Early march or November?

[Porsche4]

Planning a 2024 trip and can't decide upon March or November. We don't like hot weather and we would like to go when crowds are lower. Thinking of maybe the 3rd March to the 10th March or in November the week after Thanksgiving. I'd love to hear peoples ideas on this one. Thanks

 

[CoasterGT24]

Early March 2023 was slightly less busy at Disneyland than the last week of November 2022 was. We will have to see if the general trend of less crowds after Thanksgiving holds this year. Neither week should be packed though.

 

[BobaFettFan]

I always go before the locals get spring break. By locals, I mean Orange County. The rest of CA is too vast and different to know, but it'll always be a planned trip for further away people versus those who are down the street.

That being said, I always go with the first week of March. It has always been a success.

Both March and November are good, but if you're looking at earlier than later...

The data reads as such.

Orange county spring break from years past


End April 14, 2023

Start April 7, 2022

2021-2022 March 14-18

2020-2021 march 15-19

2019-2020 march 16-20

2018-2019 march 18-22

2017-2018 march 19-23


Good luck planning your trip!

 

[OlliePop27]

Weekday crowds at DL have been insane all times of year recently. This is caused by MK's being mostly unblocked on weekdays (all 4 levels) and cheaper day tickets ($104 vs. sometimes $179). Holidays and weekends are actually less crowded (weird, I know, but it's been this way for a while). I actually planned my next trip intentionally over a holiday weekend because it will be less crowded than other times of year. Holiday periods (not just the winter holidays) also often have max entertainment, hours, staffing, and the most limited refurbs.

Between early March and late November, I think either option will be great. Probably less refurbs in November so I'd personally go that route. You'll also get Haunted Mansion Holiday and Small World Holiday. They've also recently been doing nightly fireworks the entire holiday season, whereas early March will be before nightly fireworks for spring break.

I'd choose November, but don't be afraid to consider a holiday time too!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I always go before the locals get spring break. By locals, I mean Orange County. The rest of CA is too vast and different to know, but it'll always be a planned trip for further away people versus those who are down the street.

That being said, I always go with the first week of March. It has always been a success.

Both March and November are good, but if you're looking at earlier than later...

The data reads as such.

Orange county spring break from years past


End April 14, 2023

Start April 7, 2022

2021-2022 March 14-18

2020-2021 march 15-19

2019-2020 march 16-20

2018-2019 march 18-22

2017-2018 march 19-23


Good luck planning your trip!

Just a note, Orange County is vast with many different school districts. Our spring break is the first week of April this year, but Irvine, Anaheim and a few other districts often have different breaks than we do.

LAUSD is another big “local” district to look out for as well as the San Diego schools (multiple districts).

Disney has lower passes blocked out the last week of March, which happily for us does not coincide with our own break the first week of April.

 

[Porsche4]

Weekday crowds at DL have been insane all times of year recently. This is caused by MK's being mostly unblocked on weekdays (all 4 levels) and cheaper day tickets ($104 vs. sometimes $179). Holidays and weekends are actually less crowded (weird, I know, but it's been this way for a while). I actually planned my next trip intentionally over a holiday weekend because it will be less crowded than other times of year. Holiday periods (not just the winter holidays) also often have max entertainment, hours, staffing, and the most limited refurbs.

Between early March and late November, I think either option will be great. Probably less refurbs in November so I'd personally go that route. You'll also get Haunted Mansion Holiday and Small World Holiday. They've also recently been doing nightly fireworks the entire holiday season, whereas early March will be before nightly fireworks for spring break.

I'd choose November, but don't be afraid to consider a holiday time too!

Thanks for your input. I would like to experience all the Christmas decorations and entertainment so I am leaning towards November but I shall continue to ponder for a few more days yet before I lock in my plans. I know no matter when we go, my adult daughter and I will have fun, we always do no matter where we go.

 

[OlliePop27]

Thanks for your input. I would like to experience all the Christmas decorations and entertainment so I am leaning towards November but I shall continue to ponder for a few more days yet before I lock in my plans. I know no matter when we go, my adult daughter and I will have fun, we always do no matter where we go.

Absolutely, you will have a great time no matter when you go! That's the right attitude to have.

