Worried about going June 28-July 2

[barrance]

I've planned a family trip to Disneyland for June 28th through July 2nd. There will be 5 of us total including myself, my wife, a 16yo, 2yo, and 1yo. I chose these particular dates because I figured a Sunday through Wednesday would be relatively light on attendance considering it's the summer and that I'd be leaving before the 4th weekend, but I'm a little worried now after reading some reports about the super busy crowds.

Our plan is to drive down from Northern CA on Sunday morning, check in to the hotel, and then maybe head into the park in the late afternoon to catch a parade and a few rides. We would then go full days on Monday and Tuesday. We have a Magic Morning available, but we probably won't use it since my wife doesn't like waking up the kids early out of their schedules. We were planning to do some other things in SoCal on Wednesday.

Should I be concerned about the crowds being super packed at the parks for these dates? I realize that it is summer, so I'm not expecting them to be empty, but at the same time, I wouldn't want it to be so crowded that we spend half our time fighting through crowds and waiting in line. It would certainly take out some of the enjoyment of the park, especially for the little ones.

Worst comes to worst, I could reschedule, but I would really rather not. Should I skip Monday and go to the park Tuesday/Wednesday instead? Or cancel the other SoCal activities and just do a more relaxed Mon/Tues/Wed at the park? I'm I worrying too much? Any advice appreciated.

 

[Mugglemama]

my response would be to say it's going to be quite crowded...after all, it is summertime and all traditional-calendar schools are going to be out by then.

it's commonly stated on the disboards that weekdays are less crowded than weekends, but i wouldn't go to DLR on a weekend if my life depended on it, so i don't know the degree of difference, myself.

the last time we went was a monday and tuesday, the last 2 days of september (last year) and it was a lot more crowded than i had expected (or hoped) it would be.

my advice would be to be willing to be IN line at least a half hour before opening each day. that gives you those couple of slow(er) hours in the morning to run around and get a lot done. by 10am, things will be getting busier, so make sure you've picked up your FP's by then. (read HydroGuy's tips, or consider using RideMax).

good luck, hope your family has a great time!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Early is the trick for the parks for the summer. I would not worry about when you are going because it is what it is. We have to completely jerk our schedules around to make best use of the time.

Jack

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Welcome to the Dis.

We will also be there and I am going with Jack on this one. Be there for Rope Drop. I follow this rule at WDW and it works. For the first few hours the rest of the guests are sleeping or just getting going. Get into the park and get on the rides you want to be on the most and also collect fast passes.

That is our plan and have a fun vacation.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Welcome!

Again, like the others, I can't stress enough the importance of getting to the park before the gates open. Really, don't worry about schedules. The mornings are the best times to get on rides at the parks. By lunch it gets crowded and the lines are longer. It would be better to go early, then leave in the afternoon for awhile than it would to sleep in and arrive late. I assume you will have a stroller for the little ones, they can sleep while you walk around the parks and you can take turns watching them while the other parent rides the bigger things with the 16 year old. I just hate for you to miss out on some good uncrowded park time!

 

[disneydreamer74]

Since it is the summer season there will be lots of crowds, but from what I have read, AP holders will be blacked out for a bit here soon. Many locals and AP holders were rushing to see the Nightastic! spectaculars. I heard it was MAD crowded this week. It should thin down a little I should think!

 

[teatime]

I've planned a family trip to Disneyland for June 28th through July 2nd. There will be 5 of us total including myself, my wife, a 16yo, 2yo, and 1yo. I chose these particular dates because I figured a Sunday through Wednesday would be relatively light on attendance considering it's the summer and that I'd be leaving before the 4th weekend, but I'm a little worried now after reading some reports about the super busy crowds.

Our plan is to drive down from Northern CA on Sunday morning, check in to the hotel, and then maybe head into the park in the late afternoon to catch a parade and a few rides. We would then go full days on Monday and Tuesday. We have a Magic Morning available, but we probably won't use it since my wife doesn't like waking up the kids early out of their schedules. We were planning to do some other things in SoCal on Wednesday.

