Trip details- here now!

[katyringo]

The crowds seem much lighter so far today. Genie+ Isn't pushing out quite as quick and the waits aren't rising as fast.... we shall see

 

[Cal-Pie]

The crowds seem much lighter so far today. Genie+ Isn't pushing out quite as quick and the waits aren't rising as fast.... we shall see

The theme park gods have heard my prayers...we arrive Thursday!

 

[KPeterso]

So today. Disneyland. The weather along with very big crowds made today a little challenging. We had a successful early entry, and we spent time on Main Street seeing characters in their Halloween best. We got castle pictures and pumpkin Mickey pictures. We rode space and Indians Jones with LL. We tried to do thunder but it went down and it converted. We left the park around 1pm. We had a nice time at the pool and had some dole whip pool side at DLH.

We headed back to the parks via monorail around 530
To get our hungry bear food. Honestly while we were eating is when it all started to fall apart a bit. The weather took a turn and was just awful for several hours. Every ride outdoors closed. We had some multiple experience passes. We did pirates, we got some snacks, but with that many people in the park and all those rides closed it was.. a lot. We had not used a stroller at all up to this point, but I brought it this evening because there were just so many people in the park that walking around while holding her hand was hard. I was worried I was going to lose her in the crowd. Ultimately fireworks happened in-between two storms and both Fantasmic shows were canceled. Super bummed. It's my all time favorite and we only had one day to see it. We haven't seen it since 2019. I am mostly positive, but Disney running this show weekends only when the crowds are like this and one of their parks is closed early several nights a week for a party is a bit frustrating. I tried to stop at guest services, but was given the "you are paying for the food, and then given a complimentary ticket" line. I do understand I accepted the terms. I was polite with guest services and accepted it. I do plan to try an e-mail or maybe guest services here at the hotel. We paid $125 for hungry bear.. but again.. I do understand the terms I agreed to and will not make a stink, just a nice polite request. My husband had taken the littlest back to the room after the first show was canceled, my son and I did get to do a smugglers LL and when thunder opened for a short time between storms we rode two times in a row with a multiple experience pass. Not all was lost this day, but not our greatest Disney day. Stupid weather.

We were at Disneyland on saturday and it was just crazy insane. We ended up leaving a little after 1. There were just too many people to make it enjoyable. From 8:30 AM (yeah we did not quite make rope drop) until we left, we rode 5 rides (Jungle Cruise - short wait for handicap boat after being told to come back in 10 minutes or so, Haunted Mansion Holiday w/ DAS, Winnie the Pooh, Rise of the Resistance w/ DAS, and Space Mountain w/ DAS), had lunch at French Market, wandered a few shops, and then saw part of a Dapper Dans show. My anxiety was through the roof most of the time, so it was time to go. I cancelled next Saturday when I got home and am thinking I will probably cancel 10/29 too. I know October is crazy from experience but I swear I have been Christmas, Christmas week, 4th of July, Easter, and none were anything like Saturday at Disneyland this year.

 

[Aurora0427]

We were at Disneyland on saturday and it was just crazy insane. We ended up leaving a little after 1. There were just too many people to make it enjoyable. From 8:30 AM (yeah we did not quite make rope drop) until we left, we rode 5 rides (Jungle Cruise - short wait for handicap boat after being told to come back in 10 minutes or so, Haunted Mansion Holiday w/ DAS, Winnie the Pooh, Rise of the Resistance w/ DAS, and Space Mountain w/ DAS), had lunch at French Market, wandered a few shops, and then saw part of a Dapper Dans show. My anxiety was through the roof most of the time, so it was time to go. I cancelled next Saturday when I got home and am thinking I will probably cancel 10/29 too. I know October is crazy from experience but I swear I have been Christmas, Christmas week, 4th of July, Easter, and none were anything like Saturday at Disneyland this year.

Just reading stories from bloggers from Saturday spiked my anxiety and I wasn’t even there…. We go Thursday for OBB and are spending Friday at Disneyland, and I’m expecting the worst and hoping I’ll be surprised. We are pass holders and live 35 minutes away, so we’ll just do what we can.

 

[katyringo]

OP here: It was really busy Saturday. And we have been during Christmas break. Compounded by the weather. We had a good morning and some magical moments.. but it was not our best Disney day.

 

[katyringo]

We have had a great morning. Using EE to go to rise worked out great for us. We immediately followed with smugglers and basically walked on. We saw Chewie, Ray, and storm troopers. We used a LL for a quick thunder mountain, rode Matterhorn standby, nemo standby, got a cold brew, and now we are having lunch at Blue Bayou.

 

[KPeterso]

Just reading stories from bloggers from Saturday spiked my anxiety and I wasn’t even there…. We go Thursday for OBB and are spending Friday at Disneyland, and I’m expecting the worst and hoping I’ll be surprised. We are pass holders and live 35 minutes away, so we’ll just do what we can.

We are locals too. So I did not id a short day. But it was just too much for us! my anxiety plus mom's wheelchair just made getting through the park impossible.

 

[DLgal]

We were at Disneyland on saturday and it was just crazy insane. We ended up leaving a little after 1. There were just too many people to make it enjoyable. From 8:30 AM (yeah we did not quite make rope drop) until we left, we rode 5 rides (Jungle Cruise - short wait for handicap boat after being told to come back in 10 minutes or so, Haunted Mansion Holiday w/ DAS, Winnie the Pooh, Rise of the Resistance w/ DAS, and Space Mountain w/ DAS), had lunch at French Market, wandered a few shops, and then saw part of a Dapper Dans show. My anxiety was through the roof most of the time, so it was time to go. I cancelled next Saturday when I got home and am thinking I will probably cancel 10/29 too. I know October is crazy from experience but I swear I have been Christmas, Christmas week, 4th of July, Easter, and none were anything like Saturday at Disneyland this year.

