Crowds In December

[Shellyf62]

Hi
We have just returned from DL & are starting to plan our next trip for Christmas 2011.
We are wanting to see the Christmas overlay and were thinking of going the first week of December. I was hoping that the crowds wont be too bad at this time as our August trip was very busy.
Any suggestions will be greatfully accepted.
Thanks

 

[Sherry E]

The holiday season is busy in general (last year saw the busiest holiday season at DLR in the last 10 years, for example). It's in no way a slow time of year. But if you're going to go during the holidays then the first week of December or right after Thanksgiving is probably the best choice for the lightest crowds of the season, because it's between the Thanksgiving break and the Christmas break and many folks are back at work and school.

We have lots of discussions and questions about crowds and all things pertaining to the holidays in the Disney at Christmas thread. I know you visited there before - feel free to pop back in any time and post a question. There are lots of DLR holiday 'experts' in that thread!!

 

[Sherry E]

Oh, never mind - I see you did go back to the Disney at Christmas thread to ask the question!! (I saw this thread before I saw that you had posted again on the Disney at Christmas thread!!)

 

[Shellyf62]

Hi Sherry
Thanks for looking after me!!!!
I thought I would post this in 2 places just in case someone missed it on the Christmas Thread.
My daughter & I went in Sept last year & it was great, not many people so we got to walk onto most rides. The only issue was the weather- it was really hot.
My daughter, son & I went this August & the crowds were massive, and the weather still hot.
We want to see the Christmas decorations, and hopefully the weather will be cooler....we seem to handle crowds better when it isnt 100 degrees!!!!
Maybe we should go just after Thanksgiving?

 

[Sherry E]

August in Southern California, in my opinion, is one of the worst months to go to DLR -weather-wise! I hate hate hate heat, and August can sometimes be the worst! I like a nice holiday chill in the air! I like to be able to bundle up a little and feel like it's winter.

You'll almost definitely get cooler weather in early December than in August. Even if we had 'warm' weather in December, it probably would not be higher than in the 70's. That's part of the reason why the holidays are my favorite time to go - because it's so much cooler.

I think early December would be fine as far as crowds. Or right after Thanksgiving weekend. Either one will be good. It's a good time to go and see all the holiday decorations. When mid-December rolls around, that's when the crowds start to gradually pick up, and then it gets really crowded in the week before Christmas and especially in the week after Christmas.

 

[Shellyf62]

Hi Sherry
We went in August because my Son wanted to celebrate his birthday in DL. It was definetly not my choice, and I would probably never do it again.
Like you I dont like the heat either! I am very fair skinned, so had to keep putting the 50 plus sunscreen on!!!
I am glad that you agree with me on the dates for 2011.....I am really looking forward to the cooler weather so I can actually try more food-I just cant seem to eat in the heat!

 

[Sherry E]

Hi Sherry
We went in August because my Son wanted to celebrate his birthday in DL. It was definetly not my choice, and I would probably never do it again.
Like you I dont like the heat either! I am very fair skinned, so had to keep putting the 50 plus sunscreen on!!!
I am glad that you agree with me on the dates for 2011.....I am really looking forward to the cooler weather so I can actually try more food-I just cant seem to eat in the heat!

I know exactly what you mean - I am also very fair-skinned. I used to get really bad burns as a child, and even when I wasn't getting burnt I would get sick in the heat. These days, it's not enough to put on the sunscreen once and then again a few hours later. If I really want to prevent myself from getting burnt at all, I have to apply the sunscreen frequently - and let's face it - that can be really inconvenient when you are trying to go on rides, take photos, eat, shop, etc. It's just a pain to have to keep applying sunscreen that often. These days I don't even go outside (if I can help it) if it's really hot. I am too prone to heat exhaustion and I would rather not deal with that.

But I can see why you had to go in August. When you have a child who wants to celebrate a birthday at DLR, you have to make the little ones happy!!

Funny thing is - when Halloween season rolls around out here, the weather in Southern California could go either way. October is a month where it could either be dry, hot and windy (which leads to terrible wildfires), or just plain hot and dry, or cold and windy - or raining. It could be 99 degrees in a freak heat wave, or it could be a cool 60 degrees and pouring rain. You never know which way October will go. It's a very odd month. Two years ago when I was at DLR for HalloweenTime, it was a horrible heat wave!

December's weather is usually not prone to freak heat waves. It could be a nice chilly 50 degrees in the daytime (that's what I love) or it could be 70 degrees. Or it could be raining. But most likely it will not be 90 degrees, and probably not even 80 degrees.

