2018 planning

[Chelsea B]

Hey guys!
I've tried to get my answers from other posts but there's just so much! I apologize if this info is answered elsewhere...
My husband and I are planning our first Disneyland trip! We've been to WDW amd rocked the planning ahead for that; I'm struggling with the planning for DL though! We are thinking 3 days, and are looking at the end of Feb or early March, or the end of April. I was trying to focus on weekdays since everything says weekends are always busy. BUT, I'm worried about it being such an off season that too much will be closed or shows won't be happening. I don't want to plan on certain days and then find out we will miss WOC or something! When can I find out about when attractions are planned to close or when shows are happening? Or park hours? Thanks so much for the help!!

 

[darph nader]

3 days would be good. As far as what's gonna be down for refurb,that's gonna be a tough call. If you do late Feb,,go early in the week. Ariz has spring break and lots of us show up at that time.

 

[Chelsea B]

3 days would be good. As far as what's gonna be down for refurb,that's gonna be a tough call. If you do late Feb,,go early in the week. Ariz has spring break and lots of us show up at that time.

Thanks so much! I hadn't even considered it being spring break, so that's good to know

 

[Rabb it]

WoC is normally everyday, even in the off season I believe. Fantasmic however is only on weekends during the off-season, so Fri/Sat/Sun. Something to keep in mind..

 

[smartlabelprint]

I've been told early March as in the first week should be pretty good.

 

[Chelsea B]

WoC is normally everyday, even in the off season I believe. Fantasmic however is only on weekends during the off-season, so Fri/Sat/Sun. Something to keep in mind..

Great info! I can at least use this as a guide to start...and will be sure to have at least one weekend night planned. Thanks so much!

 

[Chelsea B]

I've been told early March as in the first week should be pretty good.

Awesome. I'm thinking that sounds like maybe the best option! Thank you!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm gonna be blunt: If you go then there WILL be rides/shows down. We won't know which ones until maybe a month out (if we're lucky). During weekdays, outside of Fri, the nightly entertainment of fireworks & Fantasmic don't run but WOC does. As for park hours, they will be limited. Weekdays in the off season just have limited hours, you won't know the hours or entertainment schedule until 6-8 weeks prior to your trip (see the new thread on people complaining the WOC schedule isn't out for Oct yet- this is totally typical).

If DL is hard for you to do trip and it's really important to you that you miss as little as possible I advise re-considering your plans and looking at visiting during summer. Nightly entertainment, longer hours, less rides down for refurb because it's prime time. Although the cost of that is bigger crowds and hotter weather!

 

[Chelsea B]

I'm gonna be blunt: If you go then there WILL be rides/shows down. We won't know which ones until maybe a month out (if we're lucky). During weekdays, outside of Fri, the nightly entertainment of fireworks & Fantasmic don't run but WOC does. As for park hours, they will be limited. Weekdays in the off season just have limited hours, you won't know the hours or entertainment schedule until 6-8 weeks prior to your trip (see the new thread on people complaining the WOC schedule isn't out for Oct yet- this is totally typical).

If DL is hard for you to do trip and it's really important to you that you miss as little as possible I advise re-considering your plans and looking at visiting during summer. Nightly entertainment, longer hours, less rides down for refurb because it's prime time. Although the cost of that is bigger crowds and hotter weather!

Thanks for the help...Oh man, that does make it hard to plan! I appreciate the info. We didn't want to do summer because its so busy. It does make me sad about having shorter park hours though. Maybe including a Friday or Sat in our trip would allow for more options...

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thanks for the help...Oh man, that does make it hard to plan! I appreciate the info. We didn't want to do summer because its so busy. It does make me sad about having shorter park hours though. Maybe including a Friday or Sat in our trip would allow for more options...

For sure- but don't be too scared by summer crowds! Disneyland is kinda crowded always now because of the annual pass holders- actually when they're blocked during peak times it's not unusual to see slightly lower crowds as weird as that sounds. (Except for the crazy crowds of Christmas-New Years, those are insane.)

 

[smartlabelprint]

Awesome. I'm thinking that sounds like maybe the best option! Thank you!!

You're welcome. We're going late march because of wondercon. We know it will be crowded. But it's a combo trip so DH is happy with his comicon. And we can do Disneyland while he's there.

 

[Geemo]

Thanks for the help...Oh man, that does make it hard to plan! I appreciate the info. We didn't want to do summer because its so busy. It does make me sad about having shorter park hours though. Maybe including a Friday or Sat in our trip would allow for more options...

Hard to plan long range at DL is an understatement!

Here are a few links that might help you get an idea of what might be happening at various times of the year.
Figment_jii has been maintaining an annual calendar. I do hope there will be one for 2018 too.
2015 - https://www.disboards.com/threads/2015-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3358090/
2016 - https://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3434866/
2017 - https://www.disboards.com/threads/2017-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3528760/

HydroGuy has a thread of Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurb's
https://www.disboards.com/threads/historical-dlr-park-hours-entertainment-and-refurbs.2291124/

If you decide to choose end of April, you might want to tie Dapper Days into your trip. You would be able to get a Disney hotel for a very nice rate.
Go for Sunday thru Wed or so, which would be April 22, 2018 and on. PPH is $209/nt, DLH is $254 and GCH is $289.
Staying on site gives you early entry each day of your stay.
Dapper Days website is http://dapperday.com/
Here is a link to the reservation page http://dapperday.com/spring-2018-disneyland-ca

Not sure if you're familiar for the DLR lingo of abbreviations, if not here's a link for those.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/dlr-abbreviations-list.1520784/

Good luck planning!!

