Disneyland in may

[tenneycjt]

Some of u may have read my recent trip report with mom who had a stroke, after 5 years of going in sept and oct we are thinking of going in may next year. We havent had good luck in sept this year the stroke, the year before my mom had a horrible cold during the trip, the year before she was getting ready to have varicose vein surgery and was in a lot of pain, so time to change it up. How do u think halloween compares to may time as far as crowds and weather. We area thinking the second or third week of may. If we do go i'll be happier cuz its sooner than waiting till nxt sept.

 

[twodogs]

We love early May! It is not as bad for the crowds as school is still in session. The weather is typically nice. I don’t know if the park hours are super long, but you may not be up for long days in your family, based on the issues you listed above. Definitely avoid Memorial Day and the days leading up to it and after it, if you are able to. Have fun and hope you all enjoy it!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Actually, Memorial Day Weekend this year and last was really good because only the top passes weren't blocked. The Monday got crowded, but the Saturday and Sunday were great! The week before the holiday weekend was very busy because it was the last week of the Southern California Resident ticket promotion. Grad Nites will be going in May -- the dates have been published and can be found by doing a search on this forum. The parks may be on the low season/non peak schedule before Memorial Day (i.e. shorter hours, lower staffing, more ride refurbs or rides running at lower capacity, nighttime entertainment on weekends only, etc.), so factor that into your planning. If you do a longer visit with shorter days that cover a weekend, May could work very well for you. And with what you learned at the GCH with this last visit, now you know exactly what kind of room to request.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Actually, Memorial Day Weekend this year and last was really good because only the top passes weren't blocked. The Monday got crowded, but the Saturday and Sunday were great! The week before the holiday weekend was very busy because it was the last week of the Southern California Resident ticket promotion. Grad Nites will be going in May -- the dates have been published and can be found by doing a search on this forum. The parks may be on the low season/non peak schedule before Memorial Day (i.e. shorter hours, lower staffing, more ride refurbs or rides running at lower capacity, nighttime entertainment on weekends only, etc.), so factor that into your planning. If you do a longer visit with shorter days that cover a weekend, May could work very well for you. And with what you learned at the GCH with this last visit, now you know exactly what kind of room to request.

This is good to hear. My fam wants to go Memorial Day. Well, Tuesday would be our first park day.

 

[gottalovepluto]

This is good to hear. My fam wants to go Memorial Day. Well, Tuesday would be our first park day.

We’ve been a few times that week! Love going right after Memorial because Memorial is kickoff to summer for Disneyland. Most rides are back up, hours & entertainment are extended for summer, weather is summer-ish (can be hot but it ain’t Aug crazy yet!).

 

[gottalovepluto]

You should find lower crowds but some rides will be down for refurb and hours will be limited. Still, weather should be good & warm. Keep an eye out for Grad Nites, you want to be out of Disneyland by dinner on Grad Nites imho since the grads are getting all they can in at Disneyland before their party in DCA after it closes.

There won’t be theming like at Halloween time but it’s also nice seeing the parks “as they are” so to speak Ultimately, IMHO every month is a good month to visit Disneyland!

 

[tenneycjt]

You should find lower crowds but some rides will be down for refurb and hours will be limited. Still, weather should be good & warm. Keep an eye out for Grad Nites, you want to be out of Disneyland by dinner on Grad Nites imho since the grads are getting all they can in at Disneyland before their party in DCA after it closes.

There won’t be theming like at Halloween time but it’s also nice seeing the parks “as they are” so to speak Ultimately, IMHO every month is a good month to visit Disneyland!

So what exactly are grad nights and how many days do they happen? would u recommend memorial day week or the week before?

 

[gottalovepluto]

So what exactly are grad nights and how many days do they happen? would u recommend memorial day week or the week before?

Here are your 2019 dates https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/06/2019-disneyland-resort-grad-nite-dates-announced/
Grad Nite is when seniors from around CA, AZ- really any within 8 hours driving distance I'd say have the chance to celebrate their graduation with a school trip to Disneyland and a seniors only after hours party in DCA. They also have the chance to buy discounted access to DCA and Disneyland day of their party. This can lead to huge crowds of high school seniors in the parks, especially in the evening hours as everyone has arrived and they want to do all their DL favorites before hittin the party in CA Adventure. Whether your seniors are behaved or not is a crapshoot. Some people report perfect angels, others are having "F this" "F that" "*****!!!" and a million other things screamed out while waiting in lines and even on rides. There are also reports of ride photos being ruined (if someone shows a finger, flashes the camera that will get the photo removed/blacked out and you do not get another chance to ride).

Scared yet? Don't be I've travelled during Grad Nites and the parks are totally doable with a bit of pre-planning:
1) park hopper tickets
2) do not enter Disneyland after dinner, unless you're in a gambling mood
3) do not enter Disneyland after dinner.

You can search the DIS for more info and you will see everyone has an opinion on Grad Nites and often they're polar opposites.

WOC has in the past only showed once on Grad Nites.

