Late June 2013 Blackout dates? And, opinions on spring break vs. late June visit.

[Misskitty3]

I am not sure where to look up blackout dates. Anyone know if June 24- 28 are usually blocked?

I was hoping to plan a trip for May, 2013 but not sure that we will be able to take DS out of school then due to state testing. Other than spring break, I think our next best option will be late June.

I am also interested in hearing pros or cons for a visit during spring break (April 8 - 12) Or the last week of June (June 24 - 28).

Thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

I'd probably go in June in 2013.

As far as blockouts, there isn't a simple answer. There are multiple levels of APs and they are blockouted out in different ways. The lowest AP level is blocked out for most of Summer, it's also the biggest group of APs. Keep in mind things can change.

You can see how the blockouts work in this link, it goes about 12 months out. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/

 

[taaren]

I am not sure where to look up blackout dates. Anyone know if June 24- 28 are usually blocked?

I was hoping to plan a trip for May, 2013 but not sure that we will be able to take DS out of school then due to state testing. Other than spring break, I think our next best option will be late June.

I am also interested in hearing pros or cons for a visit during spring break (April 8 - 12) Or the last week of June (June 24 - 28).

Thanks!

Blackout dates are for AP's so it depends on what kind of an Annual Pass you have. Or are trying to avoid. Here's a link to the AP blockout calendar for the next few months for all the AP's. SoCal Select is completely blocked out, the SoCal regular is just Friday Saturday, and Deluxe is Saturday only.

 

[Eeee-va]

June 24-28 don't appear to be blockout dates this year except for the very lowest tier of APs, so I would not expect them to be blocked out next year. They MIGHT be but I don't think you can expect it.

Other summer options include early June (lower crowds--was WONDERFUL in 2010 even around World of Color's premiere on 6/11), but you'll have to deal with rehabs, possibly "Grad Nites" causing a bunch of high school seniors to descend upon the park during normal hours--we'll know this June how those go--short hours, and lack of entertainment) or July and August (higher crowds than early June, but lower than late June, and have summer hours/entertainment).

I've read horror stories about Spring Break at DL but haven't experienced it myself in about 15 years, so I can't quite say.

Have a great trip, whenever you go!

 

[PinkBudgie]

This is why we go in July. Socal APs are blocked, we can use our Deluxe APs for everyday but Saturdays, grad nights are done, and everything is in full summer swing. They post the block out dates a year in advance. So this July you can see what the block out dates for that June will be. I figure summer spreads the crowds over more days than spring break and other holiday times.

 

[Misskitty3]

School isn't scheduled to be out until June 18th and our school district always has snow days or whatever, so the actual last day of school can be several days after the original date.

For some reason, as much as I want to be in Disneyland ASAP, something is telling me to skip spring break and wait until June (or July/August??). I was just curious what the consensus at the Disboards would be!

DH & I brought DS to DL went he was about a year old and that was over Father's day weekend. I don't remember it being terribly crowded at all but then again, we were taking naps back at the hotel and leaving around 7pm each day. Taking a very slow pace, for sure.

Combined with our upcoming trip is a side trip to Legoland and the water park there. I know it is small etc but DS really, really wants to to visit the water park. Therefore, I don't think it would be good to plan a "mid-winter break" trip in February. Seems like DH is always in the LA area around that time of year on business and it is always rainy and cold...

I hadn't though of Grad night and don't really know much about it. I need to look into that a bit more!

 

[Misskitty3]

I forgot to mention, we don't have AP's. I was thinking the crowds might be less if we visited during the blackout period. Please correct me if I am wrong...

 

[PinkBudgie]

You are probably correct. We went one year at the end of June. We had several days where Socal APs were not blocked out and then the end of trip they were. The difference was like night and day. I couldn't believe how much of a difference it made. That was before all the new park additions so maybe there won't be so much of a difference these days, but I believe there will still be some. Deluxe APs are not blocked all summer except on Saturdays. Since we can't go on that day, I have no idea if that's the nicest day of all or the worst.

The most important thing of all is to get to the parks at opening. Blocked or not, those first few morning hours are the best all day. Go back for an afternoon nap to catch up on your sleep rather than sleeping in.

 

[skiingfast]

Combined with our upcoming trip is a side trip to Legoland and the water park there. I know it is small etc but DS really, really wants to to visit the water park. Therefore, I don't think it would be good to plan a "mid-winter break" trip in February. Seems like DH is always in the LA area around that time of year on business and it is always rainy and cold...

I hadn't though of Grad night and don't really know much about it. I need to look into that a bit more!

I forgot to mention, we don't have AP's. I was thinking the crowds might be less if we visited during the blackout period. Please correct me if I am wrong...

Legoland is nice, but going for the waterpark, I wouldn't do that. It's a simple small waterpark. Most kids can have just as much fun at a Motel 6 swimming pool.

While in some instances going when APs are blocked can mean lower crowds, in your cases they are blocked because the park is busy enough without them.

Grad nights has changed, so you may want to read the OP in this link then skip to talk about this year and forget about talk of 2011 and before. See what happens this year.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400