What would you say is the worst month to go to

[Disneyland1084]

Disneyland in the summer? I was there all last week and it was a madhouse. Lines were insane, and the line for Pirates was around the building. I know it's the summer, but good grief. I've been to DL many times in both July and August over the years and have NEVER seen it then as bad as it was last week. When I've gone in July and August it's crowded, but not to the point of bumping shoulders all day with people. Do you think the crowds are do to the fact it's the 60th anniversary? Or maybe most people like to travel in June when kids get out of school? The crowds this time were *almost* as bad as the time I went over Christmas in 2004. But despite the intense crowds, I had the time of my life. DH, my two DD's and I went with DSIL and her three boys. We were lucky and got a lot of fast passes. We were there for three days and I only rode the Tower of Terror once. During previous trips, I ride that multiple times each day. Anyway, I've only been back for three days. Now that my feet have recovered I want to go back.

 

[SMD]

I've seen the POTC line extend to HM with switchbacks in July, August and Spring Break. I don't often go mid-June or Xmas. I think every month has good and bad times to go. I don't like going when it's oppressively hot. I'd much rather be shoulder to shoulder with strangers when I'm not sweating and developing a sunburn. One of the worst days I was there heat wise was actually the Friday of Labor Day weekend a few years ago, which happened to be early September. Go figure.

 

[VandVsmama]

Worst time to go? Between Christmas and New Year's Day.

If you're seeing huge crowds this summer it's definitely because of the 60th anniversary.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Yeah, as mentioned above, the 60th is adding to the crowd issue for sure.

Over the last several years, the October crowds are worse for us than the August crowds. We have never done the xmas week or after. We have done Thanksgiving week several times and that can get pretty crowded to almost decent as the week wears on. We have done the week after turkey week and it was walk on city, but I hear that is changing. Whenever we go in January, it is wrapped around a race so there are always crowds. We have rarely gone in the spring, March-May, so no real reference points. We have hit early June several times and had really decent crowd levels. We really love summer, longer hours, all the entertainment, there can be more people, but hit the parks early, take a break, then go back in the evening, always works for us.

 

[darlenesmommy]

We have done the week of Dec 5th 2011, first or second week of Aug2013 (my daughter's school went back a week later then a lot of other schools) and we went the week of Columbus day in Octm2014 (she had that week off school).

Oct was the worst time for us. In Dec and Aug everything was walk on or a 10 minute wait or less. Oct we had 20 minute waits or longer for almost everything. Are next trip is planned for Nov 2-5 2015 and the crowd calendars say its going to be a dead or a ghost town. Hoping it is since its after the Halloween decorations come down and before Christmas goes up.

 

[mt mommy]

Once the Halloween goes up, the crowd levels go up too!! We went at the end of September and we were surprised how crowded it was, and it was HOT and HUMID.

 

[GatorChris]

While I'm sure it's super crowded during Thankgiving and Christmas holidays, it can't be too much more crowded than late June and all of July. Plus in the summer, you get the heat. If it's going to be crowded, you might as well be there when it's cool. So I'd say July would be the worst month, followed closely by June and August.

 

[soma151]

Even the worse time ever is never worse then when i was a kid, stood in line one time for 4 hours for tiki birds, we have gone in Sept and Dec last few years and it was great, most rides where walk on. Would never even try it in the summer time being from Oregon i would just cook. Aug. i think would be the worse month to go?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Between Christmas and New Years there is a decent chance of at least occasional closures due to capacity. I have never heard of that during summer or even spring break since both are spread out over a number of weeks. I am sure with the 60th and the new entertainment this summer is quite crowded, but still not closing due to capacity (except for the 24 hour day.) The actual anniversary day in a couple weeks might be down right nuts. We are going in October and expect crowds then too. No more quiet times at Disneyland really.

 

[VandVsmama]

Well, this is pretty crowded....see picture about half way down this site --> http://www.freshbakeddisney.com/let-the-disneyland-christmas-photos-begin-2013-11-25/

Or the picture at the top of this site --> http://dlrprepschool.com/what-to-do-when-disneyland-is-super-crowded/


I'd say that is pretty darn crowded!

 

[HydroGuy]

Disneyland in the summer? I was there all last week and it was a madhouse. Lines were insane, and the line for Pirates was around the building. I know it's the summer, but good grief. I've been to DL many times in both July and August over the years and have NEVER seen it then as bad as it was last week. When I've gone in July and August it's crowded, but not to the point of bumping shoulders all day with people. Do you think the crowds are do to the fact it's the 60th anniversary? Or maybe most people like to travel in June when kids get out of school? The crowds this time were *almost* as bad as the time I went over Christmas in 2004. But despite the intense crowds, I had the time of my life. DH, my two DD's and I went with DSIL and her three boys. We were lucky and got a lot of fast passes. We were there for three days and I only rode the Tower of Terror once. During previous trips, I ride that multiple times each day. Anyway, I've only been back for three days. Now that my feet have recovered I want to go back.

