When Will it Be Busy at Disneyland - 2009 Edition

[whamo]

The birthday promotion ends January 1st. That should cut attendance. First, no discount for AP members who renew on that day. Second, no free entrance for the once-a-year birthday guests. Third, fewer people will piggyback the birthday bonus into pay-by-the-month annual pass plans. This should improve the park atmosphere and raise Disneyland revenues at the same time.

[Darkbeer]

But the "Free" admission for a day's worth of volunteering will start on January 1st, 2010.

[Kasey]

Originally Posted by Darkbeer

But the "Free" admission for a day's worth of volunteering will start on January 1st, 2010.

True, but Disney isn't attaching monetary value to that ticket and it can't be used toward an AP.

[DreamsTFVolunteer]

From the one day that I was at Disney (Oct. 21) the Birthday promotion must have been very popular. There were tons of people with "Happy Birthday" pins on.

I think the "Give a day, get a Disney day" won't be utilized so much (after all, everyone has a birthday, but not everyone volunteers). If you visit the Disney website, you can only volunteer with participating agencies, and as a foreigner (Canadian) I'm betting there will only be US agencies on the list. Won't know until January if the "give a day" thing is as popular.


<<EDIT>> Found the Terms and Conditions. Canadians are eligible, but no other countries. I will post the terms here for anyone who's interested:
Program Terms & Conditions

• Receive free admission* to one of the theme parks of the Walt Disney World® Resort or Disneyland® Resort when you sign up and complete a day of volunteer service with a participating organization.
• You must sign up for eligible volunteer opportunities for the “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” program through this site. Participation in volunteer activities outside of this sign up process does not qualify for a free ticket.
• Ticket quantities for this program are limited.
• One ticket per person, regardless of the number or hours of volunteer service completed.
• The program begins January 1, 2010 and continues until tickets are distributed or December 15, 2010, whichever occurs first.
• Eligible volunteer opportunities are located in the United States, including Puerto Rico, or Canada only and you must have a residence in the United States, Puerto Rico or Canada to sign up.
• You must be at least 18 years of age to sign up, and you may sign-up up to a maximum of 8 additional members of your same household. Children must be at least 6 years of age to volunteer under this program and receive a theme park ticket. Children ages 6-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when volunteering. Other age restrictions may apply to certain eligible volunteer opportunities.
• Volunteer opportunities are posted a limited time in advance of the date of opportunity.
• Volunteer service must be verified.
• Once verified, you will receive an email with instructions on how to print a voucher to redeem for the free theme park ticket. Please print the voucher and present it at the designated will call ticket window at Walt Disney World® Resort or a ticket booth at the Disneyland® Resort, along with valid photo ID, to redeem for your free 1-day, 1-theme park ticket. Valid ID is one of the following: valid Government Issued Passport, valid Driver’s License including a photo, or valid Government Issued Photo ID. For children under 18 who do not have any of the previous listed IDs, a copy of a Birth Certificate is acceptable. School IDs or children security IDs are not deemed government-issued photo IDs and will not be accepted.
• The theme park tickets distributed under this Program will not be valid for use on the following dates:
  • For Walt Disney World® Resort: March 29 - April 8 and July 4, 2010
  • For Disneyland® Resort: February 13-14, March 21, June 21-22, July 4, November 21, and December 11-12, 2010.
• Tickets are non-transferable.
• If you are an Annual Passholder or a multi-day ticket holder, you may choose from one of three options instead of receiving the free 1-day, 1-park ticket. No cash refunds or credits will be provided. See the FAQs for full details.
• Vouchers must be redeemed for tickets or Passholder and multi-day ticket holder options, as applicable, by December 15, 2010. Theme park ticket must be used by December 15, 2010.
• The program’s eligible volunteer opportunities are made available solely by or through HandsOn Network (“HON”), Points of Light Institute and their affiliates. Disney is not affiliated with HandsOn Network, the Points of Light Institute or any of the volunteer opportunities available under this program, and shall not be liable for any damages, injuries, losses, claims or expenses of any kind resulting from the volunteer opportunitiesor any activities related thereto.
• Subject to these terms and conditions, tickets may be obtained under this program by (1) signing up for an eligible volunteer opportunity in 2010 at a participating organization from this site and completing such volunteer service, or (2) signing up with HON, with Southwest Airlines or though the Disney VoluntEARS program to participate in a volunteer activity that is later designated by Disney as a volunteer activity conducted in conjunction with the “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” Launch or Tour and actually participating in and completing such activity, or (3) receiving and accepting an invitation from HON to participate in a volunteer activity that is later designated by Disney as a volunteer activity conducted in conjunction with the “Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.” Launch or Tour and actually participating in and completing such activity.
• These Program Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice.

