Memorial Day Weekend

[Port Mom]

We will be in LA for Memorial Day Weekend (arriving Friday night and leaving Tuesday morning). We are staying at Loews Hollywood, but would like to drive to Disneyland for one day. Are we insane if we decide to go Saturday, Sunday, or Monday? Which day would be better, or are they equally bad? I was thinking of Monday, but thought I would ask the experts who have done this before.

I am assuming it would take at least an hour to get there.Do the parks shut down when they reach maximum capacity? We have been to Disney World over twenty times, but we have never been to Disneyland, and thought this might be a good opportunity. Any advise???

 

[tarheelalum]

It will be very busy every day during your trip but I don't think it will reach capacity. Out of the days you listed I would go on Saturday. The majority of annual passes are blocked on Saturday so you cut out a big chunk of people. Also you will have all of the parades and fireworks and the park on Saturday.
The drive from LA will take at least an hour or more depending on traffic.

 

[sherilaine]

The last three years there was a 24 event the Friday before Memorial Day - this might make Saturday not as bad? Both the Saturday and Sunday of that weekend will have the Deluxe and lower level passes blocked out.

 

[Ndusmama]

I've gone every year the last three years. Last year the 24 was at max. Capacity really early! Saturday's are still fairly busy even with the tired groups. Doing the 24 hour will definitely give you an experience and they have different food options than normal time. If you go that weekend I wouldn't do Saturday or Monday. Sunday's tend to be slower on those weekends. If you don't care about sleep so much you should try the 24.

 

[figment_jii]

I was there for the last two Memorial Day weekend (Wed to Mon) and in general, I did think all of the days were busy. The 24-hour day (Fri) was very busy last year (2015), but pretty manageable the previous year (2014). It's hard to say what 2016 will be like, but I doubt they are debuting three new shows this year, so I'd guess that things will be calmer (assuming they are doing another 24-hour day, which at this point is an unknown).

Saturday and Sunday have the same AP blackouts that weekend (only Signature Plus, Signature, Premium, and Premier have access), but DLR blocks out AP on days when they assume the non-AP guests will "fill" up the parks. So in that way, it's still very crowded. Basically, I think all three days will be busy, so I would just go with whichever day works best for your schedule.