The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year at Disneyland Resort, but this Christmas, something unusual happened. Crowds appeared to shift dramatically from Disneyland Park to its neighboring park, Disney California Adventure Park. While Disneyland Park has long been known as the centerpiece of holiday festivities, with its iconic decorations and festive entertainment, its sister theme park stole the show this year.
A Tale of Two Parks
The days between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day brought the expected surges of holiday visitors, leading to packed parks and skyrocketing wait times. Historically, Disneyland Park has been the main attraction, but things seemed to change this season. Instead of facing the usual shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on Main Street, U.S.A., many guests opted for the offerings at Disney California Adventure Park.
Redditor u/CoasterCar shared screenshots from the Disneyland Resort app showing the stark contrast in wait times between the two parks. One example highlighted a 100-minute wait for Goofy’s Sky School at Disney California Adventure, compared to a walk-on wait for Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland Park. This unusual wait time disparity reflects the unexpected shift in crowd behavior.
Wait Times Giving Mixed Signals Today
Wait Times Giving Mixed Signals Today
byu/CoasterCar inDisneyland
Another Reddit user, u/gilbert2gilbert, posted a screenshot showing a 65-minute wait for The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure. “Can you imagine standing in line for 65 minutes for The Little Mermaid?” they wrote.
Can You Imagine Standing In Line For 65 Minutes For The Little Mermaid?
byu/gilbert2gilbert inDisneyland
Why the Shift in Disneyland Crowds?
Disneyland Park’s festive atmosphere traditionally brings larger crowds and longer waits for attractions, so many guests see Disney California Adventure Park as an escape from the chaos. Some Disney Parks fans shared their experiences visiting Disneyland Resort during the holidays, describing the challenges of navigating packed pathways and enduring lengthy waits.
“Ahh the Holidays at Disney probably the worst time to go,” said u/jacoblaue.
“In the past I made the mistake of going in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and I’ll never do that again,” added u/tyrone_shoelaces_esq.
Tips for Beating the Holiday Chaos
If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland Resort during the holidays, it’s important to strategize. The Disneyland Resort app is a must-have tool for tracking real-time wait times and dining availability. Guests looking to maximize their time can purchase Lightning Lane options, such as the Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Passes, for quicker access to popular attractions.
Have you noticed a difference in crowds between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments.
