When to go 2019

[jlwhitney]

we are going to go next year. Our dates are flexible. We can go anytime from February till before Star Wars land opens.

When would be a good time with the least amount of refurbs and decent entertainment schedule.

 

[agamble]

The days you are looking for do not exist. LOL!

Seriously for full entertainment schedule you'd have to go during Spring Break, which is very crowded. And from February until Memorial Day or even into June there will be popular rides down at both parks, even during Spring Break. That is just the way it is. IF they delay Star Wars Land opening until later in the year I would say go in June, but it is hard to know now when the land will open. Most regulars believe Star Wars Land will open in June at the latest.

 

[jlwhitney]

The days you are looking for do not exist. LOL!

Seriously for full entertainment schedule you'd have to go during Spring Break, which is very crowded. And from February until Memorial Day or even into June there will be popular rides down at both parks, even during Spring Break. That is just the way it is. IF they delay Star Wars Land opening until later in the year I would say go in June, but it is hard to know now when the land will open. Most regulars believe Star Wars Land will open in June at the latest.

We won't be booking till 7 months out since we are dvc, and hoping to book a 2 bedroom which aren't as hard and just looking for a general window and then will book whatever we can get.

We are FL and use to WDW and its been over 5 years since we have been to Disneyland, which planning when to go there is so hard which is why we keep pushing it off.

Since we will get to deal with the chaos of Starwars here we would prefer to not deal with it on both coasts...LOL

 

[disneymagicgirl]

The days you are looking for do not exist. LOL!

Seriously for full entertainment schedule you'd have to go during Spring Break, which is very crowded. And from February until Memorial Day or even into June there will be popular rides down at both parks, even during Spring Break. That is just the way it is. IF they delay Star Wars Land opening until later in the year I would say go in June, but it is hard to know now when the land will open. Most regulars believe Star Wars Land will open in June at the latest.

I have been tossing around the idea of heading over there. We have never been. So is Feb-memorial day the slow season aside from spring break? Is that why rides are down?

 

[HydroGuy]

we are going to go next year. Our dates are flexible. We can go anytime from February till before Star Wars land opens.

When would be a good time with the least amount of refurbs and decent entertainment schedule.

I have been tossing around the idea of heading over there. We have never been. So is Feb-memorial day the slow season aside from spring break? Is that why rides are down?

This thread should help both of you:

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

As for SWL, no one knows. Good bet is that it will be open for summer if at all possible. It could open earlier. My bet would be Memorial Day weekend.

OP, you will be taking a chance unless you go with Jan-Feb which I think SWL will almost certainly not be open. Could it open in Mar-Apr? Yes, but probably not. Could it open May 1? Yes. Will it be open by June 1? Pretty likely unless Disney just cannot get it done.

Go with Jan-Feb to be 100% sure to miss SWL. Go with Mar-Apr to be 90-95% sure. Go with May to be 50% sure. HTH

 

[gottalovepluto]

DCA has Food & Wine from mid-March thru April if anyone is interested. It’s about 1/3 the size of Epcot’s but the food and drinks are all different and it’s VERY easy to get to all the booths.

(Food & drinks are also more expensive but welcome to CA.)

OP if you go during off season you won’t get full entertainment schedules unless you go during Fri-Sun in which case you’ll have full crowds. I’d compromise with a couple weekdays and a couple weekend days.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I have been tossing around the idea of heading over there. We have never been. So is Feb-memorial day the slow season aside from spring break? Is that why rides are down?

Beware of thinking that "slow season" = "low crowds" because it doesn't. There really isn't a "slow season" in the classic sense any longer. Low season = refurb season, shorter hours, lower staffing, nighttime entertainment schedule on weekends only (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays), crowds nonetheless. High season = most/all rides up and running at full capacity, few/no refurbs, longer hours, more staffing, full entertainment schedule every night, higher crowds with parks ready to handle them. A park with a lower number of people in low season, but with more rides down for refurb, more construction walls up, and fewer CMs per shift can feel just as/more crowded than a crowded park in high season.

 

[jlwhitney]

DCA has Food & Wine from mid-March thru April if anyone is interested. It’s about 1/3 the size of Epcot’s but the food and drinks are all different and it’s VERY easy to get to all the booths.

(Food & drinks are also more expensive but welcome to CA.)

OP if you go during off season you won’t get full entertainment schedules unless you go during Fri-Sun in which case you’ll have full crowds. I’d compromise with a couple weekdays and a couple weekend days.

