Why is Disneyland so crowded now?

Disneyland attendance has increased by several million people since the overhaul of Disney California Adventure, and demographics have also shifted significantly. The end result is that the majority of days in 2023 will be more crowded than their counterparts in 2012 or 2015.



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PUBLISHED: August 9, 2023 at 3:15 p.m. | UPDATED: August 11, 2023 at 10:51 a.m. Disneyland saw attendance rise during the spring and early summer months and visitor spending increase thanks in part to higher ticket prices, according to the latest Disney quarterly report.

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Most Crowded
  • The weeks before and after Easter: mid-March through mid-April, or Spring Break Season.
  • October which will increase in crowd levels the closer it gets to Halloween.


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However, when planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort, expect lower crowds from mid-September through mid-November (before the Thanksgiving break). Mid-January through mid-March is another time when potentially lower crowds are expected.

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Limited shade areas, long lines, crowded parks, and the cost of beverages may put some off from visiting the park in the summer months when hotter temperatures can be unsafe and problematic for visitors — especially those with children.

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Disneyland Park Ride closures:
  • Fantasmic! ...
  • Splash Mountain is closed and is being re-themed.
  • Tarzan's Treehouse is closed until further notice.
  • Wonderous Journeys ends on August 31, 2023.
  • The French Market restaurant and the Mint Julep bar are closed and will reopen on September 7, 2023 as Tiana's Place.


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Arrive Early, Stay Late If daily operating hours are long, expect heavy crowds. Whenever Disneyland and Disney California open at 8 am or 9 am and Disneyland closes at midnight (or later), you can be assured that this is because heavy crowds are forecast.

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You can read my review on my personal experiences booking through Get Away Today and how much you can save here!
  1. Download the Disneyland App.
  2. Use Genie+ to Skip Lines.
  3. Arrive Early to Disneyland.
  4. Stay Until Disneyland Closes.
  5. Find Alternatives to Lines When Disneyland is Crowded.


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That's a sweet deal for the time being, but Disney has also been slowly pricing out middle-class families to ensure the arrival of larger ones willing to spend more. While obviously profitable, this could be bad news for adult fans visiting in the future.

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It's likely due to several variables. One factor is that people may be less interested in theme parks. From what we're seeing with our bookings, that pent-up demand has somewhat transitioned to cruises and Europe, Greg Antonelle, the co-owner of Florida travel agency MickeyTravels, told the Journal.

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While you won't see a discounted price compared with a standard day ticket, you will see lower crowds, special holiday overlays and complimentary drinks and snacks from 9:00 PM- 1:00 AM (with entry beginning at 7:00 PM).

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While two days is a great amount of time to see most things the parks have to offer, it will not allow you to fully experience to parks. Disney if full of live entertainment, characters, attractions, and delicious food. We recommend a 4-5 day trip to enjoy everything the parks have to offer.

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Get There Early to Avoid the Crowds As you can imagine, that means the wait times will likely be over an hour and the park will be shoulder-to-shoulder with other visitors. For an enjoyable Disneyland vacation, get to the park as soon as it opens at 8 am to enjoy empty rides and no wait times.

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