Should I be concerned about the crowds being super packed at the parks for these dates? I realize that it is summer, so I'm not expecting them to be empty, but at the same time, I wouldn't want it to be so crowded that we spend half our time fighting through crowds and waiting in line. It would certainly take out some of the enjoyment of the park, especially for the little ones.

Worst comes to worst, I could reschedule, but I would really rather not. Should I skip Monday and go to the park Tuesday/Wednesday instead? Or cancel the other SoCal activities and just do a more relaxed Mon/Tues/Wed at the park? I'm I worrying too much? Any advice appreciated.

Im with everyone else here, it is what it is. and I would also agree to get them kids up early and into the park with early morning ! you can get fantasyland done in that hour and thats a plus. you can also use the 16 year old as a runner to get fast passes You can always go to bed real early on Monday and get into the park with the early morning ticket and have a ball before the parks get packed.

 

[PinkBudgie]

My friend, who has been there this week said Sun-Tues was nuts, but Wed (today) was much better. She just called me from the Grapevine on the way home.

 

[barrance]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think that getting there at opening is the best option, so we'll see what happens with the kids. I remember going to DL for a day in August a few years ago and I don't recall it being that bad.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Believe it or not, in my experience the last few years as a non AP park attendee, Saturdays are way less crowded than Sundays. The reason is that all APs except for PAPs are blocked out on most Saturdays, especially during Summer and Xmas. If I were you, I wouldn't completely discount going on Saturday and using MM that day as opposed to Sunday or Tuesday. Otherwise, keep your plans and just make sureto get up early and be there at the front of the gates at least a half hour before the rope drop time. I'm not joking: I saw people getting up and going to the park at 5:30am on MM Sat/Sun and Tues. That is what time they were leaving our hotel and walking from FFI to make it to MM and rope drop. (It's about a 5 minute walk.)I guess they wanted to be first in line. Have fun! You're going to Disneyland!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

My friend, who has been there this week said Sun-Tues was nuts, but Wed (today) was much better. She just called me from the Grapevine on the way home.

Wednesday was much better, but still busy. Just not insanely busy! I was wishing I could have talked DH into staying one more extra day, but that would have been pushing it as we already extended by one extra day due to the madness of the crowds and not being able to do as much as I wanted on the previous days. (It was madness!) Wednesday was a good day! Still busy but good. We got in at 8am and FP Indy 2x, rode Pirates 2x, HM 1x, PP and Mr Toad. When we walked by Indy at around 10am it already had a return time around 2pm, IIRC. Maybe even later. We could've rode more in Fantasyland, but we were too tired to wait in yet another line. Plus I had to get DH a Turkey leg and me a Brownie Funnel cake before leaving. We were to leave at 1pm, but left a little after noon.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think that getting there at opening is the best option, so we'll see what happens with the kids. I remember going to DL for a day in August a few years ago and I don't recall it being that bad.

It seems to be a lot more crowded this year than it has in past years. And it seems like people have been reporting that some of the days that should be less crowded are more crowded and some of the days that you would think would be more crowded have been less crowded. So who knows. Everything seems to be crazy this year regarding the crowds.

And I will chime in with everyone else and say, you must get there when the parks open. You will get on a lot of rides in the first few hours with minimal waits. So even if the afternoon is crazy, you will feel like you got to do a lot in the morning and it will be less stressful for everyone I think.

Have a fun trip!

 

[Sherwin]

It seems to be a lot more crowded this year than it has in past years. And it seems like people have been reporting that some of the days that should be less crowded are more crowded and some of the days that you would think would be more crowded have been less crowded. So who knows. Everything seems to be crazy this year regarding the crowds.

And I will chime in with everyone else and say, you must get there when the parks open. You will get on a lot of rides in the first few hours with minimal waits. So even if the afternoon is crazy, you will feel like you got to do a lot in the morning and it will be less stressful for everyone I think.

