When Will it Be Busy at Disneyland - 2009 Edition

[whamo]

AidensDaddy, You've got to consider that a lot of people get annual passes, so the more times they attend, the lower the cost per visit. I go to the park 12 times a year nowadays for about $300, including parking (SWAG). That's not bad. Plus, inflation is out of control, everywhere. Heck, we used to think $12 for a book of tickets into Disneyland was outrageous in the 50's.

[AidensDaddy]

Good point. Yeah I'd say a good percentage of the crowds are AP's. It still boggles me that despite how expensive it is, and the many people that complain about prices or being too crowded, people still go.

[TypeSJess]

I have a question..my family wants to go for a trip in Sept., possibly during the Halloweentime. The only problem is, we dont really want to go when the Haunted Mansion is set up for HMH. My wife and I have gone during Halloweentime for the last 2 years and my wife has never even seen the HM in normal mode. I know that Sept 26 is when HMH starts but when do they shut it down to prepare for HMH? Does anyone know how long it takes for them to put it together? If we were to go in the beginning of the month, would it be the normal HM?

[whamo]

Type, If you look around miceage and mouseplanet, you should be able to find the schedules for when HM is up/down.
I'm facing a dilemma, this morning. We're supposed to be off to DL, but a major storm hits today: 1-3 inches of rain, high wind, and 48 degrees, all day. Should we stay or should we go?

[bstone76]

Go, it will be empty if indeed it rains. I'll be in DL Tues - Thurs and I'm hoping for a little bad weather and light crowds.

[Mom2twogirls]

I need some help with deciding on when to go. I am looking at either May 13-16th or May 27th-30th. I am trying to find a time to go between everyone in our family's schedule and it is becoming very difficult this year I am trying to stay away from March because of Spring Break and April because of Easter, but want to go when the crowds are manageable.

Please help everyone All opinions are very much appreciated! Thanks!

[AidensDaddy]

Originally Posted by TypeSJess

I have a question..my family wants to go for a trip in Sept., possibly during the Halloweentime. The only problem is, we dont really want to go when the Haunted Mansion is set up for HMH. My wife and I have gone during Halloweentime for the last 2 years and my wife has never even seen the HM in normal mode. I know that Sept 26 is when HMH starts but when do they shut it down to prepare for HMH? Does anyone know how long it takes for them to put it together? If we were to go in the beginning of the month, would it be the normal HM?

The Summer season for Disneyland officially ends on Labor Day. After that, it's off seaon until Thanksgiving weekend. From here, till about the end of the month which can vary, HM goes down for the overlay. Like the previous post said, check the boards.......BUT....it sounds like you may be trying to plan now and set it in stone. With the economy as it is now, and being tax season, that's completely understandable. The September schedule won't come out till around July or August. Their are two major factors to remember here. You can't do it around Halloween time because they have it setup for the HMH. There is no way around that. The other is, on 9/09/09, they are celebrating HM's 40th anniversary. I may be off on the number of years, but that is the date they're having the private party for it, and that is a Wednesday and two days after Labor day. I just called the live info line for the park, and they stated that the ride will go down most likely after that event. It traditionally goes down after Labor day, and re opens at the beginning of October for Halloween. Your best bet would probably be to go with your plans if you want to do the trick or treat thing, and plan for another day during a different season to try see HM in normal mode. Or plan your trip a little earlier, like end of August, or around Labor Day weekend, but expect large crowds with the holiday.

Originally Posted by whamo

Type, If you look around miceage and mouseplanet, you should be able to find the schedules for when HM is up/down.
I'm facing a dilemma, this morning. We're supposed to be off to DL, but a major storm hits today: 1-3 inches of rain, high wind, and 48 degrees, all day. Should we stay or should we go?

With people knowing it's going to rain, today being a holiday, people will go despite the rain expecting small crowds, mainly being passholders. So expect moderate crowds today.

Originally Posted by Mom2twogirls

I need some help with deciding on when to go. I am looking at either May 13-16th or May 27th-30th. I am trying to find a time to go between everyone in our family's schedule and it is becoming very difficult this year I am trying to stay away from March because of Spring Break and April because of Easter, but want to go when the crowds are manageable.

Please help everyone All opinions are very much appreciated! Thanks!

