Need some help with summer dates :-)

[Tinker1972]

We changed our November dates to August..we went in November last year and absolutely loved the Christmas theme but decided to change it to summer this year...something I never thought we'd ever do again! Last time we went in the summer was 15 years ago! We have chosen August 22-29th. I had heard that the last 2 weeks of August are the least busy during the summer months. But I've been doing some research and now realize the AP blockout dates end shortly before that. Will the crowds be crazy summer crowds during that week? We were also looking at August 29-Sept 5th. Labor Day is late this year, which might throw things off a bit? We went during Labor Day in 2006 and the crowds were really, really low. I usually have no problem taking my kids out of school for a few days, but this year I'm trying to avoid that as my oldest daughter starts her senior year. Any advice for which week would be the less crowded week?

 

[SMD]

"Least busy" is a relative term that changes year to year. It's the 10th anniversary of the Disneyland Half marathon, crowds will not be low Labor Day weekend. Plus Disney is ramping up the 60th celebration, and crowds are just not the same as they were in 2006.

 

[figment_jii]

I don't think you're really going to find "low crowds" while the summer season is in progress this year. The 60th anniversary events should bring in large crowds throughout the summer and then summer rolls very quickly into HalloweenTime (another very popular "season"). I suspect there will be weekdays that are still pretty quiet, but I honestly don't think there will be very many low crowd weekends from May 22 to the end of the year (due to the 60th, then HalloweenTime, followed by the holidays).

In terms of your August dates, I do think the crowds will see a bump when the summer blockout ends for the SoCal and SoCal Select AP holders. This will be their first chance to see the 60th anniversary parade, fireworks, and WoC show since June and it will be their first chance to see anything that debuted after the blockout went into effect. Some schools will likely be back in session and folks have to work, so the weekdays might be okay, but I would expect high(ish) crowds on weekends (Fri evening through Sunday).

In terms of the August/September dates, Labor Day weekend, being a three day weekend will be crowded, but there is also the Disneyland Half Marathon that same weekend, so I would expect to see high crowds in the parks starting on Thursday. I believe you were at DLR during the Avenger's Half Marathon, so imagine those crowds, plus three day weekend crowds.

 

[Tinker1972]

Thanks for the replies! I think we will stick with our dates and suck it up...sounds like once the 60th anniversary kicks in, it will be busy no matter when we go!