Superbowl crowds?

[ClaraOswald]

I saw an older thread that talked about the park being pretty crowded on Superbowl Sunday.

I was just wondering if the Superbowl effects crowds on any of the days AROUND the Superbowl. Like the Monday after, for example?

Is there a special Superbowl parade in the parks every year or just certain years?

 

[GatorChris]

Funny. Back in 2004, we were at WDW and hit MGM-Disney Studios on Super Bowl Sunday. It was empty. I mean EMPTY. But now I hear that the parks are busy on that day. I can't imagine why. Would I be wrong to say that DL people are Super Bowl Party people? I'd love to hear it form someone who has recent history, though.

 

[ClaraOswald]

The thread I saw was about 2014, I think.

We were at Disney World during the Superbowl in 2012 and I don't recall it making a difference with the crowds at all.

The Superbowl falls during our planned 2017 trip. Though we likely wouldn't be in the park on Sunday.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Simple, times change, as has the mix of guests at the parks. And while not "100% PC", lets basically say that Dads would stay home, or now, head to the ESPN Zone, and Mom and the Kids would spend the day at Disneyland instead of the game.

Yes, the Super Bowl is a very popular event and has a lot of folks stay home to watch the game, have a watch party etc. But it isn't for everyone, and since many locals have Annual Passes good for that date, and then foreign visitors who also are not big NFL fans also are in town, it has become a regular Sunday in regards to crowds, and they are busy.

As for special events, it depends on a few things, there are plenty of them at Disneyland for things like the Rose Bowl game, or when the area hosted the College Football Championship a week later. (The event main location for the week was Orange County, even though the game was held in the Rose Bowl Stadium).

The first one is, does Disney have a marketing deal for the year? Who is the winning team, and where that game is played and which player got picked to say "I am going to Disneyland (or Disney World, or maybe even now Disney Parks". And then Disney also looks at which park they want to get the most attention, and have the player parade at that location. So you might get one in 2017. But in 2021, when the Southland hosts the Super Bowl in the new Rams stadium, there will be some serious impact and very likely a celebration parade on the Monday. As with many things with Disney, only time will tell.

 

[jollyball]

I was at the park the day after the Super Bowl in 2015 and it was not busy at all. In fact it may have been the slowest day I have ever witnessed at the park - it was a great day to go!

 

[disneyxica20]

I was at the park the day after the Super Bowl in 2015 and it was not busy at all. In fact it may have been the slowest day I have ever witnessed at the park - it was a great day to go!

i believe that was right after the measles outbreak, which scared a lot of people away, so jan/feb of that year were slower than usual.

 

[Nevada Jen]

2015 was awesome empty. 2016 was horrible. Not able to even begin to move crowded ON MONDAY. Orange County Schools were also out that day and the parade was at DL. The actual super bowl we watched in the concierge lounge at PPH. That was pretty fun.

 

[Keels]

It also depends on WHERE the Super Bowl is. If it's in San Diego or LA-proper, I can definitely see families of players/agents/media/etc. as well as traveling fans of the opposing teams that make the trip to the Super Bowl taking a day or two to come to Disneyland.

This year's Super Bowl was in San Fran, which explains why Peyton Manning was able to be there for the parade the Monday after the game. Short flight.

 

[mamapenguin]

The next Super Bowl is in Houston, TX 2/5/2017. We were at DL 2/4-2/6 this year and crowds got bigger each day leading to Sunday. We left Saturday afternoon and it was very busy.

 

[ClaraOswald]

i believe that was right after the measles outbreak, which scared a lot of people away, so jan/feb of that year were slower than usual.

That worries me because we were there first week February 2015 and I found it to be much more crowded than it had been in the past in February. I know my idea of "slow season" just doesn't exist anymore (and hasn't in about a decade.) But it was still worse than I thought. I hope February 2017 isn't even worse! It's going to be rough, as it is, for my 3 year old to wait in lines....let alone super long lines.

 

[yaksack]

We will be there Superbowl Sunday 2017. Are there any popular spots for people to go and watch?

 

[Darkbeer1]

On site, the ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney, and all the Disney Hotel Bars. ESPN Zone will be tough though, they take reservations and have a minimum per hour charge.

Nearby, Anaheim GardenWalk and all its bars and restaurants will have large crowds watching the game.

Pretty much if they sell drinks and have a TV, it will be popular on SuperBowl Sunday.

 

[yaksack]

Do those place allow children?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Most do...

California law, food must be served if under 21 are in the building, so not a worry in the afternoon, but some locations at night might say no kids.

The big one, kids cannot sit at the actual bar, the tables are just fine, just not on the bar stools.

 

[yaksack]

I am going to WDW. Do they have the same laws?

 

[Darkbeer1]

I am going to WDW. Do they have the same laws?

NO, I was quoting California Law, I would ask at the WDW (Florida) forum here.

 

[LizzyS]

2015 was awesome empty. 2016 was horrible. Not able to even begin to move crowded ON MONDAY. Orange County Schools were also out that day and the parade was at DL. The actual super bowl we watched in the concierge lounge at PPH. That was pretty fun.

OMG, did you see Peyton Manning?!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

My hairdresser said she asked a CM what are the least crowded days at DL and he said Super Bowl Sunday.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

Unless my team is in it, the super bowl is the one game I usually skip. There's so much marketing and fluff around it, the game just drags on forever. The last few years on super bowl Sunday has been packed, but I don't know about the days around it.

 

[tarheelalum]

It's going to be crowded. Maybe more so than usual because people will think it won't be crowded because the superbowl is on tv so more may go than usual. But regardless as always it will be crowded.