1st time!! Will it be more crowded bcuz its 60th? Best time to go? April or other month?

[DisneyMom234]

I am wanting to try to fit in a quick, cheap trip. My family has never been, but we plan on trying to get pregnant later this year. My boys are currently 3 and 5 I would love to do Disney with them and be able to ride some of the "bigger" rides together before I have a baby with me.

When would be the best time to go? Beginning March? (or are there spring breaks already)
Beginning May? Last week of April?

Also what are good but cheap nearby hotels that are walking distance, or have a shuttle? Thanks!!

 

[Filipina]

I am wanting to try to fit in a quick, cheap trip. My family has never been, but we plan on trying to get pregnant later this year. My boys are currently 3 and 5 I would love to do Disney with them and be able to ride some of the "bigger" rides together before I have a baby with me.

When would be the best time to go? Beginning March? (or are there spring breaks already)
Beginning May? Last week of April?

Also what are good but cheap nearby hotels that are walking distance, or have a shuttle? Thanks!!

March is good but just now that ALOT of things will be closed as they are preparing for the 60th anniversary which will open 5/22. I think once 5/22 hits, expect crazy crowded. Your kids are young so maybe all the closures won't be too bad for them. Spring break is April. Tinkerbell Half is Mother's Day weekend in May. If you want to get the most with your boys, go first thing when the park opens. Locals usually go after school and work so in the morning, the crowds are not that bad. You can accomplish a lot before 12 on a Monday-Thursday. You will notice crowds start coming around 4pm.

I like Candy Cane Inn. Corner of Harbor and Katella. Family owned, they have a shuttle and you can walk. HoJo is good too.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Purchase a book or do extensive online research on touring the parks with children under the age of 7. What you see as magical about Disneyland may very well be scary and daunting for your sons.

I had the same experience, couldn't wait to take young son to Disneyland. He was having no part of entering any doors or buildings in Disneyland. Thank goodness for that lever on Dumbo and steering wheels at autopia.

Early march or late April good choices. Easter is a lunar holiday so no real crowd predictor for the last week of April.

 

[DisneyMom234]

What closures are there supposed to be? Would another month be better?

Are the crowds supposed to be a lot bigger all year?

 

[Filipina]

What closures are there supposed to be? Would another month be better?

Are the crowds supposed to be a lot bigger all year?

Attractions and Restaurant Closures... You should double check to be sure but here goes:

Disneyland

Captain EO 11/1/14 - 2/27/15
Matterhorn Bobsleds 1/7/15 - 5/15/15
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes 1/12/15 - 4/2/15
Splash Mountain 1/12/15 - 4/2/15
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 1/12/15 - 4/2/15
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough 1/19/15 - 3/1/15
It's a small world 1/26/15 - 2/5/15
Disneyland Railroad Mickey's Toontown 1/26/15 - 2/12/15
Disneyland Railroad New Orleans Square Station 1/26/15 - 2/12/15
Disneyland Railroad Tomorrowland Station 1/26/15 - 2/12/15
Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station 1/26/15 - 2/12/15
Peter Pan's Flight 2/2/15 - 5/7/15


Disney California Adventure Refurbishments

Muppet*Vision 3D 11/2/14 - 5/31/15
Character Close-Up 12/1/14 - 5/31/15
Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar 12/16/14 - 10/2/15
Pacific Wharf Cafe 1/5/15 - 2/5/15
Soarin' Over California 1/6/15 - 5/14/15
World of Color 1/7/15 - 3/12/15
Taste Pilots' Grill 1/7/15 - 3/12/15
It's Tough to Be a Bug! 1/18/15 - 3/26/15
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail 1/20/15 - 3/3/15
Grizzly River Run 1/20/15 - 3/19/15
Luigi's Flying Tires 2/2/15 - 12/1/15
Ariel's Grotto 2/2/15 - 2/27/15

I think any day after 5/22 will be crazy but everything will be open and there probably will be lots of nice surprises.

 

[DisneyMom234]

So what about the first week or second week in may? (right before the 22nd?)
May 5th-9th or 12th-16th.
Will that be more crowded than normal? OR are there any schools out, marathons, etc?

 

[DisneyMom234]

Seems maybe even the last week of April? not too many closures according to the list. I can do without soarin' hehe

 

[Filipina]

So what about the first week or second week in may? (right before the 22nd?)
May 5th-9th or 12th-16th.
Will that be more crowded than normal? OR are there any schools out, marathons, etc?

Tinkerbell Half Marathon is the May 7-10. A little bit more crowded. And May 10 is Mother's Day. First week may be good. Different School districts start getting out near end of May. But I think it's a good time.

 

[dnamertz]

So what about the first week or second week in may? (right before the 22nd?)
May 5th-9th or 12th-16th.
Will that be more crowded than normal? OR are there any schools out, marathons, etc?

There are grad-nights scheduled May 13, 15 and 16...and beyond.

