Best Holiday time to visit DL

[woodys_girl]

We're planning a big trip to World in the spring, and when I planned that I was hoping to do DL Paris for the holidays. Now it looks like I'm going to push Paris out a year so I'm kind of dreaming of hitting DL (and possibly other CA attractions) to get my Big Thunder fix. We can theoretically do any time mid-November through early January. What would be the best time in that period to go? (Weather and crowds are my biggest concerns though I'm willing to get LLMP and feel like that alleviates some of the crowd concerns.)
Also what seasonal things should we prioritize? We've only ever been to DL in October.

 

[Porsche4]

Probably something to very aware of is that currently Big Thunder is scheduled to go down for refurbishment on November 18 and as at November 31st it is still showing as not being available. There is no word how long the refurb is for or when Big Thunder will be reopening.

 

[LKing]

You're looking at 2025, right? Next year is Disneyland's 70th. They haven't announced what they are doing or when they will be celebrating, but my guess is that it won't extend into 2026.

If you are looking at this year, winter holiday events start on Nov 15. The first couple of weeks of November (after Halloween and before Tiana's opens & holiday starts) looks relatively calm. MK holders are blocked Dec 22- Jan 3.

 

[woodys_girl]

Probably something to very aware of is that currently Big Thunder is scheduled to go down for refurbishment on November 18 and as at November 31st it is still showing as not being available. There is no word how long the refurb is for or when Big Thunder will be reopening.

Good to know.

 

[woodys_girl]

You're looking at 2025, right? Next year is Disneyland's 70th. They haven't announced what they are doing or when they will be celebrating, but my guess is that it won't extend into 2026.

If you are looking at this year, winter holiday events start on Nov 15. The first couple of weeks of November (after Halloween and before Tiana's opens & holiday starts) looks relatively calm. MK holders are blocked Dec 22- Jan 3.

Ideally this year. Thanks.

 

[LKing]

Ideally this year. Thanks.

If you are looking at this year, be aware that Splash Mountain closed in May 2023 and Tiana's will open on November 15. The holiday parade(s) and fireworks will also begin on November 15. Small World has been closed since September 16. It will reopen on November 15th with a holiday overlay. All of these will attract larger crowds.

 

[irlandaise]

The last day of the holiday decorations at Disneyland will be January 6, 2025, so you'll want to go before that.

 

[woodys_girl]

The last day of the holiday decorations at Disneyland will be January 6, 2025, so you'll want to go before that.

Perfect. Thanks for that info.

 

[woodys_girl]

If you are looking at this year, be aware that Splash Mountain closed in May 2023 and Tiana's will open on November 15. The holiday parade(s) and fireworks will also begin on November 15. Small World has been closed since September 16. It will reopen on November 15th with a holiday overlay. All of these will attract larger crowds.

Since we'll get to do Tiana at world I'm not terribly concerned with whether we hit or miss the opening, but I do think we'd enjoy the small world holiday overlay as that is one of my kid's favorites.

 

[LKing]

Since we'll get to do Tiana at world I'm not terribly concerned with whether we hit or miss the opening, but I do think we'd enjoy the small world holiday overlay as that is one of my kid's favorites.

My point is that the opening of Tiana's and Bayou Country will draw more locals than normal. Whereas holiday crowds don't usually pick up until the 2nd week of December, I think we'll see more people in the parks in the last couple of weeks of November. If you look at the Inspire (most expensive) MK calendar there are currently no reservations for Disneyland available on Nov 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22.

 

[woodys_girl]

My point is that the opening of Tiana's and Bayou Country will draw more locals than normal. Whereas holiday crowds don't usually pick up until the 2nd week of December, I think we'll see more people in the parks in the last couple of weeks of November. If you look at the Inspire (most expensive) MK calendar there are currently no reservations for Disneyland available on Nov 15, 17, 20, 21, 22.

Ah, good point, and thanks for the link. Definitely need to account for that.

 

[shosh1530]

We had an absolute blast going NYE (DCA) and New Year's Day (DL) last year (although we did get some light rain). Of course that would not be minimal crowds but it also wasn't as bad as we feared.

The week after Thanksgiving but before schools get out for winter break time period would have the lesser crowds (e.g. week of December 2 or December 9).