Disneyland in August??

[sammysmom]

I am a Disney World Girl and we are thinking of traveling to the Land for the 1st time this August. Is that an ok time to go? We would be going at the very end of August to the beginning of September. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[figment_jii]

I am a Disney World Girl and we are thinking of traveling to the Land for the 1st time this August. Is that an ok time to go? We would be going at the very end of August to the beginning of September. Any suggestions are appreciated.

When you ask about it being an "ok" time to go, what factors are you look at? Low crowds? Operating hours? Ride refurbishments/closures?

The end of August/start of September generally marks the start of the transition away from the summer operating schedule. Labor Day is late this year, so it might mean that parts of the summer schedule will be in effect through the first week in September (not sure about that). For some, the biggest thing is that during that period, Haunted Mansion is likely to be closed (assuming 2015 is similar to 2014). The park will be transitioning to HalloweenTime, but it's unlikely it will have started yet. Many schools will be back in session, so that should help with the crowds.

 

[sammysmom]

I guess my main concern is crowds/weather and rides open. I think--now after looking at the calendar, we'd have to go more towards the middle of the month so I am not sure what that would mean. We are going to be spending 3 days at Disney and then going up to Universal Studios and just seeing the sites around that area.

 

[figment_jii]

I guess my main concern is crowds/weather and rides open. I think--now after looking at the calendar, we'd have to go more towards the middle of the month so I am not sure what that would mean. We are going to be spending 3 days at Disney and then going up to Universal Studios and just seeing the sites around that area.

HydroGuy has several threads that will probably be helpful:
Weather: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158
Crowds: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602
There are other tip threads as well; he has a list in this post:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

In terms of ride closure, DLR does not release that information very far in advance and everything is subject to change without notice. When the HM closes depends (largely) on when they plan to start HalloweenTime. Labor Day is on September 7 in 2015, which makes it a little tough to estimate what is going to happen in terms of HalloweenTime. If the pattern from previous years hold, HalloweenTime would start on Friday, September 11. However, given the significance of that date, it seems unlikely that DLR would opt to start HalloweenTime on 9/11. On the other hand, given the popularity of HalloweenTime, it seems unlikely that they'd wait until the 18th to start. So, I'm guess that the official start will be Saturday, September 12th. Based on that date range, my guess is that HM is likely to close on or around Monday, August 24th.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have gone in mid August a few times. The weather can actually be quite nice. Better than the weather in August at WDW,(most likely anyway). We had temperatures in the 80s, 60s at night, no rain, both times (2011 and 2013). Of course, anything can happen with the weather. Could go to 100 degrees or something. But probably not humid.

I will be at DL again this August, for the D23 Convention, which is August 14-16. But, I don't think the Convention has a huge impact on park attendance.

Usually crowds are a bit better before Aug 16 (?), because many local AP holders are blocked until around then. For this reason, we always come in the Sunday before the Convention, for Park time, vs. staying afterwards. I think many locals return to the parks once they are unblocked, before school resumes. (understandable!)

Parks are open much later at DL vs. WDW, which helps tremendously.

 

[CaseyK]

Our last trip was the week before Labor Day- we were in the parks Sunday-Thursday. It was stinking hot- but for us it always seems to be unexpectead heat waves when we go (April, October, and August...lol). But it was managable. Crowds were higher on the Sunday-Tuesday and not bad on the Wednesday/ Thursday. Only ride that was closed was HM but it was open for our first day there so we got it in .
I was nervous about it...and crowds but it worked out well

 

[IDigDug]

We've gone the week before Labor Day the last 3 or so years. Last year (and I think the year before), park hours on the weeknights were slightly shorter 9-11 at DL and 9-10 at DCA. Fantasmic didn't run on the weeknights and Haunted Mansion usually shuts down for the Holiday overlay around that week. It has been pretty hot the last three years, as well.

The upside is that the crowd level seems a bit more manageable. Don't get me wrong, the crowds are there, but to me it seems a bit less than typical summer crowds and a lot less than the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Keep in mind that Labor Day weekend is the DL Half Marathon and there's also a 5K & 10K so the days leading up to Labor Day see an increase in crowds.

 

[jkolkemo]

We go in August every year. This year will be our earliest trip ever, 9-17th. We have done the last week of August several times. Usually Haunted mansion is going down the last week and sometimes Matterhorn (although with the extensive earlier shut down for the 60th it may not have this problem.) Most everything is open unless it is a long term closure (in the past the submarines and big thunder). You should be good. The weather can be up and down, low as 80 up to 98 on our hottest trip. Not really muggy like florida. It is hotter up at Universal, San Dimas and Valencia. At least 10 degrees if not more.