First time in Disneyland

[Beita1974]

We are planning our first trip to Disneyland, we have visited Orlando several times but it will be our first time in California parks. Our plan is to go 3 days to the parks with Genie+ and we want to see the fireworks.
The date options are the second half of January or between February 7 and 25. Could you help me choose the best date in terms of crowds and possibility of seeing the fireworks?

We will be travelling from abroad and air ticket could be cheaper in Feb. but maybe superbowl and President Day weekend are crowded?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Federalist45]

For fireworks specifically, I'd guess your best bet is to push as late into the year as you can. The Holiday fireworks show will end January 7. In 2023, it was late January before a full fireworks show returned.

Super Bowl can be hit or miss and be highly dependent on the teams that are playing. President's Day weekend, particularly the Monday off, is likely to be very busy. Late January may be less busy, but there will also be more closures.
If Jan/Feb are your only options, go for it. But for a one time trip, I'd rather be going in the April/May time frame (just watch out for Spring Break).

 

[Beita1974]

Thank you very much Federalist45 for your complete response.
I´m afraid my only options to travel are between Jan 15th and Feb 20th in 2024.
Ah so in January there's a time with no fireworks show?
I understand the fireworks are only on weekends so in February our best dates would be the weekend of Feb 24th? and in January the weekend of Jan 20th or Jan 27th? that is correct?

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Chili327]

https://www.isitpacked.com/disneyland-crowd-forecast-predictor-calendar/

 

[Aspencreek]

Not sure about the fireworks schedule. But for crowds the parks shouldn't be very busy for those dates you mention other than I'd avoid the three-day holiday weekends. Those are Jan 15 and Feb 19 and will for sure bring in more visitors so avoid them if possible. The other thing you can check is the blockout dates for passholders. The more they are blocked out the better, so oftentimes weekends are less busy than weekdays (aside from the holidays mentioned.)

 

[Federalist45]

Thank you very much Federalist45 for your complete response.
I´m afraid my only options to travel are between Jan 15th and Feb 20th in 2024.
Ah so in January there's a time with no fireworks show?
I understand the fireworks are only on weekends so in February our best dates would be the weekend of Feb 24th? and in January the weekend of Jan 20th or Jan 27th? that is correct?

Thanks again for your help!

It's difficult to guess what will happen in 2024, but in 2023 I believe they ran Mickey's Mix Magic between then end of the Holidays and the last weekend of January when Wondrous Journeys began. Mickey's Mix Magic often has some pyrotechnics on weekend nights, but it's not a traditional Disney fireworks show.

It's also a bit of a guess to select when to go based on potential attraction closures, but I'd feel much better about late February than mid - late January. I would choose late January over Lincoln's Birthday or President's Day in mid/late-February.

 

[irlandaise]

Thank you very much Federalist45 for your complete response.
I´m afraid my only options to travel are between Jan 15th and Feb 20th in 2024.
Ah so in January there's a time with no fireworks show?
I understand the fireworks are only on weekends so in February our best dates would be the weekend of Feb 24th? and in January the weekend of Jan 20th or Jan 27th? that is correct?

Thanks again for your help!

How about the weekend of Feb. 10-11? That's before the long Presidents Day weekend, and you mentioned that you could go in February as early as the seventh. The lunar new year celebration should still be going on in DCA at that time, too. Or, as you say, the weekend of the Feb. 24-25.

 

[Federalist45]

How about the weekend of Feb. 10-11? That's before the long Presidents Day weekend, and you mentioned that you could go in February as early as the seventh. The lunar new year celebration should still be going on in DCA at that time, too. Or, as you say, the weekend of the Feb. 24-25.

Just FYI, Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday) is a school holiday in Southern California. I’m not sure it impacts the entire weekend, but that day in particular will likely be slammed.

 

[irlandaise]

Just FYI, Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday) is a school holiday in Southern California. I’m not sure it impacts the entire weekend, but that day in particular will likely be slammed.

Interesting. Do they also take off for Washington's birthday? I didn't think anyone (well, maybe in Illinois) had kept Lincoln's birthday as a holiday after Presidents Day was created to honor both of them.

