Disneyland in May&June, crowd calendars, grad nights

[ChloroformSdxn]

Is anyone familiar with the schedules at Disneyland in May or has been there during the grad nights? We have the opportunity to go late May/early June, and I'm hoping to avoid crowds (wanted to go earlier in May, but it's not going to work out.) We would be going on a Monday-Thurs.

Specific questions -

1. According to "Is it Packed", the last full week of May shows Monday the 23rd as being packed, Tuesday being "alright", and Wednesday being packed again. Is there something happening on Mondays and Wednesdays?

2. Grad nights - does the atmosphere at the park change a lot when the highschools are in there? Is it something that would have an impact on our vacation?

3. Weekdays in June - thinking May 30th-June 2nd. Is it ridiculous then?

Thanks so much!

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

Also, follow up. It looks like the 30th is Memorial Day in the States. Is this an actual day off in California?

 

[courtneybeth]

1. According to "Is it Packed", the last full week of May shows Monday the 23rd as being packed, Tuesday being "alright", and Wednesday being packed again. Is there something happening on Mondays and Wednesdays?

Might be the grad nights? I don't know this answer for sure.

2. Grad nights - does the atmosphere at the park change a lot when the highschools are in there? Is it something that would have an impact on our vacation?

I believe they shoved the Grad Nite kids into California Adventure last year, so Disneyland wasn't impacted. I didn't notice anything particularly different. For the most part the high school kids are relatively well behaved and are stuck in their own bubble to really impact your trip too much

3. Weekdays in June - thinking May 30th-June 2nd. Is it ridiculous then?

May 30th is Memorial Day, so you're right with all the Memorial Day vacationers. This is a nationally recognized holiday and it's the start of summer vacations! I'd steer clear - wait times shouldn't be crowded but it could be a bit busier than normal since local colleges are out and schools are just about wrapping up.

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

OK, great thank you! I was wondering why that weekend was extra busy (though I guess the Monday isn't?)

 

[Girimama33]

Not sure where the PP got their Grad Night info, but they can definitely affect the crowds. They are given a full day PH ticket (they will usually be in DL during the day), Their private party is in DCA after the park closes (usually 10pm). I have been there during days were the grads were not noticeable to days where some grads were really terrible. I personally avoid them if I can.
Memorial Day is a Federal Holiday...people from all over the country may be coming to DLR...not just Californians.

 

[Butterfly123]

I think every grad night needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis. I've heard of some pretty bad stories, but one trip we had them three out of four days, and they weren't as bad as I thought they might be. It does impact DL because the kids start pouring in around noon, and fill up DL, because they have the rest of the party (from 10:00pm) on to hang out in DCA. So lines for the big attractions start getting really long, and FP's run out. We didn't experience any bad behavior, but I've heard on these boards of some negative experiences. I think for the most part they are loud, excited teens, having fun with friends.

So I would say it will have some impact on the parks. How much just varies...there really isn't any way to know.

 

[gottalovepluto]

That is when we've gone the last couple years!

1. Is it packed this time of year? Yes. So much YES. Don't trust crowd calendars. It WILL be crowded every single day. Disneyland runs full operating hours around Memorial traditionally so that's what they think of the crowd levels. Go in knowing what you want to do, use the fast pass system, make dining reservations in advance & if the crowds are too much for you take a break in downtown Disney, your hotel, or hop to the other park. The best time is first thing in the morning. The first couple hours are the least crowded.

2. Grad Nite. Yes you will notice them if you are in the right park at the right time. They usually hit up DL since the party is in DCA. We notice them around lunchtime, but there aren't enough to affect the park "atmosphere" for us. By dinner DL is thick with grads continuing to firework time (TIP: do NOT see night parade and firework show on grad nite. Although the late parade on grad nite was fine for us). In our experience there were still tons of grads in DL by 11pm FYI. They mainly affect "big rides" with regards to crowd levels- Indy, Space. As for the park "atmosphere" it's luck of the draw of your grads. Some are behave fine, others would make a sailor blush. If you are seriously concerned about rowdy grad nite Seniors stick to DCA from dinner forward on grad nites. For more grad nite info search "grad nite" here on the DL forum. We've had many a discussion!