Ok, May 30th is the Gumball rally here on Micechat, but fortunately it is not Memorial Day weekend, that is on May 25th. But Memorial Day weekend is generally when the Summer season kicks off for Disney, but not full swing. Another factor that comes to mind, from sometime in May thru sometime in June, Disney also has weekly Grad Nites in the middle of the week, so general operating hours are limited. Pretty much, the slowest times at Disney are January and February, right after the Christmas holidays. It starts increasing usually in March or April with Spring Break.

[MAH4546]

Disneyland was pretty empty yesterday (Feb 15th); DCA was fairly crowded.

It was a great day - it didn't rain like it was supposed to and the lines were typically short (except Peter Pan, but isn't that always assumed?). There was even plenty of elbow room during the Fireworks.

[AidensDaddy]

Originally Posted by MAH4546

Disneyland was pretty empty yesterday (Feb 15th); DCA was fairly crowded.

It was a great day - it didn't rain like it was supposed to and the lines were typically short (except Peter Pan, but isn't that always assumed?). There was even plenty of elbow room during the Fireworks.

It was regular crowd for a Sunday, yesterday. By the time we (all of us mice chatters) finished lunch, the fast pass return time was after 8pm. And firework turnout might have been low possibly because people may not have been aware there would be any. Right now, they only run them on holiday weekends. But the fireworks will be showing every Sunday in March with the exception of March 1st.

[MAH4546]

Originally Posted by AidensDaddy

It was regular crowd for a Sunday, yesterday.

Yes, but far from a regular crowd for a busy holiday weekend. I think the expected heavy rain made many move their plans back to next week.

[AidensDaddy]

Small World had their line cross the parade route into their extended queue where the character greets sometimes are. They usually use that area for the Small World Holiday lines.

[Nelson]

my family is going down to Disneyland Feb 27 - March 14. one week at disneyland and one week in San Diego does anyone know what the crowds will be like during this time?

[AidensDaddy]

Originally Posted by Nelson

my family is going down to Disneyland Feb 27 - March 14. one week at disneyland and one week in San Diego does anyone know what the crowds will be like during this time?

According to the first page and entry of this thread, nothing too big scheduled at the convention center across the street. So it should be light to moderate crowds. Light being Monday thru Thursday, moderate Fri - Sun. During the week, you may experience rides having probably 30 minutes at most for the most popular like Space Mountain, maybe even Peter Pan's Flight, but the majority of them should be either walk on, or like 5 or 10 minute wait. The weekends during the moderate crowd, shouldn't be too bad, weather permitting. You may get 45 minutes or an hour on the most popular ones. This will be the best times to take advantage of FastPass especially for rides like Space Mountain, Soarin Over California, California Screamin, and Splash Mountain. Unfortunately, Toy Story Mania does not have FastPass and the line can get pretty long during the day. So have that as one of your "first" rides. As far as entertainment schedules off the top of my head, I know there are no parades at Disneyland. DCA has the Pixar Parade and the High School Music one, there will not be any fireworks on Sunday 3/1. Fantasmic shows twice on the weekends or when the park is open from 10 or later. Disneyland is open from 10 to 8pm during Monday thru Thursday, Weekend hours can vary. DCA is open from 10 - 6 pm Mon - Thurs. Fantasmic does show during the week, usually at 7:30 and the park closes at 8pm.

If you have a cellphone with nationwide long distance, or unlimited long distance on your landline, you can always call the Disneyland Resort at 714-781-4565 for 24 hour automated information, or 714-781-7290 for live information between 7am and 6pm, 7 days a week. Or just visit disneyland.com to view their schedule for information like hours, ride closures, and entertainment information. Also, go to weather.com for 10 day forcasts so you can stay up to date on local weather information for the Anaheim and San Diego area for your trip down here. Enjoy your trip and have fun!

[Nelson]

thank you so much for the reply, we leave in a 11 days and all of us are quite excited. I am just glad to be going somewhere that is warmer than -30 degree C

thank you again

[AidensDaddy]

Originally Posted by Nelson

thank you so much for the reply, we leave in a 11 days and all of us are quite excited. I am just glad to be going somewhere that is warmer than -30 degree C

thank you again

You're very welcome. I just hope that the weather here will be pleasant for your visit. We've had quite a lot of rain over the last few weeks after a very significant dry spell (oh of about 1 to 2 years!) and it's also been quite cold.

And within those last few weeks, it will be dry for like a day or two, and then we would get a couple of storms back to back to back. Fortunately for this week, it appears to be dry and sunny all the way thru the weekend.