Input on when to visit (Feb. or May?)

[pixleyyy]

I have two options for our visit in 2008. We can either go sometime in February (we're flexible on dates) or May 4-9. Do you have an input on what the better choice would be?

We're traveling with kids (11, 9 & 7 ) so want to avoid the lines as best we can. We also want to make sure that we can see the fireworks and parades. During our Feb. 2006 trip the parades and fireworks were only held on Fri-Sun. Is this true also in early May? Are park hours longer in May? I'm excited to go so would rather sooner (i.e. Feb.) than later, unless there are advantages to waiting until May. Any other tidbits of advice?

Thank you in advance!

 

[BillyFan]

We enjoy Feb for light crowds, but is can be very cold and rainy then. I'm not sure what the nighttime entertainment schedule looks like then, so sorry about not answering that question for you!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I like early May, since its warmer. I think crowds wise they might be about even. Although the weekend around Lincoln's birthday is very busy. Maybe someone from So. Cal can answer what weekend that is that the kids in the area have off Monday. We went that weekend a couple of years ago and it was packed. We have been other times in February and its dead.

As far as parades and fireworks, the fireworks should run on weekend nights only during both of your time frames. The Electrical Parade may not be running at all. It typically goes dark after Labor Day except during Christmas and Easter weeks. However, it is running during January so maybe after Christmas they will run it on the weekends until summer when it will run nightly. You'll have to see what they have on the schedule for February on Disneyland's website. That information should be up withing the next few weeks. Just keep checking. May won't be up yet, but February should before too long as January's scheudle is now up.

The parade at Disneyland (Parade of Dreams) runs daily all year long.

I am not sure if park hours in May are longer or not. During the week in February the parks will close at 8:00. I know there is a link someplace where you can access previous months' hours which would give you an idea. But I have no idea what the link is!

Good luck, I think either time frame is nice and should be low on crowds except for that one weekend in February.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

Sorry to interrupt, but it is a relevant question, I promise!

Is DL not affected by winter breaks in February like WDW is? I know that from Presiden'ts Day on until the week after Easter is WDWs most crowded and expensive time to go (other than Christmas). A lot of people in the northeast get a winter break during that time, and then spring break kicks in just after that. We wanted to go in Feb. when we have our next track out (year round school), but decided not to based on the crowd levels.

So back to your question, pixleyyy, if you are going in early Feb. (before Pres. day), it wouldn't really matter.

Also, is it important for your family to be able to swim? Feb. would be too cold, but May *might* be warm enough. We went to WDW the first week of May last year, and the crowds were manageable.

Its getting to where there are always crowds at either park though!

I'm with you on wanting to go sooner, rather than later though!!

Best wishes for a great trip, either month!

 

[pixleyyy]

Thanks for your input. I'm really leaning towards Feb., as I'm anxious to visit again. I did find the schedules from 2007 for those months so those were a bit of a help too. Thanks!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I have actually swam in February (and January and December too for that matter) when at DL. The pools are heated and since the air is dry, it doesn't feel as cold as cooler air in Florida does. We had weather near 80 the last time we went to DL in February. We also have had warm days in other winter months. The area around DL doesn't have as much of a temperature variation as it does in Florida and again, there's no humidity. So even when its in the low 60's, if the sun is out, it feels much warmer. And May is most definitely warm enough. We went a few years back from around April 30 to May 6. It was nearing 100 degrees several of our days. Not the norm but it happens. As far as crowds, in May, that month at DL doesn't have the events that WDW does (Flower and Garden festival at Epcot and Grad Nights, grad nights happen at DL in June). So early May in DL is pretty nice. It is in WDW too for that matter even with the special events around that time.

As for the question of President's affecting DL in the same manner as WDW, I don't believe it does. Since many people going to WDW live in New England which has much of Presiden'ts week off that really barks up the crowds. There is also some sort of cheerleading thing going on around that time at WDW as well.

