First time Disneyland Visitor....is October crazy?

[CindyVK]

Hi All!

I'm a diehard Disney World person who is heading to California for a wedding this fall. We had planned to two days at Disneyland but now I'm reading that October is insanely busy. We would be visiting the first week of October. I don't love the idea of going to super crowded parks. We would not be doing Oogie Boogie Bash, just regular park days.

I'm just starting my research and already a bit discouraged. So, wondering if I'm better just to visit another time of year? Thanks for your help!

- Cindy-rella

 

[mom2rtk]

It's become one of the busiest times to visit. I'd try to find another time to go.

 

[Dr. G]

We went in 2022 from October Tuesday 4th to Saturday the 8th. We've been in October before and many other times of the year. We LOVE the Halloween decorations--right up there with Christmas for us. However, we also said we doubt we will ever plan a trip in October again if we have the choice. It was just so crowded that it made having a great time feel more like work. We did have a great time, and a bad day at Disneyland is better than a great day at work, but it just felt like a lot of effort. We did Genie Plus a couple days which allowed us to do a lot of rides, and we know the park well. But it seemed like an "effort". We'd rather try to put that time and effort and money into another time of the year. So we are trying the end of April this year for our next trip.

So, from my limited window, if you have the option of another time of year and the Halloween decor doesn't matter, I'd try to do a 1st time visit another time of the year. However, if October is a reasonable window for you and you are there anyway, and you understand that it will likely be very busy and you'll have to research and go with the the flow, I'd still go for it to see Disneyland. And if it feels too crowded and not fun, try Disneyland again another time of the year.

Good luck with the decision! For me if I was in the area anyway for the first time for a wedding, I'd roll the dice and go to Disney!

 

[Tinkaboo]

Yes, I would go another time. You probably will not be happy with the crowd levels. Try summer when most locals are blocked out. Longer hours, less people.

 

[superlarz]

I go and have fun every October. Don't get discouraged. Disneyland doesn't have an off-season anymore and is busy all the time. It will be busy but you'll be able to enjoy yourself.

 

[LKing]

If it is your first time, you won't have anything to compare it to.

You are in town for a wedding and checking out Disneyland is an added bonus. That doesn't mean that you need to see and do everything. If you get Genie +, you'll have the opportunity to go on several E ticket rides. With just two days, you won't be able to do it all, but you'll do enough to know if you want to come back.

If you get park hoppers, you'll have the option to move to the other park if one is busy.

You didn't say how many people are in your party and what the ages are.

 

[foolish_mortals]

It’s not great, but if you pack your patience and expect to deal with heat and crowds it’s tolerable. I think October is busy but also the heat makes more people cranky. October is peak Santa Ana wind season so the heat, crowd, and often canceled fireworks just shorten fuses.

If you are already here for the wedding, I would say go, but go with the knowledge it will be hot and crowded so you probably won’t be able to do everything. If you go with that in mind it can still be enjoyable.

 

[bbeagle]

June, July, August, September and October are very hot. It makes us very cranky, feel icky, and we can't visit as long. I'd rather go a month when it's not as hot.

 

[evilmommie]

Just go have fun. Pack your patience. Pick your shots on what you want to do and enjoy the ambience! There’s nothing like it!

 

[SFMommy]

I mean, if you're going to be in SoCal anyway and you are a die-hard WDW fan...go for it!!! Will it be busy? Yes. But you will still be in Disneyland! And the Halloween decorations are fantastic. As long as you have low expectations, you will probably have a great time.

I find that anytime of year (busy or supposedly not busy), the best plan is to go EARLY. We get so much done before 11:00...even during busy times. Then we kick back and have a nice meal, shop, snack, sit on a bench and people watch. And we do the attractions that don't usually require long waits. In DL - train, monorail, tiki room (with a dole whip), Mark Twain Riverboat, Castle Walkthrough. In DCA - Philharmagic, Turtle Talk, Fun Wheel, Little Mermaid.

Have fun!

 

[alleighboo]

We are east coast and (former) WDWers who went to DL for the first time in October 2022. Halloween is my favorite holiday and being teachers, we purposefully planned to go during our fall break. I agree with another poster, you won't have anything to compare it to. I didn't think it was as crazy crowded as other say but we could have been lucky or I just didn't know better!

We loved it and now consider ourselves Disneylanders. We will be going on our 3rd and 4th trips this year (including another October trip). The 2nd time we went was the last week in May/first week in June and it was definitely less crowded but there were Grad Nites going on...and I will never do Grad Nites again. You can always hit up a few days since you'll already be there and then plan a longer trip when it's not as crowded! Extra Disneyland!

 

[woodys_girl]

Are there better times to go to Disneyland? I mean maybe, but you aren't planning a Disneyland trip; you're planning a wedding trip and the wedding is in October so that's when you're going to Disneyland this time around.

I have only ever been to DL in October. We love it and haven't even considered going at another time. Our kids have a week off school, we think the weather is gorgeous, and I really like the fall/Halloween decor. I wouldn't say it's slow, but we've always been able to do what we wanted to do. Last fall was the first time we had Genie + available and we thought it worked great. I wouldn't let the claims of high crowds deter you from going when you're going to be so close anyway. We're all here to help you beat the crowds and have an awesome 2 days at DL.

 

[Geemo]

If you're there for a wedding.... GO FOR IT!
As others have mentioned hit rope drop to get a lot done early.
It will give you an idea of what the West Coast Parks have to offer.

Then you might consider how to plan a DLR dedicated trip.

Many feel there is no real slow time of the year any more.
But there are definitely very busy times.

Enjoy the wedding and DLR.