How long should I wait until visiting after Cars land Opens

[tstidm1]

I'm thinking about visiting Disneyland in early 2013 to see it for the first time in 20 years. Would January/February be a smart time to visit there? I'm wondering if I should wait until early 2014 instead because the crowds will still be bad seven or eight months after Cars Land opens. I do realize that Disneyland is marketed differently than Disney World, so all the Disney World visiting rules may go out the window there.

 

[Midnightred]

We are going July 2013, and I expect it to be crowded. We are not going just for Car's Land though. Last year Star Tours had just re-opened and it was the big thing. Good part about that was, that other parts of the parks were not as busy because everyone seemed to be in Tomorrowland.

Midnightred

 

[JamesF408]

I would plan on getting there when the park opens and b-lining it straight there. As most people will do the same.

When star tours reopened we got there first thing in the morning and had a 10 minute wait. After we got off the wait time was 45 minutes. I know cars land has multiple things to do, so choose the ride most people will head to first, the racers. Then try for the other rides. Have fun no matter when you decide to go.

My family will be there in August.

 

[starshine514]

I think Jan/Feb should be good. It is classic off-season (as close as you get now, anyway). Be prepared, though, some of Carsland may be down for its first scheduled refurb (after the big holiday rush, prepping for the spring break crowd). I'm not saying it will be (no insider info here), just be prepared that one ride in the land may be unavailable (as well as a few others throughout the park - did I mention it's the off-season?)

 

[tstidm1]

Then, it sounds like a good time of year to go. There's so much I want to do besides Cars Land. Matterhorn, It's a small world and Indiana Jones Adventures for starters. I just don't want to spend two hours in line to experience those things.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm thinking about visiting Disneyland in early 2013 to see it for the first time in 20 years. Would January/February be a smart time to visit there? I'm wondering if I should wait until early 2014 instead because the crowds will still be bad seven or eight months after Cars Land opens. I do realize that Disneyland is marketed differently than Disney World, so all the Disney World visiting rules may go out the window there.

First, be aware of what it means to visit in Jan/Feb. It means something different at DLR than it does at WDW. For some people that is a good choice. For others not so much. See:

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

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

Second, you are overthinking things. DLR tends to offer something major and new each summer. And folks every year wonder whether they should delay 6 months or a year. All that does is move them into the next big thing. I think "waiting til the crowds die down" is futile as Disney is doing everything possible to increase crowds at DLR. And new things are coming out regularly.

HTH

 

[DLR29]

Like Hydroguy mentions in his posts that he linked, I personally would not choose Jan/Feb for a trip such as yours for the reason that we don't know what rides/attractions will be closed for refurbishment at that time...but we have historical evidence that suggests that multiple attractions (possibly including a couple major ones) will be down during the offseason.

Yes summer months are more crowded, but I find the crowds a lot more workable with a good plan along with the knowledge that pretty much most things will be running, including nightly entertainment and long park hours

 

[arthur06]

We are going the first week of November this year and I hope that crowds aren't too bad then.

We tried to plan it after Halloween Decorations came down and before Christmas went up.

I think it really just depends on the time you go as far as crowd levels. Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[tstidm1]

First, be aware of what it means to visit in Jan/Feb. It means something different at DLR than it does at WDW. For some people that is a good choice. For others not so much. See:

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

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

Second, you are overthinking things. DLR tends to offer something major and new each summer. And folks every year wonder whether they should delay 6 months or a year. All that does is move them into the next big thing. I think "waiting til the crowds die down" is futile as Disney is doing everything possible to increase crowds at DLR. And new things are coming out regularly.

HTH

Got your second point on waiting until 2014. It sounds like a late March 2013 is a good time frame to think about for a once in a lifetime trip. I have various time commitments at work that make November-December impossible. Thanks for those points.

 

[HydroGuy]

Got your second point on waiting until 2014. It sounds like a late March 2013 is a good time frame to think about for a once in a lifetime trip. I have various time commitments at work that make November-December impossible. Thanks for those points.

Personally I would not recommend March for a once-in-a-lifetime. If you make it during the Spring Break period usually after mid-March that will be better than early March. Yes it will be more crowded but it will also have more things operating.

IMO once-in-a-lifetime trips should be high season except for certain circumstances. Trying to avoid crowds is a mistake for most people in cases like this - IMO.

If you go late March then CarsLand crowds will have died down some. But I suspect it will still be quite busy even then.

Hope it all works out for you!