Best October/November Dates?

[coopersmom]

I've taken a look at the various super threads and THINK I have a handle on ride refurbs/closures and high and low season pros and cons, but am still not 100 percent confident in my understanding of how things work out West.

I know Carsland will have everything in a tizzy for the foreseeable future, but given that caveat wondered if any vets could offer some advice on which of our three sets of potential trip dates would be "best" for maximizing open attractions and minimizing crowds.

Dates we are considering …

-October 22-26 (would include plans to attend Halloween party)
-November 6-10
-November 12-16 (Christmas decorations and rides?)

I know there's no "perfect" time to go, but would still appreciate input/advice. We are a family of three, with one younger child (boy), if that helps clarify anything.

 

[HydroGuy]

I've taken a look at the various super threads and THINK I have a handle on ride refurbs/closures and high and low season pros and cons, but am still not 100 percent confident in my understanding of how things work out West.

I know Carsland will have everything in a tizzy for the foreseeable future, but given that caveat wondered if any vets could offer some advice on which of our three sets of potential trip dates would be "best" for maximizing open attractions and minimizing crowds.

Dates we are considering …

-October 22-26 (would include plans to attend Halloween party)
-November 6-10
-November 12-16 (Christmas decorations and rides?)

I know there's no "perfect" time to go, but would still appreciate input/advice. We are a family of three, with one younger child (boy), if that helps clarify anything.

If all you car about are rides and not shows, then I would say Nov 12-16. In that it is a Mon-Fri your chance at shows will be reduced. Veterans Day is Nov 11 and I believe that will be celebrated on Monday the 12th which could make your first day super crowded. But Nov 6-10 covers a Fri/Sat and those might be crowded too. I would still say Nov 12-16 but be prepared for Vets Day.

 

[Velvetia]

Can you Stateside folk tell me if there are any US school holidays during the time we are planning our trip mid October? We've never been to DL before, and we're coming from Edinburgh in Scotland. I'm hoping that at that time it won't be too crowded during the week? Thanks.

 

[coopersmom]

If all you car about are rides and not shows, then I would say Nov 12-16. In that it is a Mon-Fri your chance at shows will be reduced. Veterans Day is Nov 11 and I believe that will be celebrated on Monday the 12th which could make your first day super crowded. But Nov 6-10 covers a Fri/Sat and those might be crowded too. I would still say Nov 12-16 but be prepared for Vets Day.

At this point, we can basically go anytime between October 19 and November 15, give or take a couple days on each side. I was trying to find the "ideal" time using the high/low season formula I saw in the thread, so if you see a better five-day stretch, let me know. (For instance, that's why one block includes a weekend.)

I was trying to avoid the days before and after Halloween when I would gather the most popular parties are going on (based on Halloween itself falling mid-week), and I know Veteran's isn't ideal either. Anyone know, historically, how busy a holiday that is in the parks?

In terms of shows would like to see World of Color, for sure, Fantasmic and fireworks.

 

[KateDrake]

Can you Stateside folk tell me if there are any US school holidays during the time we are planning our trip - 14th - 21st October? We've never been to DL before, and we're coming from Edinburgh in Scotland. I'm hoping that at that time it won't be too crowded during the week? Thanks.

This may sound nuts, but there is actually a school holiday here in Utah that often impacts crowds at Disneyland! There is a state-wide teachers' association conference that is the 18 and 19, and many people use the long weekend to come to Disneyland. So the end of your trip may be a bit more crowded, but the first part should be great! We are leaving on the day you arrive, and go every year in October. It's a great time, because the weather isn't as hot but not too cold, and crowds are significantly smaller. So see your "must-dos" those first few days, and then when the crowds pick up, you can spend more time doing your favorite rides and seeing shows, etc. You'll still have a great trip!

 

[arthur06]

At this point, we can basically go anytime between October 19 and November 15, give or take a couple days on each side. I was trying to find the "ideal" time using the high/low season formula I saw in the thread, so if you see a better five-day stretch, let me know. (For instance, that's why one block includes a weekend.)

I was trying to avoid the days before and after Halloween when I would gather the most popular parties are going on (based on Halloween itself falling mid-week), and I know Veteran's isn't ideal either. Anyone know, historically, how busy a holiday that is in the parks?

In terms of shows would like to see World of Color, for sure, Fantasmic and fireworks.

We will be in SoCal the 3rd to the 10th. We will be doing some other activities early in the week.

