Surviving Summer 2019 at Disneyland!

Thanks for starting this thread!!

We are planning for the 4th of July-ish again next year. Haven’t booked a hotel yet cause we’re debating....having donated a kidney to the Grand last month ;) ....

1. Stay onsite? The Grand California. Take advantage of the EMH...if it still exists!

2. Or! Stay offsite and book a VIP tour?? One day. 6 hours. Don’t leave GE, if that’s allowed.

Thoughts? Think GE will be on the VIP list to access?

I love reading everyone’s plans!! So exciting!! :)))))

If I had the money, with the 4th of July and GE opening... I would definitely do a VIP tour. Especially if you have been to the parks more than once. I would then dedicate a short trip now to the new land. And splurge for the fancy hotel on a longer trip another time.
 
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I'm so hoping it does not open until July! We have our first trip there planned for my daughter's 6th birthday. We are planning on June 26-July 2 for our trip, my husband wanted to be in the parks for her birthday on the 28th. The hotel is already booked :eek: We weren't planning the trip for SWGE, were going to just enjoy that March 2020, on our next WDW trip, but the more I hear the more anxious I get!

Maybe the week before would be safer...
 


I'm so hoping it does not open until July! We have our first trip there planned for my daughter's 6th birthday. We are planning on June 26-July 2 for our trip, my husband wanted to be in the parks for her birthday on the 28th. The hotel is already booked :eek: We weren't planning the trip for SWGE, were going to just enjoy that March 2020, on our next WDW trip, but the more I hear the more anxious I get!

Maybe the week before would be safer...
I think they’re aiming for earlier than that (doesn’t mean it will actually be done then), but honestly, the week(s) before it opens will be very crowded, too, with all of the people trying to go “before the Star Wars crowds show up.” I’d just go for the birthday and be prepared for massive crowds.
 
I think they’re aiming for earlier than that (doesn’t mean it will actually be done then), but honestly, the week(s) before it opens will be very crowded, too, with all of the people trying to go “before the Star Wars crowds show up.” I’d just go for the birthday and be prepared for massive crowds.
So how bad are massive DL crowds compared to say WDW at Spring Break?

I tried to convince the hubs to do a small WDW trip for her birthday instead, but he said a small trip there wouldn't be fun (we did 9 nights last time and are planning 12 for the next trip). With 5 park days, maybe we can strategize enough to not feel so crazy :upsidedow
 
So how bad are massive DL crowds compared to say WDW at Spring Break?

I tried to convince the hubs to do a small WDW trip for her birthday instead, but he said a small trip there wouldn't be fun (we did 9 nights last time and are planning 12 for the next trip). With 5 park days, maybe we can strategize enough to not feel so crazy :upsidedow
I’ve never been to WDW during spring break (I did go the last week of June in 2016). They’re very different experiences...

With 5 days, if you’re rope-dropping every day, you’ll be fine. Where are you staying?
 


We are still debating dates, but are aiming somewhere between July 22-August 15. I'm going to be booking in the next week or so. We will absolutely be staying onsite for this one just in case the park starts reaching capacity and we want to make full use of early entry; even if it's just to use that hour to go wait to get into Galaxy's Edge.

Good point. Maybe I'll book 1 night in a studio in the middle of our trip so we get 2 days. Do they have rules about letting onsite guests in even if they reach capacity?

Onsite resort hotel guests are usually allowed entrance over other guests if there are issues of crowding. I do know that the fire marshall has the ability to bar entrance if it is beyond capacity.
Just a heads up to those thinking staying onsite will get you in when the park reaches capacity, this is NOT true. The only advantage is when they hit "returns only", they will allow a first time hotel guest to enter, but your key must match your park ticket name, and everyone will need a key. Once they hit "CLOSED", no one is allowed in with the exception of: Club 33 dining reservations and VIP tours. For the Club dining, you will be escorted to and from the club. If you have dining somewhere else and are blocked out, call dining reservations and they will make sure you are not charged for the dining reservation.

Thanks for starting this thread!!

We are planning for the 4th of July-ish again next year. Haven’t booked a hotel yet cause we’re debating....having donated a kidney to the Grand last month ;) ....

