good time to visit Disneyland

[heatherwillmom]

We usually go to WDW every year during Spring Break. We are thinking about taking a trip to Disneyland. We are trying to decide a good time to go. We would probably try to go when school is out. I don't mind to take the kids out of school for a few days, but if we can schedule during a school break, it would be best. Any suggestions?

 

[Disney Dreams]

What does "good" mean to you?

Weather?
Parades?
Fireworks?
Entertainment?
Crowds?
Hours?

Help us know what's important and we can help you more.

- Dreams

 

[alivingxerox]

Anytime!

Ok but seriously I agree with the pp we need more specifics

 

[HydroGuy]

What does "good" mean to you?

Weather?
Parades?
Fireworks?
Entertainment?
Crowds?
Hours?

Help us know what's important and we can help you more.

- Dreams

Dreams is right. WDW vets associate "good time to go" with "low crowds". But that does not translate very well to DLR.

See "Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602

 

[sharonabe]

Forgive me, OP, if I'm hijacking your thread, but I have an answer for us for the pp's questions.

We want to go when there are low crowds. We're thinking Sept or Oct. How are these months for crowds and then how would you rank them for the rest of the things?

Thanks!!

 

[HydroGuy]

Forgive me, OP, if I'm hijacking your thread, but I have an answer for us for the pp's questions.

We want to go when there are low crowds. We're thinking Sept or Oct. How are these months for crowds and then how would you rank them for the rest of the things?

Thanks!!

Sept is low crowds after Labor Day. Have you been to DLR before? Make sure you know what off-season means before you lock in dates.

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

In Sept you will likely miss Haunted Mansion and may miss Space Mtn, among other things.

October is a bit busier but it is much harder to predict. There are some slow times in October but more busier times too.

 

[sharonabe]

The last time I went to Disneyland was 1975, so I guess you could say I've never really been to DLR. I know I will recognize next to nothing.

Missing Haunted Mansion would be okay and while my youngest DS will miss Space Mtn, there are many "new" rides for him to enjoy and I think that will be an okay trade-off for low crowds and the ability to kind of take our time and still see most of both parks. My DH hates crowds.

I have read the "What You Should Know" and I think as long as we include a Fri evening for Fantasmic and other night time shows, we'll be okay.

Thanks for the quick response!

 

[vew-tori]

As a WDW vet who had spent the last 5 spring breaks there we opted for a change and went to DL this year. We loved it ! According to posts on the board it was crowded. To us it was not. Weather was perfect, they had extended hours and all shows ran at night. We did take afternoon breaks most days. Lines were long then. After the night shows the crowds really thinned out and we accomplished alot. I don't know if you are wanting to wait all the way until next spring break but I would not hesitate to go back then.

 

[heatherwillmom]

We usually go to WDW during Spring Break so we're used to being there when it's crowded. We try not to go when it's the worst crowded like the week after Christmas.The weather is important to us. We've been to WDW most months but try to stay away during July & August due to the heat. One of my favorite times to visit WDW is early November or early December. I guess there really isn't a bad time. I just prefer when it's not the hottest or most crowded.

 

[heatherwillmom]

As a WDW vet who had spent the last 5 spring breaks there we opted for a change and went to DL this year. We loved it ! According to posts on the board it was crowded. To us it was not. Weather was perfect, they had extended hours and all shows ran at night. We did take afternoon breaks most days. Lines were long then. After the night shows the crowds really thinned out and we accomplished alot. I don't know if you are wanting to wait all the way until next spring break but I would not hesitate to go back then.

Thanks for the info. We go every Spring Break to WDW too. We've been thinking about DL at least once just to check it out. I had heard that WDW is usually more crowded but I wanted to hear from someone who could compare it. Looks like you did just like we want to do too. DD is a little concerned because my kids have never flown anywhere. We drive to WDW although it's a 12 hour drive, 11 if I do most of the driving whil DH sleeps. My "kids" are teenagers now, but DD is a little afraid of airplanes. I told her once she flies once, she will want to do it all the time. I told her there always is sedation. It would have probably been less expensive to fly to WDW this last time. I traded my SUV for a sports car so we rented a SUV for the trip. By the time that we paid for 10 days & all the gas, we could have bought plane tickets cheaper.

 

[Hound 109]

We usually go to WDW during Spring Break so we're used to being there when it's crowded. We try not to go when it's the worst crowded like the week after Christmas.The weather is important to us. We've been to WDW most months but try to stay away during July & August due to the heat. One of my favorite times to visit WDW is early November or early December. I guess there really isn't a bad time. I just prefer when it's not the hottest or most crowded.

Many of us are WDW vets (I'm a 4 time DisVet) & know BOTH resorts well.....but DLR is our home park.

& some of us FAR prefer DLR over the resort in the swamp (for 8-38 different reasons). Read HG's tip threads that he posted (and all of his other tip threads starting with his DLR for WDW Vet tip thread).

The weather in the summer in SoCal is variable, but even on "hot days" it's much nicer than the Sauna in Orlando. Also, by visiting during the week & touring early, it's far less crowded than a typical summer day at WDW.

May & Sept are great months, but things will be closed for refurbs & the parks won't be open as long. The summer is great too....just read all the tip threads & zig when others are zagging.

Have a great time reading & considering a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[HydroGuy]

We usually go to WDW during Spring Break so we're used to being there when it's crowded. We try not to go when it's the worst crowded like the week after Christmas.The weather is important to us. We've been to WDW most months but try to stay away during July & August due to the heat. One of my favorite times to visit WDW is early November or early December. I guess there really isn't a bad time. I just prefer when it's not the hottest or most crowded.

SoCal weather runs cooler year round than Orlando. That is nice in the summer but maybe not as nice at other times of year. We just got back from Spring Break at WDW and the weather was the definition of perfect.

See "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

As for Spring Break 2012, I would encourage anyone to try hard to slide that to June/July 2012. With the major CarsLand opening at DCA by June it will be a huge, huge addition. Part of CarsLand will be Radiator Springs Racers - a Test Track-like ride with not one but two parallel paths for the cars to race through Radiator Springs. Summer trips to DLR are much more enjoyable than to WDW because the weather is so much better. Food for thought...

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

It's not during a school break but I really enjoyed going the second week of December. The crowds were really low, there were only a couple of rides down for refurbishment, and everything was set up for Christmas.

 

[heatherwillmom]

SoCal weather runs cooler year round than Orlando. That is nice in the summer but maybe not as nice at other times of year. We just got back from Spring Break at WDW and the weather was the definition of perfect.

See "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

As for Spring Break 2012, I would encourage anyone to try hard to slide that to June/July 2012. With the major CarsLand opening at DCA by June it will be a huge, huge addition. Part of CarsLand will be Radiator Springs Racers - a Test Track-like ride with not one but two parallel paths for the cars to race through Radiator Springs. Summer trips to DLR are much more enjoyable than to WDW because the weather is so much better. Food for thought...

Summer of 2012 sounds good to me. We were thinking about a cruise for Spring Break. We had thought about going to Hawaii for DD's high school graduation in late May or early June. We might could swing a trip to DL in July.

 

[skiingfast]

Summer of 2012 sounds good to me. We were thinking about a cruise for Spring Break. We had thought about going to Hawaii for DD's high school graduation in late May or early June. We might could swing a trip to DL in July.

Oh no! Now you are getting into the combine DLR trip and DCL cruise territory.