This or that?

[katyringo]

Lots of things we are considering for out next Disneyland trip. I want thoughts.

first: July or October? We could do a 7 day trip over the 4th of July or 7 days in October over fall break. We would do OBB for sure. Halloween at Disneyland is on the bucket list. I'm considering july because we have about $200 in flight credits that expire in September and my Son hits that magical 10 in September. We've done the 4th before. Magical and hot. Also more likely we get to see the electrical parade.

second: cheaper hotel and doing more extras in the park (think dessert party) or

The whole trip at the courtyard with the water park

or

cheap hotel and doing a split with the Disneyland hotel for the last couple of nights..

I questions all my decisions..

 

[katyringo]

Note: we have October already booked at the cheap hotel and tickets, but just deposit paid. This is going to be our last Disney trip for probably a few years.

 

[mouschievous]

Well, we're going over the 4th, so I'm a bit biased (stay home! Fewer people in the park for me to deal with ) But actually I would say July is best for you - it will be cheaper due to the flight credits and your son not needing an adult ticket yet.

And I would stay at a cheaper (and closer!) hotel and do all the extras. That's what we'd have done except we have a credit for DVC.

ETA - if this is the last Disney trip for a while, then I might be tempted to lose the flight credits (or use them for something else) and pay for the adult ticket in order to do OBB, especially if that's a bucket list item for you.

 

[katyringo]

Note: we have October already booked at the cheap hotel and tickets, but just deposit paid. This is going to be our last Disney trip for probably a few years.

 

[katyringo]

Well, we're going over the 4th, so I'm a bit biased (stay home! Fewer people in the park for me to deal with ) But actually I would say July is best for you - it will be cheaper due to the flight credits and your son not needing an adult ticket yet.

And I would stay at a cheaper (and closer!) hotel and do all the extras. That's what we'd have done except we have a credit for DVC.

ETA - if this is the last Disney trip for a while, then I might be tempted to lose the flight credits (or use them for something else) and pay for the adult ticket in order to do OBB, especially if that's a bucket list item for you.

now you see the conflict lol! OBB and Halloween is the big draw. It's a rescheduled October 2020 trip. We still have our costumes.... I feel like Halloween would come and I would regret not waiting..

 

[starlite_]

It sounds like you wanna do Halloween, just do Halloween haha.
(it's also on my bucket list)

 

[cruisehopeful]

Those are two of my favorite times to go. Based on what you've posted so far, which would you regret missing out on the most? Would you feel cheated if you didn't use your airline credit? Would you feel cheated if you didn't go to Halloween? It's your last trip for a long time. Honestly, we never know what the future holds, so it could end up being longer that you think right now. Did you love going in July and think it's a great time to go? Sounds like you planned on October 2020. Do you love all things Halloween? Would you be disappointed if a lot of Halloween stuff sold out before you visited (that happened this past season)? Sorry I am asking so many questions and I don't mean for you to answer them in a post. I'm just thinking of the types of questions that have helped me in the past.

I've already mentioned that those are 2 of my favorite times to visit. If I were in your shoes, I'd choose Halloween season and I'd go to the party.

 

[katyringo]

Okay. I think I'm going to stick with Halloween..

but now... water park hotel or not? Kids are 10 and 6

 

[pharmama]

It can be very hot in October- potentially hotter than your July dates might have been, especially if your fall break is earlier in the month.

Whether that means they would want the waterpark or just a pool would be adequate I guess is more what you think they'd prefer. FWIW, I think the Courtyard is much more waterpark than pool (the actual pool is pretty small). The Hojo has both a waterpark area and a regular sized hotel pool (thanks to it actually being two hotels that are now merged into one).

But DLH is even better from a pool standpoint-at least that's what my kids would say.. and I enjoy the DLH pool area for hanging out with them too. I'd probably pick the split stay if it still allows you budget for OBB.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Okay. I think I'm going to stick with Halloween..

but now... water park hotel or not? Kids are 10 and 6

Yes, courtyard imo. It will probably be the last year your 10 yo will care about that.

 

[katyringo]

Yes, courtyard imo. It will probably be the last year your 10 yo will care about that.

You just hit me in my mama heart.. but you are also SO right.

 

[chezcurrie]

I realize you have made up your mind, so just chiming in to say: October all the way!!!! My favourite time in the parks, and OBB blew me away (as someone who has done MNSSHP at WDW several times). The Villians Grove! OMG

Also, I vote for split stay, because I adore the Disneyland Hotel. My boys (12-9-6) loved the monorail pool. Have fun!!!!

 

[Malcon10t]

Here is what my daughter does in situations like this. She does Eenie Meenie Miney Mo.... And she lands on which ever one, and if she feels "But I really", then she goes with the one she knows she wants. Sounds like yo want October, so do October!!

 

[Manapua]

October vs July - we’ve done both times. I’d call it a coin toss or maybe slight preference for October

Hotel - Courtyard all the way

 

[Whistlebee]

I vote split stay with DLH

 

[DLgal]

July

October is a nightmare at DLR.

 

[Chickinvic]

July

October is a nightmare at DLR.

Agreed! October used to be one of the best months to go to DL, but not in recent years.

 

[katyringo]

Agreed! October used to be one of the best months to go to DL, but not in recent years.

Tell me more..

for reference we've been during Christmas break crows/ capacity shut downs/ etc.

we just a july 4th trip in 2019 and it was busy..

 

[MonocularVision]

Personally I would pick July over October for the stated reason of crowds. I feel like it really has become a miserable time to visit.

 

[DLgal]

We do our annual Disneyland staycation every July 4th (usually the 2-5th). I never find the parks as busy as any given random weekday in October. For reference, I live 15 minutes away and go to the parks every single week.

October is FULL of people from Utah and Arizona and Nevada. For some reason, these states have a fall break and they ALL come to Disneyland. The whole month is a cluster. Then throw in all the Halloween parties and the associated early park closures and add in the absolute hysteria over Haunted Mansion Holiday and then the predictable Santa Ana winds that make the whole month feel like a convection oven (and there is usually a wildfire to boot), and it's just a terrible overall experience.