Wow...why has it been so busy?!

[SMD]

I use to love going to M&F but now that Disney makes you park so far away, I've started to go to Toy Story and it's so much easier. M&F is a nightmare in comparison.

Well, I've had to park in the overflow area and the CM lot and walk over to the Jessie/Buzz stop, so when that happens I'd rather be in a far corner of M&F, distance wise.

 

[tarheelalum]

What do you mean by Disney makes you park so far away? It's a parking garage.

A couple of years ago if you got to MF early you could park in the parking lot in front of the garage close to the tram. That was much closer than parking in the garage a third of the way down from the front corner if you don't pay the 40 dollar premium (rip off) parking rate.

 

[SMD]

A couple of years ago if you got to MF early you could park in the parking lot in front of the garage close to the tram. That was much closer than parking in the garage a third of the way down from the front corner if you don't pay the 40 dollar premium (rip off) parking rate.

Not necessarily. They sometimes filled 2 different sections of the same level at the same time. M&F isn't that big, even if it feels like a trek at the end of the long day.

 

[tarheelalum]

Not necessarily. They sometimes filled 2 different sections of the same level at the same time. M&F isn't that big, even if it feels like a trek at the end of the long day.

Every time I went I asked for it and they gave me the parking lot. I usually had my dog with me so maybe that was the difference. But I never had to go to the deck.

 

[minnieralyks]

While you're right about fireworks not being every night - WOC has been every night so I think it's fair to understand the disappointment that no fireworks, no fantasmic AND no WOC were available during the week.

Interesting! I didn't realize that. Has it been nightly for several years or just last year? We've only seen WOC once a few years ago, so haven't followed the scheduling.

I do understand the disappointment, which is unfortunate because Disneyland is such a special place that no one should come away disappointed.

 

[cruisehopeful]

After what I thought was careful planning, we went Tuesday Feb 28 and Thur March 2. It was packed. It was ridiculous. I took a pic of the wait times on Thursday and they were:
Big Thunder 30
Buzz 25
Haunted 40
Space 90
Indiana Jones 55
Splash 70
Star Tours 50
Small World 20
Alice 30
Jungle 30
Peter Pan 50
This was at 3:45 in the afternoon!
The worst part was there was NO nighttime shows. And no, the Electrical Parade does not count. To have Fireworks, Fantasmic and World of Color all down at the same time is just awful. People save their whole lives to come to Disneyland, and to not have one night time show on, that is just cruel. Better timing needed to make sure that doesn't happen to people.

I actually wouldn't consider those wait time longer than normal. I don't know if I only visit on busy days, but those look pretty standard to me.

 

[Whistlebee]

We were there Tues thru Friday last week. I think having so many rides closed added to the long lines. I also just think it depends on where you are at a certain time. I felt Thursday was the busiest day but I'm pretty sure it's just because I was in Adventure/NOS/Frontier land area at the wrong time (afternoon). I really think attendance was about the same all week but sometimes we were "ahead" of the crowds and sometimes we were "in" the crowds. I'm guessing Friday afternoon got busier but we left around 1 and found the morning very manageable. The ride lines didn't bother me too much because they were fairly manageable but the lines for food and shopping drive me crazy!

 

[SMD]

I actually wouldn't consider those wait time longer than normal. I don't know if I only visit on busy days, but those look pretty standard to me.

No, those are pretty standard. Space seems a little high and Alice seems a little low.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Did the OP not mention DW?

The OP specifically mentioned "DW" (see quote below) and then commented about 2008 experiences that inferred they were DLR related.

My apologies! I saw the thread "Discussion in 'Disneyland (California)" so I thought the OP was saying that crowds were crazy at DL.

Hmmmm.... general reasons for crowding at WDW - Mardi Gras, school break, DVC-ers.... you know, the usual!

 

[twitch]

My apologies! I saw the thread "Discussion in 'Disneyland (California)" so I thought the OP was saying that crowds were crazy at DL.

Hmmmm.... general reasons for crowding at WDW - Mardi Gras, school break, DVC-ers.... you know, the usual!

No apology needed, but you might go back and read the OP again. They were saying that the "crowds were crazy at DL."

The OP is making a comparison between recent DL crowds and prior low-crowd experiences in WDW. They suggested that they might have been spoiled by low crowd levels at WDW, and were surprised at the high crowd levels in DL. Someone later questioned when they had experienced low crowds at WDW.

Since a comparison was being made, both DL and WDW have been discussed.

Confusing, I know.

 

[Albort]

The cheerleading nationals competitions are happening during the weekend at the Anaheim convention center...I would have to say from experience that the biggest weekend is definitely March 24-26 because they have high school AND college teams all over the country and locally coming in. That competition gets beyond packed! Many teams and families, especially those out of state, even fly in a week early or so for sightseeing & Disney. However, there's also a competition the week before (18-19) so watch out for that. Dining can also be impacted around the area, including Anaheim Garden Walk.

you been warned! :]

 

[mom2rtk]

No apology needed, but you might go back and read the OP again. They were saying they "crowds were crazy at DL."

The OP is making a comparison between recent DL crowds and prior low-crowd experiences in WDW. They suggested that they might have been spoiled by low crowd levels at WDW, and were surprised at the high crowd levels in DL. Someone later questioned when they had experienced low crowds at WDW.

Since a comparison was being made, both DL and WDW have been discussed.

Confusing, I know.

That's exactly how I read it.

