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

[longtimedisneylurker]

Unless I'm reading this wrong, this doesn't sound like a once-in-a-lifetime trip, just a desire to make a quick, cheap trip for some Disneyland fun with a 3 year old and a 5 year old. The only way it's going to be "cheap" and "low" crowds is if you go at as much of an off-peak time as possible between now and May 22. Previous posters have already pointed you in the right direction regarding crowd concerns. Avoid the week before and the week after Easter. Since spring break is kind of a rolling six-week period, maybe you want to even avoid the two weeks before and two weeks after Easter. Don't go for Mother's Day/Tinkerbell half-marathon weekend. Don't go for President's Day weekend, maybe even the whole week since lots of schools get that off. So if you don't go during any of those dates, you will most likely encounter smaller crowds and cheaper hotel prices comparable to those time periods.

Also, don't worry about waiting for the 60th stuff. You have a 3 year old and a 5 year old. Even with the long refurbishment schedule right now, there will be more than enough for you and your kids to see and do in the two parks. Kids that age will have no idea what they are missing unless you tell them, so that should in no way impact their enjoyment of what they do experience. We took our boys for the first time when they were 3 and 5 in the spring before the 50th celebration. We all had a great time. We went back a year later after some of the 50th hoopla had died down a bit, and it was fresh and exciting because there were things to do that hadn't been open or ready the first time we had been. If you expect your family to have the potential to return to Disneyland sometime in the next year or two or three, then go for that low-stress experience now, enjoy the rides and shows and characters with your family, and know that there will be even more to do when you go back. If this was a once-in-a-lifetime or once-in-a-very-long-time kind of trip, then my advice would be different.

 

[neonderlyn]

What about crowds this year?

As figment was saying end of April should be less busy, then say march (spring break) or summer time. From what everyone has said in these board disneyland doesnt have a true SLOW season anymore. This is our first trip to disney as well and I have two toddlers ages 2 and 3, we will be making our trip april 27th-may 2nd. I choose this time because its will be less busy then summer or spring break. I still expect crowds because there will always be crowds at disneyland but im hoping to avoid hour+ wait times.

 

[DisneyMom234]

Thanks! I want to hopefully hit friday so I can see the fireworks at least once. are thurs and wed good days?

 

[figment_jii]

The end of April 2015 this year, should be among the last periods in the year when the crowds will be low-to-moderate (not counting weekend). My guess is that weekdays (Mon-Fri) will be pretty good, but the weekends will be busy, which is pretty typical year around. My guess is the parks will be running moderate hours (e.g., 10:00 am to 9:00 pm for DL on weekday and 9:00 am to midnight on Fri-Sun). Entertainment will likely be mostly on weekends (fireworks and F!, but WoC will probably be nightly). I think this is a good time to go if you want to avoid the worse of the crowds and have decent weather. The trade-off is the shorter hours and longer refurbishment list (though, not all may impact your trip depending on the age and height of your children).

On benefit to waiting until 2016, is that you will mostly likely get to see the new fireworks, parade, and WoC that will be debuting for the 60th anniversary. They all look pretty amazing!

In terms of dates and events, Olaf's Snow Fest is slated to end on April 30, and the rest of Frozen Fun is slated to end on May 15. There is the Star Wars Celebration VII at the Anaheim Convention Center on Apr 16-19 (Thu-Sun) and the Tinkerbell Half Marathon on May 7-10 (Thu-Sun).

 

[DisneyMom234]

Thank you guys!! I don't mind not having fireworks every night as long as we see them once!
Can someone point me to the "frozen" stuff? I hadn't heard of any of it but olafs snow fest

 

[figment_jii]

Here is the Disneyland.com webpage for Frozen Fun:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disney-california-adventure/frozen-fun-celebration/

They also added Arandelle to Storybook Canal Boats in DL and present a comic version of the Frozen story at Princess Fantasy Faire.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/entertainment/disneyland/fantasy-faire/

In terms of fireworks, DL usually on presents fireworks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights during the non-peak season. Right now, they're presenting Fantasy in the Sky, a much smaller show than normal while they are working on installing and upgrading the current equipment so that it can be ready for the 60th. So at this point, the fireworks show is pretty minor (about 5 minutes) without any effects on the castle.

 

[ifer924]

Not sure if about hotel options, but I did extensive research as I was really only considering first part of 2015 and came up with week of April 20th so if you could make it work, it might be good. More closures then I want, but less crowds is worth the trade off. I too have little ones, we've done Disney World with them, first DL trip. Theyre 2, 4 and 7 but do well with theme parks and rides We actually found Disney more friendly on rides for these young kids then LEGOLAND.

Okay how much does the expedition challenge affect crowds?


Also what about april 21st~25thish?


Also best nearby budget hotels?

 

[stacyoates]

What about May 5-7? Will the Tinkerbell half marathon affect the crowds those few days before it starts? Does Cinco De Mayo affect crowds at all? I wouldn't think it would.

 

[SMD]

What about May 5-7? Will the Tinkerbell half marathon affect the crowds those few days before it starts? Does Cinco De Mayo affect crowds at all? I wouldn't think it would.

Cinco de Mayo, yes. They've had something advertised in the park for it the last 2-3 years. This is the first time a half marathon has happened in May. Typically Mother's Day is already crowded. The runDisney expo will open on Thursday and crowds will start to pick up then.

 

[stacyoates]

Ok. Thank you. I wasn't even thinking about Cinco De Mayo and didn't know about the Tinkerbell half marathon. Would the Tuesday and Wednesday before be better? April 28-29.

 

[SMD]

Ok. Thank you. I wasn't even thinking about Cinco De Mayo and didn't know about the Tinkerbell half marathon. Would the Tuesday and Wednesday before be better? April 28-29.

It depends what you're looking for. The refurb schedule may be better the following week. Olaf's Snow Fest ends April 30th, that may be crowded, but you'd have a chance to do it, if you wanted to.

 

[stacyoates]

Ok. I'm sure the kids would love the Olaf Snow Fest. I guess in my mind I'm looking for the least amount of people. I know Disneyland is always busier than I'd like it to be these days. Would a Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday be better crowd wise?

 

[ZoZo]

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)

I was also planning a trip in the early May timeframe, but decided to postpone it to late September. I figured we would be able to take advantage of the new things with the 60th anniversary, but not have the horrible crowds expected 5/22 and after (since schools will be back in session at the end of September). I figure that by September, the summer/anniversary crowds will have dided down since the anniversary stuff won't be "new" anymore.

Remember that you'll always have a ride closure or two to deal with - they schedule regular ride refurbishments throughout the year. For me, Soarin' is my favorite ride, so that was another factor of deciding to wait until September to go.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Late April/early May will be better than any time after the 60th celebration kicks off in May. I frequently take my 4 year old and 1 year old twins. Crowds can be annoying, but the key with little ones is to get there at rope drop. You can get most kid-friendly rides in both parks done by 230 even on a crowded day, take a break at a hotel in the afternoon or watch a show or two, then go back at night for more fun if your kids aren't exhausted.