1. Stay onsite? The Grand California. Take advantage of the EMH...if it still exists!

2. Or! Stay offsite and book a VIP tour?? One day. 6 hours. Don’t leave GE, if that’s allowed.

Thoughts? Think GE will be on the VIP list to access?

I love reading everyone’s plans!! So exciting!! :)))))
I expect VIP to have full access to SW:GE. I plan to tour myself. I think it will be one of the busiest tour dates!

So how bad are massive DL crowds compared to say WDW at Spring Break?

I tried to convince the hubs to do a small WDW trip for her birthday instead, but he said a small trip there wouldn't be fun (we did 9 nights last time and are planning 12 for the next trip). With 5 park days, maybe we can strategize enough to not feel so crazy :upsidedow
I did WDW on NYE. For me, it was sort of like a busy summer day at DL. When are you considering DL? After opening SW:GE? My guess is it will be busier than NYE for several weeks following the opening. I plan to do at least one preview, if not a couple of them, depending on what is allowed, and perhaps that will help with the crowding.
 
I’ve never been to WDW during spring break (I did go the last week of June in 2016). They’re very different experiences...

With 5 days, if you’re rope-dropping every day, you’ll be fine. Where are you staying?
We are staying off property at a Quality Inn, it was supposed to be a "cheap trip" then I decided on 5 park days, character meals, and some dining packages :laughing::laughing::laughing:

We definitely plan on rope dropping, we are traveling from the Tulsa area, so time differences will be on our side this time. We did 7am park opens at WDW and loved it! We were able to get almost everything done by lunch, and had the afternoons to take it easy while the lines were longer than we were willing to do with a 4y/o.
 
Just a heads up to those thinking staying onsite will get you in when the park reaches capacity, this is NOT true. The only advantage is when they hit "returns only", they will allow a first time hotel guest to enter, but your key must match your park ticket name, and everyone will need a key. Once they hit "CLOSED", no one is allowed in with the exception of: Club 33 dining reservations and VIP tours. For the Club dining, you will be escorted to and from the club. If you have dining somewhere else and are blocked out, call dining reservations and they will make sure you are not charged for the dining reservation.

I expect VIP to have full access to SW:GE. I plan to tour myself. I think it will be one of the busiest tour dates!

I did WDW on NYE. For me, it was sort of like a busy summer day at DL. When are you considering DL? After opening SW:GE? My guess is it will be busier than NYE for several weeks following the opening. I plan to do at least one preview, if not a couple of them, depending on what is allowed, and perhaps that will help with the crowding.

We are looking at June 26-July 2, so summer crowds already. Honestly people say Spring Break at WDW is busy, but we didn't think it was bad at all, which is why we decided we could handle DL in late June, forgetting all about SWGE opening next summer:idea:
 
I'm so hoping it does not open until July! We have our first trip there planned for my daughter's 6th birthday. We are planning on June 26-July 2 for our trip, my husband wanted to be in the parks for her birthday on the 28th. The hotel is already booked :eek: We weren't planning the trip for SWGE, were going to just enjoy that March 2020, on our next WDW trip, but the more I hear the more anxious I get!

Maybe the week before would be safer...

On the plus side it could be a great time to devote to what interests her. Is she a princess lover? SW fans probably won’t be all about BBB, princess plays & M&Gs, and Ariel ride! My DD is not big on thrill rides so it’s easier for us to navigate the park. Is she a thrill rider? It could still be easier to hit those rides with everyone all about SW. My DD loved Fantasmic and PTN.

Any speculation if there will be any special nighttime shows at SW?
 
Just a heads up to those thinking staying onsite will get you in when the park reaches capacity, this is NOT true. The only advantage is when they hit "returns only", they will allow a first time hotel guest to enter, but your key must match your park ticket name, and everyone will need a key. Once they hit "CLOSED", no one is allowed in with the exception of: Club 33 dining reservations and VIP tours. For the Club dining, you will be escorted to and from the club. If you have dining somewhere else and are blocked out, call dining reservations and they will make sure you are not charged for the dining reservation.

I expect VIP to have full access to SW:GE. I plan to tour myself. I think it will be one of the busiest tour dates!

I did WDW on NYE. For me, it was sort of like a busy summer day at DL. When are you considering DL? After opening SW:GE? My guess is it will be busier than NYE for several weeks following the opening. I plan to do at least one preview, if not a couple of them, depending on what is allowed, and perhaps that will help with the crowding.

