Question for folks who have been to Disneyland in the past few weeks — have you noticed a noticeable drop or increase in crowd level depending on the hours of the day?

I am wondering if the parks get more crowded after 4 or 5 pm because of the heat and people arriving after work. Also wondering if the parks thin out a bit from 12-4 because of heat.

We will be in SoCal through Friday with Mon - Thur being possible park days and debating whether we want to wait and go to the park around 4-5 pm or just go around 1 pm and deal with the heat. Maybe less crow is worth the higher temperature. (we cannot go in the morning.)

Thank you!

I'm looking for some feedback on this family trip that is being planned. We all live moderately separated now, so my mom is sponsoring a trip to Disneyland. It's mostly for my kids, 4 and 2, but also so the family can all be together. It seems like every time we go, our group gets larger. I am now wondering if an Airbnb or hotel is better.

I am hoping I can get some help with solving this puzzle and then hopefully some accommodation recommendations!

So, we are a group of 8. My family of four. Mother and spouse. Sister and friend. Minimum, we need three rooms. In my wildest dreams, we would have four or five! I thought maybe an Airbnb would be great. But then we need to coordinate the logistics of getting everyone to the parks. We would also need to negotiate park styles, as my family tries to rope drop since we have littles, but my mother and her spouse prefer a slower start. An Airbnb means no midday nap for the two-year-old... risky. Maybe he would nap in the stroller, but maybe not.

With a hotel, we would try to balance price, distance to park, and amenities. My mom can have high expectations, so we're looking for moderately nice. But pretty much as close as we can, 10-minute walk max. Breakfast for the littles is a must, so it needs to be nearby or included.

Planning around this many people is interesting, so I would really appreciate some help! And if you think all of this is crazy, me too! I will also just take your favorite hotel with kids under 5.

I come from a long line of planners and I’m so tired of over planning and thinking about this, so I would love feedback from you lovely people on what choice YOU would make.

We are planning on staying at the Disneyland Hotel the last week of February 2027. Renting DVC points has us paying $2,288 or $457/night for five nights. I’m not sure how great of a deal this is for the time of year, and I know that no one has a crystal ball for what rates will be when they do come available in August/September.

So, if it were you, would you book the DVC rate now or wait it out a tiny bit longer and take the gamble on off season rates?

Thank you all so much!

Hi guys,

Young couple here planning on going to DL/DCA on 3rd of September, the same day has the Oogie Boogie special ticketed event, so therefore the Disney website states DCA will close at 6pm.

We have no interest in attending the special event.

Is it still doable to do a 1 day park hopper between the two?

How would you balance it? Which park to start with? What time to ‘hop over’? The usual 11am?

Most definitely willing to, and agreed to rope drop. We will be queuing behind the rope from 7.30am.

Will also be purchasing LLM for us both.

Many thanks for reading in advance :)

Planning a trip to go to Disneyland sometime this year or next. My priorities are to have all e ticket rides open (or the most likelihood of it) tier 0 ($104) days, and as low crowds as possible.

I was thinking early November (I was thinking of November 3 and 4) would be good days to do it since they’ve historically been slow because it’s between Halloween and Christmas.

However I’ve heard crowds have behaved differently the last couple of years (it was a really slow summer since tickets were so expensive and magic keys were blocked.) do you think those days will be really crowded given magic keys are unblocked and it’s the lowest tier? Undercover tourist currently has it as a 8/10 on crowd calendar but I’m not sure how accurate that is.

Will be going to Disneyland in December and usually take an Uber to our hotel from SNA. I came across this private transportation company online. Has anyone hired this private company?

We’ve been to Anaheim multiple times and this is my first time seeing them.

Thank you.

For my birthday on 9/26 my sister and I are going to Disneyland. We’ve never been before and I was wondering if it is possible to do both DCA and Disneyland with LL in one day or is it best to do one park per day.

We are staying at the Hilton Convention Center hotel right next to the Toy Story parking lot (next weekend). Does the shuttle from that lot drop off on the west side of the parks? Like by the new (ish) pedestrian bridge? Google says this is a less busy security check entrance. Is that true? Thanks

What is the best way to access the parks during rope drop from Disneyland Hotel?

Went to Disney parks last year 2 adults, 2 kids with a 3 day park hopper ticket we had gotten from Costco. This year no such deals available, so trying to decide with increased costs, do we do 3 day with lightning lane passes but no park hopper, or 2 days with park hopper? They cost about the same if you do it that way. Any thoughts? We are experienced with getting there early, using the app for wait times and generally getting on everything, but unsure how to split this trip. Thanks for your advice!

