Best time to go?

[Cielei]

Looks like I am planning another Disney trip! I always think we are done; and somehow, we end up at Disney for something every year. Next trip is back to Disneyland, and I am wondering what times of the year are least crowded. We did early May last time and it was wonderful, but a little cool.
I could still go with that time of year, but am pretty open to any and all suggestions. Please lead me!

 

[skiingfast]

Looks like I am planning another Disney trip! I always think we are done; and somehow, we end up at Disney for something every year. Next trip is back to Disneyland, and I am wondering what times of the year are least crowded. We did early May last time and it was wonderful, but a little cool.
I could still go with that time of year, but am pretty open to any and all suggestions. Please lead me!

Coming this summer will be the new Star Tours and Little Mermaid. Lots of construction in DCA after the summer. But for Summer of 2012 Carsland will be open and DCA finished with it's current huge overhaul. Probably making the next two summers extra busy.

Either way I would choose late September. Dry hot to very hot days. But great Halloween decorations and ride overlays.

 

[HydroGuy]

Looks like I am planning another Disney trip! I always think we are done; and somehow, we end up at Disney for something every year. Next trip is back to Disneyland, and I am wondering what times of the year are least crowded. We did early May last time and it was wonderful, but a little cool.
I could still go with that time of year, but am pretty open to any and all suggestions. Please lead me!

IMO May is easily the best off-season time to go to DLR.

See "Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602

 

[sweetlovin']

I was actually thinking about heading there May 21st 2012 for about 7 days (the last two doing the Hollywood day and the San Diego day). But I read a thread that explained the week before Memorial week is starting to get really crowded.

When you say the weather was cooler in early May, what do you mean? Temps in the mid 50s, 60s or 70s?

 

[Cielei]

Thank you for directing me to that thread! I did all sorts of searches and that one never came up. I apparently didn't use the right words!

I think it might have been unseasonable cool the week we were there. It was high 60s low 70s. People will probably think I'm crazy saying that was cool, but it is to me! Even though I live in the chicago suburbs now, I grew up in South Carolina and am used to much warmer weather. Anything below 78ish degrees is cool to me.

 

[sweetlovin']

I don't think you are crazy!! Mid to high 80s is perfect weather for me. I just came back from DLP and it was 50s there two of the days. The 3rd day it hit 72F and everyone was walking around in tank tops. I was still in a light jacket.

I am the opposite from you though. I grew up in Washington DC, but have lived in Atlanta for the past 7 years. I used to be the one walking around Atlanta in 65F with short sleeves. Now it has to be almost 80 before I breakout the summer clothes. I'm such a whimp

 

[ALK$Disney]

The best time in my opinion is the second week of September. All the kids have gone back to school and the weather is great. During this time, we have not waited in line longer then 15 minutes for the most popular rides, and for most rides, we had no wait time at all. I have been doing this for years, and I have never experienced crowds during this time.

 

[Cielei]

We did Universal Studios Orlando that time in September and found it a very nice time. Short lines and small crowds are music to my ears!

 

[skiingfast]

We did Universal Studios Orlando that time in September and found it a very nice time. Short lines and small crowds are music to my ears!

One Caution about September. It transitions to Halloween and after Labor Day Weekend HM and Space close. They reopen with thier special layover for the Halloween Season which is about Weekend #3 in September. Could change and we haven't seen the dates for the 2011 season yet.

 

[Cielei]

I'll have to keep that in mind because space is a favorite in my house.

 

[Sherry E]

One Caution about September. It transitions to Halloween and after Memorial Day Weekend HM and Space close. They reopen with thier special layover for the Halloween Season which is about Weekend #3 in September. Could change and we haven't seen the dates for the 2011 season yet.

You mean after Labor Day HM and SM close? We don't want to cause panic in all of the Summer DLR visitors who go after Memorial Day!

(And in 2010, HM shut down just before Labor Day weekend.)

HalloweenTime begins on 9/16 this year.

 

[skiingfast]

You mean after Labor Day HM and SM close? We don't want to cause panic in all of the Summer DLR visitors who go after Memorial Day!

(And in 2010, HM shut down just before Labor Day weekend.)

HalloweenTime begins on 9/16 this year.

Yes that is what I meant. Labor Day. I'll edit that post to reflect that.


