Halloween or Christmas - which would you chose?

[shosh1530]

So we missed out on tickets to OBB and I'm debating whether we should still try to go during our fall break in October or wait and do either Thanksgiving or just after New Year's for the Christmas decorations.

Option 1: October (some time in the week of 10/9)
DS says Halloween is his favorite time ever and he really wants to ride the Halloween-themed rides. This would be a short trip (maybe two park days) and probably be coupled with beach time. I would expect October to be both hot and crazy crowded.

Option 2: Thanksgiving (like Thanksgiving day and the two days after)
Mom (me) loves Christmas and has always wanted to see Disney all decked out. This would be right at the beginning of the season so would probably be extra fun. There'd still be some holiday-themed rides like HM for DS. Would probably be crazy crowded, but less hot. I kind of hate Thanksgiving and I worry that restaurants would have limited menu options focusing on Thanksgiving food though.

Option 3: Right after New Year's (in the range of Jan 2-8 for maybe 3 days)
Holiday decorations still up, although I worry we might be Christmas-ed out by then (or maybe this would help with the post-holiday let down). Hotels might be a bit cheaper. I'm sure it will still be crowded, but probably not hot.

Thoughts?

 

[dieumeye]

I don’t think you could go wrong with either 1 or 2. Why not do both? Lol

If either option gives you more time to be in the parks, I’d go with that one.

 

[jason417]

I'm sure you will get a variety of answers, but here's my opinion...

I prefer the Halloween decorations over Christmas just because, at least in my area, Halloween decorations are less common so they feel more special to me. The heat doesn't bother us because we tend to leave the park for lunch and not go back till dinner time. For the same reason, the crowds are less an issue for us.

My favorite thing about Christmas time is actually that the days are shortest and I very much prefer Disneyland after dark. We went the week of Christmas last year and loved it because the park was open till midnight every night and sunset was the earliest it ever is in Anaheim.

I've never been in January so I can't comment on crowds, but I like your point about being something to look forward to after Christmas. The decorations themselves may not be as exciting because the mood will probably be different post-Christmas.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I wouldn’t do option 3, that week is always nuts and Magic Keys will be unblocked after being blocked for much of the holidays (and school goes back late for a lot of locals) so people will flock to the parks.

Christmas in the parks is really magical. The castle is all lit up and they do a special lighting every nights. It’s a Small World also does a lighting, which is so beautiful! The horses pulling the trolley have jingle bells on their harnesses. Decorations everywhere. I really do love it. I’ve never gone at Thanksgiving but I would imagine it would be easy to get regular food rather than Thanksgiving food.

Also, holiday time Disney sells my very favorite Disney treat that I wait for all year … the Mickey gingerbread cookies!

 

[RoseColored97]

We're going near your option 3 for New Years Eve this year!

You truly can't go wrong with either time. If you enjoy Christmas and haven't been able to experience it, I would lean towards that! Christmas at Disneyland is extra magical. I think you should still be able to find dining options that are non-Thanksgiving. I know Blue Bayou has some sort of holiday turkey plate but if you were to do a quick service, you should be just fine with finding options.

 

[shosh1530]

I don’t think you could go wrong with either 1 or 2. Why not do both? Lol

There is a part of me that wants to do Halloween just because I know I'd still have a chance to talk myself into Christmas too!

My plan had been to upgrade our tickets for our June 1 trip into a a magic key and then come back October and the early January after the unblock passes. But they stopped selling keys the day before our trip!

Maybe I'll just book some hotel rooms for multiple scenarios and see what happens with annual passes.

 

[dieumeye]

There is a part of me that wants to do Halloween just because I know I'd still have a chance to talk myself into Christmas too!

My plan had been to upgrade our tickets for our June 1 trip into a a magic key and then come back October and the early January after the unblock passes. But they stopped selling keys the day before our trip!

Maybe I'll just book some hotel rooms for multiple scenarios and see what happens with annual passes.

That’s a great plan. I bet we will hear something about passes before your next trip, hopfully in the next week or so, so you’ll be able to plan accordingly.

 

[katyringo]

So, have you looked for rooms in October? Many of the go-to close places are booked up.

 

[shosh1530]

So, have you looked for rooms in October? Many of the go-to close places are booked up.

Paradise Pier is open for some of the dates in October I'm considering. Not the closest, but we like staying onsite and the price is decentish (more so if a fall special comes out). I had looked at Tropicana a few week ago and it wasn't much cheaper! (and probably now booked).

 

[RoseColored97]

So, have you looked for rooms in October? Many of the go-to close places are booked up.

On-site still has pretty wide availability. GCH and DLH are both still available for mid to late October (beginning the 19th onward).

