Trip in April or Fall 2008 ... Help!

[Shawn429]

I'm a WDW veteran (six small trips in 2007!), but am planning to visit Disneyland and CA sometime this year. A lot of factors have to be weighed.

I can possibly manage a 5 day trip (really would be only three days in the park, two for travel) using my upcoming tax refund (HOPEFULLY). It would be in April for my birthday. What are the dates to avoid? What's the best website to book? Just for fun I tried travelocity.com and found a decent package. Should I book altogether (flight, plus hotel, plus tickets, flight+hotel?) to save money or could it be cheaper separately? I'll eventually get around to figuring it all out on my own but I wanted some advice.

That's the first option.

The second one seems more appealing.

I get at least one week off this year after June to take from work for vacation. I'm dying to at least see some of California, including Disneyland and California Adventure. I wouldn't go in June (heat, crowds, etc.) but it would be around September or October. When would be the possibly BEST time to go? It's extremely flexible so ... I like the appeal of having at least 5 FULL days in CA. I'd still end up with probably 3 days in the parks (2 at Disneyland and 1 at DCA) and 2 to tour CA, plus 2 for travel. The same questions go as the first option.

I'm leaning towards option #2. Any advice, tips, etc. would be fantastic and totally appreciated.

And I've read not to book *too* far ahead because in all honesty, I want to at least see the Electrical Parade. I miss that parade so much.

 

[Shawn429]

I should also add that if I went in April, my trip would have to be Fri (travel), Sat/Sun/Mon (Parks), Tues (travel). I know weekends in the park are told to be avoided. Would I be able to manage DCA on Sat and Disneyland on Sun/Mon as Sun is probably the lesser busy of Sat/Sun ... and DCA is a less popular park.

 

[Leofoenget]

I should also add that if I went in April, my trip would have to be Fri (travel), Sat/Sun/Mon (Parks), Tues (travel). I know weekends in the park are told to be avoided. Would I be able to manage DCA on Sat and Disneyland on Sun/Mon as Sun is probably the lesser busy of Sat/Sun ... and DCA is a less popular park.

Actually Sunday are pretty busy as many So Cal AP's are blocked out. I would say Sept 3rd week to see the Halloween stuff going up. Thats when I'm going. I'm going Wed-Sat Sept 17-20 and the halloween should go up by then. So you could go 19-23. It will be busy but doable.

 

[nunzia]

I saved some by booking directly with Disney for the GC using a AAA discount, then they offered the park hoppers added on at the exact price of the discounted ones on the website. I thought it was a pretty good deal. I checked out packages with all kinds of places and the 'package' always cost more. Now..I'm booking(and paying) for 11 people, so any savings adds up, but I really thought the best hotel deal for on site was direct with them and a AAA discount.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

If you have your heart set on the Electrical Parade, go in April; I believe the parade is not shown at all during September.

If you go in late April the spring break crowds should be mostly gone. Time your DL days to include Friday or Saturday, since the EP is shown on the weekend only in non-peak periods.

If instead the fall timeframe is more appealing, you'll see lots of fall/Halloween themed decorations and entertainment. We've been twice during the fall (late September, early October), and the HalloweenTime theming is fun and growing. There's even an after-hours Halloween party at DCA that you can get tickets for, and dress in costume.

 

[Shawn429]

Thanks for all the tips ... hopefully some more people chime in.

Is there a more slower time period that anyone would recommend? Any specific days of the weeks that seem to be the slowest? I know in off-peak periods I'm less likely to see the Electrical Parade. Believe me, it won't stop me from making travel plans that are more beneficial and would make it more enjoyable for me.

I personally don't mind mild-to-moderate crowds. I just don't want to go at a really busy time.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Mid-week is the least busy; Saturday is the busiest, and weekends in general are busy; also, try to avoid holidays.

Least busy to most busy:
Tues/Wed/Thur
Mon
Fri
Sun
Sat

 

[Shawn429]

Thanks. I'm leaning more towards the fall time period. I might still try to squeeze in the April trip and just deal with whatever happens. Because during the fall, I'd have a full 7 days to play around with and could visit the parks during the week. The April trip it would HAVE to be Sat/Sun/Mon ...