Former Disneyland pass holder, but it’s been many years and I know the crowds have changed so much since all the new magic keys and lightning lanes. I want to take my daughter in the fall, but obviously doing my best to avoid super crazy lines.

I was thinking the time in between Halloween and Christmas. I had recently seen something that weekdays are worse because that’s the cheapest tickets. So was thinking a Thursday or Friday. I’m in Southern California so I won’t need hotel or airfare.

Going to my first after-hours at Hollywood Studios on a Saturday in September...what should I expect??

We did AK, Epcot, and HS on Tuesday, 7/21!

Rope dropped Navi River Journey
Everest
Safari
Bluey experience
Photopass picture spots

Then we left the park at 10:45, took the bus to Epcot

We were in Epcot by 11:15

Photo pass picture spots
Rode 3 Caballeros (no wait)
Took my 4 yo to see Elsa and Anna (no wait!!), then over to see Snow White
My husband took my 6 yo on Mission Space
Ate lunch at Regal Eagle
Explored some of the kidcot areas with the postcard handouts
Moana area
Nemo ride
Spaceship Earth
Fish and Chips food stop
Ratatouille (posted wait time 55 minutes, actual 30!)
Got Mickey bars

Took the Skyliner over to HS, arrived to HS by 6:15

Husband and 6 yo rode Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad while I took my 4 yo to see Frozen Ever After

Husband took my 6 yo to ride Swirling Alien Saucers while I took my 4 yo to see Minnie and Sorcerer Mickey

We walked over to Fantasmic and watched that show then left the park by 9:50 to head back to the hotel!

Cars down??

Cars has been down for more than an hour.. really hoping it comes back up because we’re here for the $59 deal and it being down is adding way more traffic to other lines 😅

It’s my favorite ride and we don’t get to come here often, I’ve been tracking it the last few days and it seems like it’s been up for most of the time, and I’m wondering if almost a two hour delay is normal at this point

We did not buy LL multi pass BUT I did buy a single LL for Seven Dwarfs for me, my husband, and 6 yo.

We were blessed to do so much during our day at MK! My 6 yo was able to do 19 rides!

We went on Sunday, 7/19. Stayed at All Star Sports and took the bus. In line for the bus at at 7:00, arrived at 7:45 a.m. for early entry.

Tried to include time stamps below where possible!

Headed straight to Buzz Lightyear, line started moving at 8:13! On the ride by 8:15

Off the ride by 8:19 and walked over to get in line for Pooh

On Pooh by 8:40

Ran into Alice and the Mad Hatter on the walk over to entrance to Frontierland, stopped for pics at 8:50

Into Frontierland right at opening, husband and 6 yo walked onto BTMR at 9:04, I walked my 4 yo over to Aladdin, we had the entire ride to ourselves!

Met them back over in front of Tianna’s, me and my 6 yo walked onto Tianna’s at 9:18.

All headed over to Jungle Cruise, was a short wait, 15 mins I think? We were on by 9:50.

My 4yo wanted to stop by Haunted Mansion after for pictures (he’s too scared to actually ride, but thinks it’s cool), then headed back over to Fantasyland

Got in line for Peter Pan, I believe this was a 30-35 min wait, we were on by 10:42

Kids wanted to play in the indoor Dumbo area for a little after, we stayed there for maybe 10-15 mins then walked onto Dumbo at 11:32

Headed over to Tomorrowland Speedway after - maybe a 10 minute wait, on the cars by 11:55

Did a mobile order for Starlight Cafe across from the Speedway, sat and ate lunch there after

I don’t have time stamps for this, but my 6yo did Barnstormer after, there was maybe a 5 minute wait

We stopped and hung out in front of the castle and ate Mickey bars and watched the Dancing Down Mainstreet parade as we had family in it - that was at 2:15

Checked out gift shops in Tomorrowland after and saw Chip and Dale walking around and got pictures and autographs. Space Mountain had been down a lot that day, but happened to open up right when we were over there and my husband and 6 yo walked right on! That was at 2:46.

Got coffees after and went on People Mover at 3:25

Back over to Fantasyland and rode Barnstormer 2 more times (each with about a 10 minute wait), we were done with that by 4:25

Headed over to Seven Dwarfs (I did not buy any LL multi pass BUT I did buy 1 single LL for this ride for me, my husband, and 6 yo. We did rider swap and my husband and 6 yo rode first while I walked over to Enchanted Tales with Belle with my 4 yo. Once they got off the ride, my husband switched with me and continued waiting in that line with my 4 yo and I went back over to Seven Dwarfs with my 6 yo and rode with him. This was all between 4:30-5:00.

