Advice for timing of a fall Disneyland trip.

[dcassetta]

We’re planning a long weekend in Disneyland sometime in the fall. I know it would be better if we could go on weekdays, but that may not be possible. For you experienced Disneylanders would you recommend going in the Halloween season or wait and go during the Christmas season.
We would not plan to go on any holiday weekends like Veterans Day. Also, not going Thanksgiving week. I know that opinions might vary on this!

 

[LKing]

How much of the holiday entertainment do you want to experience? The two weeks between Halloween and Nov 14 will be the lightest with respect to crowds.

https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/disneyland-resort-2025-event-dates-and-details/

 

[gottalovepluto]

Halloween is neat but Christmas time at Disneyland is Straight Up Magic.

October gets hit very hard with Fall Break, people often get surprised by that so do keep that in mind.

 

[Aspencreek]

Halloween is neat but Christmas time at Disneyland is Straight Up Magic.

October gets hit very hard with Fall Break, people often get surprised by that so do keep that in mind.

Can't argue with that, although I also love Halloween at the parks!

Do you have a preference for Halloween vs Christmas vibes? If Halloween I'd try to go in September as October is pretty much insanely crowded all month. Just be aware of the Oogie Bash nights and plan accordingly. If Christmas is the choice then maybe shoot for early December if you are flexible. We've gone a couple times then and have been rewarded with fantastic weather and very moderate crowds.

 

[dcassetta]

Should we consider maybe doing it in September? Would you recommend going in a time when the Oogie boogie bash is happening?

December might be nice also because the weather would be good. Is there anything like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party in Disneyland?

 

[mdmost]

No, September is busy and hot. I would go after Halloween unless you really want to see the Halloween decorations.

No to a party but the entire place is decked out for Christmas.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/holidays-at-the-disneyland-resort/

 

[irlandaise]

How much of the holiday entertainment do you want to experience? The two weeks between Halloween and Nov 14 will be the lightest with respect to crowds.

https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/disneyland-resort-2025-event-dates-and-details/

Yep, that's when I went last year, and crowds were very tolerable. One does, of course, miss the experience of the Hallowe'en or Christmas decorations and parades.

 

[tarheelalum]

Halloween and Christmas are the best months to go to the park but also the most crowded. Any time during October or December is great so it just depends on whatever dates work best for you. But do note, October in Anaheim is often hot in the daytime.

 

[Jperiod]

I'd go during christmas unless you're doing the party. We had to go Oct 15 and 16 last year because our plans changed last minute. There was no entertainment and so the lines were very long. We felt it was so overpriced at that tier level compared to other times of the year. No parade, no fireworks, no F!, no WoC, no shows when we went.

 

[MonocularVision]

Always voting for Christmas over Halloween.

 

[katyringo]

Do Christmas time!

Fall is crazy at Disneyland.

There isn't a Christmas party because everything Christmas is included in your disneyland park ticket. Holiday fireworks, parade- you get it all. Plus festival holidays at DCA. Unless oogie boogie bash is a must do- go during Christmas.

And I know you said a weekday would be better- but honestly at Disneyland I don't think that is true. Historically Mondays are a pretty crowded day at Disneyland and during the non-summer Months Disneyland seems to only do Fantasmic and fireworks on the weekends. I always tell people weekends are better during the cooler months.

 

[irlandaise]

I know you said a weekday would be better- but honestly at Disneyland I don't think that is true.

@dcassetta Disneyland is heavily populated by local residents who have annual passes (Magic Keys). Some levels of MKs are blocked out on (certain?) weekends, so locals come on weekdays.

It will take a little time to go through all MK levels, but if you want to see when each one is blocked out, go to this page:

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/

The more blockouts, the lower the chances that you'll encounter big crowds. For example, people who have the lowest-level MK (Imagine) can only go on eight days in the entire month of December, and 10 days for the next level up. Of course, as you get nearer Christmas, excitement will build and non-regular visitors will increase—and some MK holders may purchase day passes to come to the parks. So it isn't as simple as "MK blockout = low crowds," but MK schedules are a big factor.

 

[Louis63]

The first 2 weekends are pretty good times to go, crowds aren't too bad and all Christmas decorating is complete.

 

[BrianJ844]

In 2022 we went the first week of November and in 2023 we went the week after Thanksgiving. Both were pretty good options to us.

The crowds were lower the first week in November but you are in a transition between Halloween and Christmas. All Halloween was gone, if I remember correctly. Each day, more and more Christmas decorations showed up with the part not 'officially' being full Christmas until after we left. However, there was still a good bit of Christmas around and like I said, the crowds were manageable.

The next year, we wanted to take our daughter again just before she turned three and fit a trip in the week after Thanksgiving. We few out the Sunday of Thanksgiving or that Monday after I think. The park was completely decked out for Christmas and was amazing. Crowds were alright, not crazy but the park was full. Wait times were manageable.

 

[citruscurtis]

The other concept to remember is that lodging is very accessible to Disneyland.... SO..be early bird to the gate... leave at 1:00... rest and return for parade and be rested for an empty night as families leave in exhausted state on the weekend