When are the crowds lowest?

DaksKid

Survivor of a Pit Bull Attack
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May 20, 2008
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Hello there, I have a question for you. My mothers and grandmother and me are going to Disneyland in the late fall or winter. We can choose to go whenever we want to go, but we are looking for a time when the crowds will be lowest and the weather the coolest. My mother is very sick and has a difficult time standing for long periods of time, especially when the sun is hot. She has lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, the arthritis affects her toes really badly. So waiting in long longs is very painful and also, some people with lupus don’t do well standing in the sun too long. My grandmother and I keep telling her we can rent her an ECV but she is way too embarrassed to do that. Even though she admits she could use one, she is overweight and she says that people automatically assume that if you are overweight, then you are just using the ECV because you are too fat and lazy to walk. :sad2: So she won’t even hear of using one. She said she’d rather crawl than resort to being judged like that. :guilty:

So, we need to choose a time to go when it is as cool as possible and when the crowds are very small! Can you make recommendations please? We don’t care if the hours are shorter in off season because we wouldn’t stay the entire day anyway! We just want my mom to be comfortable. Any suggestions???? Thank you! :flower3:
 
The beginning of December I hear the crowds are very low. Usually right after thanksgiving and then weather will be cool by then. I think also in January after New Years the crowds are low, I've never been at that time but thats what I've heard. Good luck.
 
This is just me best guess since DL always seems to be crowded to me.

Go: September, early November, late January, February, early March
Avoid ALL three-day weekends. Mid-week is the best time to expect lower crowds.

Don't go: October is busy with Halloween, late November is busy with long Thanksgiving breaks, December and early January are busy with Christmas and New Years. Aviod Veteran's Day weekend and President's Day weekend.

Anyone else, please let me know if I'm wrong about this.
 
This is just me best guess since DL always seems to be crowded to me.

Go: September, early November, late January, February, early March
Avoid ALL three-day weekends. Mid-week is the best time to expect lower crowds.

Don't go: October is busy with Halloween, late November is busy with long Thanksgiving breaks, December and early January are busy with Christmas and New Years. Aviod Veteran's Day weekend and President's Day weekend.

Anyone else, please let me know if I'm wrong about this.

I agree with this! I also have auto-immune disorders. I won't be able to be in the sun for long periods of time (or as my doctor told me, get a big hat and use lots of sun block!). Thankfully my medications right now are controlling my joint aches and pains, so I think I'll be good without a ECV. *Fingers crossed, knocking on wood*

But if she really needs one I'd continue to try and talk her in to it. Who cares what other people think. If your not feeling well, that's what counts. Good luck!
 

This is just me best guess since DL always seems to be crowded to me.

Go: September, early November, late January, February, early March
Avoid ALL three-day weekends. Mid-week is the best time to expect lower crowds.

Don't go: October is busy with Halloween, late November is busy with long Thanksgiving breaks, December and early January are busy with Christmas and New Years. Aviod Veteran's Day weekend and President's Day weekend.

Anyone else, please let me know if I'm wrong about this.

Those are all correct about low crowds, however I worry about September being too warm, it's still pretty close to summer during that time and in the past couple of years November has also been quite hot. Last year wasn't as hot as the year before but still quite warm.
 
I agree with this! I also have auto-immune disorders. I won't be able to be in the sun for long periods of time (or as my doctor told me, get a big hat and use lots of sun block!). Thankfully my medications right now are controlling my joint aches and pains, so I think I'll be good without a ECV. *Fingers crossed, knocking on wood*

But if she really needs one I'd continue to try and talk her in to it. Who cares what other people think. If your not feeling well, that's what counts. Good luck!

I'm sorry you have AI disorders too. They are crazy aren't they? My mom started getting sick when I was about ten (I'm 16 now). It started with fibromyalgia, then she ended up with something called sjogrens (not sure of the spelling, it's a crazy word), then an autoimmune bladder disease called intersticial cystitis and now lupus and RA. I worry about her a lot because she is in a lot of pain and on all kinds of crazy drugs with side effects. She doesn't complain much, but I can tell she is in a lot of pain. It is scary stuff. My mom is very brave and so are you and other people with this disease. :guilty: Good luck on your trip. I hope you have a wonderful and healthy time! :flower3:
 
Those are all correct about low crowds, however I worry about September being too warm, it's still pretty close to summer during that time and in the past couple of years November has also been quite hot. Last year wasn't as hot as the year before but still quite warm.