Have a fun trip!

Yes, I expect this to be true. Disney's marketing tactics and 3-5 and 4-6 gimmicks and luring in folks wary of recession (that includes all of us).

Yes, sadly it will be busy. I will be going during a busy week, too, when most schools are out and on Father's Day. But I intend to make the best of it by fueling my energy off crowds, planning well, entering the parks early, and when lines get really long, enjoy yourself by sauntering around the park or grab a churro or dole whip and people watch.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

FYI for anyone going the week of June 28 - July 5 -- there will be a rather large international convention of barbershop singers in town that week. The convention usually attracts 10,000+ but this year registrations are down due to the economy. Tuesday, June 30 will be "Barbershop Quartet Day" at Disneyland. If you're in the park, you'll see quartets performing at various places and will probably see several groups of 4 random guys singing anywhere and everywhere. The contests run Wednesday - Saturday so most conventioneers will be attending those at the Honda Center instead of visiting the parks. I doubt this convention will affect DL crowds too much, but you'll probably be aware of them in the parks for the first few days of the week. My husband will be attending most contest sessions while my sister and I hang out with the kids in the parks or at the hotel pool.

 

[PinkBudgie]

FYI for anyone going the week of June 28 - July 5 -- there will be a rather large international convention of barbershop singers in town that week. The convention usually attracts 10,000+ but this year registrations are down due to the economy. Tuesday, June 30 will be "Barbershop Quartet Day" at Disneyland. If you're in the park, you'll see quartets performing at various places and will probably see several groups of 4 random guys singing anywhere and everywhere. The contests run Wednesday - Saturday so most conventioneers will be attending those at the Honda Center instead of visiting the parks. I doubt this convention will affect DL crowds too much, but you'll probably be aware of them in the parks for the first few days of the week. My husband will be attending most contest sessions while my sister and I hang out with the kids in the parks or at the hotel pool.

Well, DH's birthday lands on Barbershop Quartet Day. Add them to the Future Business Leaders convention also there, and what do you get? Sounds like a joke. Should be interesting.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Well, DH's birthday lands on Barbershop Quartet Day. Add them to the Future Business Leaders convention also there, and what do you get? Sounds like a joke. Should be interesting.

Hmmm....I can't even fathom what you get when you cross Barbershop singers with Future Business Leaders! Maybe a bunch of kids frantically negotiating with the barbershoppers to stop singing? You're right - should be interesting! We're planning to take it slow and not get stressed. We'll have 5-day passes so we can spread things out a bit. Haven't been in almost 2 years and I seriously need my Disney fix!

 

[PattiPB]

I'll be there with FBLA (June 22-29) and would pay money---COLD HARD CASH---to see my students singing with Barbershop Quartets!!!

I can't wait to tell the kids about this newly scheduled activity...

 

[PinkBudgie]

Hmmm....I can't even fathom what you get when you cross Barbershop singers with Future Business Leaders! Maybe a bunch of kids frantically negotiating with the barbershoppers to stop singing? You're right - should be interesting! We're planning to take it slow and not get stressed. We'll have 5-day passes so we can spread things out a bit. Haven't been in almost 2 years and I seriously need my Disney fix!

See? I knew someone would have the answer!

Patti- Yes, please tell the students that if they come to DLR they will be required to sing with the barber shop quartets!

Actually, maybe they would be trying to figure out how to charge people to watch them sing!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I'll be there with FBLA (June 22-29) and would pay money---COLD HARD CASH---to see my students singing with Barbershop Quartets!!!

I can't wait to tell the kids about this newly scheduled activity...

Barbershoppers tend to be a very friendly group. They will sing with anyone, anywhere, anytime! The official quartet day is Tuesday, June 30 but I bet you'll see a few guys around a couple of days before that. Just look for convention name badges (they tend to wear them everywhere at conventions). If not, there's always the Dapper Dans who sing several times a day on Main Street. Hope you have fun freaking out your students!