Disneyland in may

[dave disney]

We are planing our 2016 family vacation,10 of us.our target date is the second week of may.our plans are to arive on a fri. To lax spend two days touring la.our disney stay will be mon to thur.4 days two parks.dvc members hopfully grand californian. I know that weekeds are busy,so we will do week days.my question is during this time of year is there anything to look out for. Expample spring breaks,special events etc? Thanks dave

 

[amdgoogles]

I went in May last year and am trying to decide when to go this year, the events in may that can create problems are the Tinkerbell half marathon, and grad nights, also memorial day weekend.

 

[figment_jii]

This thread might be helpful:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3358090

In general, I think it'll be okay. The summer season probably won't start (officially) until Memorial Day. Spring Break crowds should be over by then. The biggest unknown is how the 60th anniversary activities/events will fit into all of this and when they'll start.

 

[amdgoogles]

I know I wish they would announce it already! We're looking into going after May 9, but if we're going to go around then, and the celebration starts May 15 like some people are thinking, I'd love to be there for the kick off even if it is crazy!

 

[GatorChris]

This thread might be helpful:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3358090

Thanks for posting this. We were thinking of the middle of May since I have a concert event on the 16th. Look at the calendar and there's a California Democrat convention AND a couple grad nights that weekend. Politicians and teenagers - two of the most misbehaved people groups in the country. I may skip a trip that week.

 

[Sherry E]

I know I wish they would announce it already! We're looking into going after May 9, but if we're going to go around then, and the celebration starts May 15 like some people are thinking, I'd love to be there for the kick off even if it is crazy!

I don't know why there is such a long wait to release some of the details of the 60th anniversary (other than revealing the fact that it's a Diamond theme).

There is definitely going to be a nighttime parade coming to Disneyland (auditions are being held for it in January) -- and, chances are, it will be the one that has been long rumored to be part of the 60th anniversary events -- but Disney hasn't even announced the parade yet!

I wonder if they are waiting until after the holidays have ended -- or at least waiting until the New Year has begun. Or, perhaps they are waiting until next week so they can deliver the big announcement as a 'Christmas gift' of sorts. Maybe they are still tweaking the plans for the 60th and don't want to release anything before the whole line-up is set?

Thanks for posting this. We were thinking of the middle of May since I have a concert event on the 16th. Look at the calendar and there's a California Democrat convention AND a couple grad nights that weekend. Politicians and teenagers - two of the most misbehaved people groups in the country. I may skip a trip that week.

True! They are, perhaps, only rivaled by the pharmacists and ravers who were recently in the parks together over Candlelight Ceremony weekend!

(And I am just kidding about that, folks! I was not being serious.)

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks for posting this. We were thinking of the middle of May since I have a concert event on the 16th. Look at the calendar and there's a California Democrat convention AND a couple grad nights that weekend. Politicians and teenagers - two of the most misbehaved people groups in the country. I may skip a trip that week.

I have no comment on the Convention (because it wasn't in Anaheim last year, so I have no idea how it'll impact crowds at DLR), but in terms of the grad nights, they're scattered throughout May and June. Unless you go before they start, Memorial Day weekend, or wait until late June, you really can't avoid the Grad Nights.

I know some folks really dislike the grad night crowds and have had awful experiences, but I didn't think the seniors were really all that bad. It did seem like there were more of them in the parks, but they didn't really seem any more badly behaved than your typical group of teenagers.

I don't know why there is such a long wait to release some of the details of the 60th anniversary (other than the fact that it's a Diamond theme).

There is definitely going to be a nighttime parade coming to Disneyland (auditions are being held for it in January) -- and, chances are, it will be the one that has been long rumored to be part of the 60th anniversary events -- but Disney hasn't even announced the parade yet!

I wonder if they are waiting until after the holidays have ended -- or at least waiting until the New Year has begun. or, perhaps they are waiting until next week so they can deliver the big announcement as a 'Christmas gift' of sorts. Maybe they are still tweaking the plans for the 60th and don't want to release anything before the whole line-up is set?

I generally think this is part of it; that they want to wait until after the holidays are over before focusing on the 60th anniversary announcements and events. Hopefully we'll see a flurry of information in January, but it wouldn't surprise me if we don't hear anything concrete until just before the first things start. I can also see them doing a rolling start, where elements will debut at different times.

 

[HydroGuy]

We are planing our 2016 family vacation,10 of us.our target date is the second week of may.our plans are to arive on a fri. To lax spend two days touring la.our disney stay will be mon to thur.4 days two parks.dvc members hopfully grand californian. I know that weekeds are busy,so we will do week days.my question is during this time of year is there anything to look out for. Expample spring breaks,special events etc? Thanks dave

This thread might be helpful:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3358090

In general, I think it'll be okay. The summer season probably won't start (officially) until Memorial Day. Spring Break crowds should be over by then. The biggest unknown is how the 60th anniversary activities/events will fit into all of this and when they'll start.

Unless the OP had a typo, then the 60th celebration may be completed by 2016.

 

[figment_jii]

Unless the OP had a typo, then the 60th celebration may be completed by 2016.

Good catch! You're right, I think most of the 60th anniversary events will be over by May of 2016 (although, I wouldn't be surprised if the fireworks show and parade, if they do new ones, last beyond 2015).

To the OP, sorry about that. The thread I linked and all of the advice so far, really only pertain to 2015. I don't think anyone has any good ideas about what will be happening in 2016 yet (we barely know what happening in 2015 at this point!).

 

[GatorChris]

I don't think anyone has any good ideas about what will be happening in 2016 yet (we barely know what happening in 2015 at this point!).

Disneyland. Where you can book a Fantasmic! package 60 days in advance but have no idea when the park actually opens or closes. Do you know how hard that makes it on WDW-vet 6-month-out Planner?

 

[figment_jii]

Do you know how hard that makes it on WDW-vet 6-month-out Planner?

Well...you can look on it on the bright-side: no getting up at 3:00 am to go online to make prime ADRs!

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

May is generally an uncrowded month as far as crowds go. Spring break has ended for most schools, and the summer season doesn't officially start until memorial day weekend at end of may. It also has lovely weather!

Since your dates are so far away, it is impossible to know what special events might be happening. One thing that you can potentially watch out for are grad nites. This year, they start may 13th and end june 19th. They don't have that much effect on crowds, but California Adventure does close early at 10:00 pm so they can have their party (that lasts until 2:00 am). Keep in mind that since they are teenagers, they can sometimes be especially rowdy or rude. If you have young kids, you might want to enjoy the night outside of the parks, early bedtime, sit-down meal, etc.

Sometimes, the Anaheim convention center hosts large conventions at that time, so if one is scheduled for your dates, do not be surprised to find convention area hotels completely booked months in advance.

All in all, you will have a great vacation and may is an awesome time to visit disneyland!

 

[HydroGuy]

Disneyland. Where you can book a Fantasmic! package 60 days in advance but have no idea when the park actually opens or closes. Do you know how hard that makes it on WDW-vet 6-month-out Planner?

Only a WDW vet could find something to be frustrated about when they do not have to put in as much effort planning at DLR.

 

[GatorChris]

Only a WDW vet could find something to be frustrated about when they do not have to put in as much effort planning at DLR.

It's not so much the frustration of planning. It's just strange to me that you can book out 60 days for dining and F! and have no idea when the park actually closes or opens for the same day. I'm just used to knowing park hours before I start booking stuff. I do like the minimal effort needed at DL, but it would be nice on this day, the 22nd, to know how late the parks are open about two months from now when we're going. It's the 6 weeks vs. 6 month thing. Just a little more for this Disney crazy noob.