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View Full Version : 6 p.m. Sunday, March 4th and the parking structure was closed!



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Rkkm
03-04-2007, 08:07 PM
Wow! Husband and I just returned from a little dinner jaunt to Downtown Disney. We went spur of the moment, exited the I-5 at Disneyland Drive around 5:45 p.m. to find a sign blinking "Both Disney parks are very busy."

When we got to the parking building, they were no longer accepting entering cars. We were told - via signs - to continue on to the Harbor Blvd. parking lot. We followed a long trail of cars doing just that, but exited at the Downtown Disney parking lot.

We had no trouble in that parking lot (courtesy of the North Vietnamese, whose poor artillery training and marksmanship has allowed me to have a live, though gimpy, husband who requires a disabled parking permit). As we walked toward the ESPN Sports Zone, we questioned departing employees who blamed the nice warm weather and a gigantanormous cheer leading convention.

DTD was as crowded as it is on a July night. We had a reasonable - given the crowds - 30 minute wait for a table at House of Blues. But we think that is unusual for a Sunday night at the tail end of winter.

But, as always, the Disney magic was pulsating away, and everyone looked like they were having a great time. Us included. Just very, very weird to find the closed parking structure and heavy crowds on a Sunday night at the beginning of March.

This experience makes me wonder if Disneyland is getting just a tad too popular?

Tinkermommy
03-04-2007, 08:45 PM
Both Disneyland and DCA were MOBBED today. We made a spur of the moment visit as well, and arrived shortly after noon. The "parks are busy" signs were out, and the parking lanes were backed up around the curve. Oy.

We had to park on the roof. I really felt for the people with strollers; there must have been 20 strollers in line for the elevator. Maybe more. Definitely the longest line I've ever seen for the elevator!

We skipped the tram because of the lines there, but the security lines were surprisingly short. Ditto for the lines getting in. Inside Disneyland was another story. It took us forever just to get up Main Street. They were only letting a few groups at a time into the Plaza Inn, and once inside, we struggled to find a table. It was so crowded that all we did was eat lunch and play VMK in Innoventions, then we left for DCA. I was really surprised that DCA was also very crowded. When we stopped in the candy store to get chocolate for the ride home, the line stretched back into the shop next door. We skipped it and went to Marceline's instead.

We definitely saw cheerleaders everywhere! We also overheard a woman commenting that she'd found a ticket on the ground for something called Community Involvement Day. The ticket price was only $25, and she speculated that it was some special day with low-cost tickets that was contributing to the crowding.

We didn't go on any rides at all, but it was nice just being there for a few hours. Ah, I miss the days when Disneyland actually had a slow season...lol

spectromen
03-04-2007, 09:29 PM
No rides here, either - it just wasn't possible. Parking lot full/closed, 3 cycle wait for Monorail at DTD station, and so many things closed: Trains, Steamboat, TS Island, Fantasmic, Splash, and it was extra-punctuated to me today how sorely needed things like the Peoplemover were today. If Disney continues to market these 2fer deals, they're going to have to find a way to increase capacity.

Then, of course the Hungry Bear closed promptly at 4pm, despite long lines at all other eateries. Hello???

HobbitFeet
03-04-2007, 11:39 PM
I googled, and found this (http://www.rcocdd.com/famres/DisneylandCIP2007Info.pdf).

With free parking, no wonder it was so crowded! Looks like it's going on until the 8th...

KarenW2
03-04-2007, 11:53 PM
We went up to the parks this morning and arrived about 9:50 am. When we exited the 5 fwy (NB), they were already putting cars into the lot by the HOJO's with APD assistance.

There were millions of humans everywhere!! We made it thru security with a little wait, due to our sharp observation skills (the tent on the left was less crowded than the one closest to DL) and had a bit of a wait at DL's gate. DCA's gates were mobbed with huge lines going across the esplanade already.

The original reason we went today was to make sure I was able to get the Alice in Wonderland gift with purchase pin that started today, as I collect Alice things and they seem to go quickly. Since it was soooo crowded, we went with my plan #1. Go immediately to the Emporium, check their pins and get pins there if possible, along with the Alice pin. I also found a cute little Ariel necklace and a pair of matching earrings, so we made our purchases.