Personally, I like the week after Memorial because odds are you'll have longer hours and more-full entertainment schedule. BUT you will have bigger crowds. Hotels are generally more expensive the farther into May you get. The past years sometimes they run ticket specials for SoCal residents that run until Memorial(?).

The Dark Horse here is SWL opening. It's opening "summer 2019". This could mean Memorial, this could mean August, nobody knows. If you want to for sure avoid SWL stuff early-mid May is safest on that front.

 

[Cal-Pie]

My birthday is the second week of May, so I've been during that time frame several times. It is hands down favorite time to go. I've always managed to avoid grad nights, so I don't have experience with crowd levels on those days though.

 

[tenneycjt]

Here are your 2019 dates https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/06/2019-disneyland-resort-grad-nite-dates-announced/
Grad Nite is when seniors from around CA, AZ- really any within 8 hours driving distance I'd say have the chance to celebrate their graduation with a school trip to Disneyland and a seniors only after hours party in DCA. They also have the chance to buy discounted access to DCA and Disneyland day of their party. This can lead to huge crowds of high school seniors in the parks, especially in the evening hours as everyone has arrived and they want to do all their DL favorites before hittin the party in CA Adventure. Whether your seniors are behaved or not is a crapshoot. Some people report perfect angels, others are having "F this" "F that" "*****!!!" and a million other things screamed out while waiting in lines and even on rides. There are also reports of ride photos being ruined (if someone shows a finger, flashes the camera that will get the photo removed/blacked out and you do not get another chance to ride).

Scared yet? Don't be I've travelled during Grad Nites and the parks are totally doable with a bit of pre-planning:
1) park hopper tickets
2) do not enter Disneyland after dinner, unless you're in a gambling mood
3) do not enter Disneyland after dinner.

You can search the DIS for more info and you will see everyone has an opinion on Grad Nites and often they're polar opposites.

WOC has in the past only showed once on Grad Nites.

Personally, I like the week after Memorial because odds are you'll have longer hours and more-full entertainment schedule. BUT you will have bigger crowds. Hotels are generally more expensive the farther into May you get. The past years sometimes they run ticket specials for SoCal residents that run until Memorial(?).

The Dark Horse here is SWL opening. It's opening "summer 2019". This could mean Memorial, this could mean August, nobody knows. If you want to for sure avoid SWL stuff early-mid May is safest on that front.

I think the week of may 12th would be good there are no grad nites that week, i dont think it would be a problem but i cant stand profanity and rudeness especially at a place like disneyland, i've never once experianced this. Its too bad people cant celebrate without being rude, after all high seniors shouldn't act like 11 year olds

 

[Malcon10t]

The Dark Horse here is SWL opening. It's opening "summer 2019". This could mean Memorial, this could mean August, nobody knows. If you want to for sure avoid SWL stuff early-mid May is safest on that front.

The likelyhood of SWL opening prior to June 21st is pretty slim. But there could be previews then.

I think the week of may 12th would be good there are no grad nites that week, i dont think it would be a problem but i cant stand profanity and rudeness especially at a place like disneyland, i've never once experianced this. Its too bad people cant celebrate without being rude, after all high seniors shouldn't act like 11 year olds

I have been there for Grad Night many times, and rarely hear the language. One time I did and I commented to the boy "I would prefer my granddaughter not hear this language", and he apologized and stopped.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...I have been there for Grad Night many times, and rarely hear the language. One time I did and I commented to the boy "I would prefer my granddaughter not hear this language", and he apologized and stopped.

I've only been in the parks during the night on Grad Nite a couple times, we always here it- guess we're unlucky like that We rode HM one Grad Nite- ugg!! This group of kids thing was to just scream random rude phrases in line, no way to know which ones were doing it. And the fake screaming inside HM was miserable. They didn't even yell many words then just fake screaming frequently throughout the ride. Worst mistake we made going back into the parks to do HM that night. ...Another Grad Nite we came in for a late dinner at Plaza to see fireworks (the umbrellas still went down then & we didn't mind only seeing part of the show). The crowds were so thick and rude that all 5 of us adults had been plowed into at least once on our way from the monorail to Plaza Inn. And even there kids were shoving their way around the restaurant, inside and out. It was ridiculous! We hunkered down at a table and didn't move until the late PTN when the crowds of kids had moved on. VERY rude groups that night. I know its a roll of the dice going on a grad nite but when we ventured a couple times it did not work out.

 

[tenneycjt]

we usually get military tickets does anyone know if there is a way to add and extra day to it or ido u have to buy a regular one day ticket?

 

[smartlabelprint]

we usually get military tickets does anyone know if there is a way to add and extra day to it or ido u have to buy a regular one day ticket?

I think you have to buy another day.

 

[Spencer Wright]

I am glad you brought up this question. I too was thinking of visiting early next May.

I hope you have a magical time!!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

So what exactly are grad nights and how many days do they happen?..

This thread might help: "The Scoop on Grad Nites" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400.