When are the most down times at Disneyland? We're looking to go in the Fall 2012

[ethanwa]

When are the most down times at Disneyland? We're looking to go in the Fall 2012.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm copying this from Hydroguy's awesome DL for WDW vets stickie:

16. Best Time To Visit DLR

Best means different things to different people. Some people define best as periods of low crowds. Others define best as periods with nice weather. And still others define best as periods where all the rides and shows are available.

First let’s talk about crowds. As described elsewhere, DLR visitors have a much higher percentage of day visitors than WDW. This is a result of the large population base in Southern California who are within an easy day’s drive. This means that weekends are typically more crowded than weekdays. And holiday weekends are worst of all.

One other dynamic working for you is the notorious Southern California traffic. The traffic on the freeways there highly discourages locals from visiting DLR on weekdays. And if they do, it will be very hard for them to get to the parks for opening – which is all the more reason to get an early start at the parks. For those day-trippers, they will not have anywhere to rest all day and many of them will be tired and ready to leave by late afternoon or early evening. This is all the more reason to take a hotel break in the afternoon and come back to the parks when the day visitors are calling it quits.

One of the first things that surprised me when doing WDW research was that crowds at WDW had very little to do with weekends. I was so accustomed to thinking about Disney parks in terms of avoiding weekends that I really had to ponder this. When I realized that WDW is made up much more of out-of-state (and country) visitors, this made more sense.

So at DLR you should plan your trip for weekdays, especially during busy periods. But during low season this dynamic changes a bit. Even during low season weekdays are less crowded than weekends, but the problem with low season weekdays is that shows are cut back or even not offered. This includes fireworks, parades and Fantasmic. This makes it difficult to see these shows. So if you go during low season you may need to use a combination of weekdays for lower crowds and weekends for shows. See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

The least crowded day of the week to go to the DL park is Wednesday. If you are doing a day trip this is even more true because MM (Magic Morning) is not offered on Wednesdays at this time. Here is a list of least crowded days of the week at DL which basically reflect that the further away from the weekend, the better:

1. Wednesday
2/3. Tuesday/Thursday
4. Monday
5. Friday
6. Sunday
7. Saturday

DCA follows the same patterns, but even on weekends during peak season can be surprisingly uncrowded. The DCA crowds have not followed as regular a pattern as DL.

Busy periods at DLR parallel WDW a lot. Summer months are very busy. The weeks before and after Christmas are very busy. Spring Break and Thanksgiving week are also busy.

It seems that at both DLR and WDW January through early March are slow periods, as are September though early November.

Personally, I prefer the busier periods at DLR – especially the summer. Unlike WDW, the Southern California weather is consistently good all summer long. It rarely rains, but it does get hot (I have been to DL when it is 100 degrees). Check this link "Detailed Weather History for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158 for temperature and rainfall patterns in Anaheim, California. Since we go to DLR primarily in summer, I have never even thought about bringing a rain poncho. At WDW we used rain ponchos on half our days during our first trip in June trip – traditionally a rainy month in Florida.

Another reason I like summer weekdays is that the shows are going full bore, and almost all the rides are going. DLR takes rides down in off-season for refurbishment. And since DLR has long park hours in the summer – longer than WDW – it is nice to stay out late most every night. Finally, if you go to WDW during the summer when it is humid (as we did) and you get wet (as we did) – from a ride or from rain – you just never dry off (as we didn’t). At DLR with the arid climate you will dry off much more quickly – especially in the summer. So getting wet is fun. Look for Grizzly River Run at DCA or Splash Mountain at DL.

I have to admit to being annoyed at people who make it their #1 priority to go to DLR when “the crowds are low” and then complain about all of the rides that are down and they will miss. The MousePlanet DLR weekly update lists them here: http://www.mouseplanet.com/search.php?type=c&cid=dl.

So just in case you missed it, here is how it works at DLR: If you want low crowds then expect to miss some rides and shows. If you want to experience all of the rides and shows, go during a more crowded period and learn how to work with the crowds.

For instance, during our high season DLR trip in early August 2005 we spent four days at DLR. And we never waited for a ride more than 20 minutes – usually far less. And we went on every ride at DL and most of the rides at DCA at least once while doing the headliners as many as four times. How? By getting to the parks early, leaving in the afternoon for 4-5 hours for a swim and nap, and then returning in the evening and staying late – usually until closing at midnight. And we used FastPass a lot.

But that is just me. If you want to go during off-season here are a few gotchas. For a number of years now DL has taken down Its A Small World in October for about four weeks to add its “holiday overlay”. And then Small World is taken down again in January or February to remove the overlay – again for several weeks.

