First Time to DL-end of August or end of Sept

[sunny45]

Thought I had this all figured out and I even have my motels narrowed down to just a handful.

We were going to go the last week of August, arriving on a Saturday and leaving the Saturday of Labor Day weekend (2013-so I have plenty of time to plan). I wanted to get the most bang for by buck since we have never been to DL and wanted to go when the park was open the longest.

Then reality set in and I realized we probably wouldn't do that anyway.
We are more early morning people but we're gonna have jet lag, we're middle aged and probably be pooped out by 10pm. So, then I started thinking that we have seen WDW at Christmas but never at Halloween so maybe we should go to DL at Halloween. Sounds like a plan! So I was thinking last week of September leading into the first week of October.

I know some shows and fireworks won't be running except for the weekends so we will have to plan on visiting the parks at least one weekend to see some things. The parks will have shorter hours during the week so I hope we can fit everything in during the hours they are open.

With the heat wave we are having here now I really hate to leave my house in the summer for so long and expect someone to keep up with all my flowers & plants outside too. They need constant attention with these 95-100 degree days and intense sun so going away when yard work isn't an issue is a good plan. DD's are grown and live and work in different cities now.

Our plans, no matter when we come, are to stay in the same motel the seven days. Buy 4 day or maybe 5 day hoppers (add'l $30 more is worth it for the 5 day), do the LA City Tour and the OC Ocean Tour from Grayline. The tours will take up at least 1-1/2 full days.

Is this is good time for a first time visitor? Will we miss much of the real DL b/c it will be all decked out for Halloween? Should we keep the original plans of coming in the summer to be sure we get to see and do everything?
Are the crowds busier b/c it's Halloween or only on weekends then lighter during the week?

I am so glad I have time to plan this out but sometimes too much time gives me too much time to change my mind LOL

 

[rtfelt]

It will be more crowded in August because a lot of locals (with SCA AP) go the last 2 weeks of August. You will have a different experience in HM because of the overlay, but if you've never seen it, you would probably want to see it. Without the overlay, it's much like the MK version--not exact but similar enough that you won't feel like you've really missed something. The only other ride changed for Halloween is Space, but it's just the visuals on the inside wall of the ride to change it to Ghost Galaxy. You won't really "miss" something because of Halloween. You will have shorter hours, but the crowds should be lighter--except for Friday. It's almost getting so that DLR doesn't really have a slow season, but I do think Sept/Oct will be better than the end of August.

Even with the shorter hours you could still see everything in 5 days--especially if you're there at rope drop. Most locals, who make up a large segment of the guests this time of year, don't usually arrive until 11 or later. You will have to plan a weekend to see the evening show, but WOC shows every night, so you could see that during the week then save Fri/Sat/Sun for the fireworks and F!

The weather will likely be about the same. Our summer really goes from July to September--not June to August like most of the rest of country. September can often be the hottest month of the year. By the end of September it could still be really hot or maybe, possibly, maybe getting cooler . If you want to go to the beach, the water (that is not even close to being as warm as the Atlantic) will be the warmest at the end of September.

Ultimately it's up to you