We have 10/22 and 10/29 booked too. I'm taking the kids myself Saturday morning because my husband has to work. I already warned them if it was crazy, we'd head home early. 10/29, I'm hoping won't be too bad. We typically go the last weekend in Oct and it's usually okay.

The reports of today not being too bad so far are encouraging.

 

[KPeterso]

We have 10/22 and 10/29 booked too. I'm taking the kids myself Saturday morning because my husband has to work. I already warned them if it was crazy, we'd head home early. 10/29, I'm hoping won't be too bad. We typically go the last weekend in Oct and it's usually okay.

The reports of today not being too bad so far are encouraging.

Yeah - I am hoping 10/29 could be a little better since fall breaks should be done. Although, if I am still hearing crazy things like this past week, nope - not doing it again. We have a lot of November dates (including an 11/15-11/18 VGC stay booked), so we will make up for things then. We are not huge Halloween people and much prefer holiday time.

 

[DLgal]

We are not huge Halloween people and much prefer holiday time.

Same! I need to get more Nov/Dec dates booked! Thanks for the reminder.

 

[evilmommie]

We are locals too. So I did not id a short day. But it was just too much for us! my anxiety plus mom's wheelchair just made getting through the park impossible.

We're going this week - mid-week for a little staycation. Hopefully you and mom will be back soon when it's easier for you all to navigate.

 

[katyringo]

The crowds are SO much better today. What a good way to end the trip. We will max out using genie + in the park and the wait times to do them again are good.

A note about crowds. I helped my family navigate them well. We did everything minus fantasmic (weather) that we wanted. However, there were times just walking accross the park was overwhelming. I'm so glad we came for Halloween time. It was really really great. Mobile ordering ahead of time was a must.

 

[DCLMP]

We have 10/22 and 10/29 booked too. I'm taking the kids myself Saturday morning because my husband has to work. I already warned them if it was crazy, we'd head home early. 10/29, I'm hoping won't be too bad. We typically go the last weekend in Oct and it's usually okay.

The reports of today not being too bad so far are encouraging.

I thought you didn't go during October.

 

[DLgal]

I thought you didn't go during October.

Not during the middle of the month. Always go the 1st on my birthday and the last weekend, after all the fall break nonsense.

I added in Oct 22 yesterday when my husband found out he needed to work Saturday and my kids asked to go to the parks. I don't really want to go, but will do it for my kids. I won't tolerate an overly crowded day, though, and we WILL leave if its too much. My younger son doesn't handle crowds well.

I generally go once a week solo during the week while my kids are in school. I don't do that during October at all.

 

[Tksolomom]

We are trying rop droping Rise this morning. We are at the front of the line up in fantasy land, having used our EE to line up. Just my son and I. Hubby and little are riding rides. Knowing Rise doesn't always open on time, I am like 50/50 if this will work or not.

Did you line up right away for the fantasyland entrance for RotR, or did you go on any rides first? Was it faster than the main group of rope droppers people coming from Adventureland?

 

[katyringo]

Did you line up right away for the fantasyland entrance for RotR, or did you go on any rides first? Was it faster than the main group of rope droppers people coming from Adventureland?

We did not do any rides first. I think we were slightly faster than the regular crowd, but it's hard to tell. My hubby is the fast paced Walker and I am.. not. So we were passed by quite a few. They also state over and over and over the closer you get to rise that your whole party needs to be with you before you join the line.

 

[dina444444]

We have 10/22 and 10/29 booked too. I'm taking the kids myself Saturday morning because my husband has to work. I already warned them if it was crazy, we'd head home early. 10/29, I'm hoping won't be too bad. We typically go the last weekend in Oct and it's usually okay.

The reports of today not being too bad so far are encouraging.

I think 10/29 in the evening could get bad because there’s an OBB at DCA that night. I’m going in prepared for bigger crowds that evening.

 

[DLgal]

I think 10/29 in the evening could get bad because there’s an OBB at DCA that night. I’m going in prepared for bigger crowds that evening.

Ugh. Well, we usually leave by 9 anyway since my son can't tolerate fireworks. Will probably head out right after dinner.

 

[katyringo]

Well, goodbye Disneyland! My 10 year old got emotional as we left disneyland. I may have cried too.

We got some good sleep last night, and had brunch at storytellers where we finally got a family Mickey picture! We got a bit more pool time and now are on the way to the airport. I cannot believe it finally happened and it's already over. We currently don't have any Disney plans on the books, and that's hard! But it's the right choice for my family right now. The magic at Disneyland is real. I do have critiques of the new systems in place, but really overall our trip was incredible.

 

[audrey2580]

So coming from DLH you would take a right before the security into downtown Disney & head towards PP. when u come to the roundabout take a left towards GCH & cross Disneyland Dr. U will come to 2 security gates, take the right one that leads to CA for hotel guests. The security line moved through in like 5 minutes & u will enter the park by Corndog castle. Again, yes you will have a little farther to walk but the benefit was it wasn’t crowded & we made it to webslingers fairly easily although we arrived at 7:15

Are they letting DLH guests use the other GCH entrance for EE now? The one by storytellers? It was pre Covid (so years ago lol) but they were only allowing GCH guests to use it then. Just want to confirm before we try. Thanks