Last week of August craziness?

[theseacallsme]

Hi everyone, first time poster & long time lurker here! My husband & I are planning a big trip next year and I'm trying to figure out logistics. We are going to Disneyland for a few days and then Aulani. We are looking at last few days of August (30th, 31st) for Disneyland then fly to Hawaii. However, I've heard this is a bad time to visit since it's still really busy at the end of August....can anyone confirm? We COULD fly straight to Hawaii and go to Disneyland at the end of our trip (we plan to be back Sept 13th as we have a wedding on the 15th) but it's more expensive to stay in Hawaii at the end of August....

Any advice would be appreciated! I've looked at crowd calendars but prefer to talk to people who know from experience and whatnot!

Thank you!!

 

[figment_jii]

If you were to go in September, which dates specifically would you plan to be in the parks? HalloweenTime starts somewhere in early-September (after Labor Day), but they have not yet announced the start date. Once HalloweenTime starts, the weekend days will be busy as locals and tourists alike head to the parks to see the Halloween overlays, decorations, and offerings.

Another thing to consider is that after Labor Day (September 4), the parks are often in the non-peak season schedule, which means shorter hours and reduced entertainment (mostly this impacts weekdays, M-R).

 

[the donut]

It is a bit crazy at the end of August as annual passholder blockouts are lifted the last two weeks of August for the SoCal passes.

 

[theseacallsme]

If you were to go in September, which dates specifically would you plan to be in the parks? HalloweenTime starts somewhere in early-September (after Labor Day), but they have not yet announced the start date. Once HalloweenTime starts, the weekend days will be busy as locals and tourists alike head to the parks to see the Halloween overlays, decorations, and offerings.

Another thing to consider is that after Labor Day (September 4), the parks are often in the non-peak season schedule, which means shorter hours and reduced entertainment (mostly this impacts weekdays, M-R).

We would visit the last few days of our trip, so probably Sept 11th & 12th. The price for Hawaii drops so much after August though! Maybe I could just stay at Aulani for a shorter period of time & not right away..?

 

[theseacallsme]

It is a bit crazy at the end of August as annual passholder blockouts are lifted the last two weeks of August for the SoCal passes.

From what I can tell via the many instagram accounts I follow, DL Passholders are no joke and visit quite often!! Is the park overrun with them, even during weekdays?

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I just checked my phone photos, and I was here on August 29 last year and it wasn't especially terrible, and that was with Paint the Night ending soon (so people like us were there specifically to see it before it disappeared). It's impossible to predict because you never know what promotions and events might be happening, but I think the last two days of August are not a bad choice as these things go.

But I mean, I'm a passholder and I'm typing this from a bench in DCA, so perhaps I am overrunning the park and all...

 

[theseacallsme]

I just checked my phone photos, and I was here on August 29 last year and it wasn't especially terrible, and that was with Paint the Night ending soon (so people like us were there specifically to see it before it disappeared). It's impossible to predict because you never know what promotions and events might be happening, but I think the last two days of August are not a bad choice as these things go.

But I mean, I'm a passholder and I'm typing this from a bench in DCA, so perhaps I am overrunning the park and all...

My goal in life is to move to the Orlando or Anaheim area and become an annual passholder!!! I would literally be there every day!!!

Thanks for the info! I know it's super far in advance, but I'm so excited that I had to start researching now!

 

[BriannaRuth]

We've been that week and it hasn't been bad. APs are back but so is school for many kids. I do remember that the Saturday we were there the last week in August was VERY crowded. The weekdays were less so, which may have been a reflection of schools being back in session.

 

[goooof1]

Most schools are back by then. Also that is around the time when Haunted Mansion is closed for it's NBC overlay and Space Mt. gets a ghost galaxy overlay before the official start of "HalloweenTime". (though don't know when that one happens....I don't think it takes too long to re-do.)

 

[theseacallsme]

Most schools are back by then. Also that is around the time when Haunted Mansion is closed for it's NBC overlay and Space Mt. gets a ghost galaxy overlay before the official start of "HalloweenTime". (though don't know when that one happens....I don't think it takes too long to re-do.)

oh no, really?! i would hate to see HM closed

 

[BriannaRuth]

It would definitely be closed the last couple of days in August. It usually closes about 3 weeks, starting around the last week of August and opening up again around mid-September.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

We have also done end of August and it is not that bad. Mornings are actually quite nice, uptick in crowds in the afternoons as people get off work and visit the parks. Figment has good points on hours and crowds as you move into Halloween mode.

 

[theseacallsme]

It would definitely be closed the last couple of days in August. It usually closes about 3 weeks, starting around the last week of August and opening up again around mid-September.

that would be disappointing...do you think it would it be reopened by sept 11th, 12th ish? or is that too soon?

We have also done end of August and it is not that bad. Mornings are actually quite nice, uptick in crowds in the afternoons as people get off work and visit the parks. Figment has good points on hours and crowds as you move into Halloween mode.

we'll be on EST (and I always get up early for Disney parks) so I'd be sure to take advantage of rope drop! Does Disneyland do Extra Magic Hours for its onsite guests?

 

[joseph821]

that would be disappointing...do you think it would it be reopened by sept 11th, 12th ish? or is that too soon?



we'll be on EST (and I always get up early for Disney parks) so I'd be sure to take advantage of rope drop! Does Disneyland do Extra Magic Hours for its onsite guests?

Yes If you stay at a Resort Hotel, Extra Magic hours for Disneyland for one hour prior to opening on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. California Adventure has Extra Magic Hours for 1 hour prior to opening on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

 

[figment_jii]

that would be disappointing...do you think it would it be reopened by sept 11th, 12th ish? or is that too soon?

Both of the attractions that get a Halloween overlay typically re-open with the start of HalloweenTime. Historically, Space has been down for 3/4-days and Haunted Mansion has been down for 18-days to have the overlays installed. They haven't yet announced when HalloweenTime will start (usually that information comes out in mid-summer/early-July). The best guess at this point is that HalloweenTime will start somewhere between September 8th and 15th in 2017, based on the schedule from previous years, but we won't know for sure until they make an announcement.

 

[joseph821]

Both of the attractions that get a Halloween overlay typically re-open with the start of HalloweenTime. Historically, Space has been down for 4-days and Haunted Mansion has been down for 18-days to have the overlays installed. They haven't yet announced when HalloweenTime will start (usually that information comes out in mid-summer/early-July). The best guess at this point is that HalloweenTime will start somewhere between September 8th and 15th in 2017, based on the schedule from previous years, but we won't know for sure until they make an announcement.

Expect Haunted Mansion to go down the week beginning August 21 not sure day and stay down until Sept. 7. I suspect Halloween Time will start on Sept. 8th!

 

[NMDisneyMom]

One thing to also remember is that Labor Day weekend is typically the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend. So add in all those additional folks for the weekend. And yes it does get crazy starting the Thursday before Labor Day.

 

[biochemgirl]

We did the last week of August 2016. It was great until the Friday before Labor Day when the combination of holiday and marathon crowds really came out. Before that we had a leisurely trip and enjoyed the weather and lots of rides!

 

[theseacallsme]

Yes If you stay at a Resort Hotel, Extra Magic hours for Disneyland for one hour prior to opening on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. California Adventure has Extra Magic Hours for 1 hour prior to opening on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

that's so helpful. thank you very much!

 

[joseph821]

that's so helpful. thank you very much!

you are most welcome!