Least Crowded Time Of Year

[flicx]

Hi my wife and I always wanted to go to disneyland but have never gone.We have been to disneyworld 15+ times.We like to go when the crowds are down and the prices are better.What time of year would that be?Thinking about the grand californian if we go as we know it will probably be a one time trip.What does everyone think would be the best for both price and crowds?

 

[InLikeSin]

We went this past January, towards the end of the month, and it was perfect! You have a pretty good chance at a little rain but the rides were walk on even during the weekend. There is also a greater chance of ride closures but if you have been to WDW so many times maybe it wont be as disappointing to miss something you've already seen there.

 

[HydroGuy]

Be careful! Off-season at DLR has some gotchas! See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

IMO May is the best off-season time to go to DLR. Except when it isn't - such as this year if World of Color opens on schedule on May 1. Normally May is slower, has good weather, and most of the seasonal refurbs are done in preparation for summer.

Also be careful listening to anyone about DLR seasonal crowds who has not been in the last year or two. The patterns have changed. See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[cseca]

Hydroguy,
Need to pick your brain.
If you have to list the best off season months by preferrence what would they be?
TIA!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hydroguy,
Need to pick your brain.
If you have to list the best off season months by preferrence what would they be?
TIA!

It so much depends on what your priorities are. For me I like it warmer and lesser chance for rain. So folks can make a good case for different off-season months.

I will throw some months out for debate but am far from an expert on this question.

1. May and early June (for reasons already stated)
2. October (good weather usually but crowded on weekends, and lesses number of refurbs
3. Late April
4. Early November
5. Early March (colder)
6. Sept (warm but bad because HM and now Space Mtn go down)
7. February (colder)
8. January (colder, more likely to rain, HM and IASW down, and lots of refurbs)

Other opinions are welcome!

 

[heatherleigh]

End of Jan, early Feb. There were no crowds at all when we did that. Prices were low too.

Hydro, if you were to choose the least crowded month, what would you think? That's the main thing we base our trips on, and this yr I'm thinking we'll go w/ Sept. because of that. We were going to do Nov, but after reading a few threads, I decided to move it up (thinking the crowds wouldn't be as bad after labor day, of course).

 

[HydroGuy]

End of Jan, early Feb. There were no crowds at all when we did that. Prices were low too.

Hydro, if you were to choose the least crowded month, what would you think? That's the main thing we base our trips on, and this yr I'm thinking we'll go w/ Sept. because of that. We were going to do Nov, but after reading a few threads, I decided to move it up (thinking the crowds wouldn't be as bad after labor day, of course).

I just know what I read. I do not go year round. From what I read Sept seems like a low crowd month as does Jan and Feb.

 

[Dizneydaz]

As far as crowds go, January for sure. And over the past few years Sept. has gotten more crowded. IMHO

 

[Random Villains]

We usually go on the first Sunday of December. Never crowded. Open 8am to midnight. And yes, we get there at 8am, and we dont leave till they make us lol. I think its just not crowded cause people are saving up for Christmas presents and the holidays and waiting for their kids to get off for Winter Break.

 

[Albort]

July 2nd-July 5th...

yes, i said it...

 

[cseca]

It so much depends on what your priorities are. For me I like it warmer and lesser chance for rain. So folks can make a good case for different off-season months.

I will throw some months out for debate but am far from an expert on this question.

1. May and early June (for reasons already stated)
2. October (good weather usually but crowded on weekends, and lesses number of refurbs
3. Late April
4. Early November
5. Early March (colder)
6. Sept (warm but bad because HM and now Space Mtn go down)
7. February (colder)
8. January (colder, more likely to rain, HM and IASW down, and lots of refurbs)

Other opinions are welcome!

Thank you so much!
We're going in sept this year, I guess we'll just have to miss HM...
That's ok tho, DD is too little to enjoy both those rides anyways...

 

[tholczer]

I'm there year round, except summer since I'm blocked out. January would be my first pick for low crowds, but there are lots of rides down. Sept & Oct are getting busier, but Sept is still a good bet for the most part. I'd stay away from October since the Halloween activities seem to draw large crowds. The first couple of weeks in November and then after Thanksgiving and into the first part of Dec. is good. From March on things get tricky with everyone having a different spring break schedule and then summer break. I love the last week of August because you still have the summer hours and weather, but lower crowds. Definitely not as low as January and February (if you steer clear of the President's holidays), but still manageable. 20-40 minute waits.

There are more annual passholders this year and there have been reports of more wild fluxuations in attendance than before. But I haven't seen them. Last year still followed the same trends, in my experience, with Fridays and Sundays being busy. If you take into account the convention schedules, you should be good to go.

But Albort is the man and if he says July, than July it is!

Tracy

 

[Albort]

July 4th of last year was one of the deadest days i have ever seen. TSMM wait time, usually 40-60 mins was a walk on ride... cant imagine what DL was like that day either...

 

[Belle Ella]

The days that I was there in September were wonderful. It did get busier by the weekend, but it was still the slowest time I have ever gone (except maybe the drizzly day in March of last year). I did go during the D23-Expo, however, and the evenings got much more crowded as the day went on.

The big drawback is that the Huanted Mansion closes after Labor Day! Space Mountain was also down while they installed the new Ghost Galaxy for Halloween, but I heard that this year an future years that it wont take as long to transition as it did last year.

 

[saving4myfamily]

The big drawback is that the Huanted Mansion closes after Labor Day! Space Mountain was also down while they installed the new Ghost Galaxy for Halloween, but I heard that this year an future years that it wont take as long to transition as it did last year.

We are thinking about going in mid-September. Is there anywhere I can check to find out when SM might be down? It's DH's favorite ride, so that might change our plans.

 

[OnePrincessMom]

How do you think the last week of August would be, if we leave the Saturday of Labor Day weekend? When do local schools go back in CA?
Thanks

 

[HydroGuy]

How do you think the last week of August would be, if we leave the Saturday of Labor Day weekend? When do local schools go back in CA?
Thanks

Someone just asked about this. See http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2407271 If you mean the week of August 22 it is expected to packed.

 

[HydroGuy]

We are thinking about going in mid-September. Is there anywhere I can check to find out when SM might be down? It's DH's favorite ride, so that might change our plans.

This far out the best bet is to look at Sept 2009. See "Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

As mentioned by another poster, last year was the first time DL did SMGG. Reportedly they got things installed in such a way that this year it is expected to have a shorter downtime.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

As mentioned by another poster, last year was the first time DL did SMGG. Reportedly they got things installed in such a way that this year it is expected to have a shorter downtime.

I agree with HydroGuy, especially since they swithched it back in one day. I expect it only to be down a day or 2 prior to the beginning of the Halloween season (last friday in Sept).

We went during D23 expo last year and crowds were really mild. I think the busiest day was Monday after the expo with people staying an extra day to hit the parks.

 

[Disney Dider]

Just an FYI, my friends went for a week, week before last. It was SOOO dead that they actually closed the parks early 2 nights at 8 when it was sposed to be open until 11. That was not cool!!!