Even tho it took us over an hour to drive up, we "got out of Dodge" as soon as we made our purchases! Navigating the wheelchair on a good day is hard enough, but with those crowds, there was no way I was going to make my hubby try to do that today! We had thought of going over to DCA for a little bit, but those lines not only hadn't moved, but had gotten longer in the time it took us to get thru the DL gates, make our purchases and exit the park! I don't know if they had a delayed opening today or what the deal was there.

Was this by any chance the final weekend to use tickets for the both parks for the same price deal? I thought if today was the last day to use the DCA ticket, that might've explained the huge lines outside there.

Koukla
03-04-2007, 11:58 PM
I googled, and found this (http://www.rcocdd.com/famres/DisneylandCIP2007Info.pdf).
With free parking, no wonder it was so crowded! Looks like it's going on until the 8th...

No wonder! It was an absolute madhouse today at 8:15 a.m.! I haven't been on a weekend in ages and promised today would be my last except under very special circumstances.

Aladdin was also closed today because of the cheerleading competition. :crying:

Darkbeer
03-05-2007, 05:40 AM
The SoCal 2fer deal still has almost 2 months to go, the first day of use has to be by April 26th.

And this is now the second Sunday of very large crowds, looks like a trend....

az_snow
03-05-2007, 06:17 AM
I am so glad that I switched the first day at DL from Sunday to Monday of our trip next week. Sundays sound like a madhouse!

dz4dsny
03-05-2007, 08:28 AM
I'm glad to hear the explanation - we just couldn't figure out why everyone was there. And the wheelchair line for POTC went all the way to the Disney Gallery.

The lines to buy popcorn (Popcorn!) were 10 deep. Amazing.

And they had the Columbia parked at the dock for people to walk on, I guess. They then took it around the river with no one on it - and then parked at the dock again. Weird.

But it was beautiful and warm, so...

Bytebear
03-05-2007, 08:42 AM
I hate to say this, but if you want Disneyland to have an slow season, they need to stop selling APs, or at least make them cost prohibitive. I know that if I didn't have an AP, my visits would drop from about 20 or 30 times a year, to 1 or 2.

houseofmouse
03-05-2007, 09:37 AM
Disneyland used to have an off season. Its been quite a while though. I am going to be there with my DD this Wed-Sunday and was really hoping for some slow low crowds but it looks to be unlikely. Oh well we are there to have fun!!!:)

cstephens
03-05-2007, 11:01 AM
I don't know what time they closed the parking structure. When we left at 5pm, it was already closed.

ETA:
Is Spring Break already in effect? Seems awfully early to me. I was just surprised that yesterday, DCA was open until 10pm, DL was open until midnight, and they were running the fireworks.

Dr. Shrinker
03-05-2007, 11:29 AM
Arggg -- I rarely go on weekends, but we had promised our daughter. I think I've been to DCA 3 times in the past year or year and a half...and TWICE it's been a freakin' cheerleader competition. You know it's bad when DCA is crowded.

Plus, it really seemed like DL was unprepared for this crush. They seemed understaffed at the restaurants (my wife waited almost 20 minutes for a coke in ToonTown before just giving up), and all the ride signs were drastically underestimating the wait (10 minutes on one -- after 20 we were only halfway to the entrance!) And there was trash EVERYWHERE...

It wasn't all terrible, though. As usual, the CMs who portray the princesses were just amazing with my daughter. She can be so shy with them, but without exception they were charming and sweet and really made her day.

Mark Mywords
03-05-2007, 11:30 AM
Last year when we went in early March, the park was pretty dead. Then again, it was pouring rain...;)

I think this past weekend was a combination of factors. A fair amount of attractions in refurb, others having problems (BTMRR seemed like it was down ALOT), PERFECT weather, cheerleading convention, etc).

Monte Cristo
03-05-2007, 11:39 AM
Last year when we went in early March, the park was pretty dead. Then again, it was pouring rain...;)

I think this past weekend was a combination of factors. A fair amount of attractions in refurb, others having problems (BTMRR seemed like it was down ALOT), PERFECT weather, cheerleading convention, etc).

Unless I missed something, the only attraction at DL that was being refurbed was Splash.

