Best time during early 2016 to visit?

brianerickson · Aug 25, 2015

Apologies in advance if you get a lot of threads about this!

Hey all! I've recently been bitten by the Disney bug, and I'm currently looking to bring a family member along on my next trip (my second, his first), and am wondering which time during the beginning of next year would be the best time to head back down.

A couple ride refurbishments don't really bother either of us as much; even if they're Small World and Haunted Mansion (two of my top five rides in the park), but my question, of course, would be regarding the weather; I know they're saying El Nino, and I know they're saying it could be bad, but at what point during the first part of the year would we have the best chances of being relatively dry? Not that I really mind the rain, of course; I'm originally from the Upper Midwest, cold and wet are like our bread and butter up there.

I know it's probably a tad bit too early to predict, but hey, I figure if there's anyone I could start a dialogue with, it's people that love Disneyland as much as I do.

I of course want to go during the beginning part of the year because, while I know I can handle the heat and the crowds, I don't know that my partner in Disney crime could. I'd go sometime before the end of this year, but I just got back a couple weeks ago and need to let enough time pass to accumulate enough money to make the trip out there worthwhile. I'd also go during the latter part of next year, but, well, how to put this delicately? I'm really impatient and I want to endure the shortest possible amount of time between now and my next mouse fix.

Any and all insight is both welcome and greatly appreciated!

Geemo · Aug 25, 2015

Here are a couple of links with info through out the year.
2015 http://www.disboards.com/threads/2015-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-mhp-and-dlr.3358090/
2016 http://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3434866/

This one would give you the availability to see what past years have offered, hours and entertainment wise.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/historical-dlr-park-hours-entertainment-and-refurbs.2291124/

These links will give you some very good info to help make your decision of when to travel.

Geemo

brianerickson · Aug 26, 2015

A bevy of information, thanks Geemo!

I guess my one real worry is any and all potential rain; is it possible it could ruin our trip? Should I just book anyway and accept anything that could come our way? I mean, I know they say it could be bad now. but we still have almost 5 whole months until all of this could play out! Native Californians, how have you been able to deal with the weather El Nino has brought the Golden State?

Jerry Horne · Aug 26, 2015

For lower crowds, we like to go in the last week of February through the first week of March.

brianerickson · Aug 26, 2015

Hmm, that's actually a good idea! I'll consider it

I was originally thinking about the second week of January; can anyone familiar with January in Disneyland weigh in?

HydroGuy · Aug 27, 2015

Having lived through several SoCal El Nino's, if the full El Nino hits and I wanted to avoid rain I would wait until May. I would avoid January-March at all costs.

But this is weather we are talking about which of course is hard to predict.

If you want to consider average weather and not specifically El Nino weather, here is some data:

"Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

:wizard:

brianerickson · Aug 27, 2015

Hmm...good point, Hydro Guy! Thank you!

I don't know why I'm so willing to chance it; maybe it's because I want to go back really badly? I honestly have no idea...

TACK · Aug 28, 2015

I'm going first week of January (2-9). I have no idea what it is going to be like but I want to catch the last of the Christmas decorations and Three Kings. I have gone when it has been raining, and haven't minded it and usually work around it.

agamble · Aug 28, 2015

The El Nino weather is too hard to predict. Typically the weather in Anaheim is pretty dry most of the year. But if El Nino really does hit, the rain will mostly hit Southern CA. Those of us in Northern CA, which really needs the rain, won't to see as much rain as Southern CA. It could be a very rainy trip, but you never know. Many of the rides are inside, but some rides, like the Racers will close due to rain. One nice thing about rain is that it will keep the locals away. It rained December 2 last year and we were visiting. Many visitors were wearing ponchos and having a great time, but the park was half as busy as the day before when the weather was nice. We left early because we didn't have ponchos with us and we'd already changed the kids into dry clothes once.

LizzyS · Aug 28, 2015

brianerickson said:
A bevy of information, thanks Geemo!

I guess my one real worry is any and all potential rain; is it possible it could ruin our trip? Should I just book anyway and accept anything that could come our way? I mean, I know they say it could be bad now. but we still have almost 5 whole months until all of this could play out! Native Californians, how have you been able to deal with the weather El Nino has brought the Golden State?

El Nino aside, we went in late February last year (and this is our "go to" time of the year now) and it absolutely dumped rain off and on a couple of days when we were in the parks. It was the top story on the California news and all that, lol. In saying that, we were patient, dealt with it, and had a great time. Don't stress, just come prepared. They really don't know exactly how El Nino will affect their weather exactly; it's really too early to tell. We were patient and dealt with the rain and ended up on the very first car for RSR for the day, haha! That was cool and it was our first time on the ride!

Sorcerer Jody · Aug 28, 2015

LizzyS, why is it your "go to" time of the year now? Can you tell me what is great about that time? I am leaning towards that week in 2016, but I still need some convincing. Do you usually see Fantasmic! during that week? I've heard F! is sometimes down in Jan./Feb. and/or the Mark Twain is under refurbishment and not used for the show. I really want my kids to see F! for the first time! Thanks!

brianerickson · Aug 28, 2015

Thank you everyone! It's good to know that it's still possible to have a fulfilling Disneyland vacation in adverse weather!

I'm really not opposed to any sort of inclement weather at all, you understand; I just, as most tourists would be, pictured everything to be like a biblical monsoon and that the entire park would shut down, which, of course, is not something anyone would wish on their worst enemy, especially for a trip to Disneyland

I'm looking at January 9 - 14, which should be plenty of time to see everything the parks have to offer, rain or shine (maybe, possibly, knock on wood...heh)

bumbershoot · Aug 28, 2015

Very early January and HM might still be "nightmare before Christmas" overlay. That's awesome to some and horrible to others. Then it will be closed to take the overlay off. Same with Small World; they do a Christmastime thing to it. I won't even GO on iasw during that time. Small World and Jingle Bells should never EVER go together in my world. (I like NBC/HM, though)

End of the second week will see the beginning of the Half Marathon crowds. 14th-17th will involve expo and then races in the mornings. I don't think that'll be awful (I'll be part of it) but it's worth knowing about.

brianerickson · Aug 29, 2015

How accurate is "Isitpacked.com"? Because, according to them, most of the dates I chose have "Ghost Town" written next to them

Best time during early 2016 to visit?

brianerickson

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Geemo

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brianerickson

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Jerry Horne

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brianerickson

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HydroGuy

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brianerickson

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TACK

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agamble

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LizzyS

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Sorcerer Jody

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bumbershoot

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