 

[Kender]

Every time I went I asked for it and they gave me the parking lot. I usually had my dog with me so maybe that was the difference. But I never had to go to the deck.

I tried this trick (getting that parking lot) with my cat because of trauma she and I had the first time I tried the kennels. Parking CMs that day were not into giving me the less traumatic (no elevator; no nosy people who don't get that shoving your face at an animal you don't know while waiting for the elevator is not okay) experience, though.

 

[tarheelalum]

I tried this trick (getting that parking lot) with my cat because of trauma she and I had the first time I tried the kennels. Parking CMs that day were not into giving me the less traumatic (no elevator; no nosy people who don't get that shoving your face at an animal you don't know while waiting for the elevator is not okay) experience, though.

With my big boxer they always gave it to us. But I made sure to get there early. Back then they always filled up the lot before the deck. Nowadays forget about it. MF stinks. Toy story lot is the only way to go.

 

[Kender]

With my big boxer they always gave it to us. But I made sure to get there early. Back then they always filled up the lot before the deck. Nowadays forget about it. MF stinks. Toy story lot is the only way to go.

I was there early and they still said no . Was definitely not filled yet. On the plus, Disney customer service listened to my concerns regarding our (the cat and myself) experience just trying to get to the kennel. Not getting the parking lot was by far the least troublesome, least traumatic part of two days trying the kennels.

I live for the Toy Story lot. I hate M&F and was only there because they told me that's where I had to park since I was using the kennels. But they also told me I had to use the tram (they said I couldn't walk). Total load of BS about both.

If I put Riley up in the kennels again, definitely sticking with Toy Story and just walking. It's so much easier.

 

[SMD]

I was there early and they still said no . Was definitely not filled yet. On the plus, Disney customer service listened to my concerns regarding our (the cat and myself) experience just trying to get to the kennel. Not getting the parking lot was by far the least troublesome, least traumatic part of two days trying the kennels.

I live for the Toy Story lot. I hate M&F and was only there because they told me that's where I had to park since I was using the kennels. But they also told me I had to use the tram (they said I couldn't walk). Total load of BS about both.

If I put Riley up in the kennels again, definitely sticking with Toy Story and just walking. It's so much easier.

You probably could have walked from M&F before the new security. Pets aren't allowed in DTD, but if you stay on the path all the way to the tram loading area I think they wouldn't stop anyone, especially a cat in a carrier. My guess is they discouraged it because someone could walk into DTD from parts of that path and then they'd have to police it. But with the new security, I doubt they'd let a pet, even in a carrier through to pass through DTD. I've walked to TS when the bus lines were long and if you're ok with that walk, I'd just do that. Or, if someone else is driving you could always be dropped off at the drop off area on the Harbor side and start checking in at the kennel while they park. Even if you walk back at the end of the night, that cuts the walk with the carrier in half.

 

[Kender]

You probably could have walked from M&F before the new security. Pets aren't allowed in DTD, but if you stay on the path all the way to the tram loading area I think they wouldn't stop anyone, especially a cat in a carrier. My guess is they discouraged it because someone could walk into DTD from parts of that path and then they'd have to police it. But with the new security, I doubt they'd let a pet, even in a carrier through to pass through DTD. I've walked to TS when the bus lines were long and if you're ok with that walk, I'd just do that. Or, if someone else is driving you could always be dropped off at the drop off area on the Harbor side and start checking in at the kennel while they park. Even if you walk back at the end of the night, that cuts the walk with the carrier in half.

No, what they told me was you can't walk from M&F period. The CMs I spoke to said the path was closed. It had nothing to do with the cat. I ended up doing the walk after figuring out it wasn't closed.

You are allowed to go through any of the security tents into DTD with a pet if you are heading straight for the kennel. I confirmed this before I went. As long as you are walking straight through to the kennels, they don't care. Part of the issue I ran into was a security person claiming cats were not boarded in the kennel at all (not that I couldn't walk through DTD). And then she tried to claim it was a recent change to cover that she had made a mistake, but they've always boarded cats. I was not happy and deeply concerned by the lack of knowledge and the blatant lie to cover said lack of knowledge.

Disney actually sent me a gift card because of the trouble (it was more than just an ignorant security lead). I didn't ask for compensation so I was surprised to get it. I just wanted security to be better trained and CMs to be better informed.

I already plan to just use my favorite lot as I noted. The walk is not bad at all and I've done it several times before. I don't bring Riley a lot, but it's nice to have the option when stopping for a couple hours on the way home so someone doesn't have to stay with her in the car . Usually she just hangs out in the hotel.

 

[tarheelalum]

I doubt they'd let a pet, even in a carrier through to pass through DTD.

Yes they do.

 

[MAJPLO]

Actually, I would have to say those are pretty average and decent wait times for the afternoon. If those are the wait times during our trip in a week, I would be pretty happy. Also, they normally don't have shows during the weekdays. Those have always been restricted to the weekends, besides last year (the diamond celebration).

Sorry that you didn't have such a good time Hopefully you'll be able to make it back when all the nighttime shows (Fantasmic) are opened, which I believe is happening later this year.

I'm sorry but those wait times are neither "average" or "decent". At least not on a Tuesday/Thursday at the end of February. To say that you would be happy to have those wait times when you're there seems overboard to me!

 

[mamapenguin]

Did the OP not mention DW?

DID
And there are lines for days. Going in 22 days, and not looking forward to it. The trip yes, because it's with family but I prefer DL. We will spend more time at Universal Orlando. Every park is crowded these days, you just have to make the most of it.