Thinking about an October trip?

[laurenpetro]

We (family of 5) currently have a trip planned for 8/22 to DW but with 2 unvaccinated kids (10 y/os), I'm just not comfortable being in Florida right now. We haven't outright cancelled yet but are leaning heavily in that direction. In a moment of insanity I started looking into DL instead (NYer here). We've never been to DL before. We'd be flying into LAX (I read threads on here about alternate airports but with scheduling, etc, the flights just don't work out for us).. I've also read about good neighbor hotels but I'm considering staying at the Disneyland Hotel.

Is this a good idea/bad idea? We have the money to do it and I'm a sucker for staying onsite. We'd fly out on or about 10/7 (possibly 10/8) and come back 10/11 (possibly 10/12 but not likely. That would leave us 3 park days.

It's all of our first time at DL. It would be right before my oldest's 16th birthday.

Thanks for any help/information you could give me!

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

I LOVE DLR during Halloween time, so I'm a big fan of going for it! The only caveats being - all reports sound like there is very little distancing happening at WDW or DLR at this point, and masks are left to each individual to determine if they will wear or not.

I think splurging on DLH is also a great idea if you have the funds and the inclination it can add an extra something to your trip 3 day hoppers will be great and give you a chance to see everything at least once, and likely repeat any favorites. There is the Oogie Boogie Bash happening, and afaik all October dates are sold out, so that would impact DCA hours on Sunday, but it is very easy to plan around even if you can't get tickets - and in the past, there have been a handful of tickets available at the onsite hotels so you may even luck out there too!

 

[chickapin parterre]

how are you with weather expectations?

 

[laurenpetro]

how are you with weather expectations?

I have zero expectations about the weather. I haven't been to CA in nearly 40 years, lol. What specifically should I expect?

 

[sophy1996]

Be aware that’s going to be a busy weekend at the parks. IIRC, October 8 is a day off for some districts, and October 11 is Columbus Day.

 

[laurenpetro]

Be aware that’s going to be a busy weekend at the parks. IIRC, October 8 is a day off for some districts, and October 11 is Columbus Day.

If you wouldn't mind, define "busy". I'm not being pedantic, i really have zero experience with this park at all. I usually go to DW in August which seems fairly busy but i have no frame of reference on this.

 

[sophy1996]

You might want to check on the Official October thread for some opinions. My understanding is that the Columbus Day weekend is considered busier than many other weekends in the fall. To the extent that at chokepoints within Disneyland Park, you may have trouble moving because of crowds. To me, Disneyland Park is smaller and feels more crowded more quickly than MK. We were in one of those situations once--we couldn't move in New Orleans Square because of the amount of people on the walkway, waiting for Pirates of the Caribbean, etc. We ended up leaving the park for a few hours, then going back later when crowds died down a bit.

Now, this is based on pre-pandemic travel patterns. So maybe it won't matter now. If park reservations are being sold out every weekend anyway, then there shouldn't be a large disparity in crowds on any given weekend.

 

[cruisehopeful]

If you wouldn't mind, define "busy". I'm not being pedantic, i really have zero experience with this park at all. I usually go to DW in August which seems fairly busy but i have no frame of reference on this.

A sea of people to where you cannot any part of the walkways in front of you. Long lines for everything, but with the right planning, you can work with that. Are you willing to wait in a 30+ minute line to get counter service and then have to walk to a different part of the park to find a place to sit?

Yes, it will be extremely busy and you will wait for everything and there will be people around you at all times. However, on those types of days, the park hours are longer and more things are open. I haven't been to WDW in August, but I imagine it will be similar crowd wise. It will likely be around 90 degrees, which will make the crowds that much more annoying, but honestly since you visit WDW in August, I don't think you'll notice much of a difference.

 

[serendipityaey]

Be aware that’s going to be a busy weekend at the parks. IIRC, October 8 is a day off for some districts, and October 11 is Columbus Day.

Fork! We will be there then. I didn’t even think of it being a holiday weekend. Hopefully the weekdays before aren’t too horrible

 

[smartlabelprint]

If you’re not going because of vaccines I’d wait until your kids are vaccinated. I wouldn’t want to fly across the country.

 

[V.I.N.CENT.]

100% personal choice on this one. If I were in your situation crowds, weather, and cost would take a back seat to your thoughts/comfort level around COVID. Two unvaccinated kids would be a hard pass for me.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

If you wouldn't mind, define "busy". I'm not being pedantic, i really have zero experience with this park at all. I usually go to DW in August which seems fairly busy but i have no frame of reference on this.

As a local who was formerly a pass holder, that’s a weekend I would never go. October is crowded as it is, but that holiday weekend can be really crazy.

Weather is likely to be hot … 80s-90s, sometimes 100. But sometimes we get lucky with a cooler October.