How busy are the days post Christmas?

[beachteachlv]

Looking at being in the parks Dec 27-28. This would be our third visit this year, so we are pretty comfortable using LLMP, we rope drop, etc. but this would be our family’s first trip during the holidays. We usually go in mid January and while we miss the crowds, we also miss all the holiday happenings, so we are changing things up. What can we expect?!

 

[LKing]

Expect it to be busy. MK holders are blocked that week which means that everyone in the park will have paid for their tickets and want to get their money's worth. You won't have those of us who are there to get our steps in or who are meandering in later in the day.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Usually much busier December 25-Jan 1, than before the holiday.

 

[evilmommie]

BUSY!!! Pack your patience and you’ll still have a good time. Maybe focus the trip on holiday atmosphere & food vs checking off a ton of rides.

 

[BrianL]

Yeah, it will be real busy and won't calm down until after the New Year.

 

[irlandaise]

Usually much busier December 25-Jan 1, than before the holiday.

In fact, it's one of the busiest weeks of the year, right?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Isn't Dec. 27th the day the Rose Bowl teams go to DL? If so, that day will be very busy.

 

[disneychrista]

It won't stop being holiday busy until the Monday after New Years when schools typically go back after the winter break.

 

[elvispursley]

Usually much busier December 25-Jan 1, than before the holiday.

THIS!! We swapped our days which were originally going to be 12/27-1/1 for 12/19-12/24 (still expect it to be slammed). Nothing can be as bad as the miserable experience we had back in 12/31/2017 when we went to Magic Mointain. The crowds were so bad, it took 2 hours to get to the turnstiles (they closed the parking lot at 9am). We rode one ride the entire day. The next day we did Disney and even though the crowds were heavy, I didn’t feel we couldn’t get things done there. We’ve since crossed Magic Mountain off our list.

 

[deejdigsdis]

THIS!! We swapped our days which were originally going to be 12/27-1/1 for 12/19-12/24 (still expect it to be slammed). Nothing can be as bad as the miserable experience we had back in 12/31/2017 when we went to Magic Mointain. The crowds were so bad, it took 2 hours to get to the turnstiles (they closed the parking lot at 9am). We rode one ride the entire day. The next day we did Disney and even though the crowds were heavy, I didn’t feel we couldn’t get things done there. We’ve since crossed Magic Mountain off our list.

Oh wow. This totally took me back to the summer of 1996. I grew up going to Magic Mountain almost every summer. This particular trip we made it on only 4 rides. We said never again. I was early 20s by then, but I have a son that has been dying to go for years. I sent him with some friends to Cedar Point instead. Can't get that Magic Mountain experience out of my mind. It was so disappointing.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Looking at being in the parks Dec 27-28. This would be our third visit this year, so we are pretty comfortable using LLMP, we rope drop, etc. but this would be our family’s first trip during the holidays. We usually go in mid January and while we miss the crowds, we also miss all the holiday happenings, so we are changing things up. What can we expect?!

Good sizeable crowds are coming. HAVE A PLAN for which attractions you plan to go on! I’m trying to return to Disneyland as well… either 12/29 or 12/31 into 1/1 and I already scripted which characters and attractions to go to, all with fallbacks should one or more break down.

 

[DontSpamMe]

Behind spring break, it is the 2nd busiest time of the year typically. So a 10 out of 10. Not sure where you stand on a busy Disneyland, but anything over a 7 out of 10 for me and I'd rather have dental work done. Make reservations for everything especially the Christmas parade package through Plaza Inn, unless you are cool with camping out for 2 hours for a good spot.

 

[LKing]

Behind spring break, it is the 2nd busiest time of the year typically. So a 10 out of 10. Not sure where you stand on a busy Disneyland, but anything over a 7 out of 10 for me and I'd rather have dental work done. Make reservations for everything especially the Christmas parade package through Plaza Inn, unless you are cool with camping out for 2 hours for a good spot.

Personally, I think the weeks from the Jewish holidays through the 3rd week of October are worse than spring break.

 

[jwalk03]

We went on Christmas Day and honestly had a great time. Didn't think it was insanely crowded. We then went to Knott's Berry Farm on 12/26 and holy crap- I couldn't believe how busy it was there. WAAAAAAY worse than Disneyland on Christmas Day (or Universal on Christmas Eve).

 

[beachteachlv]

Thanks everyone!

I’m pivoting and now looking at earlier in December.. how is the weekend of the 13/14? Or any days the week of the 15th? It’s so hard to know if any crowd calendars are actually reliable

 

[jwalk03]

Thanks everyone!

I’m pivoting and now looking at earlier in December.. how is the weekend of the 13/14? Or any days the week of the 15th? It’s so hard to know if any crowd calendars are actually reliable

Anytime that school is in session will be significantly less busy than days when school is out. Early December should be much better than after Christmas by a long shot

 

[LKing]

Thanks everyone!

I’m pivoting and now looking at earlier in December.. how is the weekend of the 13/14? Or any days the week of the 15th? It’s so hard to know if any crowd calendars are actually reliable

Dec 12-14 is the Dance the Magic Weekend. @Tinkaboo was it you who was caught off guard by it last year?

Post in thread 'Disneyland Resort Calendar 2025'

Mar 6, 2025

October
October 1-31 Disneyland's 70th Celebration
October 1-31 Halloween Time
October 1-31 Celebration of Coco
October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 31 Oogie Boogie Bash
October 3-5 Dance the Magic Event (October 2-4, 2026)
October 5-9 Academy of Family Physicians Annual Meeting
October 10-13 Columbus Day Weekend
October 25 Dance the Dream Event
October 26 Filipino Dapper Day

November
November 1-30 Disneyland's 70th Celebration
November 1, 2 Celebration of Coco
November 2 Daylight Savings Time
November 9 Last night for Paint the Night
November 10 - 12 Epilepsy...

• LKing

• 
• 

 

[beachteachlv]

Dec 12-14 is the Dance the Magic Weekend. @Tinkaboo was it you who was caught off guard by it last year?

Post in thread 'Disneyland Resort Calendar 2025'

Mar 6, 2025

October
October 1-31 Disneyland's 70th Celebration
October 1-31 Halloween Time
October 1-31 Celebration of Coco
October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 31 Oogie Boogie Bash
October 3-5 Dance the Magic Event (October 2-4, 2026)
October 5-9 Academy of Family Physicians Annual Meeting
October 10-13 Columbus Day Weekend
October 25 Dance the Dream Event
October 26 Filipino Dapper Day

November
November 1-30 Disneyland's 70th Celebration
November 1, 2 Celebration of Coco
November 2 Daylight Savings Time
November 9 Last night for Paint the Night
November 10 - 12 Epilepsy...

• LKing

• 
• 

Okay HUGE thanks for this!!

I’m looking at being in the parks the 18/19th… can we expect tolerable crowds??

 

[LKing]

Okay HUGE thanks for this!!

I’m looking at being in the parks the 18/19th… can we expect tolerable crowds??

It is going to be busy. It won't be as busy as your original date, but it will be much busier than mid-January.

 

[beachteachlv]

It is going to be busy. It won't be as busy as your original date, but it will be much busier than mid-January.

Will it be so busy that my husband will proclaim he’s never going back to Disneyland?