Best Time To Visit Between Labor Day & December?

[LSUmiss]

We are planning a trip to DLR & have pretty flexible dates. So, what are people's opinion about the best weeks to visit DLR between Sept & Dec? Additionally, what is it like during very crowded times? We are WDW vets & go very often. For those with experience with both parks, is a crowded DLR better/worse than a crowded WDW or is it about the same?

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

Avoid fall breaks of any kind for ANY state in October, avoid gay days and races.
On the flip side, September can be a sweet spot and late September depending on fall breaks, also early to mid of December since kids are in school but Christmas decorations are in full gear!

 

[valiamo]

Depends if you want to see Halloween or Christmas. I am partial to Christmas, but have been during both seasons.

For Christmas, the 2nd week after Veterans Day (last week of Nov or first week of Dec).

For Halloween, I would say the last week of September, or first week in Oct, and take in one the of the Halloween Parties.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

Is this going to be your first and only trip to the Land? If so I would change my answer as you would want to avoid refurb/holiday overlays going up and coming down.
No sense coming in dead times and having Disneyland unique rides closed.

 

[SMD]

For the most unique experience, get there a day or so before Halloween and stay about a week to get the soft opening of Christmas. For your best chance for it not to be as crowded as the start of Halloween time on to the rest of the year, try for the week between the end of Labor Day and the start of Halloween time. And hope Disney doesn't run a promotion or event that then brings crowds to that week too.

 

[chickapin parterre]

December 3-9, last year I was touting the week after Thanksgiving, but that week was busy, the first week in December ended up being better touring. This year and next, the week after Thanksgiving returns to the calendar, so it creates more "in the mood holiday time" to visit Disneyland. 2019 that week disappears and holiday returns to utter chaos.

 

[Abbey1]

We love late September and the first week of December. Crowds tend to be low during these times, while all of the holiday decorations will be up and running, along with any special parades etc. We've always enjoyed great weather during these times as well.

 

[LSUmiss]

Depends if you want to see Halloween or Christmas. I am partial to Christmas, but have been during both seasons.

For Christmas, the 2nd week after Veterans Day (last week of Nov or first week of Dec).

For Halloween, I would say the last week of September, or first week in Oct, and take in one the of the Halloween Parties.

Thanks for all the replies! This will be my first trip to DLR. Are you talking about going the week after Thanksgiving week in Nov? Is Thanksgiving week as crowded as it is in WDW? Originally we had planned to go the Thurs before Thanksgiving week to the Wed right before Thanksgiving but got concerned that may have insane crowds like WDW.

 

[Linkura]

We are doing our first trip Sept 17-21 with the 21st just being a travel day. I picked this date because it's before the Halloween parties are expected to start, and Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday should both be open. So we hopefully avoid the Halloween party crowds but also have both rides open with overlays. It's also right before Rosh Hashanah. I had the 18-22 originally but Rosh Hashanah starts at dusk on the 20th so I was like nope. I'm sure it'll still be fairly busy; just hope it isn't chaos.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Thanks for all the replies! This will be my first trip to DLR. Are you talking about going the week after Thanksgiving week in Nov? Is Thanksgiving week as crowded as it is in WDW? Originally we had planned to go the Thurs before Thanksgiving week to the Wed right before Thanksgiving but got concerned that may have insane crowds like WDW.

that thursday will be great, Friday should be fine...the problem with Disneyland is the dense population of the west coast makes for many folks traveling during that week to avoid the upcoming winter wind and rain storms, snow and be available for their own upcoming Christmas Traditions in their home towns in December. Plus, week long school closures happen during thanksgiving, so a great time to travel without using vacation time. So yes, depending on what you call "insane", I am sure that your Disney comfort level will be challenged

 

[lcp9]

We have done early September (but a few days after Labor Day) and the week after Halloween. Week after Halloween we miss Jungle Cruise and IASW but other than that everything is running and relatively low crowds.