best time for 'Halloween' visit

[chickyann]

We are planning a trip to DL 2010 & since you guys are all currently in the middle of Halloween trips right now I thought it would be a good time to ask....... When is the best time to visit Disneyland during October?

 

[PHXscuba]

I can't speak to everyone's schedule, but here are some events to avoid if you want to limit the crowds:

1. Gay Days -- traditionally has been the first weekend of October but I don't know 2010 dates.

2. Fall breaks -- for example, many AZ schools are out the week of Columbus Day (Oct. 11 next year) and loads of families (us included) go to DLR during part or all of this week. A few schools have the week prior added or substituted.

3. Utah Education Asssociation break -- don't know when this is next year, but similiar influx like the AZ schools above.

Based on all of that, I would think the third week of October or even the week before Halloween might have less extra people beyond the normal week-to-week visitors not there for a special event or school break. With all of the Halloween extras they are adding each year, I don't think October is really an off-season month anymore. It is still pretty warm for most of the month, but they don't get much rain. Our mid-October visits to So Cal the last few years have had gorgeous weather.

I'm sure others will chime in with their experiences in different weeks or some of the dates I don't have filled in.

PHXscuba

 

[Karebear]

I guess it depends on what you are looking for. We went last week and it was great for us because we wanted low crowds. It was HOT, but I think that it was unusually hot this year. We were there Monday through Friday (9/20 through 9/25). Monday through Thursday were very low crowd wise. Friday was the start of the Halloween season and much more crowded. We did the HM and the fireworks on Friday. I was happy with our trip because I got both low crowds and also one day of the Halloween season. Good luck with your planning!

 

[IBLarsen]

Well, if you would have asked me before now, I would have said that our trip last year was the PERFECT time to visit for Halloween...we were here this week last year (end of Sept) and it was dead. However, we are here right now, and it's CRAZY busy.... so I don't really have an answer for you It seems to be hit or miss. Last year people were reporting that it got busier closer to Halloween, because I remember thinking we came at a great time and missed all that, because we were far enough out from the actual holiday! But not holding true for this visit. Still fun and worth it though!

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

Really the best time to go is when you and your family can.

There are crowds all the time so take the advice on fast pass and other ideas on this board and go have a fun time.

 

[APX]

Apparently people say the whole week for October 19th is busy, which is when i'm going, so dont' go that week. lol

 

[Pezalicious]

Why will it be busy the week of the 19th? I just had to change my vacation dates to then because of work... :\

 

[vettegirl]

We went a couple of years ago the week days were light and the weekends towards the afternoon were crazy!

 

[APX]

Why will it be busy the week of the 19th? I just had to change my vacation dates to then because of work... :\

That's what I asked in another thread (You can look for my posts for which thread I asked it in) but they said it would be fairly busy around afternoon (I guess school gets out and yeah, kids?)

But I doubt it would be that busy, we still have a few weeks to know the crowds a week before our trip.

 

[chickyann]

Thanks everyone, we were there early/mid September last year. it was perfect for a first visit, beautiful weather, fairly quiet, we only waited in line for TSMM & Peter Pan, walked on to Indy, Splash etc.
Fantasmic, HM & the Aladdin show were all closed though.
Our schools here in Australia have a Spring (for us) break in early October, I'm just wondering whether to take them out of school early or just go during that time.....

 

[iKristin]

I don't know what their idea of busy is but I go every October and I've never seen it so busy that it's crazy. Maybe I just get lucky and always pick the Saturday that's not busy but Saturday's are said to always be busy. I'm going the 20th through the 25th and from what I see it's the least busiest week in October

 

[disneegrl4eva]

It was HOT, but I think that it was unusually hot this year.

Nah it was that hot last year too...we went at the end of Sept for a few days and it was blistering hot and even in the night time it was warm

I don't know what their idea of busy is but I go every October and I've never seen it so busy that it's crazy. Maybe I just get lucky and always pick the Saturday that's not busy but Saturday's are said to always be busy. I'm going the 20th through the 25th and from what I see it's the least busiest week in October

wow you were really lucky then....I go every year during the 3rd week of Oct and I have been going to to MTTP formerly MHT since it started and always during the same time...This year is the first year Im going on a Friday vs. Thursday and every year it is getting more crowded as the party gets better and Halloween gets bigger at DL

 

[chickyann]

so maybe the first week of October is a good idea...

 

[MAH4546]

Third week is devoid of any events, since there is typically Gay Days the first weekend; Columbus the second weekend; and Halloween on the last weekend.

The park is never really that crowded during October weekdays, regardless.

Nah it was that hot last year too...we went at the end of Sept for a few days and it was blistering hot and even in the night time it was warm

Which is nonetheless still unusual. It is rarely hot this time of year.