When Will it Be Busy at Disneyland - 2009 Edition

[PandaGirl]

Originally Posted by Woozle

Since its a week after a holiday weekend, i dont think many parents would take their kids out of school. Myself however, dont have a problem taking my kids out of school for Disneyland.

I was thinking of doing the same. My son's b-day is the Sunday after Turkey Day so we were gonna go Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I'll be expecting crowds. I was just there Sunday October the 4th, Monday 5th and Tuesday the 6th and it was busier than I thought it would be.

I think the best thing to do on any day going to Disneyland is get there early and then just plan on waiting about an hour or so if you want a good spot for Fireworks or Fantasmic!

I don't ever have a problem taking my kids out of school to spend some fun family time at Disneyland. Now if only I can get out of work....

[whamo]

If there is a freeway World Series in baseball, Disneyland might get really lonely!

[bacevedo]

We are thinking of going on 11/21, 11/22 and maybe 11/23 for the Christmas decorations. We have Deluxe APs and have never been during the Christmas season. Can you tell me if my thinking is right for how busy it will be.

1) Halloween seemed to be very busy because of Ghost Galaxy being brand new and Haunted Mansion Holiday being the first time of the year you could come see the ride with the overlay. Also, the new fireworks and Fantasmic still being "new" with the new dragon.

2) Sunday's were busier because SoCal APs were blocked on Saturday. Does this also mean the Saturday night shows are less crowded?

3) For Christmas, Haunted Mansion Holiday will have already been out for 2 months, so no rush to go see it by SoCal APs. Space Mountain is back to normal, so no rush there.

We are planning on driving from AZ on Saturday, probably not arriving until late afternoon or early evening. We though we could head to the park and catch the shows on Saturday night, where we are hoping the crowds are less. Even doing the later of the Fantasmic shows, as I hear they are much easier to get a decent seat.

Then on Sunday (my wife's birthday), we would get to the park early and hit the rides with the kids before the crowds and long lines, etc. Then we can spend the rest of the day enjoying the decorations, entertainment, taking pictures, etc. We might even go Monday morning until around noon before we drive back home. Another few hours goes a long way when there aren't crowds.

My only concern would be it's the week before Thanksgiving. Do a lot of people take that whole week off when family comes in and go to Disneyland the weekend before Thanksgiving, or do they go the weekend after. I assume after because my AP is blocked that whole weekend.

So, can you tell me if I am correct in my thinking that the Christmas season doesn't create the mad rush of local residents coming to the parks to see the overlays like Halloween does (at least in November)? We went over the weekend of 10/2 because we were in town already leaving for a cruise, and it was pretty busy. I know that it was the 2nd weekend after Halloween started, and I am hoping that isn't the same case for the 2nd weekend after Christmas started.

Bryan

[BassBone]

Originally Posted by whamo

If there is a freeway World Series in baseball, Disneyland might get really lonely!

But it'll get really busy on the "travel days".

[1Disneylandfan]

[QUOTE=bacevedo;1055613556]We are thinking of going on 11/21, 11/22 and maybe 11/23 for the Christmas decorations. We have Deluxe APs and have never been during the Christmas season. Can you tell me if my thinking is right for how busy it will be.

My only concern would be it's the week before Thanksgiving. Do a lot of people take that whole week off when family comes in and go to Disneyland the weekend before Thanksgiving, or do they go the weekend after. I assume after because my AP is blocked that whole weekend.


I was there 2 years ago during the week upcoming to Thanksgiving and I didn't feel that it was overcrowded. We were there Sunday-Wednesday. The evenings were a bit more people than during the day. I was also there last year during the actual Thanksgiving weekend and it was a bit busy especially at night.

I'll be there this year from Saturday 11/21 through Wednesday 11/25. Can't wait. I plan on getting there when it opens...usually less ppl and then take a couple hour break in afternoon and then come back in late afternoon for more fun and evening shows. I don't want to feel rushed all over the place so hopefully my plan works.

[UtahDisneyDad]

We are going to be there the 26th-30th and are curious how busy it should be. I expect Friday to get busy like I have read about the past couple weeks but am not sure what to expect on the weekdays.

[BassBone]

The parks have been filling to capacity on Wednesdays and Thursdays this month, also.

[disney_wendi]

Originally Posted by UtahDisneyDad

We are going to be there the 26th-30th and are curious how busy it should be. I expect Friday to get busy like I have read about the past couple weeks but am not sure what to expect on the weekdays.

We went that same week last year, and Monday and Tuesday were awesome as far as crowds go. Especially in the morning! The crowds seemed to get bigger as the week progressed, but all in all, not a bad time to go!

[sekwence]

Originally Posted by BassBone

The parks have been filling to capacity on Wednesdays and Thursdays this month, also.

Really? I had only heard it going to capacity on some Fri-Sun days. Do you know which midweek days were at capacity? Probably going next midweek sometime so I'm curious how many times this has happened this month.

[sediment]

Maybe there are bigger crowds in DL during the on "Mickey Treat nights." Come early, get a few attractions in before Mickey Treat starts, etc.

Tonight is likely to be crazy. Probably packed right now.

[fluffatu]

[QUOTE=sediment;1055615772]Maybe there are bigger crowds in DL during the on "Mickey Treat nights." Come early, get a few attractions in before Mickey Treat starts, etc.

A sea of people have been coming to Disneyland once DCA closes for Mickey's Treat. IMO I think that is contributing to even more crowds on weekdays.

I was just there in the rain on Wednesday with an out of town friend who was completely shocked at the crowds. In the past the rain kept people away. Albiet it was not terribly crowded, but certainly not the ghost town that rain brought in the past.

[Minnie Momma]

We just got back after living through it for 1 1/2 hours. 95 degrees, wall to wall people, Space Mt. fast passes had been gone for an hour by the time we got there at 2. Long lines everywhere. Like the busiest summer day.

[sediment]

Originally Posted by Minnie Momma

We just got back after living through it for 1 1/2 hours. 95 degrees, wall to wall people, Space Mt. fast passes had been gone for an hour by the time we got there at 2. Long lines everywhere. Like the busiest summer day.

Hey, I was right, once!!

[krpink]

Any predictions for how it will be tomorrow, October 17th? I'm hoping that since its a blockout day and no Mickey's Trick-or-Treat party that the crowds will not be as bad as they have been the past few days. Any ideas?

[lad143]

Any idea on the week after Thanksgiving? I have found cheap airfare, just wondering about crowds! WDW is usually calm by Sunday after Thanksgiving. IS this true for DL?