3. May 30th & weekdays in June. Summer really kicks off on Memorial Day here in CA. Some schools are out (but not the big districts like LA) & Memorial kicks off summer in Disneyland. We did memorial and the weekdays following a couple times. Memorial is noticeably busier than the rest of the week (which is still quite busy). TIP: if you are driving arrive early, we stay onsite now but one year we drove and were cycled through Disney traffic for an hour! And my understanding is the parking situation has only gotten more unpredictable over the years. Better to be at DL an hour early than an hour late! At least in my book

Our last trip was the week before Memorial and I preferred that week. Hours weren't quite maxed (DL closed at 11pm) but our hotel was a lot quieter than our previous post-Memorial trips, making for a more relaxing afternoon break when you aren't hovering over some poor soul waiting them to vacate their pool lounger As for in park crowds I don't recall much of a difference. Your dates should all be very similar crowd wise except for Memorial, that will definitely be busier. (Memorial is an actual day off in CA and the US, it is a holiday of remembrance and honoring those who died for our country. So to some people it is a very important day. What it does in the general cultural fabric of American society though is kick off summer backyard BBQ season and school vacations.)

 

[smartlabelprint]

Monday's are usually busy.

 

[courtneybeth]

Not sure where the PP got their Grad Night info, but they can definitely affect the crowds.

We've been in grad night and not grad night crowds and there really is no difference to us. We just maneuver through people and ignore what's happening -- we tend to go at night so maybe it's different than during the day?

I just know that right now the So Cal Resident offer is on right now through the end of May and it is BUSY BUSY BUSY - more than usual.

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

Excellent, thanks for this info. It's been really helpful. So my takeaway here is that grad nights are hit or miss, and try to get there before Memorial Day weekend if at all possible.

My dad lives in Mexico, so we do an LAX stopover either on the way there, or the way back. I really prefer going on the way back, since it's something for me to look forward to (staying at my dad's house, while nice, is still just a really boring week staying at my dad's house.) If it means I can avoid the Memorial Day crowds though, I'll opt for then.

 

[agamble]

Late May and early June are busy. But they are not any busier than the rest of summer, and certainly less busy than the 4th of July.

First you have grad nights that can affect crowds as grads are now given parkhopper tickets to use for the day before being moved to DCA for their party at night. The good thing is they no longer close the parks early for grad night as the party is held after DCA closes at 10pm.

Also you have other school trippers. Middle schools will often celebrate eighth grade "graduations" at Disneyland too. And other school groups will be there too.

Then there are the upcoming blockout days for local AP holders. If you loved going to Disneyland and knew that in another month you would not be able to go for two entire months wouldn't you try to find a day or two to go?

However, the park has pretty good hours at this time, the weather is nice, and the refurbishments are generally over. This year the rivers and train are down, but most likely everything else will be operating by Memorial day. We've been the week before Memorial twice. It was less busy the first time, but that is just Disneyland. It has become more crowded over the last few years. We've also been the first week of June a couple of times. Either time period will likely have similar crowds. Do keep in mind that the later you go the more likely it is that schools will be ending and vacationers will be heading to the parks to try to beat the crowds. For example the schools around here (5 hours from the park) get out right before Memorial day. If I was going to Disneyland this year the first week of June is a week I might consider since it's before the biggest hit of summer crowds and my kids would be out of school.

 

[AZMermaid]

Why are the grads bad for the parade? We are planning on seeing PTN on 6/9, which is one of the days they added later for Grad night. It's really the only night it works to see it. We are planning on doing the BB package.... But the reviews haven't been good lately, so we are reconsidering and might just wait it out. My kids are 4 and 5 and even the first parade is pushing bedtime quite a bit, so the second one isn't an option.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Also you have other school trippers. Middle schools will often celebrate eighth grade "graduations" at Disneyland too. And other school groups will be there too...

Right?! We totally didn't know 8th grade grad trips were a thing until our first trip this time of year a few years back. Some days there seemed like groups of 20 excited youngish children in matching t-shirts were everywhere, and sometimes they merged! We watched 3 groups merge once to ride POTC as we were walking out of café Orleans, CMs were building that extra line as they do sometimes in the afternoon as fast as they could. We definitely did POTC later that night! And then some days, no groups!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Why are the grads bad for the parade?

It means there are more people trying to see the parade than usual. And there are more people trying to see the fireworks show than usual.

Yeah, I can see how the 2nd one is not an option with kids that young! Fingers crossed the BB package evolves somewhat over the next month for you!

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

The one good thing about having the shortened park hours when we were there in January was that the fireworks were so early. While my kids are go go go the whole time (and wake up ridiculously early wanting to get right into the parks), they are pretty much done by 7 or 8, in line with their regular bedtimes.