Want to pick best week for 60th-slight trip report

[auteur55]

So last year in September I had my first trip to Disneyland with my 6 yr old daughter. We had a spectacular time, truly magical. One reason things went so well was because refurbishments were low (we went 3rd week in September) and the heat was so searing that it kept everyone away. So though we were dying from heat stroke we ran wild in the park.

Later on Friday of that week we went to grab something at the hotel then came back to watch the fireworks. Lines stretched as far as the eye can see and when we finally got back into the park it was miserable. Bottlenecked everywhere, you couldn't walk or get anywhere you wanted to. My kid was dying for some popcorn to watch the fireworks but we literally couldn't even get to the back of the line that led to the vendor. At the end of the fireworks we were jammed up trying to leave and we just stood there for what felt like forever. It was then that I learned what a hell Disneyland can be with excessive crowds. Sorry but there is nothing magical about a place so over crowded you can't move or breathe.

I love this park but honestly if that kind of unbearable crowd situation continues to get worse or is like that quite a bit I'll never set foot in that park. So I think timing is everything. I would like to go back in September this year but am wondering what everyone thinks of the last week of August. HM and SM are two of our favorite rides so we really don't want to miss them while they are down for the overlay. Will crowds be thicker this year with the 60th going on? I had heard all of August should be slammed. Would like to go a bit earlier this year but will keep it in September if crowds will be bad. Does anyone have any opinion on what I should shoot for with it being the 60th?

 

[figment_jii]

So last year in September I had my first trip to Disneyland with my 6 yr old daughter...Later on Friday of that week we went to grab something at the hotel then came back to watch the fireworks. Lines stretched as far as the eye can see and when we finally got back into the park it was miserable.

I think part of the issue is that is one of the last Fridays when fireworks, F!, and WoC were being presented. On most Friday nights from the last Friday in September through October, DL hosts the MHP, which is hard ticket event. So guests wanting to see fireworks and F! either have to on Saturdays or Sundays, which are tougher for folks who work Mon-Fri and/or have APs that might have blockout days (usually Saturday). So I think that adds to the crowds on Friday nights in September. Also HalloweenTime is very popular, so that increases crowds in general.

I love this park but honestly if that kind of unbearable crowd situation continues to get worse or is like that quite a bit I'll never set foot in that park. So I think timing is everything. I would like to go back in September this year but am wondering what everyone thinks of the last week of August. HM and SM are two of our favorite rides so we really don't want to miss them while they are down for the overlay. Will crowds be thicker this year with the 60th going on? I had heard all of August should be slammed. Would like to go a bit earlier this year but will keep it in September if crowds will be bad. Does anyone have any opinion on what I should shoot for with it being the 60th?

It's still not known when HalloweenTime will start this year. Based on the past, the guess would be September 11, but given the significance of that day, it seems unlikely DLR will opt to start HalloweenTime on that Friday. My guess is that the official start will be Saturday, September 12, but the current best guess is that it could be anywhere between 9/12 and 9/18. Assuming a 9/12 start, HM would likely shut down on Monday, August 24. Space (I'm guessing SM means Space and not Splash) only needs 4-days to prep for the overlay, so it probably won't close until the day after Labor Day (9/8). So, if you did go the last full week in August, you would likely miss HM (unless you arrive on Sunday), but not Space.

The summer season blockout for SoCal and SoCal Select AP holders ends on August 17 (Monday), so I would expect an influx in AP holders at that point as they return to the parks. This will be their first chance to see the 60th anniversary fireworks, parade, and WoC since June and it would be their first chance to see anything the debuted after the blockout went into effect. Some local school districts are back in session, which might reduce weekday crowds, but I would still expect crowds, especially in the evenings.

In truth, I think any weekend (Fri-Sun) is going to be busy once the 60th anniversary starts in May. Summer weekends are busy because it is the summer. Then with Labor Day being late, there really doesn't seem like there will be a break between the end of summer and the start of HalloweenTime. HalloweenTime then pretty quickly rolls into the holiday season (maybe a week or two at the start of November might be quiet). If you want lowest crowds, you're going to have to focus on Monday to Thursday (avoiding holiday Mondays and major holidays) or try to go before the 60th anniversary starts.

 

[SMD]

The 60th is going to last for more than 12 months. The lowest crowds will start in 2016 everyone is acclimated to it.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

My experiences with the 40th and 50th were pretty much that the park was packed every weekend (and moreso on weekdays than usual). So, if it has to be a weekend, that's going to be tricky. I'd recommend a weekend after Labor Day (unless of course you can do a Tuesday/Wednesday, but no guarantee you'll get the fireworks if you do that). Does your daughter get Jewish holidays off from school? If so, the weekend after Labor Day might be perfect. You could go Sunday and probably have fewer people for the fireworks than on a Friday or Saturday night, plus have the perk of having Monday off, though it's not a 3-day weekend for everyone. At least I'm hoping that's how it will work because that's our plan. We usually just go early and leave by the time it gets super packed, but we have to see the new parade and fireworks!

