Best week to visit DLR in the summer?

[krusty007]

I'd like to take my DW and two young DDs to DLR next summer. What week would you recommend, based on crowds? Sorry if I'm being vague? Thanks.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'd like to take my DW and two young DDs to DLR next summer. What week would you recommend, based on crowds? Sorry if I'm being vague? Thanks.

Depends a bit on how young the DDs are. Are they so young/small they cannot ride headliners? If so I would choose some dates in late June after the AP blockout goes into effect.

 

[krusty007]

Depends a bit on how young the DDs are. Are they so young/small they cannot ride headliners? If so I would choose some dates in late June after the AP blockout goes into effect.

One can and one can't.

 

[Geemo]

I'd go the latter part of June.

We always like going on vacation the minute school was out for summer vacation. It beats some of the crowd for many destinations.

Geemo

 

[allsaintsatx]

We usually go within the first few weeks of June. Pros: great weather, hotel discounts cons: grad nites, big crowds. We also went in mid August this past summer. The crowds seemed smaller but the weather was hotter. If we go back next summer (if! Yeah right!) we will probably go in June again.

 

[B-Ride]

We made our first family trip to Disneyland in the last week of August this year and were very pleasantly surprised by the manageable crowds. The only really big queue was for Test Track West (RSR) and we managed that with the single rider queue. Of course you won't have that option if your DDs are too young to ride by themselves.

 

[yankeesgirl63]

I was wondering the same thing... We live in CT and go to WDW several times a year. In fact we are on our way home from this last trip. We are used to heat and humidity so that isn't as important as crowds. My kids, ages 5 and 8 next summer, have never been to DL so I am looking for times of smaller crowds. We can never predict how many snow days we will have (last school year we had so many that they went until the very end of June). The last week of June was our plan but I'd hate to run into July 4th weekend. I was now thinking the 3rd week of August which will be my 8 year olds birthday. Do crowds start dropping off about that time? We will only have 4 or 5 days there and they like to do rides more than once. Thank you! DH and I have only been to DL once and that was 11 years ago!

 

[HydroGuy]

I was wondering the same thing... We live in CT and go to WDW several times a year. In fact we are on our way home from this last trip. We are used to heat and humidity so that isn't as important as crowds. My kids, ages 5 and 8 next summer, have never been to DL so I am looking for times of smaller crowds. We can never predict how many snow days we will have (last school year we had so many that they went until the very end of June). The last week of June was our plan but I'd hate to run into July 4th weekend. I was now thinking the 3rd week of August which will be my 8 year olds birthday. Do crowds start dropping off about that time? We will only have 4 or 5 days there and they like to do rides more than once. Thank you! DH and I have only been to DL once and that was 11 years ago!

IMO that would be one of the worst weeks to go in 2015. With the 60th celebration in gear in 2015 and AP blockouts lifting around that time, plus the D23 Expo, you are risking major crowds.

I would go for late June before July 4 and after grad nights and AP blockouts.

See

"Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[Fantaluminishes]

We went to DLR the past two Julys. Both were around the anniversary. This year I was at the parks July 15-18. I have to say the crowds seemed quite light for summer during both years. I was also at DLR for the 50th in 2005. That year, the parks were busy on the days before and after the anniversary. But the park was quite manageable after the ceremony at the castle.

If you are going to visit in the summer, why not make it extra special, and go for the 60th?

 

[Leilanie94]

I appreciate everyone's tips and suggestions. Planning a family trip in July 2015.

 

[elaine amj]

Following. Looks like I have to postpone my DLR trip (again!) and I'm now looking at next summer. Anytime during the first 3 weeks of July.

 

[DLFan123]

We have been to DL the last week of August several times and have really found the crowds to be quite manageable. California schools (and many others nationwide) are back in by then. Your best plan is to try to be there M-F, or even Sun-Fri, because during the week, after school is in, crowds will be light, since even the premium APs are usually at work during the week.

My sister was there this past year the second week of August (many students had gone back to school even by then), and she experienced really light crowds also.

I think the August heat in DL is hit or miss, and if you don't mind the heat in WDW in the summer, you won't even notice California heat. It is so different.

 

[MillauFr]

I would go in the middle of September during the week. The crowds will be lighter.

 

[elaine amj]

Sat June 27 - Sat July 4
or
Sat July 11 - Sat July 18

Thoughts?

 

[marsh0013]

We are also looking to go sometime in June 2015. I have a feeling our dates are going to be dictated by when (and if) I can find availability in a studio at GCV using my DVC points. That 7 month window is coming up soon.

My birthday is Saturday June 13, so ideally, we would fly in Friday June 12, stay 4 nights Fri June 12-Tues June 16, going to the parks 3-4 days. Then we'd head over to LA as we have friends living there.

Other option is a couple of days in LA, then move to Disneyland staying 4 nights Sun June 14-Thurs June 18, again doing 3-4 days in the parks, then back to LA for a couple more days. Or LA first, then Wed-Sun at Disneyland.

Or we could do any of the above with different dates in June, just travel dates need to be a Friday through the following Sunday to maximize my boyfriend's vacation days. We are coming from NJ, so first Friday and last Sunday would be full travel days, no plans in CA.

Obviously, I know the Sun-Thurs plan for Disneyland is best, going to the parks Mon-Wed or Thurs. I'm just trying to decide if it's worth it to split the trip into 3 segments vs 2, and/or if it's worth it to brave the weekend (Saturday) so I can go to Disneyland on my birthday. I do see that Sat June 13 is a Southern California Disneyland AP blockout date, but I'm not sure how much that will help.

Any opinions?