I think people get lost in discussions about crowds and ride refurbs. The bottom line is that it's ALWAYS crowded and we're all trying to find a "less" crowded time. It can make a difference for sure, but go in with a plan and a positive attitude - you'll have a blast!

 

[aymiewilson]

OlliePop is right. If you use something like touring plans Lines' app or DisneylandDaily website's touring plans, you will get SO MUCH DONE regardless of crowds. Having a solid plan and being willing to rope drop goes further for you than picking an "uncrowded" time of year. I have only been to DL at Christmastime once, but it's my favorite so far. Other than that, I've been in early May, early August, late Jan (for Lunar New Year) and late March (did this last year for California F&W fest), and I honestly can't say that one of them was a bad time. I'm going in 2.5 weeks to see the parks at Halloweentime for the first time ever, but... yep Christmastime was my favorite! That first week post Thanksgiving is a great time to go. I think we did the week before Thanksgiving week for my holiday trip. Either way, the week directly before or after Thanksgiving is a time when there's a slight holiday slump.

 

[DLgal]

November.

There are heavier crowds in early March because Disney always offers promotional tickets in the early part of the year.

Once holiday time starts, no more promo tickets and the Magic Keys have begun blocking off more of Holiday Time, so crowds will be a lower on average than they will be in March.

And the November weather is usually reliably cool, especially that late in the month. March can be a toss up, although this year it was a RAINY month. Less chance for rain in November.

 

[Porsche4]

OlliePop is right. If you use something like touring plans Lines' app or DisneylandDaily website's touring plans, you will get SO MUCH DONE regardless of crowds. Having a solid plan and being willing to rope drop goes further for you than picking an "uncrowded" time of year. I have only been to DL at Christmastime once, but it's my favorite so far. Other than that, I've been in early May, early August, late Jan (for Lunar New Year) and late March (did this last year for California F&W fest), and I honestly can't say that one of them was a bad time. I'm going in 2.5 weeks to see the parks at Halloweentime for the first time ever, but... yep Christmastime was my favorite! That first week post Thanksgiving is a great time to go. I think we did the week before Thanksgiving week for my holiday trip. Either way, the week directly before or after Thanksgiving is a time when there's a slight holiday slump.

Thanks for your thoughts Aymie. I have definitely decided upon November because I am a sucker for Christmas Decorations and the holiday spirit in general so I can't wait to experience it all.

 

[Porsche4]

November.

There are heavier crowds in early March because Disney always offers promotional tickets in the early part of the year.

Once holiday time starts, no more promo tickets and the Magic Keys have begun blocking off more of Holiday Time, so crowds will be a lower on average than they will be in March.

And the November weather is usually reliably cool, especially that late in the month. March can be a toss up, although this year it was a RAINY month. Less chance for rain in November.

Thanks a lot for your input. We were in DL the last week of April last year and even though it was suppose to be a quiet time it was crazy busy thanks to all the pent up demand people who had pulled their kids out of school for the week. We used Genie+ and still had a fantastic holiday despite the crowds although the hot weather did do us in a bit. I feel the weather in November will suit us a lot more. We live in the cold highlands of Victoria, Australia so we don't cope well with the heat. Next November is a long way off but I still can't wait.

 

[aymiewilson]

Thanks for your thoughts Aymie. I have definitely decided upon November because I am a sucker for Christmas Decorations and the holiday spirit in general so I can't wait to experience it all.

You are gonna have A BLAST!

 

[spencerian]

Just wanted to thank the posters. We're looking at similar times and this was super helpful!

 

[nalabear]

Mid November is best IMHO - avoid Dapper Dan/Veteran Day weekend if crowd and Bloggers as opening holiday weekend. The week after are really nice IMHO Nov 12-20 typically.

Lower crowds, holiday overlays, cool.

 

[Porsche4]

Mid November is best IMHO - avoid Dapper Dan/Veteran Day weekend if crowd and Bloggers as opening holiday weekend. The week after are really nice IMHO Nov 12-20 typically.

Lower crowds, holiday overlays, cool.

I was tossing up between either the week after Veteran Day or the week after Thanksgiving. Both are later next year I think. I am leaning toward the week after Veterans day though before it gets too much into the crazy Christmas season. Thanks for your thoughts.