As for the firework viewing, people start staking claim to their "areas" very early, so you're going to have to probably have a strategy for that or just accept whatever area you find yourself in when they start. If you're going to want snacks, get them early then put them in a ziplock bag for later. Try not to fill up on fluids, because once you find a spot, if you have to leave to go to the bathroom, you might lose it (unless a family next to you is willing to save your spot).

Unfortunately, the post-firework exit crowds are just a reality. I can remember it being miserable as far back as my memory goes, which is around 1987. One solution, albeit probably not the best, is to view what you can from an area not directly in line with the castle. As a kid, we sometimes just caught what we could from other locations in the park. Then you sit and wait it out for about 30 minutes until everyone clears out. Or, you could try to stay at a hotel with a view of the park. We've done this before and just watched the fireworks from the hotel. Will it be as magical? No, since you won't see the epic 60th stuff, but you'll still be in awe. There's a station on the tv that plays the music/words that go along with the fireworks, so really, all you'd miss is the ground stuff.

 

[HydroGuy]

OP, not sure if this will help you but I believe DL is actively working on alternate paths behind the Main Street buildings to allow people to get in and out of DL during times like you describe. You may want to research that further and work your plans around that.

 

[auteur55]

Thanks for the responses so far. I definitely will not be going on a weekend. Last year I went from mon-fri with a 5 day park hopper. We stayed through Friday night because it was the only night doing fireworks. I've just always assumed weekends were always really crowded.

 

[DaveNinja]

Last week of august (the week before labor day weekend) has worked great for us the last few years. you have to deal with some crowds on the weekend in order to catch Fantasmic and Haunted Mansion, since they're wont be available during the week days. Its also usually pretty hot but the crowds are on the low side

 

[figment_jii]

It's worth noting that Labor Day is late this year, so the week before Labor Day weekend is actually mostly in September (8/30 to 9/5). Labor Day weekend, along with being a three day weekend for many folks, is also the Disneyland Half Marathon (starting on Thursday, 9/3). So for that week, the parks will probably see an uptick in crowds starting on Thursday.

 

[SMD]

There just aren't going to be 5 consecutive days between Spring Break and New Years without a crowded day. Especially with a large even being promoted starting in May, and Halloween and Christmas coming right behind them. There are also now 3 half marathon weekends in that time frame and other promotions designed to increase crowds. Especially if you're planning around the fewest refurbs, it's going to be crowded. There's a reason they try not to take rides down between Memorial and Labor Day. If you went for 5 days and only found the crowd situation to be bad on half of the last day, there really isn't a better scenario. Especially during the large, heavily promoted and very popular 60th celebration.

 

[auteur55]

I definitely don't expect five straight days. I fully expect it to be crowded on Friday night. But I like having at least tues through thurs and just want to make sure there aren't any events or if the 60th just means every day is really crazy packed. If Disneyland is doing all these events to keep traffic high why do they continue to close down at 8:00 in September. I would say there are plenty of crowds there to stay open late. So it sounds like week before labor day is out. One person said it's a good time to go but it sounds like this year is an exception.

 

[figment_jii]

I don't think anyone is saying that the weekdays are going to peak crowd levels from May 22nd through the end of the year. Weekends are likely to be busy and the parks do tend to stay open later, even in September after the summer season ends. Last year, before the MHPs started, DL was open until midnight or 11:00 pm on most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in September. It only closed early on the weekdays (Mon-Thu).

You could certainly try the week before Labor Day this year; the Disneyland Half Marathon is usually on Labor Day weekend, so that isn't something new that they've added. DaveNinja said it worked out great for him, so perhaps the impacts of the Disneyland Half Marathon and Labor Day aren't that bad (personally, I would still avoid that weekend if you're looking for low crowds). The last full week in August, might be okay if you shy away from the weekends (Fri-Sun) and focus on the weekdays (Mon-Thu). At this point, I haven't heard of any major event or convention happening on the last weekend in August. The bottom line is that we really don't know how much of an uptick the 60th anniversary events will cause in park attendance in late-summer/early-fall. Everyone is assuming there will be an uptick, but we don't know if that uptick will be slight, modest, or significant and we don't know how will affect specific days of the week. I think you're best bet is to pick the week that works best for you family and go expecting crowds. That way, if the crowds are high, you won't be unprepared and if they're low, you can pleasantly surprised.

 

[DaveNinja]

the labor day weekend crowds dont seem to really start showing up until the thursday and friday before labor day. thats usually when we're headed home. With the late labor day this year, the big question is "when will HM go down for its make over?" Will it be August 24th or 31st? I think we're planning on being down there on the 29th-3rd so hopefully its the 31st.