Jan 1-8, 2017

[GrandBob]

Like nearly every other school-aged child, our granddaughter can only accompany us to DLR during school vacations. I.e., crowds! We had to cancel our plans for her Spring Break this year due to some family tragedies. Due to circumstances arising from those same events, DW and I can't go at all this year. So we're thinking of taking her at the tail end of her winter break, during the first week of January.

How crowded do you expect it to be? Has anyone started a 2017 calendar yet, that details when schools are off? I expect that probably lots of other schools will be off too. But the only other alternative would be her spring break of 2017, which I expect would be even more crowded.

Please post opinions. Crowded, or oh-my-g*d-can't-move crowded? And do you think the Christmas decorations will still be up? Thanks,

Bob

 

[dina444444]

I know LA Unified doesn't go back to school until the 9th. Since Monday the 2nd is the observed holiday I expect most schools will have that week off for winter break still.

 

[Imdboss]

We live in WA and return back to school on 1/4/17. I definitely think that week will be a lot less crowded than during spring break.

 

[Nevada Jen]

At least our school district in Phoenix is off that week as well. Plus it's the first week after Christmas that deluxe passes aren't blocked. I know we are planning on going that week!

 

[Malcon10t]

Many northern CA schools are off that week too. We will be there, my kids are teachers, so it is our 2 week vacation of their 3 weeks... We are doing Dec 22 to the 5th. In the past couple years it has been very busy, but not quite as bad as Dec 26-31.

 

[GrandBob]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It looks like it will be as I thought -- pretty darned crowded, but not as bad as Christmas week, and hopefully not quite as bad as Spring Break. Since those are my only practical choices (or waiting until next summer), it appears that the first week of January will be it. Now to go look for lodging...

 

[figment_jii]

I haven't started a dedicated 2017 calendar of school breaks and events yet, but if you look at the 2016 calendar, there is some information about winter breaks (when they end). A few school districts go back as early as Jan 2, but many seem to have that week off and go back around the 9th.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3434866/

In terms of crowds, the week after New Year is usually pretty busy because a lot of folks are still on winter break and the AP blockouts end during that week. There is generally an uptick in crowds as the AP holders return to the parks one last time to see the holiday decorations and offerings. This year, the Signature AP blockout ends on Jan 2 (first day the AP is valid), the Deluxe ends on Jan 3, SoCal and SoCal Select ends on Jan 4.

In terms of the decorations, if I had to guess, I think they'll still be in the holiday season through the weekend (Jan 8). Three Kings Day is Friday, January 6 in 2017 and DLR has been celebrating the Three Kings Day, so I think the holiday season will last at through then.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It looks like it will be as I thought -- pretty darned crowded, but not as bad as Christmas week, and hopefully not quite as bad as Spring Break. Since those are my only practical choices (or waiting until next summer), it appears that the first week of January will be it. Now to go look for lodging...

As I go both during the period in question and Spring Break (the worst week) I'm going to weigh in with that week will probably be worse than Spring Break. If you traditionally take spring break the week before or after Easter, I will say it will be just as busy if not worse. If your spring break is at another time, spring break will be lighter.