 

[DisneyMom234]

Any half marathons or school vacations the last week in april? (april 28th- may 2nd?)
Do school spring breaks go that late? im new to looking at school stuff as my oldest is only 5

 

[jmadamba]

Any half marathons or school vacations the last week in april? (april 28th- may 2nd?)
Do school spring breaks go that late? im new to looking at school stuff as my oldest is only 5

They have the expedition challenge may 2. But the tinkerbell half the following week, missed it by this much :/

 

[Geemo]

Any half marathons or school vacations the last week in april? (april 28th- may 2nd?)
Do school spring breaks go that late? im new to looking at school stuff as my oldest is only 5

This link will give you an idea of school breaks and conventions for 2015.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3358090

If you are serious about early March and you're wanting an inexpensive place to stay, you'd better be booking soon. With the Natural Products Convention there aren't many reasonably priced places left.

Geemo

 

[DisneyMom234]

This link will give you an idea of school breaks and conventions for 2015.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3358090

If you are serious about early March and you're wanting an inexpensive place to stay, you'd better be booking soon. With the Natural Products Convention there aren't many reasonably priced places left.

Geemo

Bummer looks like that isn't a good time. I am trying to find a time soon that will have less crowds so we wont have huge lines to wait in.

Is that possible this year? Or would it be best to wait until next year? Or even Nov? Or dec? (I just think they may have more ride closures then? or more crowds because its the 60th thing)

 

[DisneyMom234]

Okay how much does the expedition challenge affect crowds?


Also what about april 21st~25thish?


Also best nearby budget hotels?

 

[kirstie101]

They have the expedition challenge may 2. But the tinkerbell half the following week, missed it by this much :/

Okay how much does the expedition challenge affect crowds?


Also what about april 21st~25thish?


Also best nearby budget hotels?

There is no Expedition Everest Challenge in Disneyland, thats in Disneyworld. The only rundisney event in Disneyland in May is Tinkerbell on Mothers Day Weekend.

As for April 21st-25th I think you might be good. Most of the spring break crowds should be gone by then I think. Looks like the majority of the refurbs will be done too. But keep in mind the 60th celebration will not have started yet if thats important to you at all. Its really getting to the point where Disney doesn't have a slow season like it used to.

As for hotel, your sons are 3 and 5 so they might really like the pirate water park at the Howard Johnson on Harbor. My kids are now 3 and 8 and they love it. We've been staying there a couple years. The rooms are clean and comfy and parking is free. You can get a 15% discount if you call them and mention the Disboards discount. Its about a 8-10 minute walk to the parks. Another hotel that we've stayed at is the Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites on Harbor. Its even closer than the Hojo, has an indoor pool and is also clean and comfortable. The earlier you book with them the cheaper the rate seems to be. They have a free breakfast but they do charge for parking. We've also stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn though its been awhile. We were happy with our stay there and would stay again. Also free breakfast but charge for parking. Its as close as you can get to the park entrance without staying at the Disney properties.

 

[DisneyMom234]

Because my kids are young, I actually would rather hit it when the crowds are less but decent weather and not too many closures

My other option I guess would be to wait until next year either early march, or again late april or early may

 

[DisneyMom234]

Would the crowds possibly be better at one vs the other? or maybe even some other date?
I have young children so smaller crowds is my biggest concern, followed by as few refurbs as possible (since we wont make it for awhile after probably)

 

[figment_jii]

It's really too far out to know what 2016 will be like. In either case, I think you'll be outside of the Spring Break-season, because Easter is in early-April in 2015 and late-March in 2016. There are bound to be some attractions closed for refurbishments during the non-peak season. This year seems to have more than normal in preparation for the 60th. In terms of children's attractions, the only one that is still slated to be down in late-April 2015 is Peter Pan (Pooh, Redwood Creek Trail, and ITtBaB should reopen by late-April).

No one know for sure how long the 60th anniversary celebration will last (the current guess is either through spring or summer of 2016). If it's slated to end before the summer-season in 2016, there might be a slight increase in guests trying to get in one last trip to see the 60th anniversary stuff. Though, at this point, it's too early to guess what kind of impact that will have (if any).

Basically, at this point we kind of know what late-April 2015 will be like in terms of refurbishments, but we have no ideas about late-April 2016.

 

[Angrose]

I also think you would be good to go mid to late April, especially if you are there mid-week. I looked on Touring Plans and their crowd calendar is mostly 4's on the week days and 7's on the weekends for that period. That is not bad at all. Again, getting there at rope drop is the key to low crowds and taking afternoon breaks for the little ones really helps. The PPs have already mentioned some good options on Harbor Blvd. Any place between Hojo and Ramada Maingate will be easy walking distance. Here is a map so you can get an idea: http://anaheim-attractions.10-best.info/disney_map.pdf Try Orbitz for booking rooms, right now they have a 15% off promo code for participating hotels. Also check the websites for Hojo, Park Vue Inn, Ramada, and Desert Inn and Suites. They either aren't on Orbitz or you may get better rates on their own websites.
Have fun!

 

[DisneyMom234]

What about crowds this year?