I get that but there are multiple steps to closure and being onsite gets you through the first 3 before the final total closure. Ideally we will be in at open anyways so it shouldn’t matter. When cars land was new being onsite gave the most access possible aside from being VIP.

Like a previous poster said, nobody has any idea how Disney is going to deal with this but I am absolutely sure that there won’t be any disadvantage staying onsite aside from the cost and there might be some advantages.
 
Onsite resort hotel guests are usually allowed entrance over other guests if there are issues of crowding. I do know that the fire marshall has the ability to bar entrance if it is beyond capacity.
Years ago when I went to WDW and stayed on property during New Years we were told we were guaranteed entrance into a Park but they could not guarantee which park it would be. My guess is that Disneyland is the same way. They may not let you into DL if it reaches capacity but you'll have access to DCA.
 
We are staying off property at a Quality Inn, it was supposed to be a "cheap trip" then I decided on 5 park days, character meals, and some dining packages :laughing::laughing::laughing:

We definitely plan on rope dropping, we are traveling from the Tulsa area, so time differences will be on our side this time. We did 7am park opens at WDW and loved it! We were able to get almost everything done by lunch, and had the afternoons to take it easy while the lines were longer than we were willing to do with a 4y/o.


We're from the OKC area, and I can confirm that RDs are much easier at DLR than they are at WDW! When we were there last year, both of my kids (12 & 9) were up at the absolute crack of dawn (my daughter was up at 4:45am!), so RD wasn't a problem at all. That's one of the reasons I'm comfortable with staying offsite as well.

Also, I've never done WDW at Spring Break, but we did it the week between Christmas & New Year's one year (which is supposed to be the #1 busiest week for them), and we were fine. We did everything we wanted to do (and some things more than once.) and had an amazing time. Advance planning and taking advantage of RD were key to making that work, though. So, I'm assuming that the same will be true for this situation, as well.
 
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I'm interested to follow this board. We aren't planning until Fall of 2019, but still curious how it will all play out for people with the new Star Wars land. I booked DLH for 4 nights. I feel like it's so expensive and I'm second guessing it, but my kids are getting older and I just think it's time to do this with them again. We don't go often so I'm trying to justify the cost.

We have done WDW at Spring Break. It was our first time. Then we went during Fall Break, Wine and Food Festival. I think the Fall felt busier, but we always plan well, use Magic Mornings, Rope Drop, Fast Passes, etc.
 
I just booked for 5/30-6/3. Our girls' trip in March didn't work out because all the close hotels are either booked solid or priced out of my range, so we're trying these dates instead. Fingers crossed that SWGE does not open until late June, but we're good at Disney and we know what to do if it's open on our dates.
 
I usually go to Disneyland at the end of June and Im planning on the same for 2019. I do 1 park per day , not park hopping, so once Im in early in the morning, I wont leave so this will avoid me getting caught in any capacity closures.

My initial plan is to totally avoid Galaxys Edge and to tour the parks like I normally do. But Im guessing my curiosity will get the better of me and I probably will go and have a look but Im defiantly NOT doing any rides in 2019.

I see lots of people have already booked their hotel, hmm I dont normally book until January but maybe I should start looking and just book something now, and I can always cancel or change dates in a few months
 
[QUOTE="Malcon10t, post: 59593055, member:I expect VIP to have full access to SW:GE. I plan to tour myself. I think it will be one of the busiest tour dates![/QUOTE]

Thank you, Malcon10t!! When will you reserve the VIP Tour? Understanding they haven’t officially announced an opening date for SW:GE, will you wait or take a chance and book, then try to reschedule, etc? I completely agree. I expect the plaids to go faster than any MP in history!!:) Haha
 
Well, I'm planning on braving it, but it will probably be a solo trip or with only one other person. Our big family trip is waiting until November 2019 so that at least I can get a feel for the crowds and get feedback from the forums before taking my little ones to wait in super crazy lines. I haven't booked a hotel yet. I'm tempted, but I am holding out to see what opening day/press opening tickets might cost and what day the official opening will be on. Yes, I'm that crazy. It will probably be cutting it close though. I'm tempted to just pick a random day in July.
 

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