Geemo

 

[agamble]

If you go in late February or early March expect at least one, if not both, water rides to be down. Also, no matter which spring month you pick, expect Screamin' to be down as it is expected to close after Christmas and open again for the new Pixar Fest next summer. Hours are a ways away from being posted, but late April can sometimes be a great time. Due to planned spring breaks hours may be longer in late April, but most spring breaks are over. Easter is April 1 this year, so expect March to be full with Spring break crowds and the end of April to have very few.

I also will second the information you were given above about summer. Yes it's hot, but all the rides will be open. Crowds have been so hit and miss and hard to predict lately. Everyone thinks they know the best time to visit for low crowds, and then everyone goes on those "low" crowd days and then it's super crowded. Then no one goes on the high crowd days (plus blockouts) and suddenly the park is not crowded at all. Crowds are too hard to predict. Hours and ride closures are a little easier. Typically summer is longest hours and least ride closures.

 

[Chelsea B]

Hard to plan long range at DL is an understatement!

Here are a few links that might help you get an idea of what might be happening at various times of the year.
Figment_jii has been maintaining an annual calendar. I do hope there will be one for 2018 too.
2015 - https://www.disboards.com/threads/2015-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3358090/
2016 - https://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3434866/
2017 - https://www.disboards.com/threads/2017-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3528760/

HydroGuy has a thread of Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurb's
https://www.disboards.com/threads/historical-dlr-park-hours-entertainment-and-refurbs.2291124/

If you decide to choose end of April, you might want to tie Dapper Days into your trip. You would be able to get a Disney hotel for a very nice rate.
Go for Sunday thru Wed or so, which would be April 22, 2018 and on. PPH is $209/nt, DLH is $254 and GCH is $289.
Staying on site gives you early entry each day of your stay.
Dapper Days website is http://dapperday.com/
Here is a link to the reservation page http://dapperday.com/spring-2018-disneyland-ca

Not sure if you're familiar for the DLR lingo of abbreviations, if not here's a link for those.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/dlr-abbreviations-list.1520784/

Good luck planning!!

Geemo

Thanks for all the info!! This will be super helpful!!

 

[Chelsea B]

If you go in late February or early March expect at least one, if not both, water rides to be down. Also, no matter which spring month you pick, expect Screamin' to be down as it is expected to close after Christmas and open again for the new Pixar Fest next summer. Hours are a ways away from being posted, but late April can sometimes be a great time. Due to planned spring breaks hours may be longer in late April, but most spring breaks are over. Easter is April 1 this year, so expect March to be full with Spring break crowds and the end of April to have very few.

I also will second the information you were given above about summer. Yes it's hot, but all the rides will be open. Crowds have been so hit and miss and hard to predict lately. Everyone thinks they know the best time to visit for low crowds, and then everyone goes on those "low" crowd days and then it's super crowded. Then no one goes on the high crowd days (plus blockouts) and suddenly the park is not crowded at all. Crowds are too hard to predict. Hours and ride closures are a little easier. Typically summer is longest hours and least ride closures.

Those are very good points! We'll have to weigh the choices. It looks like in the past too many things are closed in feb for sure! I appreciate your help!!

 

[Kirbie]

During weekdays, outside of Fri, the nightly entertainment of fireworks & Fantasmic don't run but WOC does. As for park hours, they will be limited. Weekdays in the off season just have limited hours, you won't know the hours or entertainment schedule until 6-8 weeks prior to your trip (see the new thread on people complaining the WOC schedule isn't out for Oct yet- this is totally typical).

Would you say this is also the case for April? I am planning on mid to late April 2018, and I definitely don't want to miss Fantasmic!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Would you say this is also the case for April? I am planning on mid to late April 2018, and I definitely don't want to miss Fantasmic!

Idk but if I was in your shoes I would plan a Fri, Sat or Sun into my trip to be safe. Traditionally Fantasmic runs Fri-Sun during the off-season so the odds aren't in your favor for weekday performances unless something changes.

 

[sweethannah]

A bit late to the party but this may help:
Friday, May 4, 2018
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Friday, May 11, 2018
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Friday, May 18, 2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Friday, June 1, 2018
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Friday, June 8, 2018
Saturday, June 9, 2018

Grad days for 2018

 

[*RJ*]

Are grad nights at both DCA and DL? I see three of the five nights we'll be there on that list...

 

[Geemo]

Are grad nights at both DCA and DL? I see three of the five nights we'll be there on that list...

Whoaaa three of the five days you'll be there.

Keep in mind some of those going for grad nights will be in the park(s) during the day too.
It depends on the which ticket level the grad's select.

More info here
https://www.disneyyouth.com/our-pro...ad-night-dlr/#categories-disneyland-grad-nite