[whamo]

I think Disney's new promotion is a great idea. It will get people jump-started into volunteering. Once people try it, they might like it, and continue the good work. It will also give the unemployed a chance to go to Disneyland. It's possibly the best idea to come out of Disney for decades.

[whamo]

Will Disneyland into a sardine can on Sunday? 10,000 gamers at the Convention Center, Disney closes off portions of the park to film its Christmas special, people will flock to see the fireworks, and the weather should be perfect. If it wasn't my birthday, if it wasn't for my reservations at the CCINN, and plans for a family reunion I'd bail. Monday should be good, in any event.

[Dan-H]

Any guesses if Saturday evening 11/14 or Sunday evening 11/15 be more crowded? Do the crowds on sunday stay late all the way to midnight, or do they die off at some point.

[Disney Liz]

Just curious as to how awful the crowds will be the first week of December? I am trying to get in a couple of days since I haven't been to the park in like two years (MADNESS!!!) plus I miss seeing the cool Christmas decor. Is this a super bad time to go or not that bad? Thanks to anyone who can help.

[lizzie89]

Is the month of November busy at all? I know they don't really go all out for Thanksgiving, but for xmas obviously they do. I went twice in October because of the MASSIVE crowds. Once literally my bf and I went in walked around to find something too eat, didnt even eat and just ended up leaving because of the massive crowd. Now I'm wondering is it going to be this bad in December also? From all the years I have gone to Disneyland during October it had never been that bad.

[Radiobarry]

Originally Posted by Disney Liz

Just curious as to how awful the crowds will be the first week of December? I am trying to get in a couple of days since I haven't been to the park in like two years (MADNESS!!!) plus I miss seeing the cool Christmas decor. Is this a super bad time to go or not that bad? Thanks to anyone who can help.

Probably not as bad as the Thanksgiving weekend or later on in the month of December.

Might want to look at Mon-Thursday if at all possible - Friday evenings especially can be bad when the local AP's descend. And the Candlelight Processional I believe is the first two weekends of December - if you can go during the week, it's shouldn't be quite so bad.

[Rex Dopey24]

i wonder if the parks are busy today.

[whamo]

Dopey,

The park was busy Sunday, but not too bad. I got there late, and had to wait an hour in the ticket line to renew my AP. The ride lines looked really long at about three, but after the "Princess and the Frog" show, the Parade/Dance Party on Main Street, and night fell the crowd thinned out. We walked on the Buzz Lightyear and Star Tour rides before getting a seat at the Plaza Inn for the fantastic fireworks.

[Cadensmama07]

Originally Posted by campgeek

DLR has set their "busy" hours up for that day.
I'm flying down from Seattle and will be there no matter what.

Personally, I'm hoping it will be slower in the morning and then pick up in the afternoon. Because a lot of businesses I don't think will be honoring Veteran's day on Wednesday and because the kids only get one day off in the middle of the week, I'm thinking that kids will want to sleep in, and that parents won't take their kids until later in the day.

Also, the SoCal Select pass has Veteran's Day as a black out day.
So...
*Fingers crossed*

I will be there to all day. Its my sons 2nd birthday that day. I want to make the most of it for him. I know he will have a blast. I have never been on Veterans Day before either... so we shall see.

[Disney Liz]

Originally Posted by Radiobarry

Probably not as bad as the Thanksgiving weekend or later on in the month of December.

Might want to look at Mon-Thursday if at all possible - Friday evenings especially can be bad when the local AP's descend. And the Candlelight Processional I believe is the first two weekends of December - if you can go during the week, it's shouldn't be quite so bad.

Thanks so much.
Even if it was busy, I'd still be a happy camper but I am trying to shoot for all weekdays so it won't be mega uncomfortably crowded.

I was thinking I might just wait until later in the year but I would love to see Christmas decor again.
Thanks again Radiobarry.

[CMHusband]

Originally Posted by lizzie89

Is the month of November busy at all? I know they don't really go all out for Thanksgiving, but for xmas obviously they do. I went twice in October because of the MASSIVE crowds. Once literally my bf and I went in walked around to find something too eat, didnt even eat and just ended up leaving because of the massive crowd. Now I'm wondering is it going to be this bad in December also? From all the years I have gone to Disneyland during October it had never been that bad.

its been great since Nov 1. Almost no one around...I was there today. it was really mellow...it will end as soon as Christmas "officially" kicks off. (my opinion) Get over there this week if you are close enough.