Least crowded Days with long hours

[haydeecm]

I just got back from Disneyland 3 weeks ago, and discovered I really like the park at night. Beautiful with the lighting and the atmosphere, the crowds were a lot lighter after 7pm. But during the week the park closed at 8pm, which I did not like.

I know the longer hours are a trade-off, but I really want the later hours. What would be the best time of the year to get the least crowds for days when the park closes at 11pm or after?

 

[DizFan13]

Typically this would be at the very beginning or the tail end of a busy time, like a holiday break.

 

[tholczer]

Traditionally, we go the last week in August and that has always been a perfect blend of light crowds and late nights. As long as you go at least one week after blockouts have lifted. This year is a little tricky, though, since blockouts end on Aug. 23rd (so you definitely don't want to go that week) and the next week is half Aug and half Sept. The hours might be shortened to 9:00 pm since it's Sept. We also go every year on the day before Thanksgiving, and it's always been manageable. I wouldn't say light crowds, but not uncomfortably busy either. But that's only the one day - I'm not sure how it is before or after. Maybe light over Thanksgiving since the AP's are blocked out.

I also heard that July 4 was a good time to go last year.

Tracy

 

[HydroGuy]

I just got back from Disneyland 3 weeks ago, and discovered I really like the park at night. Beautiful with the lighting and the atmosphere, the crowds were a lot lighter after 7pm. But during the week the park closed at 8pm, which I did not like.

I know the longer hours are a trade-off, but I really want the later hours. What would be the best time of the year to get the least crowds for days when the park closes at 11pm or after?

You know, summer crowds when APs are blocked are not that bad. However, there is more daylight. We like getting to the parks when they open in summer, taking a mid-day break for 4-5 hours and then coming back at 5-6 PM and staying late until 11PM or midnight.

Other than that you might think about the weekend after Thanksgiving (in 2009 it was not that crowded) and maybe Spring Break week days.

You also could to a Fri-Sun weekend trip any time of year as DLR always has late hours on weekends. September or May might be especially good times for weekend visits.

 

[Leofoenget]

I just got back from Disneyland 3 weeks ago, and discovered I really like the park at night. Beautiful with the lighting and the atmosphere, the crowds were a lot lighter after 7pm. But during the week the park closed at 8pm, which I did not like.

I know the longer hours are a trade-off, but I really want the later hours. What would be the best time of the year to get the least crowds for days when the park closes at 11pm or after?

We went the second week of Dec mid week Thurs/Fri open late but low crowds, all the shows running Fantasmic 2x on a Thursday which was wonderful

 

[Sleepless Knight]

July 4th was interesting last year. At one point I was trying to figure out where everybody was since Buzz had a 20 minute standby wait in the late afternoon.

However, the crowds really started to pour in as it grew closer to the fireworks. I've been to Disneyland twice on New Years Eve and never heard them announce that the Main Street and hub viewing areas were full. On July 4th they did. They also announced that the 9:00pm Fantasmic was full, which I'd never heard before (and this was without the new dragon). After the fireworks, Space Mountain Fastpass wait was 30 minutes.

Longer hours and lower crowds can be tricky because of the tradeoff. Early June when California schools are still in session may work and the 2nd week of December after the CM parties can work too.

 

[mvf-m11c]

We went the second week of Dec mid week Thurs/Fri open late but low crowds, all the shows running Fantasmic 2x on a Thursday which was wonderful

I was there during my birthday trip with my DA, got to see F! and Belive Fireworks on those two days, it was so quiet and just got on any rides during that week. It did rain late Friday and the rest of the weekend, but it was nice for the parks to be less crowded.