded but you can manage it. (I went at Christmas time this year and that was by a factor of 10 way way more nutsy crowded than any summer week I have ever experienced.) Main tips from me are: 1) wake up early and eat breakfast in room; 2)arrive at parks for EMH to enjoy early cool morning hours w low crowds - this is the time to ride rides that will have long lines later - not best time for shopping or restaurants; 2) eat lunch early (11:30amish) to avoid lunch crowds; 3) ride a wet ride after lunch; 4) go back to hotel and swim and nap; and 5) return to parks at about 6pm and collect FP that are still available and ride rides with reliably short lines or fast loaders - Tikiroom, Mr Lincoln, train, pirates or HM during F! if we are not watching the show, Little M, Mater, etc. You will have a blast. Enjoy your time at the happiest place you know where.

 

[Kristina4109]

I have done DL during each of the summer months and had a great time each trip. No, the parks were not empty. But they open so darn early and stay open so darn late that you have plenty of time to do everything. Hitting the parks at rope drop is a must - and if you're staying on site, use Early Entry! During the summer EE is often at 7:00am. You know those commercials that show people skipping down Main Street, stopping to randomly hug a character who happens to be strolling by? And you know how you yell at the TV, "It's never like that at Disneyland!" Well, at 7:00am it is. We were amazed at how much we got done in both parks by 9:30am. Then you can take it easy, maybe leave the park for lunch at Downtown Disney or one of the hotels, and amble back over later on when it's cooler.

Our strategy was to eat a quick grab and go breakfast while we walk to the park (Momma cannot skip coffee) and then by 9:30 we were hungry enough to eat something more substantial, so we'd sit and have a QS breakfast in the park. One time we scheduled a character "breakfast" at its last possible seating (it was between 11:00 - 12:00 - can't remember exactly) and that was lunch for us. Save your wet rides for the afternoon as you might hit "June Gloom" in the mornings.

Our last June trip, we planned on heading back to the hotel for swimming or relaxing and it didn't happen - we just went park commando the whole time. Consequently we conked out before the evening entertainment. So I'd recommend really trying to take that afternoon break/nap/relaxation time if you want to see fireworks, F! and/or World of Color.

 

[camosun]

We go each year in June. This year we are going to be in the parks June 16-20.
It can be very busy as local schools are on summer vacation.
Tips
- Go early. Be there 10 minutes or more before rope drop. Start with the park that does not have early entry on that day.
- it can be cool in the morning because of June gloom, which is very overcast weather in the mornings that generally burns off after a few hours. Wear a sweatshirt or light jacket and then rent a locker to stow this stuff later.
- carry a backpack with water bottles and snacks. Refill the water at fountains or ask for ice water from counter service locations. They give it to you free of charge.
- if in disneyland start with Fantasyland first. Those low capacity rides get very busy very quickly.
- figure on having a relatively quiet park until 10:30 or so. By 11:00 it will be very busy.
- Have some bananas or apples or maybe instant porridge etc. in your hotel room for a quick morning snack. Then eat a meal before lunch time when it starts to get busy.
- see some shows in the afternoon.
- use fastpasses for the big rides. Park hop and get fast passes at the other park as well.
- use the busy afternoon time to putz around and enjoy the great ambience at Disney. Have an ice cream or other treat and check out the shops. Or probably more importantly for you with young kids, go back to the hotel for nap time.
- use strollers. Even the 6 year old will want a turn. Use a cheap stroller and put an identifying ribbon or something on it. Staff will move them sometimes so a marker helps to find them later.
- there is a baby centre in each park. In DL it's at the end of Main Street and I think in DCA it's back near Ghirardelli. We used it when our kids were small for a quiet cool space and a nice place to change a diaper. It also has mini sized toilets for young kids. The 4 & 6 will be welcome because of your two year old.
- take a break in the afternoon in the huge redwood creek play area near Grizzly River Run. My kids absolutely love this place.

Enjoy. June is great because all the shows are in full swing and the weather is generally very warm without being scorching.

 

[tarheelalum]

Show up first thing every morning and get all the rides in you can before the crowds start pouring in. Get fast passes for splash mountain or grizzly river in the late mourning so you can ride them in the afternoon when its hot. Download the mousewait app and have a great time.

 

[freckles04]

We are visiting in July and all of these tips are so great. Thanks!

 

[Kristina4109]

I've done July once - it was July 5th - 8th and I thought for sure it would be maddening, body to body, insane crowds. It wasn't. It was busy, but it was regular summer or Saturday busy not insane. Pleasantly surprised.

 

[amdgoogles]

You guys are awesome! Thanks you've made me much less intimidated about going in June! I am excited about the fact that everything will be in full swing, we often run into thing only being in full swing for one or two of the day's we're there so we're trying to do fantasmic, world of color, and fireworks in a rush which makes it hard. Thanks for all the tips!!!