Need help w/ dates from DL pros...

[global_mom]

We are WDW frequent visitors (2-3 times per year) but have never been to DL. I am also a TA and only sell Disney products so I really want to experience DL.

Here is our big debate: we need to travel while our kids, DS11, DD9, DD6 are out of school as we are taking them out of classes for 5 days this October for WDW, cant do that twice in one year. We dont plan to return to DL for another 3-5 years so we want to make the most of this trip.

Would you choose to go Dec. 31 -Jan 8, 2008 OR March 8-15, 2008 OR May 23 - 31, 2008??????

Any advice about crowds, weather etc. would be soooo appreciated!!! I know that New Years would be packed but we could visit friends until Jan. 2 or 3 and then do DL and DCA.

What would you do???

Thanks!!!

 

[Hound 109]

When is Easter next year? I want to think it's early (in March).

I'll let the California residents confirm, but it would seem to me that May might be your best bet (weather, crowds, hours of op. etc.)

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I was thinking May too. I've heard New Years is extremely crowded.

 

[HydroGuy]

We are WDW frequent visitors (2-3 times per year) but have never been to DL. I am also a TA and only sell Disney products so I really want to experience DL.

Here is our big debate: we need to travel while our kids, DS11, DD9, DD6 are out of school as we are taking them out of classes for 5 days this October for WDW, cant do that twice in one year. We dont plan to return to DL for another 3-5 years so we want to make the most of this trip.

Would you choose to go Dec. 31 -Jan 8, 2008 OR March 8-15, 2008 OR May 23 - 31, 2008??????

Any advice about crowds, weather etc. would be soooo appreciated!!! I know that New Years would be packed but we could visit friends until Jan. 2 or 3 and then do DL and DCA.

What would you do???

Thanks!!!

Some of those dates fall in off-season and WDW vets frequently get tripped up by the differences between off-season and DLR and WDW. Read this for more info:

What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

In case you have not yet seen it this next thread may help you too regarding many things including weather:

A DLR Guide for WDW Vets
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[global_mom]

Easter will be March 23rd in 2008. Would that be a deal breaker since our arrival date would be 2 weeks before Easter? WDW would not be tolerable to our family that close to Easter.

Does anyone know when the annual Cheerleading competition is that takes place each year in Anaheim? I have been told to avoid that specific week of March.

Help.....it gets so complicated.

Would it be better to cancel our WDW trip in Ocotober and go to DL at that time?

Continued thanks......

 

[julw]

From your three date choices, the only one that falls in sort-of off season is the May date. We went in March this year and our trip was smack in the middle of spring break and it was SUPER crowded . I didn't really think it would be that bad, but it was just as crowded as any time in July when we've gone.

Also, you asked about the cheer conventions. This past march 3 out of the four weeks in March had cheer conventions at convention center. Some, were regular cheer, some were dance, and some were drill team. Plus when we were there it was the beginning of Music Days and there were tons of high school bands there performing. These were fun to watch I do have to say, but it still added to the crowds. We will never go in March or April again.

The Dec.-Jan dates you have are right in the middle of many school's winter break. I would avoid that time as well. I know there are others that may have different opinions than mine, but the best off-season months to go with lower crowds are Feb, May, Sept, Oct., part of Nov. (but not around Thanksgiving). Of course even in these months, I would avoid going around any 3 day weekend/holiday.

One very wise poster (from another board) once told me when I was asking about best times to go...."If it is convenient and a good time for you to go, that means that it is most likely going to be a good time for many others as well and will be crowded".

There can be good reasons to go in peak season though, and it would still be tons of fun...hey it's Disneyland We are going in July because my DH will be there for another event, but otherwise we would just wait until our regular Oct. trip.

Julie

 

[global_mom]

It sounds like March is the time to avoid! I like the idea of May and that seems to be OK as far as crowds we just hate to wait a whole year to go!

Thanks again for the great advice!

 

[HydroGuy]

It sounds like March is the time to avoid! I like the idea of May and that seems to be OK as far as crowds we just hate to wait a whole year to go!

Thanks again for the great advice!

Be aware there are credible rumors that one of the highlight rides at DL for many WDW vets will be down for a long refurb in early 2008. This is the Indiana Jones ride. Of the dates you mentioned, the one most likely to miss Indy if it goes down will be March. The one in early Jan is very likely to be safe. Educated guess would be that Indy would go down in mid to late January if for a long refurb. Also, DL will make sure it is open for summer season (mid-June) which means late May being so close to June it is likely to be re-opened. A good comparison is what happened this year with Splash Mtn. It went down in late Jan and re-opened mid-May.

 

[hlbtimes2]

The Dec.- Jan dates would probably be the busiest, you'll have the end of the holiday crowd and people there for New Years. The March dates should be fine. They should be right before the big spring break rush hits. However, it will likely be a bit cool. We went in early March last year. It was COLD. The May dates should be pretty good. They'll be before the summer crowds hit and the weather will be pretty warm.

So, after all that, I vote for May.

 

[global_mom]

Thanks Linda! I think that May is our winner.

 

[tinkerbelt]

May is your best choice.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

May, by far, out of those choices is your best bet.

 

[mrs.beast]

March crowds are horrible at times. there is spring break in TX, AZ and CA so tons of people come then. We have been there 2 times in the last 3 yrs during that time and they were so crowded that they stayed open summer hours to accom. crowds. also there are weeks, not just one, of cheer competitons in the area. only 1 at disney, but multiple of them at the convention center and the CMs have told me crowds then are bad too. In fact, this year i was told by the person at disney travel to change my dates if i could when i asked about cheerleaders, because he said they overrun the place in March.

 

[lulubelle]

For sure the May dates. Perfect weather and low crowds. However, like you said - it is a year away . If you can swing it, I would go in October of this year. They will probably run a 4th night free promo and the parks are not too busy. Granted, they are busier than in previous years, but way better than Holiday time or March. Good luck deciding.

 

[PrincessIM]

I vote for May. We were just there May 21-May 28. The weather was nice, just a little bit chilly first thing in the morning and in the evening but warm enough during the day for shorts. Crowds were especially light on the Tues, Wed, Thurs but started to build Friday due to the Memorial Day Weeekend. Ride wait times were minimal and there were many rides we were able to walk right onto.