For many years now the Haunted Mansion has been taken down in September for several weeks to add its “Nightmare Before Christmas” overlay. And it too goes down again for a few weeks in January or February to remove the overlay.

Similar to WDW, watch out for Grad Nights, mostly in early to mid-June. In 2006 they had these at WDW over two weekends in April and May, but at DLR they are on different nights of the week and I believe there are more Grad Nights than at WDW. I went to Grad Night at DL back in 1981, by the way, and although DL was fun my date was not. If you go during this period it can mess up your DL Magic Morning days as DL generally does not open for Magic Mornings the day after a Grad Night.

One final thing to be aware of are special Annual Pass (AP) periods for Southern California residents. These restricted APs have blackout dates that typically go into effect in late June and lift again in late August. This means that people who have these passes often try to squeeze in “one last visit” in mid to late June (right after schools get out). And it also means that these pass holders are eager to get back into DLR after the blackout lifts (and before school starts) in late August. The weekly DLR park update on MousePlanet lists the blackout periods (see www.mouseplanet.com). The park attendance will be affected by these AP visitors during these times. For more info see "The Psychology of the DLR Annual Pass Holder" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2244322

Also see:

"Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens " http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602

"Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[Rhonna]

Things may change a bit this year since CarsLand will be opening this summer.

I think a good number of people will be planning a trip in the fall if they 1) don't like summer heat/crowds and 2) want to be sure that ALL of CarsLand will be up and running and completely finished, including any eateries and all the theming of the land, and any kinks are worked out.

We are hoping to go this spring (before CarsLand opens) and again in the fall to be sure and see it. If things look like we can't make the springtime trip, we will make a longer trip in the fall.

I have a feeling we will be seeing more people posting about fall trips to DL as CarsLand opens up and the reviews come in.

I am afraid it may also affect room discounts. They may get enough guests coming because of CarsLand that they don't have to lower the rates much at all. I noticed you were asking about the cheapest rates in some other threads. Not that there won't be any discounts but my concern (since we are planning to go too) is that they won't be as low as they might have been in the past.

 

[skiingfast]

Similar to WDW, watch out for Grad Nights, mostly in early to mid-June. In 2006 they had these at WDW over two weekends in April and May, but at DLR they are on different nights of the week and I believe there are more Grad Nights than at WDW. I went to Grad Night at DL back in 1981, by the way, and although DL was fun my date was not. If you go during this period it can mess up your DL Magic Morning days as DL generally does not open for Magic Mornings the day after a Grad Night.

This part ^^^ needs some editing as Grad Nights are much less a factor now since they rarely effect park hours and don't effect MM.

Really this thread that SonnyJane linked is worth considering regarding going in high of offseason.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602

To when crowds are most absent is fairly easy if you don't mind giving up the things in the thread above.

No Holiday weeks in January, February, the first week in March. Last week of April. First 3 weeks of May. Second week of September. November. First week of December.

Shoulder weeks are the second week of March. This year because of how Easter falls the 3rd week of April. The last week of May and First week of June. The last week of August, First and 3 and 4th week of September(when and if excluding MHP nights.

 

[nunzia]

We found October crowded enough this past year that we changed a planned October 2012 trip to early November to avoid both the Halloween and Christmas crowds. Of course, with CarsLand and new DCA opening the whole year could be a zoo

 

[HydroGuy]

This part ^^^ needs some editing as Grad Nights are much less a factor now since they rarely effect park hours and don't effect MM.

Really this thread that SonnyJane linked is worth considering regarding going in high of offseason.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602

Yah, I need to update several of my threads including the DLR Guide. Hopefully can find some time soon.

 

[skiingfast]

Yah, I need to update several of my threads including the DLR Guide. Hopefully can find some time soon.

Understandable, DLR has been quite the dynamic place logistic wise since opening WoC almost 2 years ago and it may not settle down until after this Summer. Of course in a year who knows what they will be planning next. Could be new parking situations, new E-tickets in DL, new lands in DL, new hotels. Time will tell.

 

[nbliss]

We went this past October, the week before Halloween (Monday-Friday). I HATE crowds, and I thought Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were terrific. We hardly had to wait to get on anything (10 minutes). Thursday was more crowded, and Friday was noticeably more crowded. Of course, POTC was down for refurb, which was such a bummer, but my kids had never been before, so there were many new things to do and see with them. I am planning our next trip for the same time, the week before halloween, midweek. If you like halloween, it's so fun there, because they really do it up for halloween and DL. You have to watch out for certain events during October that bring more crowds, like Gay Days, Columbus day weekend, or certain school districts in surrounding states that have vacations during parts of October.