If you could choose Jan/Feb/March

[skellinton]

I think I will FINALLY be able to take my grandkids and their parents to DL this next year. My son wanted to wait until the youngest was 7 so she could remember it. It has been an agonizing wait, but I believe the time has come to book the room and start planning.
We have full availability since it is so far in advance (work wise, we have no shame in taking kids out of school), so my question is when would you choose during those months if your biggest concern was crowds?

My son is someone who gets anxious with lots of people, so we would like to minimize stress for him as much as possible. Hopefully he and my DIL will be willing to take breaks during the day if he needs to knowing I can watch the kids and do the stuff we want to do.

We know to avoid MLK day week and Presidents day week, so what SPECIFIC days would you choose? We want 4 consecutive park days and the only think we absolutely do not want to miss is the HM, so I think that means we need to wait until after the MLK day week, correct?

I want to book hotel early so we can have our choice of dates and close proximity.

Kids have never been, obviously, DIL and my son haven't been since they were young. I think my DIL was 6 or 7 when she went, my son was 15 last time he was there.

So if parades and nighttime shows don't happen that is ok, because no one will know what they are missing.
TIA

 

[mdmost]

I would stay away from March except for if you can do the very early part of it. I would aim for late January so you're not dealing with Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World going down to revert from holiday theming back to the original rides. It's not the most accurate but I think spending a little bit on a Touring plans membership so you can look at historical data and forecasts isn't a bad idea. You don't have a lot of Key holders blocked in those months except on weekends so I would look at including weekends into your plans. It sounds weird but weekends can be less crowded because of the block.

You might want to aim for the week after President's Day.

 

[sophy1996]

DCA has the Lunar New Year Festival at the end of January and beginning of February. We enjoyed it but it does increase crowds at times.

 

[Lisa24jks]

Late Jan/Early February will get you Lunar New Year at DCA which is fun. But, March will get you Food & Wine festival at DCA, which is great if you want to ride Soarin' Over California and try those foods. Really just depends on where your tastes and prefrences lie.

You definitely want to stick to late January in general, because of the IASW and Haunted Mansion conversions. (HM was late this year, but I believe that was due to the opening of MMRR and the Disney 100 launch. It's usually converted back by early/mid January.) And also some rides go down for maintenance in early January because it's a bit slower immediately after the holidays.

 

[foolish_mortals]

I know you asked for specific dates but crowds are so hard to predict without Disneyland having released the specific start dates for events. Until then we can just guess….

Jan 11-14 is runDisney

The first week of the Lunar New Year event is a big draw for bloggers.

Then there are the After Hour Events like Sweethearts Nite in late Jan early Feb. Last year they added two dates since it was popular, they might extend it again this year. After hours events close the parks early and the mixing period can be crowded.

Food and Wine usually starts the week after Presidents Day and opening day is a big draw. It’s tough to know for sure when it will be. Usually the first Thursday or Friday after President’s/Ski week.

There was also a Princess Nite after hours in March (last year March 7&9).

The spring break starts…

You will also need to dodge bigger conventions like WonderCon last week of March on 29-31 2024. The big cheer competitions March 23/24 2024

check the magic key blockout calendar and book the 4 days that most keys are blocked while avoiding the first and last day of special events…

It’s tough, Disney has engineered it to always be busy. There is a team dedicated to getting the most people in the park on any one day while spending the least amount of money.

 

[irlandaise]

Late Jan/Early February will get you Lunar New Year at DCA which is fun. But, March will get you Food & Wine festival at DCA, which is great if you want to ride Soarin' Over California and try those foods.

Oh, is that a thing now? Disney brings back the original Soarin' film every year for the F&W Festival? Good to know if so, since I can't stand the new version!

 

[Lisa24jks]

Oh, is that a thing now? Disney brings back the original Soarin' film every year for the F&W Festival? Good to know if so, since I can't stand the new version!

The last couple years for sure, so I imagine they'll do it again in 2024, as well. I always make sure to come down at least once during F&W and while the food is fun, it's all for Soarin' really. The OG really is the best.

 

[skellinton]

Thanks for all the info. Hoping to avoid Food and Wine has no appeal for kids will just add crowds for son, good info about Sweetheart night, need to see when that was.
Lunar festival would be fun, do they follow when Chinese New Year is as it is different each year.

 

[skellinton]

Lunar new year is Feb 10 next year, when will that event start does anyone know? Before or the day of?

 

[DLgal]

Late January or late February/early March

Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday park days. Do NOT have a Monday or Tuesday in there under any circumstances if you don't want to deal with crowds.

Note that rain will likely be a factor at that time of year. Like, an all day, soaking cold rain. Have a backup plan.

 

[NorCalFanatic]

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[skellinton]

Late January or late February/early March

Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday park days. Do NOT have a Monday or Tuesday in there under any circumstances if you don't want to deal with crowds.

Note that rain will likely be a factor at that time of year. Like, an all day, soaking cold rain. Have a backup plan.

Thank you, that is great info about days. I was thinking Tuesday -Friday, but will switch that out. I figured weekends would be busy.

Rain doesn't bother us. We are from Portland. We don't even own umbrellas. I know it is different at the parks, but I have been there when it rains so hard no one is outside. Didn't bother me. We got to just sit on Thunder Mountain and ride over and over again. I think only Teacups and boat rides closed then. Does anything else close now? This was awhile ago.

 

[DLgal]

Thank you, that is great info about days. I was thinking Tuesday -Friday, but will switch that out. I figured weekends would be busy.

Rain doesn't bother us. We are from Portland. We don't even own umbrellas. I know it is different at the parks, but I have been there when it rains so hard no one is outside. Didn't bother me. We got to just sit on Thunder Mountain and ride over and over again. I think only Teacups and boat rides closed then. Does anything else close now? This was awhile ago.

Weekends aren't that busy.(Saturdays and Sunday evenings are the BEST) they will be your only chance to see fireworks. They only do them Friday- Sun nights in the off season.

A lot of things will close in a heavy downpour type rain and *occasionally* Disneyland will close early due to unrelenting rain (like we had so much of this past winter). The El Nino is gearing up to make this winter even wetter than last.

 

[sophy1996]

Lunar new year is Feb 10 next year, when will that event start does anyone know? Before or the day of?

It’ll run for three or four weeks. This year was January 20 to February 15. Probably around that next year or maybe a bit later with LNY date being later next year than this year.