Disneyland first week of Jan. 2012

[taben]

Well, after doing some research, seems like it would be in our best interest to make this week the week we go to CA for the first time. DL is one of the major highlights on our itinerary. Just trying to choose the right time to go has been huge challenge. So, we were thinking after reading several websites and posts, that if we go Jan1. - Jan. 8 out there, we can still have a great chance to ride most everything because it will still be the holiday period until the 8th right? So, Matterhorn, SM, HM, just to name some of the rides we do not want to miss, will still be open???? We were originally thinking about going at the end of Jan. but why chance some of these rides going down for refurb./and the removal of the holiday decorations and waiting a couple weeks later.

Where or who can I call to get a better schedule so we can plan more efficiently? Since this is our first trip to CA, we wanted to bypass most of the crowds (Summer) and go off peak to find better dealsl. The price of airfare is going to be the worst of the whole trip. Can't do anything about that though. Here's an arm and a leg SouthWest! LOL

Please any tips or advice to help us plan, would be greatly appreciated! We want to see and get the most of our trip and would be awesome to go to the parks when the decorations are still up and the rides still going before refurb.

 

[Malcon10t]

Since this is our first trip to CA, we wanted to bypass most of the crowds (Summer) and go off peak to find better dealsl. The price of airfare is going to be the worst of the whole trip. Can't do anything about that though. Here's an arm and a leg SouthWest! LOL

Schools are out til Jan 8th, and DIsneyland's hours will be 8 or 9am-11pm or midnight the entire week. Add to it, the Rose Bowl will be Jan 2nd, and with college out many will remain for a day or 2 after to go to Disneyland. I would NOT expect to find that week "off peak". I would expect crowds to be rivaling summer crowds. Oh, and we will be there, at least tthrough the 4th.

 

[mamaofthree]

We went in Jan 2010 that first week, arrived the 3rd. I knew lots of other schools were out, so I wasn't expecting low crowds, but I sure was hoping. We had a fabuous trip, the weather was sunny and 70's, BUT it was more crowded than I expected. Not as bad as summer, but there were also less CMs working (not all rides had all cars running), so ride wait times were the same or longer than our summer trip! That was disappointing. Just food for thought. But if avoiding ride closures is your first priority, then this is a great time to go and you will have a blast. We also went at that time to see the holiday decorations for the first time.

 

[Malcon10t]

We went in Jan 2010 that first week, arrived the 3rd. I knew lots of other schools were out, so I wasn't expecting low crowds, but I sure was hoping. We had a fabuous trip, the weather was sunny and 70's, BUT it was more crowded than I expected. Not as bad as summer, but there were also less CMs working (not all rides had all cars running), so ride wait times were the same or longer than our summer trip! That was disappointing. Just food for thought. But if avoiding ride closures is your first priority, then this is a great time to go and you will have a blast. We also went at that time to see the holiday decorations for the first time.

MOST schools went back last year on the 3rd. ANd Rose Bowl was on Saturday, the 1st. Rose Bowl had most of them flying out on the 3rd. This year will be very different from last year. Especially as the "Holiday Time" is extended until the 8th. Last year it ended on the 3rd.

 

[mamaofthree]

MOST schools went back last year on the 3rd. ANd Rose Bowl was on Saturday, the 1st. Rose Bowl had most of them flying out on the 3rd. This year will be very different from last year. Especially as the "Holiday Time" is extended until the 8th. Last year it ended on the 3rd.

Yes, I agree it will be much more crowded. We did not have extended hours for our visit. But we also had long waits because not all rides were fully running. I guess my point is that I don't expect wait times would be any worse, even with more people in the park, esp if you know how to maximize FP's. We are planning the week of Jan 9-13 for our 2012 visit. Not sure what to expect.