Pls help choose between 2 weeks:

[bayareadisneyland]

A. Sept 11- sept 16
B. Sept 18- sept 23

A. Think this week will be hotter. Hotels are cheaper though which means less crowded? Probably no Halloween party which is fine w us (will have a 4yo and 1 yo who go to bed early).

B. Week may be cooler... But heard they are starting Halloween party earlier this year. Hotels are more expensive this week.

We are looking for lighter crowds w out too much heat (if possible).

Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

One week in September will make absolutely no difference in the heat.

 

[bayareadisneyland]

I'm also not thrilled about the idea of flying on sept 11 (silly I know)

 

[bayareadisneyland]

It seems the second part of the month is cooler- have tracked the last few years...

 

[mom2rtk]

It seems the second part of the month is cooler- have tracked the last few years...

We went the last week of September a few years back and it was surface of the sun hot.

There's generally a point at which a break in the weather occurs, but I don't think it's typically mid-September. I'd never plan a trip around that because it could just as easily be hotter that second week.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I have researched those two sets of dates because that's when we're going!
The week of the 11th will have considerably lower crowd levels and there are (so far) no major closures or events going on.
The temps during those times will not be appreciably different but the AVERAGE temps are in the upper 80's for that time period. We have found the temps to be pretty comfortable during Sept. There are always exceptions though but I would not base my choice based on what it did during the odd years.

 

[mamapenguin]

I researched the same dates, and my choice is B, but only because I want to do annual passes and be able to do choice A in 2017.

 

[GrandBob]

B is likely to include the official Halloween Time at Disney. A is likely to miss it. This can be an advantage or disadvantage, depending on your POV.

Advantage - Halloween Time is way cool. Love the decorations and activities. Also, once it starts, it's guaranteed that HMH will be operating (if you're too early, it will be down for the overlay). Ditto SM Ghost Galaxy, assuming they're doing that this year.

Disadvantage - the first week, and especially first weekend, that Halloween Time is operating tends to be very busy.

They haven't announced the official opening date of Halloween Time, so the above is speculation.

Bob

 

[Indiana Scott]

Another reason (besides lower crowd levels) I picked the week of the 11th is because HM will NOT be down.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Cheaper hotel rates.

 

[goofyfan13]

Those dates were part of what I researched as well. We ended up with Oct 2, Oct 8 in the park M-F

My family composition is me, DF, DD 12, DS 11, DD 8

for anyone who wants to try it, here was the selection process (started with the whole year)
Not during peak weeks (My requirement)
SChool in session (My Requirement)
No Holidays (My Requirement)
not missing more than 2 days of school (DF requirement)
Not the week before or week of end of school Quarter (DF Requirement)
Only 1 weekend day, preferred 0 (My Requirement)

so I:
Grabbed school calendar
Determined Peak, regular and value weeks from findings on:

Disney Website
touringplans.com
The Dis​

Found weekly average temps for each week of the year
Found list of all college spring breaks online

Printed off a 2016 calendar and started parking each type of week and complied data

For me - the 1 week in the year (yes 1) that met the criteria was Oct 2 - 8th.
The deciding factor was that there were two local school days off, not national (Teacher in-service training)

BTW - following my formula (minus your local school calendar):
Both are great weeks historical average of 62 - 85 degrees low / high
No Holidays
No Spring Break
Kids in school

In fact the 18th was in my top 3 weeks this year.

Hope that helps.

 

[tlovesdis]

Those dates were part of what I researched as well. We ended up with Oct 2, Oct 8 in the park M-F

My family composition is me, DF, DD 12, DS 11, DD 8

for anyone who wants to try it, here was the selection process (started with the whole year)
Not during peak weeks (My requirement)
SChool in session (My Requirement)
No Holidays (My Requirement)
not missing more than 2 days of school (DF requirement)
Not the week before or week of end of school Quarter (DF Requirement)
Only 1 weekend day, preferred 0 (My Requirement)

so I:
Grabbed school calendar
Determined Peak, regular and value weeks from findings on:

Disney Website
touringplans.com
The Dis​

Found weekly average temps for each week of the year
Found list of all college spring breaks online

Printed off a 2016 calendar and started parking each type of week and complied data

For me - the 1 week in the year (yes 1) that met the criteria was Oct 2 - 8th.
The deciding factor was that there were two local school days off, not national (Teacher in-service training)

BTW - following my formula (minus your local school calendar):
Both are great weeks historical average of 62 - 85 degrees low / high
No Holidays
No Spring Break
Kids in school

In fact the 18th was in my top 3 weeks this year.

Hope that helps.

Not to burst your bubble or anything, but a lot of schools have Fall Break! Around here it is the first two weeks of October. A lot of people I know go to Disneyland then. Also, Gay Days is September 30-October 2 and that will also draw crowds beyond the 2nd. I've been during that week and it is busy and that was a few years ago. The past few years Disneyland is getting busier and busier and there is no off season!

So just be prepared that it won't be a ghost town.

Have a fabulous trip!!

 

[tlovesdis]

Yes September is hot! We were there last year from the 11th-15th and it was 100 degrees every day and PACKED! Halloweentime officially started on the 11th and the place was crazy busy the whole time we were there. We expected a little bit on the weekends, but Monday the 15th was crazy! We thought September would be good since kids are back in school, but apparently not!!

 

[goofyfan13]

Not to burst your bubble or anything, but a lot of schools have Fall Break! Around here it is the first two weeks of October. A lot of people I know go to Disneyland then. Also, Gay Days is September 30-October 2 and that will also draw crowds beyond the 2nd. I've been during that week and it is busy and that was a few years ago. The past few years Disneyland is getting busier and busier and there is no off season!

So just be prepared that it won't be a ghost town.

Have a fabulous trip!!

No bursting here I know there are no slow periods anymore, but based on these variables I had to work with, that is the best week I could do.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Yes September is hot! We were there last year from the 11th-15th and it was 100 degrees every day and PACKED! Halloweentime officially started on the 11th and the place was crazy busy the whole time we were there. We expected a little bit on the weekends, but Monday the 15th was crazy! We thought September would be good since kids are back in school, but apparently not!!

But that was the exception because last Sept had unusually high temps. I'd hate to see the OP make decisions based on an unusual stretch of weather during one year.
BTW I was there the previous year during the same period and the weather was very nice. Also the crowd levels were not too bad and most major attractions were 10~25 minute wait. (For some odd reason POTC was often just a 5 minute or less wait. Weird.)

 

[bayareadisneyland]

Thanks everyone!!! Agree weather can be flukey . We were there in May 2014 and it was over 100 degrees every day. Super busy too, you never know. The average of 88 is making me feel better though. Thanks!!!