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    Bluey's Best Day Ever — Week One Crowd Impact at Disneyland

    By Park Outlook

    Overall Crowd Score: This Week vs. Last Week

    Disneyland's park-wide crowd score averaged 62 during Bluey's opening week (March 22–28), compared to 48 the previous week. That's a 29% increase — significant, though not entirely attributable to Bluey alone. Spring break overlapped, but our historical data for this same week in prior years suggests Bluey added roughly 8–12 points to the daily score.

    Weekdays saw the biggest relative jump. Tuesday and Wednesday, which normally score in the low 40s this time of year, hit 55–60. Weekends were already elevated from spring break but still came in higher than projected.

    Fantasyland Wait Time Shifts

    Fantasyland saw the most dramatic impact. Average posted waits for Fantasyland attractions increased 35–45% compared to the same days last year:

  1. It's a Small World: Average wait jumped from 18 min to 32 min — a direct result of queue congestion from the Bluey line snaking through the area.
  2. Matterhorn Bobsleds: Up from 40 min to 58 min on average. The physical proximity to the theatre entrance creates bottleneck foot traffic.
  3. Storybook Land Canal Boats: Wait times nearly doubled, from 15 min to 28 min, mostly due to the area being harder to reach.
  4. Alice in Wonderland: Modest increase from 25 min to 32 min.

    5. Importantly, these increases appear to be congestion-driven, not demand-driven. Guest counts on these rides didn't increase proportionally — people were just having a harder time physically getting to and through the queues.

    Rides With the Biggest Wait Time Increases

    Across the entire park, the top 5 rides with the largest wait time increases during Bluey's opening week:

  5. Matterhorn Bobsleds — +18 min average (+45%)
  6. It's a Small World — +14 min average (+78%)
  7. Storybook Land Canal Boats — +13 min average (+87%)
  8. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — +8 min average (+19%) — likely spillover from guests touring counter-clockwise to avoid Fantasyland congestion
  9. Space Mountain — +6 min average (+12%) — modest increase, possibly from guests shifting their touring plans

    10. Notably, Adventureland and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge saw no meaningful changes, suggesting guests aren't adding Bluey to a Galaxy's Edge day — they're replacing Fantasyland rides with the Bluey show.

    Best Time of Day to Visit Fantasyland Now

    Based on opening week data, here's the Fantasyland congestion pattern:

  10. 8:00–9:30 AM: Low congestion. The Bluey queue hasn't built up yet. This is the window to ride Matterhorn, It's a Small World, and Alice with near-normal waits.
  11. 9:30 AM–2:00 PM: Peak Bluey congestion. The queue is at its longest, walkways are clogged, and nearby ride waits are inflated 40–80%.
  12. 2:00–4:00 PM: Moderate. The afternoon shows draw smaller crowds than morning, and the queue management has improved.
  13. 4:00 PM–Close: Best window. Bluey shows end by mid-afternoon, and the area clears out significantly. Fantasyland rides return to near-normal waits.

    14. Our recommendation: If you're not seeing Bluey, avoid Fantasyland before 4 PM. If you are seeing Bluey, target the 9:30 AM show and arrive at park opening.

    What We Expect Going Forward

    Bluey's opening week was always going to be the peak of the frenzy. Based on historical patterns for new Disneyland attractions:

  14. Weeks 2–4: Expect a gradual 20–30% decline in Bluey-specific wait times as the novelty levels off and repeat visitors thin out.
  15. Weekdays: Should normalize faster than weekends. By mid-April, weekday Bluey waits should settle into the 30–60 minute range.
  16. Weekends: Will remain elevated through at least May, especially as out-of-town families add Bluey to their spring/summer trip plans.
  17. Summer: Bluey will be a major draw for families with young children. Expect it to become a permanent part of the "must-do" list alongside character meals and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

    18. We're adding Bluey-specific tracking to our live crowd tracker and will publish updated impact reports as more data comes in. Check our full Bluey guide for showtimes, food tips, and family planning advice.

    Data sourced from Park Outlook's real-time wait time tracking system. All averages compare March 22–28, 2026 against the equivalent dates in 2025, adjusted for day-of-week.

    Related

    Bluey's Best Day Ever — Full GuideLive Crowd TrackerCrowd Forecast CalendarHow to Avoid Long LinesRope Drop Strategy