Originally Posted By SuperDry iluvdisneyland, Darbeer, and others: what do you attribute the record crowds at DL this year to? The obvious answer is the 50th, but I think that's too simple an answer. I don't think the number of extra people that have showed up at the park since May 5 are all people that just wanted to be part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
Originally Posted By markcanada Wow. All the guide books said that the time b/t Thanksgiving and Xmas is one of the slowest times of the year. Sure seems busy on weekends . . . what's it like during the week? Also crowded? Is it just the 50th, or are crowd patterns changing?
Originally Posted By karlg ^^ Probably a combination of factors including: 1) 50th and the Marketing surrounding it 2) Great new fireworks show 3) New Buzz Lightyear attraction 4) Space Mountain reopening after being shut down for 3 years. 5) The park has been spiffed up after years of neglect. This would include attractions like The Tiki Room. 6) Doing all the above combined with the Holidy overlays that whey had been adding in the years when they where not doing all the above. There was almost a decade of neglect at Disneyland. Maybe they are getting the back to the concept that they have to keep investing in the park to get people to come. Hopefully this is going to spill over into DCA as they need to make is more a lot more attractive (in the attraction and atmosphere sense) to take some of the load off of DL. KarlG
Originally Posted By karlg Opps on number 4) -- It should have read Space Mountain shut down for 2 (not 3 years).
Originally Posted By SuzieQ It's crowded on weekdays, too, now. I'm agreeing with Darkbeer and iluvdisneyland about the crowds from now until Jan. 9th. It will be wall-to-wall.
Originally Posted By queenbee Superdry, I have an annecdotal story that might help to explain the crowds. My friends know I am big Disney fan. They know I take my kids to DLR on a regular basis for about the last 7 years. No one has ever expressed any interest in going...until this year. I was asked to plan a trip for 5 families. I asked them why the sudden interest? They answered it was the flashy 50th commercials. They just didn't realize what all was there (Club Libby Lu, Build-a-bear, ESPN, DCA, DD) and this advertising campaign convinced them to check it out.
Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland Christmas and New Year's holidays are our busiest times of year. Combine that with the 50th anniversary and you've got a nightmare! That and "being a Disneyland fan" is starting to become fashionable again, apparently.
Originally Posted By Elderp "That and "being a Disneyland fan" is starting to become fashionable again, apparently." Does that mean we are going to start sing, "I was Disney, when Disney wasn't cool."
Originally Posted By DIS Ohana "Does that mean we are going to start sing, "I was Disney, when Disney wasn't cool." I didn't know that there was a time that Disneyland wasn't cool. Hmm...I guess that makes me one of the uncool.
Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland Re: Post 30 I never said that it was never cool. What I meant was the younger audience is starting to get more... "into" Disney and Disneyland (i.e. annual passes!).
Originally Posted By debtee There seems to have been a HUGE advertising campaign here in Australia too for Disneyland. Supermarkets, electrical stores, chemists, cinemas, Foxtel pay TV, big department stores AND my electricity bill are just some of the places I have seen competitions where you can win a trip for your family to the DL Resort. Most of these are surrounded by a huge cutout of the castle in all it's glory with Mickey and the gang waving to you. They are quite impressive and I'm sure people are noticing them as there are so many families I know going to DL this year especially our Summer Holidays which starts TODAY! So the influx of Aussie's is just beginning! LOL
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs Wouldn't "students are out for winter break" also be a viable reason why the park is crowded? Ugh... these people should be at home buying trees and presents for the holiday and leave DL nice and vacant so 5BR can experience the park in HolidayVision. At least they'll be LPers there. I need a Churro. Or something else deep-fried.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Students haven't been out for "Winter Break" for weeks and weeks. This is the general public that is turning up in droves.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I know I'm the exception and in another state, but I don't get out for winter break untill the 22nd, and we're back in on the 2nd. Most students really don't have that much time to get to Disneyland, so it willbe extra-super crowded about the week before Christmas through about the 5th or so. I bet that will be a fun time for CM's.
Originally Posted By Beaumandy How busy was DL and DCA on Monday and Tuesday December 12 and 13? I was planning on being there those days but had to reschedule for January.
Originally Posted By jchurch78 I was there the 10th-14th. We were turned away at the gate on Sat at about 7pm. We went to DCA for about an hour and came back and got right in and walked directly to a decent spot for the fireworks. The only time it felt crazy is when we were on Main Street after a parade or the fireworks and we were trying to get somewhere. It was pretty much gridlock. However the rest of the park did not seem that busy. As for Monday & Tuesday. DCA was not that busy, 10-20 minutes for the big rides. Same with DL. It seemed to be fine during the day but at night is when it got the busiest. Over the entire trip the lines were never unbearable. In fact I think the longest line we stood in (at least time wise) was for Santa. Go figure!
Originally Posted By CoasterKrayzie I was at DL on the 13th, not very busy at all. most rides under 15 minutes, that longest line i waited in was Roger Rabbit for 35 minutes. One think i was unhappy with was the food service, I couldnt find any!! Around 11:30 we decided to grab a Mickey pretzel it took about 30 minutes to find one, a lot of carts where empty. around 5 wanted to get something for dinner but some of the restaurants where closed ended up going to ESPN Zone. I wanted a funnel cake for desert and gave up on that after awhile lines for all the food places around 6pm where longer than any attraction.
