Late August Not as Busy as Oct???

[surfmontana]

We had our first trip in October of 2012 and it was amazing. (Did all my extensive planning with the help of this board)

Didn't have anything to compare it to, but we felt the parks were very busy and many people in the lines were commenting on that fact.

Now considering doing a last minute trip the end of August after looking at crowd calendars and seeing the last week in August isn't to bad and appears to be less crowded than Halloween time.

Does anybody have any experience with crowd levels in very late August? (last week) Is it correct that California schools will already be in session?

 

[nervous1sttimer]

We are going the last week of August, so obviously I am paying more attention to posts that mention those dates and could be skewing my perspective, but it seems to me like a ton of other people are also planning to be there at the same time. There is the marathon weekend over Labour Day, so we are coming down early to tour the parks before the races and still make it back to school/work after the holiday.

Also all APs are unblocked and a lot of local (and relatively nearby) schools go back after Labour Day.

But I'm still excited and looking forward to a fun trip!

 

[figment_jii]

I don't know if the crowds will actually be lighter or not, but October is very popular time at DLR because of HalloweenTime. If you go in late August, there is no "season" per se happening. My general feeling is that late August until the start of HalloweenTime tends be less busy because schools are back in session, some rides/attractions are down for their overlay, and HalloweenTime has not yet started. I don't think the parks will be empty, but it might be super busy. Now I say all of this with the lens that October weekdays (Mon-Thu) aren't that bad, but weekends can be busy (Fri-Sun).

 

[surfmontana]

The dates we are looking at are the 23rd-28th.

We would travel on the 23rd and be in the park on the 24th. I wanted to get there for the 24th to see Fantasmic and before Haunted Mansion closes.

Hotels seem less expensive than in Oct, the Tropicana was only $79 a night.

I always worried about hot weather in July-Aug, but our last trip was 101 degress in Oct so I sure hope it would never be hotter than that

 

[Karenann*]

Hotels seem less expensive than in Oct, the Tropicana was only $79 a night.:

Thanks for this heads up!!! We are staying at the Tropicana the 19th through the 26th of Aug and our rate was $89/night. I just checked and the rate had gone down $10!!! They adjusted our reservation to reflect the lower price Just a little more pre-trip magic.

 

[DDhunter]

A lot of the SoCal schools do go back to school well before the end of August. Our kids start back up the second week of August.

 

[Epek]

We went last year the Wed-Fri leading up to
Labor Day and then 3 separate days in Oct. The dates in August were much less busy than any of the Oct dates, with exception to the Fri of Labor Day weekend. That was about on par with Oct.

 

[surfmontana]

We went last year the Wed-Fri leading up to
Labor Day and then 3 separate days in Oct. The dates in August were much less busy than any of the Oct dates, with exception to the Fri of Labor Day weekend. That was about on par with Oct.

That is what I like to hear. Hoping to get off the fence tonight on our trip and that just maybe the push I needed

 

[nervous1sttimer]

We went last year the Wed-Fri leading up to
Labor Day and then 3 separate days in Oct. The dates in August were much less busy than any of the Oct dates, with exception to the Fri of Labor Day weekend. That was about on par with Oct.

So Friday was a lot busier than Thursday? We are there the 25th-31st (Monday-Sunday) with 5-day hoppers. We will be doing full park days on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then can't make up our minds about the third full park day on either Thursday or Friday. We picked Friday, going to Legoland on Thursday. Do you think we should switch those around?

 

[nervous1sttimer]

Wait - I just looked at the calendar and it says all APs are blocked on Saturday the 30th? I know that's Labour Day weekend, but would that mean the crowds would be best that day? Maybe we should not go Thursday or Friday and go Saturday instead...

 

[MinnieMom13]

We used to go in October, but now that I have two middle schoolers, I can't pull them out during a school week. We went the last week of August last year (Sunday - Friday) and couldn't believe how much better it was: less crowds and lower prices. The only crowded days were Sunday and Friday, so we're going into the park Monday - Thursday this year and swimming on our travel days. The marathoners were everywhere on Friday. I haven't seen so many fit people in a theme park before; it made me question my choice of churros as a snack.

 

[BriannaRuth]

The last week of August is normally when we go. Not this year because my daughter's school is starting back earlier than normal, unfortunately. Monday through Thursday of that week is a great time to be there. Yes, it can be warm, but the lines aren't bad at all compared to what I've seen for earlier in the summer. Most CA schools are back in by then, so the crowds are fairly low. We have run into some closed attractions during that time, however.

There is definitely a noticeable rise in park attendance on Friday (which is the Friday of Labor Day weekend). We've never stayed for the Saturday and Sunday because that's Labor Day weekend and I've heard it's really busy.

Never been during October so can't compare there. We have been during September just after they put the Halloween stuff up and that's been a good time as well.

 

[Epek]

So Friday was a lot busier than Thursday? We are there the 25th-31st (Monday-Sunday) with 5-day hoppers. We will be doing full park days on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then can't make up our minds about the third full park day on either Thursday or Friday. We picked Friday, going to Legoland on Thursday. Do you think we should switch those around?

It wasn't unmanageable, but definitely a noticeable increase. Probably due to the marathon.

 

[sleepymouse]

So Friday was a lot busier than Thursday? We are there the 25th-31st (Monday-Sunday) with 5-day hoppers. We will be doing full park days on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then can't make up our minds about the third full park day on either Thursday or Friday. We picked Friday, going to Legoland on Thursday. Do you think we should switch those around?

I would probably stick with Legoland Thursday because I think crowds would be much worse there on Friday. An uptick in crowds at DLR is easier for the resort to absorb whereas the same at Legoland can make for much longer waits. Rides there are mostly very slow loaders.

 

[KeKy4]

We are going Aug 22-24, traveling 22nd and spending 23rd and possibly part of the 24th in the park before heading home.
My understanding is that LAUSD is the largest school district in the area and I looked it up and they go back Aug 12. Also I know most of Arizona will be back in school, don't know about the rest of the surrounding states, but thinking it will be lower crowds!
Either way, I can't wait!!!

 

[Sandan77]

Disneyland half marathon weekend - 28-31