Can you please tell me what the high temperatures are like around the second week of January? That sounds like the slowest time and probably the coolest as well. I was kinda hoping for the first or second week of December to see Christmas decorations, but it sounds like that is a very busy time? We've been in October for Halloween (what fun!) and they started putting Christmas up shortly after. It was so beautiful! We all would love to see it when all the decorations are up, but if it is too crowded, I think we're better off waiting for January!

I can't tell you all how much I appreciate your help. :goodvibes :hug:
 
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I'm sorry you have AI disorders too. They are crazy aren't they? My mom started getting sick when I was about ten (I'm 16 now). It started with fibromyalgia, then she ended up with something called sjogrens (not sure of the spelling, it's a crazy word), then an autoimmune bladder disease called intersticial cystitis and now lupus and RA. I worry about her a lot because she is in a lot of pain and on all kinds of crazy drugs with side effects. She doesn't complain much, but I can tell she is in a lot of pain. It is scary stuff. My mom is very brave and so are you and other people with this disease. :guilty: Good luck on your trip. I hope you have a wonderful and healthy time! :flower3:

Ah I so feel for her! I have Crohn's Disease, Intersticial Cystitis, and now they are looking at me for RA. Odd how they all seem to go hand in hand isn't it? So I can completely relate to her. I'm only 30, been dealing with problems since around 20. My son is 10, and like you I know he tends to worry about me. I certainly try to be brave for him!

Thanks for good wishes for our trip! I can always use them!

As for the weather in the beginning of the year. One year we went down there in February and it was in the upper 60's to low 70's. Quite comfortable. Nice time to be there!
 
We went to DL this past February, we were there the first week.....it wasn't too crowded, I would definitly suggest on being there during the middle of the week....What a difference in the crowds.
 
Early Nov. or Dec. are both nice. If you go after Veterans Day, the entire park will be decorated for Xmas and it's just gorgeous.

We've been a bunch of times in Feb. and the crowds are very low (as long as you avoid President's Day week!!). However, keep in mind that Feb. is the rainiest time of year in Cali so you have more than a fair chance of being their during a rain storm.
 
We quite liked mid-week in mid-October, and early week in mid-May... both were fine with most rides being walk-on or less than 10 minute waits (except Peter Pan!!) Avoid weekends, and you'll be fine!

--Lisa
 
Can you please tell me what the high temperatures are like around the second week of January? That sounds like the slowest time and probably the coolest as well. I was kinda hoping for the first or second week of December to see Christmas decorations, but it sounds like that is a very busy time? We've been in October for Halloween (what fun!) and they started putting Christmas up shortly after. It was so beautiful! We all would love to see it when all the decorations are up, but if it is too crowded, I think we're better off waiting for January!

I can't tell you all how much I appreciate your help. :goodvibes :hug:

Actually I think the first and second weeks of December are great times to go. Avoid the weekends if you can, I think usually they have the Candle light processional and the Cast Member parties the first weekend in December but during the week the parks are quite empty.
As far as weather in January, I did some research and it looks like the average high is 70 degrees (21 Celsius) and average lows of about 45 degrees (7 Celsius). I hope that helps.
 
I would have to say, cooler months, and weekdays/ week nights. We always go during the week , and almost always, walk right onto rides. :)
 
Lately, I've only been to DLR on non-crowded days. My favorite times to go is early Feb., any weekday in January, early December during the week can be surprisingly quiet with crowds picking up at night as APers come to do dinner, shop, see the lights, etc. That is one of my favorite times with the park decorated for Christmas, and during the day being able to hop on and off of rides. This is the time CMs will let you ride 2 or 3 times in a row. If it rains, the park really clears out and you can get on rides with virtually no wait.

We are trying early October, during the week, and I have heard mixed reviews if it will be busy or not. Now there is a trade off, like Hydro Guy has pointed out, off season means, fewer (or no) parades, shows, events, etc. Fewer characters are out, but you have to decide which is more important for you to see...
 












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