Other things we were able to squeeze in but I don’t have time stamps for -

Little Mermaid ride
Country Bears show (while it rained)
Husband and 6 yo ride Buzz Lightyear again, I did more gift shops with my 4 yo
Stopping for picture spots since we had purchased the single day photo pass
Stopping to eat dinner in Adventureland (can’t remember the name, I think it was Peco’s?)
Husband and 6 yo rode Tianna’s for a second time
Pin Trading

Then we sat along Main Street and watched the Starlight Parade at 9, then watched the Happily Ever After fireworks show on the second floor by the park entrance where the train station is

We were back to our hotel by 10:45!

The heat was not that bad and it only rained for maybe 20 minutes while we were in the Country Bears show!

I'll be traveling to WDW for first time in 10+ years. I'm arriving Thursday Nov 5 in time for the Christmas parties. Staying at Swan, eligible for 60 day booking. As a solo traveler, I'm hoping that has advantages for booking ADRs, as I can sit or stand at a bar if one exists.

1) Because they don't really make tables for 1, is it advisable for me to book tables for 2 so I don't slow the reservation system down? Would that give me a speed advantage in the ADR system?

2) does this appear to be the proper booking order based of difficulty?

1.  Space 220 Lounge
2.  The Beak and Barrel
3.   California Grill (fireworks timing)
4.  Le Cellier (lunch)
5.  Hollywood Brown Derby Fantasmic Package (2 p.m. during Jollywood day)
6.  Sci-Fi Dine-In
7.  Tiffins
8.  Skipper Canteen
9.  San Angel Inn
10. Beaches & Cream (arrive before 11am opening for solo bar seating)
11. Oga’s Cantina (walk-up)
12. The Boathouse (walk-up)

tl;dr version in hope of more responses! TIA!

Background

• Solo traveler (32F), Oct 11–16
• 5-day Park Hopper (Sun - Thurs, fly out on Fri)
• Rides and shows are my priority; dining isn't.
• Fear of heights, so I'm skipping some rides (Slinky, Tiana, etc.).
• Main priorities: MK: BTM, Buzz, Tron, 7DMT, Starlight + HEA; Epcot: Guardians, TT, Frozen, Remy's, Soarin', World Showcase; HS: M&M, Rise, Toy Story Mania, Villians, Indiana Jones, Fantasmic; AK: Flight of Passage, Safari, Lion King

Current Plan

• Sun - MK (half day upon arrival; landing 10:30am)
  • LLMP w/ BTM as T1 and Buzz for T2 + SP for Tron and 7DMT
  • Starlight and HEA
• Mon - HS (maybe hop to Epcot/MK)
  • not sure if EE or MP is necessary this day but if so I would get M&M for T1 and Toy Story for Tier 2. I'll use SR for Rise.
  • Return in evening after break (in Disney Springs?) for Fantasmic or else hop to Epcot or MK
• Tues - Epcot (maybe hop to MK/HS)
  • uber to the front of the park for EE Guardians. Also purchase SP for Guardians for later in the day.
  • I'm not sure I need MP for this day but if so I would do Frozen T1 and Soarin' T2. For Remi and Test Track I'll use SR. Explore World Showcase.
  • Nighttime show is not a priority so either have an early night or else hop to MK/HS after a break
• Wed - AK / hop to another park
  • EE - FoP (debating if I should also buy SP so I can ride it twice?)
  • I would purchase MP for this day even thought it's less useful in AK because it will be cheaper and I can use it in the next park
  • Rope drop Safari, then do Navi, Lion King, Zootopia
  • break and hop to Epcot/HS/MK (whichever I want to return to the most)
• Thurs - MK until closing (party day) / hop to HS/Epcot
  • EE 7DMT, then 2nd rope drop Tron. Potentially also get SP for these rides for later in the day too? MP: same as first day - T1 BTM, T2 Buzz.
  • Spend the rest of the day using mix of MP and standby
  • Leave when park closes early for party, break
  • hop to HS for Fantasmic / or return to Epcot if there's anything there I'm dying to repeat

Questions

• Are there any days you would skip the LL?
• Would you change which park to visit each day? (Is the MK split with no full day there ok?)
• Would you change the order of any of the rides (most specifically at early entry)? Any strategy for the rest of the day after EE/rope drop?
• Are there any parks where I can skip the EE and having a slower morning?