Summer Crowds - 2nd week in June?

[wadelle2]

We are planning a DL trip this summer. We just went in Dec but the kids and I are jonesing for another visit! We usually go the week before Christmas week and it has always been a WONDERFUL time with light crowds. I haven't visited DL during the summer since I was a child, so I really don't know how awful the crowds are. We're considering going June 11-13. My husband would rather go later in the summer, but I'm thinking the park is just going to get busier as summer goes on. How bad is it that second week in June? Cuz' honestly, if it's hot and miserable and I have to wait an hour to ride Star Tours with two little ones, I'm thinking I'll pass. What can I expect crowd levels/ride wait times?

 

[DLR29]

Well this June is a little bit different because of the opening of Toy Story Midway Mania. Add on Grad nights (on both the 11th and 12th) and that time could be a little busier than normal. However I highly doubt that Star Tours will have an hour long line. The only rides with that kind of wait (I predict) will be:
-Nemo
-Space
-Indy
-Splash
-Grizzly River Run
-Toy Story Midway Mania? (I have no idea)

Star Tours' line doesn't start getting long until late morning/noon, so as long as you arrive early and hit some of the longer line rides that don't have FP (Peter Pan, Dumbo, matterhorn, Star Tours, Alice) then you won't stand in very many long lines.

There will be many rides with short waits still such as Pirates, haunted Mansion, Pooh, Pinocchio, Snow White, and Jungle Cruise, which I recommend riding in the afternoon when the crowds are at its largest.

Maximize your FPs! Always pick up a FP first thing whenever you enter either park (even if you're park hopping). Read Hydroguy's FP tips which can be found at his sticky at the top of the main DLR page.

Also arrive early early early! The couple morning hours are the best times to hit the rides. Short lines and small crowds. You can get more done from 8/9AM (park opening) to 11AM than you can the rest of the day.

 

[CinderellaPrincess22]

From personal experience later in the summer has always been better.
I went in June this last summer and the crowds were AWFUL.
I could barely see where I was going. : /

 

[mindylovesmickey]

What happens on grad nights? How early does the park close?

 

[mareed]

We've been the 1st to 2nd week of June several times before and will be back the 6th - 16th again this year. It's never been extremely crowded to us, and it's definitely not hot. One year they were having unusually high temps but the humidity was still low (we're from TX, so know humidity!) and it was still much nicer than back home for us, and much better than at WDW. DL has closed early due to grad nights, but that didn't affect our park touring at all (but we're always there at least a week). We've been there when it's crowded (XMAS & New Years), and it's nothing compared to the first 2 weeks of June. I think the peak season starts the 3rd week. I'd stick with your time in June as opposed to later in the Summer.

 

[MPHARJ]

Our first trip to DLR was last June and it wasn't bad at all. The weather was wonderful and yes some of the rides had long lines, but we learned rather quickly what to get on first thing and what we could do any time of the day. As others have said use your fast passes. We are going this June also we had to go a bit later because of a school I will be going to, but either way we have 5 days to enjoy what we want to. I say stick to your dates also!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We always go the second week of June, the crowds have never been bad at all. Now I'm sure after that week things pick up A LOT, seeing as most schools after that point are out! Last year was really nice because everyone would run to the Nemo line first thing, leaving everything else with little to no line! We are going the first week of June this time, in hopes that it will be even better.

We were there last year when they had a Grad Night. The park closed at 9pm. It didn't effect the crowds at all that day though, it was the same as the rest of the week. This time we plan on doing Universal Studios that day, so it won't effect us at all.

 

[Laurabearz]

Ahh Didn't know about grad night... Are they allowed in the park early? Before 9? or Right at 9?

Thanks

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Ahh Didn't know about grad night... Are they allowed in the park early? Before 9? or Right at 9?

Thanks

They are bused in after the park closes. So you won't see any difference in crowd levels during the day.

 

[4Ollies]

Hydroguy has some good points about not going during the really slow season because shows aren't always on the schedule. I love going to WDW during slow season, going next January, but we are trying DL June 8-12.

 

[disneymayz]

Our first DL trip will be 6/8 thru 6/13. I knew about Toy Story but was concerned about Grad Nights. Now hearing about them being bused in takes that away. Thank you. When do schools let out over on the west coast? I thought they went till around the 13th.

 

[mystic_path]

The 2nd week isnt bad at all. You will see a few school or church groups wandering but its totally bareable. We take advantage of fast passes, but the waits are no longer then 20 min or so for most rides.

 

[HydroGuy]

June is a transitional month with special things happening like grad nights. I wrote up some info on June here in the second post FWIW:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1691444

I was there in 2007 around June 25-28 (Monday-Thursday) and it seemed a little less crowded than the early August trips we have taken in previous summers.

 

[mindylovesmickey]

I think we will have fun even if it is a little busy. We really won't be there for the rides as much since it will be me with three young ones and the two oldest chicken out on just about everything except Dumbo and teacups anyway, including the dark rides. We will be there for shows, characters and a good time. And it will be my birthday, what could be better?

 

[mystic_path]

I think we will have fun even if it is a little busy. We really won't be there for the rides as much since it will be me with three young ones and the two oldest chicken out on just about everything except Dumbo and teacups anyway, including the dark rides. We will be there for shows, characters and a good time. And it will be my birthday, what could be better?

You are so right about that. Nothing can be better then being in the park. Busy or not, your always in for a royal treat.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

June is a transitional month with special things happening like grad nights. I wrote up some info on June here in the second post FWIW:

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1691444

I was there in 2007 around June 25-28 (Monday-Thursday) and it seemed a little less crowded than the early August trips we have taken in previous summers.

wow you lucked out hydroguy because thats a prime time to go right there...all the schools are pretty much out for the summer by then..

 

[HydroGuy]

wow you lucked out hydroguy because thats a prime time to go right there...all the schools are pretty much out for the summer by then..

If you stick to weekdays there is not much luck involved IMO. From mid-June until late August DLR is in high season mode. But weekdays are not as bad as weekends and an early start each day gets you ahead of the crowds. Plus you get the benefit of a full entertainment schedule.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

If you stick to weekdays there is not much luck involved IMO. From mid-June until late August DLR is in high season mode. But weekdays are not as bad as weekends and an early start each day gets you ahead of the crowds. Plus you get the benefit of a full entertainment schedule.

yeah I only live a few hours from DL and I go all the time so Ive been many many times at all times of the year and weekdays are packed too..no not nearly as much as weekends but summer time period is busy....