Disneyland in Fall (August / September)

[Runey]

Hi,

Can someone tell me how busy Disneyland is in August / September. My wife and I were last in Disneyland in 1998 and wanted to go again to see all the new stuff (e.g. Californian Adenture). How long would we need? I have heard that a day is more than enough for CA.

Also, off topic, how long does it take to drive from Disney to Six Flags Magic Mountain?

Hope someone can help

Chow

 

[LeftCoaster]

Originally posted by Runey
Hi,

Can someone tell me how busy Disneyland is in August / September. My wife and I were last in Disneyland in 1998 and wanted to go again to see all the new stuff (e.g. Californian Adenture). How long would we need? I have heard that a day is more than enough for CA.

Also, off topic, how long does it take to drive from Disney to Six Flags Magic Mountain?

Hope someone can help

Chow

Early August until the last week of August, it will be pretty crowded. The week before labor day, it'll still be crowded but not as bad. Labor day weekend will be packed and then an immediate drop off after that.
I would still go in August because you will still have the extended hours, nightly fireworks, nightly Fantasmic, nightly Electric Parade.
Right now, you can get the "pay for 3 days and get 5 days" park hopper. It runs a little over $120 per person and you get unlimited fastpasses. You'd definately need 3 full days to do both parks. With this, you can do it a a more relaxed pace.
As for DCA, it depends on what you want to see there. A couple of times in the Animation Building, I've spent a couple of hours just in there when playing tourguide.
Magic Mountain is an hour drive from Disneyland without traffic. If you hit any rush hour traffic, your transit time will balloon like crazy. Also, August & September there will basically be 100 degrees every day.

 

[lulubelle]

Hi Runey,
Welcome to the DISboards! First I would like to say that August will be very busy and September is much more managable as most children are back at school. Both months will be as warm as Southern Cal gets, but not too bad, maybe mid to upper eighties. I would go in September if you want to avoid crazy crowds. Magic Mountain is a good hour from DL. That is without traffic. If you go on a weekend morn, leave around 7 or 7:30 am, eat breakfast in Valencia (or close by) and enter the park at opening. You will have a blast. Oh, and MM will be HOT compared to Orange County. Trust me, really HOT! Have fun

 

[Runey]

Thanks for the info

Think I might get a hotel near Six Flags rather than drive

Not good with crowds so I think I'll go in Sept

Thanks again

Chow

 

[two-foxes]

I was planning on going in Sept, but when I looked at the refurbs scheduled, I moved the date up to labor day week. Oh, I know the crowds, but not having the Haunted Mansion, and from the looks of it either Indiana Jones and/or Splash Mountain, not to mention Space Mountain....well, it was too much to miss for me!
Keep that in mind if you want to hit the main attractions!!! (Also keep in mind that Disney will not confirm these refurbs until next month, but they would confirm that everything was open until 8/31, so that was enough for me to change our dates!)

 

[Runey]

Thansk fo the update.

Bummers having so many rides closed at one time

Shouldn't affect me though cause I'm mainly interested in California Adventure. Plus I'm going to DisneyWorld (via Vegas) afterwards. Better check to see what attractions will be closed at WDW in Sept.

Thanks again

Chow

 

[LeftCoaster]

Originally posted by two-foxes
I was planning on going in Sept, but when I looked at the refurbs scheduled, I moved the date up to labor day week. Oh, I know the crowds, but not having the Haunted Mansion, and from the looks of it either Indiana Jones and/or Splash Mountain, not to mention Space Mountain....well, it was too much to miss for me!
Keep that in mind if you want to hit the main attractions!!! (Also keep in mind that Disney will not confirm these refurbs until next month, but they would confirm that everything was open until 8/31, so that was enough for me to change our dates!)

Haunted Mansion will definately be closed after labor day. It will make it's annual transformation into Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Also, even with the crowds, if you have the 5 day parkhopper with unlimited fastpasses, it makes things a LOT easier. If you are going the week that ENDS with LAbor Day weekend, I think that will be a very good week to go. It'll still be crowded but, since many schools have already started school, the crowds will definately be down a bit.

 

[dsnylndmom]

We've gone the week before Labor Day weekend and during the week the crowds were fine but they were packed on Sunday and Monday!! I'd go for August because of more rides being open and going and the chance to see Fantasmic! and the fireworks!! Plus with 3-5 days you'll still get everything done.

But I gotta disagree with Leftcoaster we never hit 100 degree days when we were there during that time period, it was warm but not near 100, at least the week we were there!!

HTH
Tina

 

[LeftCoaster]

Originally posted by dsnylndmom
We've gone the week before Labor Day weekend and during the week the crowds were fine but they were packed on Sunday and Monday!! I'd go for August because of more rides being open and going and the chance to see Fantasmic! and the fireworks!! Plus with 3-5 days you'll still get everything done.

But I gotta disagree with Leftcoaster we never hit 100 degree days when we were there during that time period, it was warm but not near 100, at least the week we were there!!

HTH
Tina

The comment about the 100 degree weather was for Magic Mountain. It may not always hit 100 there but the averages are usually in the mid to upper 90's.
Anaheim gets hot but not as hot and as consistantly as Valencia (Magic Mountain)