December, January, February?

[ClaraOswald]

So we are thinking about heading back to Disneyland in either late 2016 or early 2017. I know...it's a long time from now but I just love planning and dreaming.

I wanted to put a countdown on my phone, even though it's subject to change, of course.

I am trying to decide when to go.

First week of December 2016....we love the Christmas decorations. Probably less chance of ride closures. But the crowds would be iffy.
After MLK day in January 2017/before President's day 2017....maybe less crowds but more closures.

Decisions, decisions!

I am wondering if anyone know when construction may begin on Star Wars Land? I haven't been keeping up with all the news. Any idea if areas like Toon Town could be closed during that time?

We haven't been to DLR in early December since 2007 so I'm just not sure what the crowds are like at that time anymore. But I do know that February 2015 seemed more crowded than previous years.

 

[GatorChris]

You'll see a lot less people in Jan/Feb, that's for sure. December, even the first few weeks, have become increasingly busy to where you can't call it off-season anymore.

But.....December will see nearly everything operational, plus you'll get Christmas decorations and nightly fireworks. Jan/Feb we'll see Splash Mt and Grizzly River Run down for sure as they are down every year in the winter. There may also be other large rides down. It's a hard call. I'm not a fan of going when some great rides are down, but I'm also not a fan of going when I know that Pirates and BTMRR will be an hour wait by Noon. Man, looking at that sentence, I'm not a fan of going to DL, am I? I guess either way, at least you don't have to deal with the heat.

I'd opt to go in Jan/Feb, then buy an AP and return the same year in December. Problem solved!

 

[4Siamese]

I am wondering if anyone know when construction may begin on Star Wars Land?

I don't recall any offical info on the start of Consruction (can not be soon enough for me though lol). the rumour I saw (which I can not remember where) was that construction might start in 2017 and then who knows how long to actually build. Realistically I would not think Star wars land would be open b4 2020.

 

[Sherry E]

I love the early December time frame, but it has definitely gotten busier over the years than it was in 2007. That cannot be denied. Fewer closures -- absolutely. More people -- absolutely.

I have seen speculation that the construction may begin on Star Wars Land by late 2017. Others seem to think it will begin sometime in 2016. I have no idea which theory is correct. Disney was deliberately vague about any kind of time frame we could expect for the land to be finished. I get the feeling they don't want to make a promise they can't keep -- but will try to get the new land operational as quickly as possible (which probably means, at the very earliest, 2019, but it could be as late as 2020 or 2021).

 

[ClaraOswald]

Buy an AP...I wish! Haha. Those days are behind us now. We'll most likely space all future trips out about 2 years. Actually, 2019 might be WDW instead.

So after the above responses...I think I am leaning toward our 'usual' time of January/February.

I recall It's a Small World usually closing to remove Christmas stuff, correct? Do you think the 1st/2nd week of February would be our best bet for that being reopened?

We aren't too concerned about the e-tickets since we'll be with a 3 year old.

 

[Sherry E]

Correct -- IASW usually closes after MLK Day for the overlay removal, and is down for a couple of weeks (assuming that it doesn't have to stay closed even longer for a refurb or anything). My guess is that it will probably be closed by Monday, January 25th in 2016, and around that same Monday in 2017. I think the second week of February might be a safer bet for it to reopen.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Thanks. I reopened about half way through our trip this year in early February. So that's what I was assuming.

 

[chickapin parterre]

crowds will not be iffy but very manageable the first week of December of 2016. The lost week of retail holiday shopping returns in 2016, which on the calendar is the week after Thanksgiving, which returns after a long hiatus . so there is a whole extra week to shuffle folks around from the other weeks of December. 2016 will be great a time to visit during Christmas because of the finished 60th, and other economic factors and high attendance was recorded for 2014 and 2015. The only factor that will make 2016 crowded is the number of torrent storm days during the holiday season 2015. you are not going to find 2007 Christmas, those days are gone, there are just more people who visit during the holidays because of the tradition.