uggg date change has me worried

[jemilah]

I thought my sons football was over sooner and now have to cancel my Bday trip....we cant go until dec 17 & 18 am I going to be totally disappointed because the crowds will be huge? I feel sick

 

[skiingfast]

Might not be so bad. Could be better then the end of October. And IASM and HM should be in Christmas decor.

 

[sonnyjane]

Some positive news...

It looks like, based on your original dates, you were still going to be there during the Christmas decorations, but I think it's so much more magical the closer to Christmas it actually is.

More importantly, both your new dates are blocked out for SoCal Select passholders, and the 18th is blocked out for SoCal passholders, so hopefully it won't be quite as crowded as you anticipated.

I have gone to Disneyland during very busy times (Thanksgiving, Easter, Spring Break) because it was the only time I had available, and as long as you do research, utilize FastPass, and have patience, I think you can really accomplish a ton!

 

[jemilah]

Thanks ! I feel a bit better now, i wouldnt dare ask the boy to miss the playoffs for the trip I will follow all the fast pass rules and hope for the best. Hey maybe I will get lucky and it will rain !

 

[barefootmomma]

I agree! Stay optimistic. Either way, you're going to be at Disneyland, and the Christmas magic will be in the air! It's gonna be a good time.

 

[Sherry E]

Well, I'm going to be realistic and honest and say that you will run into large crowds. Not New Year's Eve-level crowds, most likely, and not as bad as the crowds in between Christmas and New Year's, but there will be a lot of people. The reason I am telling you this is so you'll be mentally prepared for it. It's much better to expect the worst before you go and then either be pleasantly surprised or at least be able to adapt because you were prepared.

I agree with the PP's - think positively, but based on my experience last year, I cannot tell you that it won't be very, very crowded because it just might be. It might not be, but better to plan for crowds than to go in not thinking it will be too bad.

I was there last year on December 19th - a weekend - and it was more crowded than I had seen it in years, and that was despite the SoCal AP holders being blocked - which is proof positive that it is not just local AP holders contributing to massive crowds. The entire 2009 holiday season was the busiest holiday season at DLR in a decade, according to reports that came out later.

The weekend before Christmas is always very busy, but I went on that same exact weekend in 2007, 2008 and 2009 - and the 2009 day was, by far, the most packed of the 3 trips. Haunted Mansion Holiday's line was 45 minutes long before 11:00 a.m. DL reached capacity early in the day. The POTC line was the longest I had seen it in almost 20 years. The back alleys of NOS were almost impossible to walk through. The area in front of IASW Holiday at night was an impenetrable wall of people, and when we saw it we turned and walked away!

I was not prepared for that level of crowds because it had not been like that on my 2007 or 2008 trips. It was very daunting to me and I couldn't get all the things done that I wanted to do because I was too frustrated and there was just not enough time to "come back and do it later" for certain things.

This year, with World of Color thrown into the mix - which has increased attendance in both parks this year - I cannot imagine that it will be any less crowded. Hopefully it will be, but I wouldn't expect it.

So the very best thing you can do is just get yourself in that mindset of thinking that it will be very, very crowded. Don't let it stop you, but just expect it and plan for it. Think positively and plan wisely. Use all the tricks and time maximization techniques that you can and have back-up plans in place. Make lists of priorities and secondary priorities. You will still have a great time - I did - but I don't want you to show up, expecting a certain crowd level, and then being in for a shock!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Hey maybe I will get lucky and it will rain !

We were there starting Friday, Dec. 18 last year and I wished I packed some shorts!!! I felt crowds were very reasonable those first few days, and was surprised to find out on the boards that they actually reached capacity for a short time in the afternoon Saturday and Sunday. I guess it was when we were on our afternoon break?

ETA: I just read Sherry's account of crowds on the 19th....maybe I was expecting post Xmas crowds so it didn't seem bad? I do remember the POTC line to be very long. We watched Tiana's show while we waited and it seemed to move pretty steadily (read we didn't get to watch the whole show). Plus we only did IASWH with our Holiday Tour.

 

[jtown]

I thought my sons football was over sooner and now have to cancel my Bday trip....we cant go until dec 17 & 18 am I going to be totally disappointed because the crowds will be huge? I feel sick

It's Disneyland! How can a trip to Disneyland not be fun no matter when you go? Sure it'll be crowded but it probably won't be as crowded as the following weeks. Just make sure you get fastpasses at every opportunity and consider using single-rider lines. Plan to eat at off-hours to avoid mobs and avoid main street during parades and fireworks and NOS during Fantasmic (unless you want to see them).

Assume every line will be an hour and mentally prepare yourself for that. Then, when most lines turn out to be shorter, it'll be a pleasant surprise. And realize that you probably won't get to do everything you want to do in the order you planned to do it. NOS and Adventureland turn into a bog of unmoving people when it gets crowded. You can see if it's hopeless from Frontierland. If it's mobbed, just save yourself the hassle and move onto other items on your list. Check back later. Flexibility is the key to busy days.

 

[jemilah]

no shows fireworks or parades are planned and I told the boys we will see what we can , its better than home ! I wish we could work the single rider lines but we have quite a group meeting us there!

 

[Disney Dreams]

no shows fireworks or parades are planned and I told the boys we will see what we can , its better than home ! I wish we could work the single rider lines but we have quite a group meeting us there!

You are going the week before Christmas. There will be shows, fireworks, and parades.

They may not be listed on the calendar yet, but that is peak season - there will be every entertainment offering Disney has.

- Dreams