Besides that, I agree with you. It was a "perfect storm" of factors that made this one of the worst "off-season" weekends I can remember. My wife and I have pretty much sworn off going on a weekend if we can avoid it.

Mark Mywords
03-05-2007, 11:47 AM
Unless I missed something, the only attraction at DL that was being refurbed was Splash.


Well, maybe "A fair amount" was poor wording. DLRR was down for refurb (we were bummed), no Tom Sawyer Island, plus all those people who would normally be saving spots and watching Fantasmic were out on the walkways due to that show's absence.

Monte Cristo
03-05-2007, 11:53 AM
Well, maybe "A fair amount" was poor wording. DLRR was down for refurb (we were bummed), no Tom Sawyer Island, plus all those people who would normally be saving spots and watching Fantasmic were out on the walkways due to that show's absence.

Funny you should mention saving spots. My wife and I have never actually saved a spot for the fireworks. Heading down for this trip, we were determined to finally do it. With the crowds, however, it was impossible. Soooo...another trip, another failed attempt to see the fireworks. :(

kathynova
03-05-2007, 12:37 PM
I had an opportunity to take a sole trip to Disneyland and DCA this weekend and was surprised at how busy both parks were. I used a 2-fer ticket and was at Disneyland on Saturday, and DCA on Sunday. I got an early start both days and did the best I could with FastPasses, so I got to enjoy many rides. Being solo it wasn't too hard for me to get around, but I was certainly taken by surprise by the crowds. Fortunately I was just happy to be at the "happiest place on earth", so I made the best of it. I did happen to be in the right place at the right time, and got to see the Flag Retreat Ceremony for the first time. It was very patriotic and it brought tears to my eyes. I never knew what I was missing. I went from there to the Steve Martin First 50 Years show and cried some more. I'm such a geek!!

Rteneyck
03-05-2007, 01:00 PM
How long is the cheerleader convention going on? We are heading down there this coming up Sunday. I want to be "prepared" ;)

Napsto
03-05-2007, 01:52 PM
was there at about 1130. Two cycles to get on the tram and then left DLand at 1245 to go to DCA looking for relief but was shocked to see the SOaring line was 105 minutes!!! After that gave up, got some ice cream and left. THe weather was good though.

Shootingstaar
03-05-2007, 02:30 PM
This is NOT good news. I have been planning to go for like a month and every time something comes up and now it looks like me and the BF will be able to go this friday but if the crowds are this bad on friday too I don't even want to bother (don't feel like hearing complaining from BF:rolleyes: ). I really hope it was just the combination of the cheer comp and community thingy like someone said before. I read the google search and it said the community thing was blocked out on fridays so maybe I'll get lucky...probably not :(

Mark Mywords
03-05-2007, 02:57 PM
This is NOT good news. I have been planning to go for like a month and every time something comes up and now it looks like me and the BF will be able to go this friday but if the crowds are this bad on friday too I don't even want to bother :(

Actually, this past Friday crowds were fairly light.

ILovePoker
03-05-2007, 03:34 PM
Disneyland used to have an off season.!!!:)

Uhh they still do. That statement is false. Lots of times I see people on here saying, " I went right in the middle of summer and it was busy!" or "I went in late March and it was packed.*

VickiC
03-05-2007, 06:53 PM
I was there both last Wednesday and Friday during the day and things were pretty light, seemed like a normal off-season weekday to me. Nice weather on a weekend brings out the crowds, but when the kids are in school things are still business as usual.

Heaven Is Disneyland
03-05-2007, 10:00 PM
No, Kathy, you are not a geek, I did the same exact thing! I boo hooo all the time at Disneyland, hey remember you are here AMONG FRIENDS and we all understand!

I cried when I saw Cinderella at CA Adventure!

I was there on Saturday among all the zillion little cheerleaders, and I took advantage a few times of the Rider Switch feature they provide, my party went on a ride while I stayed behind with my daughter who is only 11 months old. Then one person from my party went on the ride with me while the rest stayed behind and watched my daughter. On Soaring, we went in the fast pass line but on the Haunted Mansion, they escorted us right up to the elevator.

Very crowded in the park but taking advantage of the Rider Switch was great. My daughter and I love to just soak up the atmosphere and walk around so it didn't impact our day too much.