DL does get crowded around that time too, but I am fairly certain the schools in the So. Cal region only get the Monday of Lincoln's birthday off which is the week before President's week. Maybe someone who lives near DL can verify that. However, when we went in 2006 that weekend, I was shocked at how crowded DL was that Monday (which was I think around February 13). I assumed that the week before Pres. Week would be good, but it was very crowded, Sunday and Monday in particular. I know here in Colorado my kids district for example doesn't get even one day off for President's week, so maybe that is more of an east coast, southeast thing. But many of the schools in L.A and San Diego do get Lincoln's Birthday off (which is always a Monday).

 

[doombuggy]

Thanks for your input. I'm really leaning towards Feb., as I'm anxious to visit again. I did find the schedules from 2007 for those months so those were a bit of a help too. Thanks!

Can you let us know where you found that info, as we are planning a trip in February also. Thanks.

 

[famograham]

I'm brewing a great hope for February too! Not sure if I can make it happen...but I'm sure dreaming!

Linda

 

[pixleyyy]

Can you let us know where you found that info, as we are planning a trip in February also. Thanks.

Here's the link to where I found the old calendars. This is for this month but there is a bar on the left where you can click previous months to see the schedule. Hope that helps.
http://www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-DLR2-200710.asp

 

[Diznotyzed]

Sorry to interrupt, but it is a relevant question, I promise!

Is DL not affected by winter breaks in February like WDW is? I know that from Presiden'ts Day on until the week after Easter is WDWs most crowded and expensive time to go (other than Christmas). A lot of people in the northeast get a winter break during that time, and then spring break kicks in just after that. We wanted to go in Feb. when we have our next track out (year round school), but decided not to based on the crowd levels.

West Coast states don't really have the Feb breaks that other regions do, which is why our Vermont family members who are teachers love to go to DL with us on their Feb break - low crowds!

eta: Their Feb break is the last week of Feb

 

[Kailua's Belle]

We were there this Feb. and it was very busy with families who were on a winter break. We were there Presidents' week. And although I was expecting large crowds over the weekend and Monday, I expected the crowds to subside after that. Well, they did a little, but not as much as I had hoped.

In fact, the Wedneday after Presidents' Day was EXTREMELY busy. Space ran out of fast passes, Peter Pan always had 45 min. plus wait, even the FastPass line for Indy took 30 minutes. Many people I talked to were from Northern California, and they had the whole week off. Silly me, I actually took my kids out of school thinking all of Feb. was slow.

 

[pixleyyy]

We're thinking first week of February (4th-8th) so I'm hoping that Cal. schools aren't out yet for break. Anyone know when they are out?

 

[famograham]

That's the week I'm thinking too Pixleyyy , so I'm looking forward to the answer to your question!

If we went for a full 6 night 7 days, used the first day and the last for relaxing and travel...which weekend days should I include? We want VERY badly to see Fantasmic (Friday was our last night..so we missed it ), and RDCT...well I couldn't see that enough times!!! It was the MOST amazing way to end our trip in September!

Linda

 

[pixleyyy]

That's the week I'm thinking too Pixleyyy , so I'm looking forward to the answer to your question!

If we went for a full 6 night 7 days, used the first day and the last for relaxing and travel...which weekend days should I include? We want VERY badly to see Fantasmic (Friday was our last night..so we missed it ), and RDCT...well I couldn't see that enough times!!! It was the MOST amazing way to end our trip in September!

Linda

My suggestion is to start your visit on the first Sunday and you can see RDCT then and again on the last Friday of your trip. This way you avoid the busiest day, Saturday, but still get in 6 full days of Disney magic and get to see Fantasmic and RDCT.

 

[famograham]

Thanks! I think you're right

Linda

 

[lulubelle]

In my experience, the first ten days of Feb are very, very slow. We always get excellent AP or Castmember rates during that time. Also, the last week of Feb is fabulous. It seems the week before, during and after President's week is busy. Especially the week of. Anyway, I would recommend the first week of Feb, my only concern would be rain. Good luck deciding.