Opinions on the best time to go to DLR, please!

[allimaree]

We are planning a DLR trip with my family--we are a group of 17 with ages ranging from 9 months to 65 years. We would like to go at a time that is not as crowded but we are trying to work around people's work and school schedules. These three dates look like our best options. What is your opinion about the crowds on these dates? What would be the best time to go?

Jan 3-5 (Wed-Sat)

March 17-19 (Mon-Wed)

May 5-7 (Mon-Wed)

Thanks so much for your advice!

 

[Casey's Mommie]

Jan 3-5 Kids will be off for Christmas/Winter break so I would NOT go then.

March 17th-19th is right before Easter so kids will be on break so I would NOT go then either.

I'd go in May.

 

[HydroGuy]

Jan 3-5 Kids will be off for Christmas/Winter break so I would NOT go then.

March 17th-19th is right before Easter so kids will be on break so I would NOT go then either.

I'd go in May.

If the OP wants lowest crowds, this advice is good. Go in May. Also weather will likely be better in May.

Not sure if the OP has much DLR experience during off season. If not, the OP should read these:

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

"HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852

 

[DangerMouse]

May gets my vote as well.

 

[Kailua's Belle]

I agree with everyone else that May will be your best bet for low crowds, but since you'll be there only weekdays, there won't be fireworks or Fantasmic! Could you add the Sunday in there too, at least just for the evening?

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I agree with May too. We always go for my birthday, which is the first week in May.. It's not too busy and we always get to go on/see what we want.. Plus, the weather is nice.. Especially during the weekdays, you guys should be fine..

 

[Random Villains]

May

 

[disney-super-mom]

Out of those dates, May is the winner!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Yup May is best. The other two would have big crowds!

 

[Lillybelly]

For the crowds, I'd vote May but you'll have reduced hours and that it a big deal when you have a bigger group.

My DH and I used to be able to "do it all" in 3 days easy. We traveled with our 4 kids, MIL using ECV, FIL, & SIL this past May and even though we were at the gates 30 min early and stayed until close every day - we missed alot. If you have a good plan and stick to it, you should be fine. Our downfall was that it took us so long to decide what to do next we wasted prime disney time sounding like the vultures from Jungle Book

"What do you want to do now. I don't know, what do you want to do. I don't know. Oh don't start that again."

Good Luck

 

[allimaree]

Thanks everyone for your opinions! Hydroguy, I've read your stuff and I think it's great! We just decided that because we are in a big group, it would be easier to do things together, or find each other if we separate, if the crowds were smaller. With little ones, the shorter times are not a big deal either because they're usually pooped by 8:00 anyway.

But--I just found out something else that might influence our decision. From now until April, you can get a 5-day park hopper for the price of a 3-day. My parents are buying everyone this trip for Christmas and they said they would pay for a 3-day park hopper and 3 nights in a hotel. It might be worth it to pay a couple extra nights ourselves to be able to stay for 5 days. But that only works for the Jan and March times.

In that case, would you change your opinions? Or is May still the best time?

 

[Ashlotte]

Personally, I would still go in May. I would always choose shorter lines over parades, extended hours, or even discounts. Especially with a baby/toddler. They don't have a lot of tolerance for long lines and a cranky kid can really kill the "magic" for the caretakers. The price between a three and five day isn't huge anyway, once you are already paying for a ticket. Could you just pay the difference for a longer ticket?

 

[HydroGuy]

But--I just found out something else that might influence our decision. From now until April, you can get a 5-day park hopper for the price of a 3-day. My parents are buying everyone this trip for Christmas and they said they would pay for a 3-day park hopper and 3 nights in a hotel. It might be worth it to pay a couple extra nights ourselves to be able to stay for 5 days. But that only works for the Jan and March times.

In that case, would you change your opinions? Or is May still the best time?

If it was me and I had your priorities, I would still choose May but add at least two weekend evenings to catch fireworks and Fantasmic etc. So that means either Sat-Wed or Tue-Sat.