 

[darren123]

HI
We are going in Nov 26 to Dec 7 I chose these dates as the good people told me here that Disneyland will be less crowded. So that works out well We were only there in Jan/Feb and it was cold had to wear a jumper at night as Anaheim does get windy and the park was not really that busy so I hope the crowds are about the same. Looking at all the Disneyland Christmas photo's it would be nice to experience a winter Christmas and to see the Castle in all it's Christmas lights and try some of the wonderful Christmas food that everyone talks about. I have been looking on the internet and there is the Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral, A Tree Lighting in Anaheim Business Area and the Local Houses with Christmas Lights as well as all the shopping bargains one can handle. I am really looking forward to see how Americans Celebrate Christmas and If I do not come home full of the Christmas Spirit than something is wrong.

 

[Sherry E]

HI
We are going in Nov 26 to Dec 7 I chose these dates as the good people told me here that Disneyland will be less crowded. So that works out well We were only there in Jan/Feb and it was cold had to wear a jumper at night as Anaheim does get windy and the park was not really that busy so I hope the crowds are about the same. Looking at all the Disneyland Christmas photo's it would be nice to experience a winter Christmas and to see the Castle in all it's Christmas lights and try some of the wonderful Christmas food that everyone talks about. I have been looking on the internet and there is the Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral, A Tree Lighting in Anaheim Business Area and the Local Houses with Christmas Lights as well as all the shopping bargains one can handle. I am really looking forward to see how Americans Celebrate Christmas and If I do not come home full of the Christmas Spirit than something is wrong.

I think that November 26th, 27th and probably the 28th will be on the crowded side at DLR. That's a big holiday weekend. However, right after that weekend ends, supposedly it is blissfully uncrowded at DLR (compared to what it's like later in the season). So it sounds like you are going at a good time too. I think those last couple of days in November and the first full week of December will be great!! Once mid-December hits, then the crowds start to pack in, gradually.

I hope you get lots of Christmas spirit while you are out here. I guess it would help a bit if we actually had snow in Anaheim to make it seem really Winter-ish, but at least there will be the fake snow on Main Street to look forward to!!

 

[darren123]

Yes I totally agree that Nov 26,27 and 28 will be busy plan is to go shopping on the 26,27 and a day trip up to Magic Mountain on the 28 and than from the 29 to the 7 Disneyland overdrive. I mean for us Australians Disneyland is supposed to be a once in lifetime experience bah humbug it has been great over the last three years to enjoy Disneyland at different seasons Halloween is on the bucket list and yes I hope I really do get a good portion of the Christmas Spirit it has been missing in me for the last 30 odd years Christmas just felt like another day to me never really gotten into it but this year is going to be different.
Thanks

 

[Sherry E]

Yes I totally agree that Nov 26,27 and 28 will be busy plan is to go shopping on the 26,27 and a day trip up to Magic Mountain on the 28 and than from the 29 to the 7 Disneyland overdrive. I mean for us Australians Disneyland is supposed to be a once in lifetime experience bah humbug it has been great over the last three years to enjoy Disneyland at different seasons Halloween is on the bucket list and yes I hope I really do get a good portion of the Christmas Spirit it has been missing in me for the last 30 odd years Christmas just felt like another day to me never really gotten into it but this year is going to be different.
Thanks

Well, I am hoping that if anything is going to get you into the Christmas spirit, it will be a trip to Disneyland!! I know there are lots of times I am not feeling very Christmasy - even though I love so many things about that time of year - but when I get to DLR, it all hits me!!

Plus, if you come up to the Los Angeles area at all while you are in California (about 45 minutes from Disneyland, with no traffic), you might want to drive through Beverly Hills at night - the holiday lights and decorations are quite lovely. And also, Farmers Market and The Grove have beautiful Christmas lights/decorations - I think they even have their own 'snow' during the season!

And when you are at Disneyland, there are many things you can do to enjoy the season. One thing I really love to do to get in the Christmas spirit - and it's FREE - is to go to the GCH lobby in the evening, plop down on one of the comfortable chairs or sofas - maybe with a snack or beverage in hand - and listen to the piano player playing holiday songs, listen to the guitarist by the fireplace strumming holiday songs, watch/listen to the Christmas carolers who come in and take requests by the giant Christmas tree and watch all the people get their photo taken with Santa (PhotoPass, too!) in front of the tree!! People are always in a generally festive, happy mood. People are talking and laughing and drinking. It's fun.

I think there must be a lot of people from Australia and New Zealand who come to Disneyland in the Fall and Winter months. On all of my last several DLR trips - which have been in Fall and Winter - we have ended up sitting right next to people from either Australia or NZ in a restaurant, or we ended up chatting with someone from Australia or NZ while we were waiting at the exit of a ride or sitting on a bench. They are always lovely people and fun to talk to!!

 

[Shellyf62]

The reason there are so many Aussies in California is because you can get some really cheap fares. Our last trip cost $940 AUD (probably a little over $1100 USD) in airfares, add the cheap accomodation & food it is so affordable for us!
I will confess that my son is far from a littlie - he turned 26 but had not been to DL since he was 5, and his sister & I had such a great time the year before that he decided he wanted to go too.
I really cant wait to see DL in all of it's Christmas finery......and the cooler weather will be fantastic.