DL, when to go

[friendoffigment]

first timers to DL. trying to choose a month that would be best. which month has the least crowds (if there are any). what months to avoid. will be going for 7-10 days with side trips. Figure 3-4 for DL. Thank you

 

[SFMommy]

first timers to DL. trying to choose a month that would be best. which month has the least crowds (if there are any). what months to avoid. will be going for 7-10 days with side trips. Figure 3-4 for DL. Thank you

I like May. Good weather, after spring break and before summer. Beware of grad nights though. Happy planning!

 

[sophy1996]

Avoid October. Among the busiest times of the year.

 

[BobaFettFan]

First week of March. Before spring break. Food and wine starts up. It's my go to.


Also we just got back with the weekend after Thanksgiving. Amazing, but busier.


Enjoy your trip!

 

[Pluto468]

I would avoid July because it's so hot and pretty crowded. We've had fun trips during July, but it isn't my preferred time to go. I like May or June, but as someone else said you just need to look out for Grad nites. If you avoid major holidays and school breaks you should do pretty well. Back when I lived in LA I loved January-March, but I don't think those are as slow anymore.

 

[Aspencreek]

Do you want to see the parks at Halloween? Go in September. Do you want to see the parks for Holidays? Go in early November. Don't care and just want to go during slower times? Try to go when schools are in session and there are no major holidays or three day weekends.

 

[Cal-Pie]

First week of May. Before spring break. Food and wine starts up. It's my go to.

Did you mean March? If so, I agree that the first week is good, as long as you can find a decent hotel price, and you’re not afraid of rain. The Natural Products expo tends to make prices crazy.

My ultimate favorite time to go is May. Avoid grad and Star Wars nights.

 

[BobaFettFan]

Did you mean March? If so, I agree that the first week is good, as long as you can find a decent hotel price, and you’re not afraid of rain. The Natural Products expo tends to make prices crazy.

My ultimate favorite time to go is May. Avoid grad and Star Wars nights.

Yes! March!
Edited.

 

[OlliePop27]

I would avoid July because it's so hot and pretty crowded. We've had fun trips during July, but it isn't my preferred time to go. I like May or June, but as someone else said you just need to look out for Grad nites. If you avoid major holidays and school breaks you should do pretty well. Back when I lived in LA I loved January-March, but I don't think those are as slow anymore.

This is a great example of why the "when to go" discussion is so subjective! My family loves July and prefers it over other times of the year. Pros: warm, sunny (sometimes morning marine layer), no rain, max hours, max entertainment, least rides under refurb, two lowest Magic Key's blocked all month. I certainly value and appreciate other perspectives though - no one can be wrong because everyone's opinion is valid!

The bottom line with DL planning is that the traditional "school calendar" and "holidays are busier" tenants don't always hold true. The massive number of Magic Key holders makes sometimes "slower" periods busier than holidays! Not always, but different crowd patterns than Walt Disney World.

 

[irlandaise]

The bottom line with DL planning is that the traditional "school calendar" and "holidays are busier" tenants don't always hold true. The massive number of Magic Key holders makes sometimes "slower" periods busier than holidays! Not always, but different crowd patterns than Walt Disney World.

I want to emphasize that point. I'm not saying it's true of the OP in this particular thread, but I think it's really easy for WDW veterans to not understand how vastly different the crowd patterns are at DL.

 

[BobaFettFan]

I want to emphasize that point. I'm not saying it's true of the OP in this particular thread, but I think it's really easy for WDW veterans to not understand how vastly different the crowd patterns are at DL.

Just to jump on this "crowd patterns" idea.


The old ways no longer work. Since I've been watching/planning trips, the common thread I've seen is everything is wrong, black is white, short is long. If you're reading advice from 2010 it is outdated.

You can do all the planning and research you want, but there will be busy days and there will be surprise low crowd days.

I think the only stead fast points of interest are:

-When do schools have breaks?

-When are pass holders blocked?

-Is it October?

Find the answers to those questions about when you want to go and dive in!

 

[Jawwdoc]

Just to jump on this "crowd patterns" idea.


The old ways no longer work. Since I've been watching/planning trips, the common thread I've seen is everything is wrong, black is white, short is long. If you're reading advice from 2010 it is outdated.

You can do all the planning and research you want, but there will be busy days and there will be surprise low crowd days.

I think the only stead fast points of interest are:

-When do schools have breaks?

-When are pass holders blocked?

-Is it October?