I knew about need weekends for night entertainment certain times a year. We would do 4-5 park days since with 3 kids it will be nice to have more time.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

See, I'm the opposite. I want to make sure to go after SWL opens, but not opening day since it'll be a mess (okay, in my heart, I'd love opening day, but we all know the place will be wall to wall people and 5+ hour waits, which is not worth it).

I would be disappointed if Disney does not try to have SWL open by May 4. No guarantees, but I feel like they would benefit hugely from having a special ticketed opening on Star Wars Day. So, for you, I would say make sure to go before that. The problem is, you'll never have the best of all worlds. In the off season, a lot will be closed for refurbishment. On spring break, you're looking at crowds that quite honestly are worse than summer. So, I guess if you don't mind crowds, mid-March through mid-April would be your best bet. But, if crowds are a factor, go in February and know that a lot will be down and they probably won't have nightly fireworks (generally only weekends in the off-season).

 

[jlwhitney]

See, I'm the opposite. I want to make sure to go after SWL opens, but not opening day since it'll be a mess (okay, in my heart, I'd love opening day, but we all know the place will be wall to wall people and 5+ hour waits, which is not worth it).

I would be disappointed if Disney does not try to have SWL open by May 4. No guarantees, but I feel like they would benefit hugely from having a special ticketed opening on Star Wars Day. So, for you, I would say make sure to go before that. The problem is, you'll never have the best of all worlds. In the off season, a lot will be closed for refurbishment. On spring break, you're looking at crowds that quite honestly are worse than summer. So, I guess if you don't mind crowds, mid-March through mid-April would be your best bet. But, if crowds are a factor, go in February and know that a lot will be down and they probably won't have nightly fireworks (generally only weekends in the off-season).

We are in florida. So we will have Star Wars land here later that year so no need to fight the crowds twice for it lol

 

[StormyCA]

I'm betting on May the 4th (if they stay on course). With previews and/or private parties beginning as much as 10 days prior to opening.

If I were going in 2019 I'd probably choose to go in late February - late March or possibly early April. Easter is 21 April so it's possible that Spring Break 'season' won't start until the second week of April.

2019 looks to be a WDW year for us and that's the rough period I'm considering for a trip there.

 

[jlwhitney]

We talked it over and think we will try and aim for end of May/first week of june or so and hope for the best. Really hoping for Paint the night to still be there as well. If they announce Star Wars Land before we book and it falls during that time we will adjust.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We talked it over and think we will try and aim for end of May/first week of june or so and hope for the best...

In addition to keeping an eye on the opening date for SWL:GE, check the calendar for Grad Nite dates and any SoCal promotional ticket offer. This year, Grad Nites started on May 4th and will end June 9th (if no additional dates are added). This year's promotional ticket offer started earlier in the year, but ends May 24th, so that will be a busy week as SoCal residents need to use their tickets before the expiration date.

 

[StormyCA]

In addition to keeping an eye on the opening date for SWL:GE, check the calendar for Grad Nite dates and any SoCal promotional ticket offer. This year, Grad Nites started on May 4th and will end June 9th (if no additional dates are added). This year's promotional ticket offer started earlier in the year, but ends May 24th, so that will be a busy week as SoCal residents need to use their tickets before the expiration date.

Well, I'd say that alone says that Disney doesn't expect SWGE to open before June.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Well, I'd say that alone says that Disney doesn't expect SWGE to open before June.

Although there's no guarantee that Disney will offer the same ticket promotion in 2019...

 

[HydroGuy]

Although there's no guarantee that Disney will offer the same ticket promotion in 2019...

I cannot see them doing that in 2019 for SWGE. It seems to already be a bit of chaos in May even with current offerings. I suspect you agree.

 

[jlwhitney]

In addition to keeping an eye on the opening date for SWL:GE, check the calendar for Grad Nite dates and any SoCal promotional ticket offer. This year, Grad Nites started on May 4th and will end June 9th (if no additional dates are added). This year's promotional ticket offer started earlier in the year, but ends May 24th, so that will be a busy week as SoCal residents need to use their tickets before the expiration date.

How many nights a week are grad nights? We will do 4 or 5 day ticket.

 

[HydroGuy]

How many nights a week are grad nights? We will do 4 or 5 day ticket.

See "The Scoop on Grad Nights at DLR in May and June" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

 

[Gamora]

We are going next Feb. Although there isn't really a "slow season" anymore, the crowds are much more tolerable at that time than in the summer. Plus it's not as hot.

 

[jlwhitney]

I feel like next year is extra hard since so much is up in the air with when star wars opens, if paint the night will stay around and things like that.