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Darn. A short trip in April over the weekend would mean you'd get stuck watching the Electrical Parade...

 

[Shawn429]

Darn. A short trip in April over the weekend would mean you'd get stuck watching the Electrical Parade...

heh.

IF I go in April, I'm going with either April 18-22 or April 25-29. Which of those two would be better? It's going to be the weekend so I know it will be busy. What are typical wait times on weekends, like is it summertime DisneyWORLD busy or is it somewhat managable?

 

[Alex2kMommy]

IF I go in April, I'm going with either April 18-22 or April 25-29. Which of those two would be better? It's going to be the weekend so I know it will be busy. What are typical wait times on weekends, like is it summertime DisneyWORLD busy or is it somewhat managable?

No clue on typical wait times, but of the two choices, I'd go at the end of the month. (In fact, we are going that week. ) The simple reason is that we hate crowds, and I'm guessing the further away from spring break peak times (mid-Feb. through most of April), the better.

 

[Shawn429]

Looks like I might have to wait until fall.

 

[Shawn429]

lol ... April is back on for right now.

I now need to figure out tickets for Disneyland.

If I went with a 7 day park hopper (I plan to do 3 days in April and 4 in the fall) would it be worth the money and can I hold off using the other 4 days until fall.

Or should I go with an annual pass, which gives me the opportunity to go again in 2009 before the pass expires.

How much of a price difference would it really be?

 

[Shawn429]

Okay, so there isn't a 7 day pass. Longest is 5 days which is 194 (plus tax) and the Passport is 259 (plus tax).

Looks like an Annual Passport is the way to go.

 

[Leofoenget]

Okay, so there isn't a 7 day pass. Longest is 5 days which is 194 (plus tax) and the Passport is 259 (plus tax).

Looks like an Annual Passport is the way to go.

I would just get AP's if you plan more than one trip during the year.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I think I read somewhere on this board that there is a cheerleader convention/competition or something the weekend of April 18th, so the crowds might be big and spirited.

 

[Shawn429]

I'm now planning Mother's Day weekend (May 9th through 13th). Would that be a terribly bad time to go? I know it's a holiday but I don't know how badly it would affect crowds...

 

[Alex2kMommy]

lol ... April is back on for right now.

I now need to figure out tickets for Disneyland.

If I went with a 7 day park hopper (I plan to do 3 days in April and 4 in the fall) would it be worth the money and can I hold off using the other 4 days until fall.

Or should I go with an annual pass, which gives me the opportunity to go again in 2009 before the pass expires.

How much of a price difference would it really be?

Shawn, once you activate a park hopper, I believe it's only good through the next 14 days (regardless of how many days the pass is for.) So no, using the same PH for April and fall trips won't work.

Okay, so there isn't a 7 day pass. Longest is 5 days which is 194 (plus tax) and the Passport is 259 (plus tax).

Looks like an Annual Passport is the way to go.

There is a 7-day pass; I think it goes up to 8 or 9 day PHs. But you would actually need a 3-day and a 4-day, as explained above.

I would just get AP's if you plan more than one trip during the year.

This might work out to be the most cost effective way. We did a long trip last fall (9 days), and the (Adult) 9-day pass actually cost $10 more than the deluxe AP at the time!

We batted around the idea of getting the kids APs too (which cost the same as an adult AP), but it was only going to save us money if we took a 2nd trip within the year... so we did, and we are!

Check into the price of 3-day and 4-day tickets; then compare the 3-day + 4-day price to the cost of an AP. An AP will also save you 10% on in-park food at many locations, so if you went that route, it's likely you'd save even more.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I'm now planning Mother's Day weekend (May 9th through 13th). Would that be a terribly bad time to go? I know it's a holiday but I don't know how badly it would affect crowds...

This was one of the reasons we chose to go in late April; I read that Mother's Day weekend is very busy.

 

[Shawn429]

I'm still horribly un-decided.

I have other reasons behind the indecision ... financially, I think I'm going to have to wait until the fall unless things drastically differ from now through March. It's always possible. We'll see.

I'm likely going in the fall, regardless. I've built myself up for it, big time.