Please help me decide when to go

[WDWINJUNE!]

I am planning on taking my dd to Disneyland for her 8th birthday. We are able to go either May 26-31 or sometime soon after June 11. Which dates would be the best? I found (what I think) is a good price for airfare and I need to decide soon.

Also, I was thinking of doing the Kids Fly Free package (have used it before) but I think I'm going to do everything seperately this time. I want to stay 2 or 3 nights offsite (either a Priceline hotel, Howard Johnson, or Candy Cane Inn). And then stay onsite at either PP Hotel or Disneyland Hotel for the last 2 nights. Has anyone split there stay at Disneyland between 2 hotels before??

I can't wait until I decide the dates so I can really start planning. Thanks in advance for any advice/help!!

Laura

 

[daannzzz]

I don't know which time would be better though I suspect the holiday time in May would be more busy. In either case the busiest day is Saturday so if you can avoid that you should be okay.
I have split my stay before, staying the first night off site and then moving to the Disneyland hotel. It went very easy. I have also split my stay between off site hotels as well.

 

[iceskatejen]

I live in So. Cal and have an Annual Pass--weekends have been really crazy lately. I was there a couple Saturdays ago and it was packed--I think they reached capacity. Sundays aren't much better and Mondays get pretty full, too. Tuesday-Thursdays are reletively uncrowded, but if you go with June, those are grad night days, so the parks close earlier (grad nights start at 11:00pm through mid-June). I love going on Fridays--opening the park and staying at least through the first Fantasmic (and yes, we do get there 4 hours early for the best spots) and the Believe fireworks show. Fridays won't be Grad night days and the parks are open late.

 

[WDWINJUNE!]

Thanks for all of the advice given so far. I am leaning towards going in June after DD gets out of school. I have another question regarding a shuttle from the airport. We will be landing at Long Beach airport. What would be a the best way to get to our hotel?

Thanks!

Laura

 

[Pugdog007]

Ironically, I'm trying to decide between the same 2 timeframes as the OP. Question about grad nights: Is it every night at the beginning of June? Does it make it crowded during the day if there's a grad night scheduled for the evening?

Thanks!

 

[exDS vet]

Originally posted by Pugdog007
Question about grad nights: Is it every night at the beginning of June? Does it make it crowded during the day if there's a grad night scheduled for the evening?

To the best of my knowledge, Grad night is a completely different event that begins a couple of hours after the park closes. That's because it continues into the wee small hours of the morning. The events usually start in May. The crowds during the regular operating day shouldn't be affected by grad night.

As for your choice of when to go. I have found that mid June is not a good time to go for a couple of reasons. First, the crowds of people just out of school tend to increase dramatically during that time, and it never ends until the end of the summer. Also, the locals who have missed "Believe" will be flocking back to the park to see it in the early days of the summer. Finally, there will be a lot of brand new "seasonal" Castmembers working at the parks, and while they are learning the ropes, service is going to be quite slow at the shops, restaurants, ticket windows and even the attractions.

A couple of years ago, I visited the park over Memorial Day weekend. We spent about six hours in Disneyland on that Sunday and the crowds were not bad at all.