Best time to visit to beat crowds?

[norcalcamper]

My family has a set of GAD passes that we intend to use before they expire on 12/15/10. We are looking at using the passes in DL park the one day and picking up 1-day park hopper tickets for the second day, then hitting Magic Mountain on the drive home to the Bay Area. We are considering hitting DL either 11/12-13th or 12/10-11th. I'm looking for feedback from those who frequent the park at all different times of year as to which weekend would be better as far as crowds go?

I'd also appreciate any advice on keeping costs down. We're just now looking into hotels within walking distance to the park. We've got 3 kids(1,7,9) so long walks to the park, in the park, then back to the hotel won't go over too well. We've stayed at the Desert Inn & Suites hotel across from the maingate a few times and it's been convenient. Prices now are approx. $99/night for 2 queens. Any other hotels close by to check into? How about the best deal on a 1-day park hopper tickets or Magic Mountain tickets?

Thanks!

 

[dismom73]

Well, I can help with the ticket part of the question....You can redeem your GAD vouchers and then upgrade them for a 2 day park hopper. The price at the gate for the the 2 day hoppers is $161 (minus the value of the GAD voucher, $76)so the difference you pay would be $85, the regular price for a 1 day PH is $101. The childrens tickets are different values, but same concept.
As far as crowds, I think either of the times you picked would be fine, I'm not sure what day the Christmas decorations will be out (sometime in November) so the December dates you will be sure to see those, and I would think there would be less ride closures those dates as well because you are right in between two peek times, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I'm just guessing.

 

[Eeee-va]

EDIT: What dismom73 said about the tickets. With your upgrades it should be $85 out-of-pocket for 2-day parkhoppers per adult, and if the kids who need tickets have GADs, then $78.00 for each of them, I believe.

Your even cheaper option would be to spend one day in one park and the other day in the other park, but that would save less than $10 per person, and I think it's worth the cost difference to be able to not be locked in to one park.

We went the second weekend in December in 2009. Predictions were for heavy crowds. In fact, it had very low crowds, but it also rained some on Friday and a lot on Saturday, and locals often stay away if it even looks like rain, so it's hard to say how it would have been if it hadn't rained.

I know the Wednesday and Thursday before that weekend were absolutely PERFECT--crowds were very reasonable (less than 30 minutes for Indiana Jones and sometimes even Space Mountain!). Disneyland was open until 11 PM (though long story short, that may not be the case this year) and we had dry and pleasant weather to boot.

But I don't know how flexible you are with your dates, and just because those days were great last year doesn't mean they'd be great this year. But often, days when kids are in school tend to be less crowded. Friday nights - Sunday are usually (but not always) more crowded.

I think those November dates would be the off-season, so some rides might be down for rehab. Other folks here will know how crowds tend to be there.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I was looking in to going on those dates too and I believe I saw the decorations go up by Nov. 12. You can see my review on the CCI in the link of my sig. We liked it, but it was more than $99, at least in the summer.

 

[DisMike]

I've gone twice the second week of November. The only ride down was IASW. No great loss IMHO.

The weather both times was awesome. Mid-80's. The longest I spent on any line was 15 minutes. That was with no fast passes either.

In my book, that first part of November is the best time of year to go. Good weather. Low crowds.

Enjoy!!

 

[camouseketeer]

November 12 is the official beginning of the holiday season. It is predicted to be very busy that day and that weekend.

I would choose the December dates.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

I know my kids are out of school on Nov 11th for Veteran's Day. I don't know if that is big enough of a thing to make it a busier weekend. But I could see taking the kids out of school Friday would be easy when they have Thursday off.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I know my kids are out of school on Nov 11th for Veteran's Day. I don't know if that is big enough of a thing to make it a busier weekend. But I could see taking the kids out of school Friday would be easy when they have Thursday off.

This year my dd is off the Thurs/11th aND Fri/12th. I work for a different district and I'm also off those two days too.

I wonder if those two days will be busy