I’m back with my regular blogging schedule and Terrific Tip Tuesdays. This tip may seem a little obvious, but considering the mind-boggling amount of guests who went to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, maybe it’s not.
Ok. Read this and take it to heart. If you drive to the Disneyland Resort and you have to park in one of the overflow lots or the Anaheim Convention Center, TURN AROUND AND GO HOME. Seriously. It’s going to be crazy busy and I don’t think it’s very easy when you are body to body with 80,000+ of your “best friends.”
Not sure what else to do around Disneyland? Consider going to the Discovery Science Center only a few miles from Disneyland or head to the beach! Pretty much anything would be better than waiting an hour or more for attractions.
You probably won’t hear “turn around and go home” very often, so I can totally appreciate the honesty and reality in this tip.
I completely agree. That said, I’ve never actually turned around. LOL After a 40 minute drive, I’ve just never had the heart to.
That’s why the Discovery Science Center is great to have in your back pocket. Have you been there? It’s fantastic and the kids love it. It’s not Disneyland, but it’s still a really fun day out with the kids. 🙂
Do you consider the Toy Story lots as overflow parking? It’s been probably a year since we parked in the Mickey and Friends parking structure. We always get rerouted! Most of the days I’ve gone the crowds haven’t been too bad, I tend to stick with mid-week. We have gone and spent a full day with only one ride, and it is still a wonderful day for the kids. Sometimes, you just wander! I will have to try the science museum though, that sounds great!
I went to Disneyland the one day two weeks ago when the crowds hit 100,000. I had in-laws in town, they had tickets purchased already and we did it.
It was….insane. Obviously. However, I was treated to something I propbably would not have seen had I visited when the crowds wee just “sorta crowded”. EVERYBODY was nice. Everyone I encountered was polite: Cast members, people bumping into me, people in line, the people who waited an HOUR for drinks or beignets or whatever. It was a *unique* expereince and I’m glad I didn’t turn around.
I get what you’re saying though. lol.
I’m more concerned about the overflow at the Garden Walk and Convention Center. If you are redirected to nonDisney lots, you know it’s bad.
I also agree that there’s a lot to do with the time of year and crowds. People are always much nicer when it’s crowded and cool/cold than when its hot. 🙂 Hot + sticky + crowds = yucky time.