Crowds first weekend in October.

marianne casey

Earning My Ears
Joined
Mar 5, 2019
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25
Planning on a trip early October, what are the crowds like first weekend, I know the following weekend is columbus day, so I am guessing that will be crowded, but what about the first weekend?
 
Peeps love them some Halloween time at the parks-there will be crowds. As weird as this sounds, we have found weekends in September and October busier than summer weekends. You can still have a great time if you plan a bit. Get there at rope drop, eat at off times, plan your entertainment and meals, get Maxpass. You will be fine, have a magical trip.
 
October really is the start of the busy season and the BEST season at Disneyland. Halloween time is awesome and I'll be there that week. It will be quite busy but if you know what your doing you'll be fine. Go early, have a plan and have a great time.
 
October really is the start of the busy season and the BEST season at Disneyland. Halloween time is awesome and I'll be there that week. It will be quite busy but if you know what your doing you'll be fine. Go early, have a plan and have a great time.
Thanks, this is our first trip,so trying to get a lay of the land, plan on getting max pass for each day also. My hubby has parkinson's early stages, and is a little slow in the morning so I am not sure if we will do the early morning option. The 6th is our anniversary so we would like to spend it in disneyland, then going during the week the rest of the time, along with hopefully the halloween parade on the 11th. Everything is just in the planning stages at this point, I do have hotel ressies at hampton inn and also homewood suite maingate, still trying to determine which one to choose. Decisions , decisions. Thanks again. Have a wonderful trip!!!!!
 

The first weekend in October (10/5-6/19) is when Gay Days is happening this year. So, on top of the popularity of HalloweenTime, they'll be crowds from one of the biggest non-official conventions in the parks. You can still get a lot done and have a lot of fun, but go with the expectation of pretty good sized crowds.
 
Yes, Gay Days brings in big crowds, so be prepared. It can be a very fun weekend with good planning and organization.
 
As weird as this sounds, we have found weekends in September and October busier than summer weekends.

Agree with this! Star Wars will mess everything up this year, but the past couple of years it has seemed that summer weekends are the best time to go.

Also, in my personal opinion, the Halloween season is far overhyped. If I wanted to deal with crowds like that I'd choose Christmas every time. More decorations, better weather, and Space Mountain isn't ruined by that crappy Ghost Galaxy overlay.
 
Gay Days does increase crowds, but it seems all weekends are busy during Halloween Time. The Halloween party on Friday is usually one of the first to sell out, and seems extra crowded (although most parties are also sold out).

Gay Days provides discounted onsite hotel rates, and also discounted park tickets.
 
Last year, it was so crowded that they reached their capacity. Max pass also shut down. I wasn’t there but I do know people who were. From what I heard, It was unusually busy. Crowds are to be expected but not that bad.
 
Last year, it was so crowded that they reached their capacity. Max pass also shut down. I wasn’t there but I do know people who were. From what I heard, It was unusually busy. Crowds are to be expected but not that bad.
Last year, Gay Days and Columbus Day were the same weekend
 
... Gay Days provides discounted onsite hotel rates, and also discounted park tickets.
For those planning on using the Gay Days discounts, the GD's administrators ask that you participate to support the event -- this prevents abuse of the discounts and convention rates.
 
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we have done oct first week many times for my son's bday. this was 5+ years ago and we had a blast just be ready for gay days crowds. but also look at gay day tickets.
 
I know this is a somewhat old thread but I found it in a search. Was planning a last minute trip for early next week but just realized that this weekend is Gay Days. I planned on arriving on Sunday afternoon and leaving Wednesday. For anyone who has experience with this event, do the crowds from Gay Days usually extend through the beginning of the week (Monday Tuesday) or are they pretty much gone after the event is officially over (Sunday)?
 

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