Worried about crowds in September

[luvthiscrzylife]

We have a trip planned for Sept. 13-16, and I've noticed that all of the nearby & onsite hotels are booked up. We got our room months ago, but I've been looking for a larger one. There is some solar convention during those dates. Could that be the reason, and do you think that will affect crowds at the parks? We went 2 years ago around the same time and while we felt there was a lot of people, we had minimum wait times and often could just walk onto rides. Very worried this won't be the case and we will not enjoy our time. I know it is what you make of it, but we've gone during peak times in the past and refuse to deal with the crowds/waits again.

 

[ADLFAN]

I think you're also brushing up against Dapper Day on the 18th and the DLR hotels offer great discounted rates for the event. The resort hotels have probably been fully booked for a while.

I don't think it is possible for the crowds to be as high as during the peak of summer when the kids are out of school and families are doing long vacations.

Disneyland is doing fireworks every night up til the Halloween season starts, and the 60th Anniversary Celebration has been drawing extra visitors since it started.

I expect it to be more crowded than September's of the past, but still a great time. Plus, I can't think of a time it will be less crowded until February 2016. We went in Feb. this year and it was great, low crowds and walk on rides (small ones, not Space Mountain, more like Astro Blasters and Autopia). But they had entire areas closed (Critter Country and the new Grizzly Peak Airfield was going in) which kind of condensed the crowds in other areas. And hours were from 10 a.m. til 8 or 9 p.m.

We are also going in early September and looking forward to it! Have fun planning!

 

[tarheelalum]

Its always crowded now so I would not worry about it. Just be there at rope drop so you can ride as many rides as possible in the first 2 hours. Have a great time.

 

[ociana]

We will be there right after you and noticed the same thing with all the hotels being booked up. I couldn't identify a root cause, but suspect that Dapper Day has a lot to do with it like a previous poster said.

 

[figment_jii]

I also don't think the parks are going to be super crowded on the weekdays during that period. It is near the start of HalloweenTime, which is very popular, I'm inclined to think the crowds will mostly be noticeable on weekends. Large conventions do impact hotel availability, but they don't always result in super busy parks. I would plan on being there at rope drop to take advantage of lower crowds and shorter lines.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Hmm- you refuse to deal with crowds and waits? It's Disneyland, if the rides are walk on you've had a pixie dusted day these days! With the others I don't see you facing "peak crowds" at that time of year though. Early in the morning is always best. Utilize the FP system.

 

[Geemo]

If anyone can really predict a slow time of the year at DLR we're all listening.

Just a few years ago people categorized peak times and slow times through out the year.
Even in the traditional slower times of the year the parks are seeing more people each day.
With the popularity of DLR, there are peak and non-peak times now.

Enjoy the walk-on rides when they happen, it isn't as often now. But there will be times with walk-on lines.

As far as enjoying your trip...... Only you have the ability to make it what it is.

Geemo

 

[torchlight]

Those dates are exactly over Solar Power International, which is at the convention center right near by. There are thousands and thousands that attend this conference so I'd absolutely imagine this could be taking up a lot of the offsite hotels during that week.

 

[luvthiscrzylife]

Hmm- you refuse to deal with crowds and waits? It's Disneyland, if the rides are walk on you've had a pixie dusted day these days! With the others I don't see you facing "peak crowds" at that time of year though. Early in the morning is always best. Utilize the FP system.

Maybe I should have worded differently. I am aware no matter what time of year, there will be crowds and waits. What I meant was we won't deal with large crowds and long waits. We were very lucky to have had the experience we did two years ago, and maybe I'm being a little naive, but was truly hoping for the same. I am mainly concerned that it will be like going during a weekend in the summer.

 

[luvthiscrzylife]

Those dates are exactly over Solar Power International, which is at the convention center right near by. There are thousands and thousands that attend this conference so I'd absolutely imagine this could be taking up a lot of the offsite hotels during that week.

That's what I was thinking. Maybe we'll get lucky and they won't be interested in visiting the parks. Wishful thinking probably!

 

[torchlight]

That's what I was thinking. Maybe we'll get lucky and they won't be interested in visiting the parks. Wishful thinking probably!

I wouldn't worry. During the day everyone will be at the conference and during the night, it's all vendor events and meetings and dinners. Wednesday night there's an SPI block party at California Adventure so it may be a good idea to visit Disneyland proper on that night. I'm sure the parks will see some traffic from conference goers, but I doubt it will amount to much, especially during what is historically a pretty slow week. Maybe some will be doing like I am - attending the conference during the week and then having the family fly out and meet me for a weekend at Disneyland!

 

[luvthiscrzylife]

I wouldn't worry. During the day everyone will be at the conference and during the night, it's all vendor events and meetings and dinners. Wednesday night there's an SPI block party at California Adventure so it may be a good idea to visit Disneyland proper on that night. I'm sure the parks will see some traffic from conference goers, but I doubt it will amount to much, especially during what is historically a pretty slow week. Maybe some will be doing like I am - attending the conference during the week and then having the family fly out and meet me for a weekend at Disneyland!

Thanks for the info, makes me feel a bit better!

 

[Geemo]

Maybe I should have worded differently. I am aware no matter what time of year, there will be crowds and waits. What I meant was we won't deal with large crowds and long waits. We were very lucky to have had the experience we did two years ago, and maybe I'm being a little naive, but was truly hoping for the same. I am mainly concerned that it will be like going during a weekend in the summer.

Good to clarify....
I'm right there with you when it comes to Large Crowds and Long Waits! My definition of a long wait is 30 minutes.

Your dates Sept 13 thru the 16 are the perfect days to go.
My first choice booking a trip is Sunday to Thursday. Sunday will be busy, after all it is a weekend day. We'd be there when the gates open and go on rides while the wait times are reasonable. On Sunday I like to get in all the entertainment that is not schedule on the weekdays I'm there.

For the most part (during the time you're going) weekdays will be nice. I would be SHOCKED if you experience a weekday that is like a weekend in summer. I don't even think you'll experience a weekday that is like a weekend day in September.

Starting a trip on a Sunday, ends the trip on a nice note of a comfortable weekday. I can't remember a trip where any weekdays were ever busier than a weekend. We've gone in January, February, March, September and October.

Enjoy your time in the parks.

Geemo

 

[kaoden39]

Also something that didn't make a lot of the lists is that the California Reublican Convention is in Anaheim that week too.