Talk me into (or out of) a visit late August 2012

[limace]

I can't stand it anymore! It's been two years since a Disney trip for us, and I am dying for a trip. Haunting the boards and listening to archived podcasts helps a little, but I just want to GO!

Now that we have to pay for 5 plane tickets, driving is looking like a more appealing option. We'd be coming from Oregon, perhaps camping on our way down, and then spending a few days at the park.

We have done a summer trip before-spent a week there in July when my middle child was a toddler and my husband had a conference in Anaheim-and had a fabulous time, even with crowds. Being there a week gave us a lot of flexibililty to come and go and not be as impacted by mid-day crowds.

I think we'd go mid-late August-we just need to be back by Labor Day for school starting.

I've read past threads about August travel, but am wondering what folks think about this year, with Carsland opening. Are we crazy?

Would love to hear other road trip stories and advice, as well. Thanks, all

 

[HydroGuy]

Many folks around here would say that late August after the SoCal AP blockout lifts can be a very challenging time to visit DLR. Other folks around here think the concern is overblown. If it ever was an issue, this August would be it because of CL and the new DCA.

I personally would never choose to visit DLR in August the week after the blockout lift unless I had no other option.

If you have a concern about going in summer in general, the concerns often voiced (too hot, too crowded) are generally considered around here to be exaggerated. With a good touring strategy and a close by hotel or one with a frequent and reliable shuttle, summer visits can be a ton of fun.

In answer to your questions - are you crazy to visit in late August? I would say if you have another choice then "yes". Are you crazy to go in mid-August? I would say absolutely not. Summer is my favorite time to visit DLR!

See

"Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

 

[Huff]

I personally would never choose to visit DLR in August the week after the blockout lift unless I had no other option.

I would have expected lower crowds mid to late August. While AP blackouts are lifted, most schools will have started by then. Our kids start Aug. 8th. Most schools in CA and AZ start by 2nd week of Aug.

I have not visited DLR late Aug, but have gone early Aug, as well as Labor Day Weekend and always had light to moderate crowds.

 

[andrea2]

I have taken my family twice in august. last august was our last trip. I would do it again too. If you go the week before they lift the blockout days, it'll be fine. Wasn't bad for crowds at all. We would leave to go to disneyland no later then 8 (we stayed at the ramada maingate and the BWPPI) and we pretty much walked on all the rides the first 2 hours. We also lucked out with the weather. Not too hot at all. You definately need a good strategy, and plan your day and it will be fine!

We drove both times from BC. We LOVE the drive. I've done it 8 times now. Can't wait to do it again! So much to see and I love watching the scenery change. Stopping at little restaurants and shopping along the way. You have to stop at shasta lake. We sadly had to skip it last summer because we left so late from california. we couldn't tear ourselves away that we stayed 11/2 days more then we planned! both times we took 15 days for the trip. august 10-25 both trips in fact! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Andrea

 

[limace]

Many folks around here would say that late August after the SoCal AP blockout lifts can be a very challenging time to visit DLR. Other folks around here think the concern is overblown. If it ever was an issue, this August would be it because of CL and the new DCA.

I personally would never choose to visit DLR in August the week after the blockout lift unless I had no other option.

If you have a concern about going in summer in general, the concerns often voiced (too hot, too crowded) are generally considered around here to be exaggerated. With a good touring strategy and a close by hotel or one with a frequent and reliable shuttle, summer visits can be a ton of fun.

In answer to your questions - are you crazy to visit in late August? I would say if you have another choice then "yes". Are you crazy to go in mid-August? I would say absolutely not. Summer is my favorite time to visit DLR!

Thanks, Hydroguy! It looks like the blockout lifts this year on August 20th, so a trip before that would be ideal. That probably works better for us anyway, as I think about it, as my husband works year round for a school district and the week or so before school starts is pretty crazy for him.

 

[blackjackdelta]

The middle of August is a favorite time of the year for us. Made the mistake in going after the blockouts were lifted, won't do that again. Good luck.

Jack

 

[limace]

I have taken my family twice in august. last august was our last trip. I would do it again too. If you go the week before they lift the blockout days, it'll be fine. Wasn't bad for crowds at all. We would leave to go to disneyland no later then 8 (we stayed at the ramada maingate and the BWPPI) and we pretty much walked on all the rides the first 2 hours. We also lucked out with the weather. Not too hot at all. You definately need a good strategy, and plan your day and it will be fine!

We drove both times from BC. We LOVE the drive. I've done it 8 times now. Can't wait to do it again! So much to see and I love watching the scenery change. Stopping at little restaurants and shopping along the way. You have to stop at shasta lake. We sadly had to skip it last summer because we left so late from california. we couldn't tear ourselves away that we stayed 11/2 days more then we planned! both times we took 15 days for the trip. august 10-25 both trips in fact! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Andrea

Thanks for the inspiration, Andrea . Where do you usually stay on your way down through California?

 

[HydroGuy]

I would have expected lower crowds mid to late August. While AP blackouts are lifted, most schools will have started by then. Our kids start Aug. 8th. Most schools in CA and AZ start by 2nd week of Aug.

I have not visited DLR late Aug, but have gone early Aug, as well as Labor Day Weekend and always had light to moderate crowds.

Used to live there and my sis still does and she has kids, and last time we had this conversation around here on the forum the school districts around SoCal had staggered start dates from mid-August to early Sept. Maybe it has changed but lots of locals chipped in with their district dates.

I personally would not count on getting any benefit from local SoCal kids being back in school in mid-Augsut, but if it happened that would be great.

 

[andrea2]

Thanks for the inspiration, Andrea . Where do you usually stay on your way down through California?

every trip i have done, we have stopped in either Yreka or weed. BUT you are starting off closer then we are. So you could stay farther into california then that. This last trip we left wednesday night and drove to seattle. We were renting a car in Kent wa so we had to leave our car somewhere. our hotel had a package to park for 2 weeks and a night at the hotel for $180 with tax. we left seattle after packing up the car around 11 and got to yreka at 9:45. we did stop and shop and eat that day. left Yreka at 9:45 stopped a few times to eat and shop and we were in buttonwillow at 6:45. (ate at the willowranch restaurant.....DELICIOUS!) stayed there for the night. Got up in the morning and drove into LA. stopped in santa clarita for sandwiches from panera bread and we were at griffith park by noon.

I guess it really depends on how much driving your family can handle. My husband usually just wants to get there, but this trip he was sick of driving by 4pm every day. But if you have 2 drivers (I don't drive) then you should be fine. we stopped every 2-3 hours to either eat, shop, or just stretch. sitting in car for hours on end gets to be too much, so you definately need to break it up a bit. And you don't encounter traffic until LA. So there is just straight driving which makes it easier too, but a bit mundane after a while! You COULD do the straight drive and be there by the second night I'm sure. But like I said, it just gets to be too much sitting in the car for hours on end.

 

[blackjackdelta]

My wife does not like to drive on the trip, she likes to read. We stop in Redding and usually in Anaheim by 1430 the next day. I enjoy the road trip and it does save us money over flying the group down.

Jack

 

[andrea2]

my husband wants to clarify that "HE" took us there and not me! technically he did "drive" us there, but I planned the entire trip!

 

[limace]

Darn it-just realized this means we can't take advantage of the YES program-when I looked yesterday, I think the classes were all at the end of the month. We really enjoyed participating in that on our last WDW trip. Plus the cheap tickets were awesome.