I am curious which specific days you went and whether they were before or after the June 26 SoCal AP Blockout? I would expect the days right before a blockout when something significant is happening like the 60th anniversary would be significant. I was at DLR before and after the blockout in 2007 (when Nemo Sub opened that month) and the difference in crowds was very noticeable.

 

[niffer5150]

summer time is the worst for sure. it's crowded and it's beyond hot. yes, christmas time tends to be even more crowded BUT at least it's not 103 while you're standing in the line. any large crowd in 95+ degree weather and peoples deodorant is going to start failing. nothing like having someone sweat soaked shirt touching you in the haunted mansion stretching room. we went for 4th of july once and it was so bad we left early.

 

[disneymom0104]

We have taken 3 trips in the last couple years. Oct (2-8), Dec (9-14) and this year in May (10-16). May was BY FAR the worst crowds we have experienced at any Disney park, ever (including WDW) I am sure there are times that are more crowded- and we did have some moments that had great crowds (right after a rain shower), but overall it was way worse than we were expecting. The next worst for us was Oct. and the best was our Dec. 2012 trip. Very manageable!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I hate Spring Break season (mid-March-mid-April). We still often go during this time because I'm a teacher and that's when I can get away, but it seems even more crowded than summer. The week between Christmas and New Years is also terrible. Summer gets crowded, but in my experience it's not quite as bad as the other times. In terms of just summer, I think June is the worst time to go because most APs are still not blocked out, there are added grad nite crowds, and everyone fresh onto summer break is going on their trips.

They key during any peak period is knowing which rides get long lines and when to ride them. If you save the rides like IASM for the middle of the day and ride the big ones like PotC, Matterhorn, etc. that don't have FP in the morning, you can actually still get quite a bit in.

As an added note, it can be 90 degrees in December here, too, depending on the year, so saying it's cooler in December isn't always an accurate depiction. I have pictures of Christmas and by birthday in tank tops and shorts.

 

[VandVsmama]

We have gone twice now in the in-between period between Memorial Day weekend and when most southern CA schools end their school year. Two years ago, we went on the Tues-Thurs of Memorial Day week and the crowds were really manageable. We went on a Monday (6/8) earlier this month and the morning was great. The afternoon started to get busier, but it, too, was manageable because we just went and did lower-crowd attractions during that time. I definitely wouldn't want to go on a big holiday weekend.

 

[TechGuy]

I was in park this past week and the crowds were bad in some areas; but, in true Disney fashion, you can always find some place that's less crowded. We never waited for more than 20 minutes on ANY ride and rode just about everything in both parks, during our 5 day stay. We were an adult couple and did SRL many rides. Between FP, SRL and strategic walking, we did great and in the end were "riden" out and no longer cared about rides.

As to POTC, we rode several times during the week and never waited more than 20 minutes. During Fantasmic is a great time to ride. This past Saturday (first day all non-PAP blocked), during the 8:30 Fantasmic and fireworks; DW and I rode BTMMR, POTC, IJ and jungle Cruise, in a row - all non-fastpass. After indiana, we walked in on HM and saw the Hat Box. After that we rode the train to ToonTown, and then walked to Main Street and did our shopping during the late parade and beat the crowd out the door.

 

[offwithyourhead]

Summer IMO. My first trip was the end of August in 06, and this second one was Jan/Feb. I would go in the winter again in a heartbeat. Sure some of the rides are down for refurb, but with the much smaller crowds and almost no risk for heat stroke if you drank at least a little bit.

All my future trips will be in the 'off' months because between the heat and the crowds, it's not worth it.

 

[mgd]

I think it is rare for pirates to be that huge of a line anymore. Depends on the time of day, but it often gets to 10-20 min waits or less recently. It's all about timing. But if some of you think 20 min waits are bad for disneyland, I guess we have different ideas of what crowded is.

 

[chickapin parterre]

.....when homework wasn't done for month of choice trip, imagine the shock of arriving at the park and seeing the castle....I mean seeing the tarps around the icon

 

[Disneyland1084]

I am curious which specific days you went and whether they were before or after the June 26 SoCal AP Blockout? I

I was at DL/DCA on the 23, 24 and 25th. Right before the blockout I guess.