We will be at DL starting the 6th. We wanted what we thought would be a few lighter crowd days, Tues, Wed and Thursday. While still wanting the activities that Friday and Saturday offer. Kind of the best of both for us. Good luck with your decision and maybe see you there!

 

[HydroGuy]

At this point, we can basically go anytime between October 19 and November 15, give or take a couple days on each side. I was trying to find the "ideal" time using the high/low season formula I saw in the thread, so if you see a better five-day stretch, let me know. (For instance, that's why one block includes a weekend.)

I was trying to avoid the days before and after Halloween when I would gather the most popular parties are going on (based on Halloween itself falling mid-week), and I know Veteran's isn't ideal either. Anyone know, historically, how busy a holiday that is in the parks?

In terms of shows would like to see World of Color, for sure, Fantasmic and fireworks.

For whatever reason Veterans Day has been really crowded according to reports on the forum. I would avoid the first week of Nov as they shut down Space Mtn and transition out of Halloween mode.

You may want to just shoot for Nov 6-10. That will give you a Fri/Sat and since you say you want to see some shows that will give you the best chance.

You may want to check last year's schedule. There were times in there where (Sept or Nov?) Disney did not have any fireworks on the weekend as they transitioned seasons and shows.

 

[scrapshappen]

This may sound nuts, but there is actually a school holiday here in Utah that often impacts crowds at Disneyland! There is a state-wide teachers' association conference that is the 18 and 19, and many people use the long weekend to come to Disneyland. So the end of your trip may be a bit more crowded, but the first part should be great! We are leaving on the day you arrive, and go every year in October. It's a great time, because the weather isn't as hot but not too cold, and crowds are significantly smaller. So see your "must-dos" those first few days, and then when the crowds pick up, you can spend more time doing your favorite rides and seeing shows, etc. You'll still have a great trip!

We've gone twice for Utah's Fall break. But we've pulled our kids out for the whole week and done Disneyland the weekend before and the days leading up to when school in Utah is out. Last October, we found out when we were there that Arizona also has a fall break and it fell the week before ours so the weekend between the two seemed crowded to me. (Crowded for October anyway -- not nearly as crowded as the time we went on NYE.)

So you might want to check and see when AZ's break is too when you are considering crowds.

We're going in late November this year and while the Halloween decorations are fabulous, I can't wait to go back when it's decorated for Christmas instead.

 

[texasteacher35]

We are planning our first DL vaca Nov 6-12. Hopefully we will see some Christmas decorations????

 

[philliplc]

do days with halloween parties tend to be less crowded during the morning/day than days without? i know that is the case at WDW because of the lack of parade/fireworks, wondering if it translates to DL.

as bookends of a san diego trip we expect to be at disney mon/tues/tues oct 1,2, & 9. historically there's a high probability of parties on all 3 of those days, & if so wondering how it will affect crowd patterns at both DL and CA.

 

[HydroGuy]

We are planning our first DL vaca Nov 6-12. Hopefully we will see some Christmas decorations????

Sherry E around here may know but I would guess decorations will not be up until Nov 16. If so, sorry!

 

[Velvetia]

Thanks so much for all the info on US school holidays - our dates our pretty unmovable, as it is school holiday for our sons. It's good to know though that the start of the week will be okay in terms of crowds.

And I'm guessing the crowd levels will be nothing like when we went to WDW in July last year - it was busy busy and we still managed to get pretty much everything we wanted done, with super-early mornings and mid-day naps. Everything, that is, apart from having a Butterfinger Cupcake still sad about that...

I'm so looking forward to Halloween at Disneyland, and doing some 'guising' at one of the parties. (That's the old Scots word for trick or treat - the jury's out on whether the Scots or the Irish invented the concept though...)

 

[coopersmom]

Sherry E around here may know but I would guess decorations will not be up until Nov 16. If so, sorry!

Looking at the past year's calendars it looks like the second Friday in November has been the date the past few years that Christmas-themed special activities (fireworks, reindeer) seem to start. This year, though, the second Friday falls on the 9th. If they wait until 16th that's 3rd Friday, and only a few days before Thanksgiving ... One of the reasons we'd thought about that Veteran's Day week, even with the holiday Monday, was that we should be able to see the Christmas stuff, at least by week's end, and thought that might be a lovely way to start the season. (I'm a full-on Christmas junkie.)

Decisions, decisions ...

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Sherry E around here may know but I would guess decorations will not be up until Nov 16. If so, sorry!

Nothing official yet that I'm aware of. Some decorations will be up, but I don't expect the start of the Holiday season until the 16th....maybe the 12th at the very earliest.