Find the answers to those questions about when you want to go and dive in!

The worst crowds I have personally experienced were on a Grad Night, no thank you! . Halloween and Christmas are typically very busy but many feel the vibe is worth it. Some of my favorite visits have been on rainy days in Jan/Feb. Summer has traditionally been “busy” but I find rope drop and closing the parks with a long, midday pool/beach break makes summer quite enjoyable.

 

[kikismom]

My favorites are the first week of December, we've gone through last two years and it's been amazing, first week of March, and during Halloween. The problem for me during Halloween is October. The crowds are almost unbearable. I find July to September to be way too hot for me to go personally.

I definitely second going during the Food and Wine festival. Yum yum!

 

[dina444444]

The worst crowds I have personally experienced were on a Grad Night, no thank you! . Halloween and Christmas are typically very busy but many feel the vibe is worth it. Some of my favorite visits have been on rainy days in Jan/Feb. Summer has traditionally been “busy” but I find rope drop and closing the parks with a long, midday pool/beach break makes summer quite enjoyable.

I'm not sure when you last went on a Grad Nite, but the crowds haven't been as bad lately since they changed the Grad Nite ticket structure.

 

[Cal-Pie]

I'm not sure when you last went on a Grad Nite, but the crowds haven't been as bad lately since they changed the Grad Nite ticket structure.

Tell me more! How have your experiences been the last couple of years? The first 2024 grad nite falls on my 50th birthday (boo-hoo in more ways than one). I'd sure like to spend my big day at the parks, but I'm willing to go the day before and the day after if grad nite will be misery. For reference, I'm the mom of teens, so I'm capable of tolerating teen behavior, but not super bratty, disrespectful teen behavior. Advice? Also, is one park much worse than the other?

 

[dina444444]

Tell me more! How have your experiences been the last couple of years? The first 2024 grad nite falls on my 50th birthday (boo-hoo in more ways than one). I'd sure like to spend my big day at the parks, but I'm willing to go the day before and the day after if grad nite will be misery. For reference, I'm the mom of teens, so I'm capable of tolerating teen behavior, but not super bratty, disrespectful teen behavior. Advice? Also, is one park much worse than the other?

So DCA will always be busier on Grad Nites as it gets closer to the party start compared to non party nights so that may be the day you go to DL.

The new ticket structure is one of 3 options and the whole school has to get the same option: Party Only, DCA early access plus Party, Park Hopper early Access plus Party. Back in the day everyone go the park hopper ticket before the party which led to the really bad crowds.

It will likely be a bit busier than a regular weeknight but not immensely more.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Summer when the majority of passholders are blocked out (check the blockout calendar) and entertainment/hours are at their max.

 

[Brandonius]

A full-month recommendation isn't really possible because each week is different. January isn't busy, but first week is crazy. May is really low, but has pockets of grad nite that are insane. December is manageable or low for first 2 weeks, then insane last 2.

The best bets overall (based on wait time numbers) are January (Low crowds, great weather, but refurbishments), May (Moderate crowds, good weather, low refurbs, but grad nite can be rough), and September after Labor Day. (Moderate crowds, decent weather, low refurbs, Halloween decor)

The tough part is the parks are "always busy". You'll get pockets of less busy, but overall lots of ppl.

Also, during the school year, weekends are better than weekdays on quality and wait times because so many annual passes are blocked out. During the summer the opposite is true. So don't plan your trip to miss the weekend if it's during school months.

 

[starlite_]

I tire of this question. Feels like we get it every week. The truth is that you should go when you can and do your research on what the downsides will be. There is not a perfect low crowd secret month.

Lots of folks have given you a summary of what those downsides might be: Summer is hot, fall is busy with Halloween, early months are filled with refurbs and low entertainment, December is busy with the Holidays, May and June have Grad Nites.

Pick the downside you can live with haha.

 

[MonocularVision]

We just got back from a four day trip (12/15-12/18). Honestly I was expecting much worse crowd levels than we experienced. With a solid plan and Genie+ we were basically able to do anything and everything. The only bad wait we had was a California Adventure day when RSR was down most of the day and the friends we with really wanted to ride it but not pay for ILL. We got in line with a posted 75 minute wait and waited just over 2 hours. But the teens played Heads Up! and we had a ton of fun conversations.

Having a good time at Disneyland is so not about “the perfect time to go” and more about having the right plan and attitude.

Except Halloween Time. Don’t ever go then.