Are Disneyland wait times that much worse than WDW?

[captainkidd]

I'm planning our first trip to DLR next year, but I'm really having 2nd thoughts after picking up a couple guide books and reading some things online. They all say the crowds and waits at Disneyland during crowded times are terrible. I'm used to crowds at WDW, but no guide book makes nearly as big of an issue of the crowds there as they do at Disneyland. If it's really that bad, then maybe it's not for us, as much as we really want to go there.

 

[xdan0920]

I'm planning our first trip to DLR next year, but I'm really having 2nd thoughts after picking up a couple guide books and reading some things online. They all say the crowds and waits at Disneyland during crowded times are terrible. I'm used to crowds at WDW, but no guide book makes nearly as big of an issue of the crowds there as they do at Disneyland. If it's really that bad, then maybe it's not for us, as much as we really want to go there.

I was there mid July of 2010. From my experience, a crowded DL beats a crowded MK/Epcot/DHS any day. The lines on a busy day in DL are, in my experience, less then or equal to WDW on a busy day. Another thing DL has going for it is that it has more attractions in the park then MK does, spreading out the lines.

 

[kap91]

I can't say I'm a Disneyland regular but anytime I've gone the lines are no worse there than here (WDW). Short for the first hour or two, average for the next few, long during midday, and then better as the evening goes on. Although I would say that the specific attractions that get the long lines differ (It seems that Pirates and Haunted Mansion are much more popular out there). The park itself can feel more crowded though because the pathways are smaller etc but it really isn't much different. I would not suggest going on the big holidays or big occasions (for instance when Carsland first opens) as then the parks will be jammed, but that same advice goes for WDW too.

 

[TP2000]

Disneyland wait times are no more than Magic Kingdom, following the same basic pattern of crowds throughout the day (with a few exceptions).

Here's a picture claimed to have been taken on a Saturday last July at 1:50PM of the Wait Time Board at Disneyland. If these wait times are uncomfortable for you, and/or you do no like to use the Fastpass system for the big E Tickets to cut down wait times at some attractions, then Disneyland probably isn't for you.


Disneyland Wait Time Board by armadillo444, on Flickr

But if those wait times are enough to cancel a vacation, it makes me wonder how you deal with lines at WDW and what time of year you usually go?

 

[captainkidd]

But if those wait times are enough to cancel a vacation, it makes me wonder how you deal with lines at WDW and what time of year you usually go?

Those wait times are just fine. Like I said, I've never been to DLR, but seriously, pick up a copy of the Birnbaum or Unofficial Guide to Disneyland. They both go on and on about how crazy busy Disneyland is and how the waits can be horrendous. They don't get nearly as detailed about WDW.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I was at Disneyland during President's "Week" where crowds on Touringplans.com were predicted as a 7. The longest wait I saw for any attraction at any time was 65 minutes for ToT. Most of the day Indy and Star Tours had 40-45 minute waits.

 

[flynnibus]

Those wait times are just fine. Like I said, I've never been to DLR, but seriously, pick up a copy of the Birnbaum or Unofficial Guide to Disneyland. They both go on and on about how crazy busy Disneyland is and how the waits can be horrendous. They don't get nearly as detailed about WDW.

DL fans turn their nose up at any wait over 45mins unless it's splash, indy, or space. So unless it's REALLY busy, no waits are over 60mins except for indy or space... which can both get up to 70mins+ without much.

The problem with DL is the CROWDING - not really the waits. On a busy weekend, yes, many lines will be 30-60mins.. but you aren't going to get 90-120min waits except in VERY extreme situations.

DL waits are not bad compared to what people are used to in WDW.. expect everything under 45mins except for the top dogs Splash, Indy, Space.

FP strategies are to get Indy and Space early.. because those are the ones where the line gets up fast.

Crowding is dependent on holidays, weekends, and the passholder blockout calendar. It gets really bad right as passholders are about to be blocked out, or just after they are let back in, etc.

Don't worry about the lines... except for Cars Land

The problem in DL is space and crowd control. There are key choke point areas like adventureland.. the tiki room area... the TL entrance... that are notorious for their body stuffed movement. But the ride waits don't get really bad because so many people just skip'em if they are long.

 

[Hakunamatata]

We are going to DL first week of June. Am hoping to hit a lull before the opening of cars land. :shrug:

 

[juan]

We are going to DL first week of June. Am hoping to hit a lull before the opening of cars land. :shrug:

You should be good at that time and may get lucky and get a preview of Carsland.



As for DLR v WDW crowds, DLR typically has less waits because it has more attractions and often times more locals looking to do a couple things (like only have dinner or see Fantasmic). The locals also don't have the super-vacation mindset that many WDW visitors have of "I must hit everything today!" The real problem at DLR comes with the pathway crowding. It is often quite difficult to move nearly anywhere west of the hub as Fantasmic approaches.

 

[Hakunamatata]

You should be good at that time and may get lucky and get a preview of Carsland.



As for DLR v WDW crowds, DLR typically has less waits because it has more attractions and often times more locals looking to do a couple things (like only have dinner or see Fantasmic). The locals also don't have the super-vacation mindset that many WDW visitors have of "I must hit everything today!" The real problem at DLR comes with the pathway crowding. It is often quite difficult to move nearly anywhere west of the hub as Fantasmic approaches.

Thanks. We are staying six days, so I know we will have an opportunity to everything we want, but crowd level is always a point of irritation for me. :ROFLOL:

 

[BretJMiller]

I just got back from a spring break trip and it was really busy during the day, busiest that I have seen a Disney park yet. You just have to plan around it. We gathered fastpasses and did a lot of attractions in the morning and then when it is busy from 12-5, we would eat and use our fastpasses or do less popular attractions and then do what we wanted again as it got later. Navigate the crowds appropriately and it won't feel like much.