 

[laugard]

Interesting. Do they also take off for Washington's birthday? I didn't think anyone (well, maybe in Illinois) had kept Lincoln's birthday as a holiday after Presidents Day was created to honor both of them.

It's not the case for all schools in SoCal. For instance, LAUSD only takes off for Presidents' Day. I believe the Burbank, Pasadena and Long Beach school districts do get Lincoln's birthday as a day off, however.

 

[BobaFettFan]

As the years ago by, there are less and less "Good times" and more "See what you get".

Other than local school holidays that is. I always avoid those.

Feel confident in either selection. You'll have a good time.

 

[Beita1974]

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to answer!
Based on the information you generously gave me, I think the best option will be February.
Avoiding the President's Day holiday weekend.
Then we make sure we have the fireworks show and that most of the attractions are working. (I read that last year Radiator Spring Racers was closed in January, and I'm sure it will be one that we will enjoy the most because we are big fans, I hope it will be operating normally in February)
You mentioned February 12 there's another holiday and also is the Superbowl weekend, so the winning option would be February 23 to 25.
Thanks again for your help and patience!

 

[bbeagle]

You mentioned February 12 there's another holiday and also is the Superbowl weekend, so the winning option would be February 23 to 25.

See you there! We're going from February 17-25, as my kids are off from school that entire week. Many east-coast schools are off not only President's Day, but the entire week.

 

[DizMe]

Your plan sounds solid! I always go near the end of January (for my birthday) and some of the downsides of that time of year are offset by the (relatively) low crowds. I imagine it's similar in Feb. but things have gone crazy the last few years in ways that make it very difficult to predict what it will be like anymore.

How fun!! Hope you have a wonderful time!!

 

[Beita1974]

See you there! We're going from February 17-25, as my kids are off from school that entire week. Many east-coast schools are off not only President's Day, but the entire week.

Your plan sounds solid! I always go near the end of January (for my birthday) and some of the downsides of that time of year are offset by the (relatively) low crowds. I imagine it's similar in Feb. but things have gone crazy the last few years in ways that make it very difficult to predict what it will be like anymore.

How fun!! Hope you have a wonderful time!!

Thanks for your response!
Our first option was the end of January but as I read Radiator Spring Racers was closed last January and that's a must do for us, we will be there in February.

 

[Curiousporpoise]

We went in February and August this year and both trips were fantastic. February was cooler and the crowds were a little lighter, but not much. Disney is packing people in wherever they can. There were a bunch of rides were closed in February, no parade in Disneyland and the parks closed earlier. Everything else was great!

Honestly the lowest crowds I’ve ever seen in the many times I’ve been at Disneyland were when they reopened in 2021 after Covid. Low crowds, no annual passes, no fast pass, no genie +. All ride lines were like 20 minutes since everyone was equal. It will never be like this again….

 

[harrisdoesdisney]

We went in February and August this year and both trips were fantastic. February was cooler and the crowds were a little lighter, but not much. Disney is packing people in wherever they can. There were a bunch of rides were closed in February, no parade in Disneyland and the parks closed earlier. Everything else was great!

Honestly the lowest crowds I’ve ever seen in the many times I’ve been at Disneyland were when they reopened in 2021 after Covid. Low crowds, no annual passes, no fast pass, no genie +. All ride lines were like 20 minutes since everyone was equal. It will never be like this again….

No parade in February? What time in February did you go? We are going 2/1-2/3 and thought we would get to see the lunar new year parade at least. Now I’m a little worried because we are going with kids

 

[Curiousporpoise]

No parade in February? What time in February did you go? We are going 2/1-2/3 and thought we would get to see the lunar new year parade at least. Now I’m a little worried because we are going with kids

We went the first week in February. They had the Lunar new year parade which was really cool, but short. They did not have the large parades on the Disneyland side like Magic Happens or the Main Street Electrical Light Parade one of my favorites!

 

[harrisdoesdisney]

We went the first week in February. They had the Lunar new year parade which was really cool, but short. They did not have the large parades on the Disneyland side like Magic Happens or the Main Street Electrical Light Parade one of my favorites!

aw, well that's a bummer! I guess on the upside, our kids have short attention spans so a shorter parade might be good.