FWIW.... SM closed early last year for mechnical problems, not the planned Overlay.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes that is what I meant. Labor Day. I'll edit that post to reflect that.


FWIW.... SM closed early last year for mechnical problems, not the planned Overlay.

I didn't keep up with when Space Mountain closed last year.

I only know that Haunted Mansion went down in late August, as the official DLR Summer season ended but before Labor Day, and it shocked me because Labor Day is a big holiday weekend. I would have thought that DLR would keep it open for that weekend and then close it. But I guess not.

Hopefully this year, Haunted Mansion will close just after Labor Day and not before it.

 

[sweetlovin']

I took my middle child to WDW the week after Labor Day last year and it was perfect!! There were no lines, everything was walk on, but they didn't shut down HM or Space Mountain.

I went back 2 weeks later (the last week of Sept) and so did everyone else! It was way more crowded and I was shocked at the difference. So initially, I planned on going the week right after Labor Day again, but if they are closing Space and HM, I'm not sure it is worth it.

Is HM simular to the one at WDW?

 

[skiingfast]

I took my middle child to WDW the week after Labor Day last year and it was perfect!! There were no lines, everything was walk on, but they didn't shut down HM or Space Mountain.

I went back 2 weeks later (the last week of Sept) and so did everyone else! It was way more crowded and I was shocked at the difference. So initially, I planned on going the week right after Labor Day again, but if they are closing Space and HM, I'm not sure it is worth it.

Is HM simular to the one at WDW?

The reason at WDW SM and HM weren't closed is because they don't get the holiday overlays that DL's versions do. I can almost promise if you go to DL and see them with this you will be jealous.

The reason why WDW was so busy two weeks later in September is because you were there during full on Halloween Season which is a huge draw for WDW. But in DL it is less of a draw and hasn't fully started until October.

Otherwise HM is similiar but the WDW version has been upgraded in the last few years and has many features now that DL doesn't. Still the DL Holiday version which is open not just for Halloween and but Christmas Seasons too is incredible and worth a visit to DL to see. Try looking at this video on youtube, you'll see why.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mvfm11c#p/u/19/AzUYQr5ryRU

 

[sweetlovin']

The first Hallloween party night started the week after Labor Day last year. But you are right, it was in full swing by the time I got there with my youngest 2 weeks later.

HM closes right after Labor Day, when does it reopen with the holiday theme?

 

[Sherry E]

The first Hallloween party night started the week after Labor Day last year. But you are right, it was in full swing by the time I got there with my youngest 2 weeks later.

HM closes right after Labor Day, when does it reopen with the holiday theme?

It reopens as Haunted Mansion Holiday on the start date of the Halloween Time season, which is 9/16/11 this year (but the date changes every year). The HMH overlay stays up through the Christmas season too and then comes down in early January of next year.

 

[skiingfast]

The first Hallloween party night started the week after Labor Day last year. But you are right, it was in full swing by the time I got there with my youngest 2 weeks later.

HM closes right after Labor Day, when does it reopen with the holiday theme?

HM Holiday, HMH takes a few weeks to go up. But last Year closed in late August, perhaps because Labor Day was later than usual and the overlay could be squeezed in. It opens for the Halloween season which last year started in I'm going to guess the 16th.

Space takes a week to put the overlay in, but last year had more down time due to a mechanical problem that was unrelated to the overlay. It also opened on the 16th again if that was the date the Halloween season started.

The Halloween parties which makes DL much busier only ran in October, on Tuesdays, Fridays and an extra one on Halloween. But last year they were much more popular and ran smoother than in the past so DL may offer them over a longer season and/or more days a week like WDW does.

 

[Sherry E]

Space takes a week to put the overlay in, but last year had more down time due to a mechanical problem that was unrelated to the overlay. It also opened on the 16th again if that was the date the Halloween season started.

Last year the season began on September 17th. It's a different date each year, but always on a Friday. Next year it won't be the 16th or the 17th. It will likely be either 9/14 or 9/21 that is the Halloween Tiime season start date.

So if SM opens earlier than the season start date it will be an unofficial soft open.

 

[sweetlovin']

So If I am understanding correctly, the 3rd full week in Sept, Sept 17-21, on the last day most likely will have HM Holiday and Space open (if it isn't open already)

Is that still considered low season for crowds?