Additionally, off-site hotels (Del Sol, Tropicana, Camelot, Courtyard Theme Park, Fairfield Inn, Grand Legacy, Hilton, Hotel Indigo) are showing availability from the 19th onward. There are still plenty of options if you choose to go in the latter part of October, @shosh1530!

 

[sophy1996]

Paradise Pier is open for some of the dates in October I'm considering. Not the closest, but we like staying onsite and the price is decentish (more so if a fall special comes out). I had looked at Tropicana a few week ago and it wasn't much cheaper! (and probably now booked).

In the past the on-site hotels have sold a limited number of OBB tickets to guests early, early on party mornings. No idea if they will do that this year or not, but you’ll know by October if there might be a chance to get a party ticket.

 

[Disney0010]

Tough one. Both! Seriously, if you can do it, I would go during both time frames.

We are doing OBB and this week we booked two nights at GCH as we love staying there around the holidays. Disney does a great job with both holidays at the DL parks.

 

[Pluto468]

I love the Christmas decorations at Disneyland, it's so magical. I'd probably go with option #2. I'm sure you could find non-Thanksgiving food.

And of course if you don't do Halloween this year, you'd HAVE to go next year, so.....

 

[shosh1530]

And of course if you don't do Halloween this year, you'd HAVE to go next year, so.....

Yes, this is the other thing I'm thinking... If magic keys or some form of reasonable annual pass goes on sale we could book a Christmasy trip even when passes are blocked out and upgrade to a pass. Then we could do Halloween next year with OBB and use our passes for the rest of the days. And we could also get a spring and summer trip in possibly (we live 8 hours away).

If I try to do it the other way around with Halloween first, it is hard to get a Christmas trip in on dates that annual passes would not be blocked (at least for the lower tier pass).

Honestly, the only reason I'm rethinking all this is that DS broke his arm a few days ago and he is really miserable and it is making feel like I should prioritize his love of Halloween over my love of Christmas. Of course either way it would be something for us to look forward to.

 

[Pluto468]

Yes, this is the other thing I'm thinking... If magic keys or some form of reasonable annual pass goes on sale we could book a Christmasy trip even when passes are blocked out and upgrade to a pass. Then we could do Halloween next year with OBB and use our passes for the rest of the days. And we could also get a spring and summer trip in possibly (we live 8 hours away).

If I try to do it the other way around with Halloween first, it is hard to get a Christmas trip in on dates that annual passes would not be blocked (at least for the lower tier pass).

Honestly, the only reason I'm rethinking all this is that DS broke his arm a few days ago and he is really miserable and it is making feel like I should prioritize his love of Halloween over my love of Christmas. Of course either way it would be something for us to look forward to.

Poor DS! I hope he has a speedy recovery. We've dealt with various ankle and foot fractures but never arms so I'm not sure how long the recovery is. Would he still be in a cast around Halloween and would it effect what he could do at the parks?

 

[shosh1530]

Poor DS! I hope he has a speedy recovery. We've dealt with various ankle and foot fractures hut never arms so I'm not sure how long the recovery is. Would he still be in a cast around Halloween and would it effect what he could do at the parks?

No it is a pretty minor wrist fracture (called a buckle fracture). He should get out of the cast by the end of August (about 4 weeks total time), if he doesn't rip it off first! This is his 4th fracture and he hates wearing a cast due to sensory issues (and because casts are just no fun too). Last time we even had to get the cast replaced because he managed to destroy it trying to get it off.

So after we survive the next month, I'm going to need something to look forward to! Maybe I should be considering Labor Day weekend...

 

[DisneylandFan22]

If you are able to do both, and your son would be more excited about Halloween, I would do Halloween. You will know if there is any possibility for same day on-site OBB tickets after the first few parties happen.

 

[Pluto468]

No it is a pretty minor wrist fracture (called a buckle fracture). He should get out of the cast by the end of August (about 4 weeks total time), if he doesn't rip it off first! This is his 4th fracture and he hates wearing a cast due to sensory issues (and because casts are just no fun too). Last time we even had to get the cast replaced because he managed to destroy it trying to get it off.

So after we survive the next month, I'm going to need something to look forward to! Maybe I should be considering Labor Day weekend...

Maybe Labor Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving

 

[shosh1530]

Maybe Labor Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving

So tempting...

The other thing in the mix is an eventual trip to WDW. I have reservations for the first week of January 2023 (resort only). We eventually want to do this but I'm not sure it will come together for this winter (covid, flight costs, amount of time we can get off work).

I've been even dreaming of Disneyland Paris, since DL wants to go to all the international parks too. But I'm not sure international travel is in the cards right now for all the same reasons.

To be clear we have already been to Disneyland 3 times in the past 14 months. DLR is just so much easier and familiar for us! If we did WDW, I might have to hold off on DL for most of 2023.