June or October

[PixiePowered]

After a year-and-a-half hiatus..... we're going back to Disneyland! The last time we went, was October 2009

I have two ressies, both kids suite at HoJo's. But I can't decide when we should go. So below are (my) pros/cons..... can you more frequent Dis'ers help me out?!

June 8-13
Pros: (maybe) less crowded; weather should be perfect; and I won't have to wait so long to go
Cons: no ET rate available (yet); construction, construction, construction

October 3-8
Pros: ET rate already booked; Halloween time;
Cons: unpredictable weather; crowds (the last couple Octobers we've gone it's been CRAZY crowded); it's soooooo much farther away than June is

Anyone have any thoughts to throw in there?

 

[darph nader]

I think June will be 'pretty' crowded and warm. October has a little 'hinky' weather but the 'Halloween' thing goin on.

 

[Sherry E]

If it was crazy crowded the last couple of times you went to DLR in October - and the last time you did that was in 2009 - then it will be even more crowded now. It has, indeed, gotten much, much more crowded for Halloween Time over the last couple of years - and early October is more crowded than mid-October, for a few reasons (school breaks, Gay Days, Columbus Day, etc.).

Now, however, you have World of Color (which increased crowds in both parks last year) and the new Little Mermaid ride, as well as the new version of Star Tours. All of those things have or will contribute to more crowded seasons all across the board.

You're right about October weather being very unpredictable - it could turn in any number of directions. June is often times much less warm than October (June gloom and all). In fact, often times the heat of the summer in SoCal doesn't even kick in until July and August, and carries into September and October.

But Star Tours and the Little Mermaid ride will be open by June, and the crowds that flock into the parks to see both of those in June will be huge, I'm sure.

You've done Halloween Time before. Now the Halloween party will be held in Disneyland. They may stick in some extra stuff this year as well. Did you enjoy Halloween Time enough to want to do it again? Because I just think that October 2011 is going to be even more crowded than October 2009 was, especially early in the month.

 

[DLR29]

June 8th is only 5 days after the official grand opening of both the Little Mermaid and Star Tours II and like 2 weeks after the opening of the new parade. It will be CRAZY crowded.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I think with the openings of Soundsational, Star Tours, and Little Mermaid, your June dates have the potential to be unexpectedly crowded.

We go to Disneyland a few times a year, basically anytime the kids are out of school and I can convince DH to take some time off work. If these were my only two choices though, I would probably go with October. At least the new attractions will have been open longer. Iffy weather can sometimes decrease crowds. Entertainment rate is so great that maybe you'll have enough money left over to splurge on extras or to start saving up to return to the parks in less than 1 1/2 years after that trip.

 

[rune_74]

I thought october was nice actually weather wise...felt like a summer day in vancouver

 

[Sherry E]

I thought october was nice actually weather wise...felt like a summer day in vancouver

October in SoCal can be all over the place, weather-wise. It can be chilly and windy, hot and windy, dry and hot, rainy, hot, dry & windy all together together, extremely hot (like upper 90's) or in the 70's...it's all over the map!

 

[PixiePowered]

I absolutely LOVE Halloween time at Disneyland! And I think I can really deal with the weather (since it's not all THAT likely it will rain, which is always my biggest fear). But the crowds.... oh my those crowds can be INSANE!

From the beginning I was leaning towards October, mostly because of the Halloween extras. I just wondered if, since we hadn't been in a while (and especially during the actual summer months) if I was forgetting about a reason why June could possibly be the better choice.

 

[Sherry E]

I absolutely LOVE Halloween time at Disneyland! And I think I can really deal with the weather (since it's not all THAT likely it will rain, which is always my biggest fear). But the crowds.... oh my those crowds can be INSANE!

From the beginning I was leaning towards October, mostly because of the Halloween extras. I just wondered if, since we hadn't been in a while (and especially during the actual summer months) if I was forgetting about a reason why June could possibly be the better choice.

It actually rained this past October on some days, which came as a surprise for people who had planned on attending the Halloween party without a poncho!

Anyway, I think the bottom line is, any way you slice it, it is going to be crowded. June is going to be a madhouse when those new attractions open. Those new attractions combined with Halloween Time and the various school breaks and things will make October very crowded. Just going by what you said about it being "crazy crowded" in October 2009 when you were last there - if you thought October of 2009 was crazy crowded, October of this year will not be any less so, and will likely be much more so. It's entirely possible that June will be even more crowded than October, but I know that October 2011 will be more crowded than October was in 2009.

So just prepare yourself for crowds either way. You'll still have a great time!

 

[Pearl_Mirror]

June just screams graduation parties to me, it might be because I went there for my graduation a few years ago and it was a bit crowded even then. We usually always go around Christmas time and haven't really been at any other time, since that is what we like best.

 

[Dobie]

I think that during the week in October the parks have shorter hours, too. . . if that makes a difference to you.

 

[mystic_path]

I thought october was nice actually weather wise...felt like a summer day in vancouver

I went in October a few years ago and it was like Vancouver Summer Weather during the day. Colder in the mornings and Evening. Drizzled for about 10 minutes on morning, but we lathered suntan lotion on the rest of the afternoon. It was great!

However if we are talking about going June or October, Ive been in October before and it was NUTS! I do go to Disneyland every late May/Early June and its great. But this year the new Little Mermaid ride is opening on the 3rd, and Star Tours is also reopening, and as other said, the new parade. So there are going to be Mega crowds during that time. But it's Disney. There really isnt a time when you go and it isnt fun. If you make use of your fastpasses, and go in with a plan of things you want to see, then you should be ok.

 

[taaren]

We usually take a long leisurely trip with friends in October, and the past few years we've been adding a quick trip in May because the weather is nice then too. Are doing both and shortening one trip or the other out of the question?

 

[PixiePowered]

Well, it looks like we may have to go in June. The kids school decided to change up their calendar next year, and NOT take the first week of October off for "fall break" as they had been doing the last several years. I hate to take the kids out of school for a week (however, this October it will be a week of minimum days ).

What are the chances of HoJo offering the ET rate for June 8-13?

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Hojos has historically offered a few June dates (they seem to be in early June, but I really think it depends on what they sell that year--and this year with the new rides they may not need to do it), but they don't offer them early.

Did you already pay for your October Ent. Rate? I keep hearing that these are now non-refundable (or is it the first night?).

We plan on going in June, but it looks like has to be late June due to my work schedule. We have been all times of the year, but like our summer visits the best because of the full schedule and more predictable weather. Even if you have June gloom, at least you aren't dealing with rain or Santa Ana winds or local wild fires (knock wood!) like in October.

 

[PixiePowered]

I've already booked June (no ET rate) and October (ET rate)... and, fortunately I did it BEFORE the new policy, so I shouldn't have any sort of penalty for changes and/or cancellations, if I read the new policy correctly.