A lot of people are deterred from visiting Disneyland due to its reputation of being crowded, and as someone who has crowd issues, I can understand where they are coming from, but from I have experienced, there are ways around that massive crowdedness, and before I take off on another excursion there, I want to write this out in behalf all those nay-sayers who fit within this category. So here are my secrets to avoiding the crowd:
- Embrace your early bird/night owl tendencies: Early in the morning (first two hours after opening) and late at night (particularly post-fireworks/projections) are the best times of day to find some space.
- Stick to the path less travelled: There are little pathways around that are less crowded, because they aren't in the direct path of the attractions most people are heading to. Most people usually like to walk through the castle via the drawbridge, but the side pathways on both sides are often clear, with the exception of a few moments when popular characters emerge to visit with guests. There are other areas throughout the park also. Keep your eyes open.
- Watch fireworks from a different perspective: The fireworks show is visible throughout the park. Both It's a Small World and Rivers of America show projections. Rivers of America tends to be less crowded between the two. If the only thing you want to see are the fireworks, then Galaxy's Edge is an awesome option.
- Avoid popular rides mid-day: The crowd begins to build up late morning and grows continuously from then on. Popular rides can have insane wait times once the crowd comes in, so either get that Genie + to get you out of that crowd faster, or get it done during those early/late hours.
- Take that siesta: Have mid-afternoon breaks from the park to go back to your hotel, park-hop to a more easy-going place in DCA, or explore one of the Disney Hotels to get away from that crowd. A change of scenery for a few hours does wonders.
- Utilize the more relaxed attractions: There are several attractions that have the advantage of being more low-key. Some are less crowded, some are quiet, and some are both. The island is one of the best outdoor places in DL, and the indoor attractions on Main Street are great for crowd escape. DCA has some great areas also, and I love the Grizzly Peak Area for my escape, but who knows how long that will remain, since it seems that park is slowly working out the California theming. If it does get replaced, I hope it keeps that charm.
- Embrace the rain: Rainy days are great times to go to the park. I went during time of year when it rained, and I absolutely loved it, though perhaps didn't follow my own advice here in some ways. I was having too much fun soaking myself and dancing in the rain to take advantage of the shrinking wait times.
- Know the nooks and crannies: There are little pockets of space to escape to that are away from the crowds that few people retreat to.
- Be aware of the entertainment schedule: This is particularly for the performances that tend to draw crowds. Avoid the areas where they are happening, unless you are trying to participate. In that case, I would advise finding a curb or bench early on so that the crowd builds up around you. Trust me, it's easier to deal with. In some evening activities when there are two showings, always go to the second, particularly if it is post-fireworks. There's always a mass exit after fireworks, so the crowds are smaller for the second show.
- Avoid bottle-neck areas: There are certain areas that become packed during busy times of the day. The most notorious areas are through Adventureland on the way to New Oreleans Square, and through Fantasyland passing the Storybookland/Casey Jr. area.
- Bonus! Take your time: This isn't particularly related to having a crowd issue, but I want to emphasize this, because if you find yourself in too much of a rush, it's much easier to be prone to the anxiety being stuck in a crowd can cause, and some people don't know how to properly behave while under that kind of stress.
Hopefully, these tips are useful to someone out there.
