June or October?

[VandVsmama]

I need help in deciding which time frame for us to do our DL trip next year. DH has decided that he'd like to do 2 nights of camping on the front end or back end of this trip, so he wants to pare down our 5 days at DL to only 1 or 2! ACK!

I told him, "Sorry honey, but no way. 3 days at least. Preferably 4!"

My BIL & SIL live in the San Diego area. Their kids & our kids want to go to DL some day together. Here are the options I've considered in terms of ** when** to go:

Sun 5/31/15 - Thurs 6/4/15

• PRO - it's pretty much right after our kids get out of school (last day of school is Fri 5/29).
• Probably a couple of nights will be grad nights, but that doesn't bug us too much. We ran into that last year when we went at this time frame.
• Nice weather...not too hot yet
• won't have ALL of the summer crowds yet - maybe?
• CON - BIL & SIL, niece & nephew couldn't come with us (their last day of school is 6/19).

Sun 6/21-Th 6/25/15

• weather starting to warm up - BOO! Yes, we live in the blazing sun of Arizona but for us the humidity in southern CA makes a huge difference in the summer time.
• PRO - BIL, SIL & their 2 kids could join us.
• It's right after DH & ODD's birthdays.
• CON - everybody is now out of school. Full summer crowds. Longer lines! BOO!
• PRO - Magic Morning entry would be at 7am, which we could DEFINITELY do for the 1 morning we'd have it. We'll be staying at an off site hotel this next time, but within walking distance.
• PRO - for our non MM days, entry would be at 8am, which we did last year no problem, although the 3rd morning in a row it was hard for DH & the kids to get going...they changed their minds when I told them that I was leaving for the parks in 10 minutes. You never saw 3 people hussle so fast!
• closer to the actual date of our 20th wedding anniversary (7/1).

Go during October 2015 fall break

• I'd have to wait THAT LONG to go to DL? WAH!
• BIL, SIL & their 2 kids could definitely join us.
• Perhaps smaller crowds than June, but it sounds like even more CA school districts are doing a week off in October now, so there goes that idea.
• Sometimes it's as hot in October as it is in the summer in CA.
• Did I mention that I'd have to wait FOREVER TO GO TO DL?

 

[figment_jii]

What are you feelings about Halloween? If you go in October, Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain will have their Halloween overlays in place (so Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy). If you go at the end of October, Small World will likely be closed for the installation of the Holiday overlay. The first two weekends in October are likely to be pretty busy. The first weekend is traditionally Gay Days and the second weekend if normally the CHOC walk. Also, in October, they usually have Mickey's Halloween Party (a hard ticket event) a couple of times each week. It's fun, but it does mean that DL closes "early" to non-party guests. I've found the October weather to be generally pleasant; in that you can wear shorts during the day but usually need a light sweatshirt in the evening/nighttime. However, I have been there when it was still hot, so it's variable.

Do that many school districts get a week on CA? I haven't really heard about to many CA school closures, but apparently Utah schools have a week off in October which can impact crowds.

Anyway, I really like Halloween, so I'd go with October.

 

[starry_solo]

I vote for October.

Perhaps you can do a side trip somewhere summer 2015?

 

[grnflash]

We went to the parks during all your time periods in the last year. Weather-wise all your dates are sorta a wash. All dates should be warm and could be hot, or not. The only reliably big difference will be cooler evenings in October. As for crowds:

May. Regular crowds. Grad nights don't bother us either. We were there during 2 last year and again 2 last month. Nothing bad to say about teens these days from us Lines do get longer for the headliners and FP's run out quicker.

June. There's one big additional con and one big additional pro to your dates. Con - the dates you propose for June coincide exactly with the very last week before SoCal AP blackout - that will contribute to crowding much more than summer tourists. The big pro is that the parks should be operating 8am - 12mid daily with all shows/fireworks running daily. Afternoons will be crowded but since you are ropedroppers, you will get a lot done in the mornings which frees you up to just roam and enjoy whatever later in the day.

October. The park is wonderful with the fall decorations and the ride overlays are fun. I think the whole Utah thing is a bit overblown in terms of crowd impact. SoCal schools don't do a fall break and if NorCal does them, I've never noticed (nor heard of) their crowds in the parks. The 3 hours prior to the Halloween parties do get pretty packed in DL though (which just means it's time to hop over to DCA if you're not attending.) Also, we loved our first Halloween party last year and your kids would probably have a great time if you've never done one. Avoid ChocWalk dates - packed!

 

[Imdboss]

I vote October! I've been in Feb, June, & Nov. October is by far my favorite time. The Halloween decorations are wonderful, the MHP is a lot of fun however an additional cost, but worth it IMHO. During the week if a wait time is over 20 min we just wait until later in the day to do that ride. Weekends can get a bit busy with the locals but if the weather is less than ideal for the CA crowd it tends to keep them away. Being from Seattle area it takes a lot to keep us indoors

 

[VandVsmama]

Thanks for your thoughtful replies! You have provided much food for thought. My BIL is a huge fan of Nightmare Before Christmas. Going at the end of October is a no go. It would likely be during the week right after Gay Days because that is when our kids will be off from school and we will not be taking them out of school for a DL trip.

It would also allow us extra time to save up for DL.