When to go....July or November/December Holiday Time 2026? Tell me about July, November and early December.

[joseph821]

So the refurb man needs advice...
Planning a trip to my happy place...

4 choices:

1. 2nd of half of July. I have been in August before. No desire for Halloween Time.....weather?

2. November. Period when Holiday starts until the Sunday before Thanksgiving week.

3. December. First 10 days.

4. Skip the Land and go to Walt Disney World in early December.

Any advice on this times or experience would be appreciated.

Background:
Have not been to Disneyland during holidays since December 2005.
Have not been to WDW during holidays since November 2000.
Live on East Coast/NYC metro Long Island area.

Thanks in advance.

Happy holidays!

Joe

 

[LKing]

Did you see the stats that ThemeParkIQ shared on Instagram today?

 

[LKing]

4 choices:

1. 2nd of half of July. I have been in August before. No desire for Halloween Time.....weather?

2. November. Period when Holiday starts until the Sunday before Thanksgiving week.

3. December. First 10 days.

4. Skip the Land and go to Walt Disney World in early December.

Any advice on this times or experience would be appreciated.

1. July is pretty nice with respect to crowds. It could be warm, but our really hot weather doesn't usually hit until later in the year.
2. This is a good time to go and take in the holidays. Once Thanksgiving hits, the parks are packed.
3. We are currently in the midst of what would be your vacation. The parks are very, very crowded with lots of tourists - there are long lines for attractions, entertainment, food, etc.
4.

 

[joseph821]

1. July is pretty nice with respect to crowds. It could be warm, but our really hot weather doesn't usually hit until later in the year.
2. This is a good time to go and take in the holidays. Once Thanksgiving hits, the parks are packed.
3. We are currently in the midst of what would be your vacation. The parks are very, very crowded with lots of tourists - there are long lines for attractions, entertainment, food, etc.
4.

Thank you.
1. I am leaning toward July. The weather is not an issue. I am used to hot and humid weather.
2. Also thinking about November.
3. Not interested in December at all.
4. I know it is blasphemy. But the Contemporary Hotel with the Monorail has its appeal to me.

Thanks!

Any others have experience from trips in July?

 

[LKing]

Tagging @OlliePop27 for feedback on visiting in July.

 

[Tinkaboo]

A couple of years ago, I went the first few days of July but left on the 4th. One of the best trips EVER due to low crowds. I think I went like June 28-July 3...I was amazed by how open everything was. Weather was great, not too hot but warm so you could wear short sleeves. I am thinking of doing something similar this year.

Ah, but Christmas at DL? Can't be beat in my eyes...as a matter of fact, if you've ever heard Alabama's song "Christmas in Dixie", well I just change Dixie to Disney and make up my own words! . It's just so magical with the decorations, the parade, everything!

Two years ago, I went to both parks during the holidays- WDW with my hubby, DLR with a friend. I thought DLR was decorated better and with more attention to detail, JMHO.

I know WDW is closer for you but we'd love to have back on the West Coast, too!

 

[joseph821]

Did you see the stats that ThemeParkIQ shared on Instagram today?

View attachment 1029515 View attachment 1029516 View attachment 1029517 View attachment 1029518 View attachment 1029520 View attachment 1029522 View attachment 1029523 View attachment 1029524 View attachment 1029525 View attachment 1029527

Thanks, I subscribe to that. Have to figure out where you found the info! Thanks so much.

 

[joseph821]

A couple of years ago, I went the first few days of July but left on the 4th. One of the best trips EVER due to low crowds. I think I went like June 28-July 3...I was amazed by how open everything was. Weather was great, not too hot but warm so you could wear short sleeves. I am thinking of doing something similar this year.

Ah, but Christmas at DL? Can't be beat in my eyes...as a matter of fact, if you've ever heard Alabama's song "Christmas in Dixie", well I just change Dixie to Disney and make up my own words! . It's just so magical with the decorations, the parade, everything!

Two years ago, I went to both parks during the holidays- WDW with my hubby, DLR with a friend. I thought DLR was decorated better and with more attention to detail, JMHO.

I know WDW is closer for you but we'd love to have back on the West Coast, too!

Thanks I am considering July strongly. I do prefer Disneyland. WDW has its appeal. I was on the WDW website this week. Just checking it. Yes it would closer but it is so much bigger. I think WDW with the monorail system and Magic Kingdom's new Frontierland and new Big Thunder appeals to me. I love the Tower of Terror.
Thanks again so much.

 

[LKing]

Thanks, I subscribe to that. Have to figure out where you found the info! Thanks so much.

Instagram

 

[OlliePop27]

Tagging @OlliePop27 for feedback on visiting in July.

I love July! We can't go next July because we're trying to squeeze in a trip around Memorial Day before our youngest turns 3.

July is great because crowds are manageable, hours and entertainment are predictable. The parks are usually open 8-Midnight (DL) and 8-10 (DCA) every day, with fireworks and entertainment every night! No special events either, so little risk of an early park closure.

Next year is a little different for two reasons.

1. It's the 250th July 4th - does that generate more crowds than usual? I don't think so, because daily ticket prices are still high. July 4th has been very empty for many years (I was personally there the last 2 years and the parks were not crowded the entire weekend).
2. MK blockouts are being loosened next summer. Believe used to be blocked every Saturday, and that's no longer the case. Enchant is being replaced by a new pass that will allow some summer access (TBD). The two lowest passes used to be blocked all of July.

I still envision July being good, but it might be more crowded than the past few years.

 

[joseph821]

I love July! We can't go next July because we're trying to squeeze in a trip around Memorial Day before our youngest turns 3.

July is great because crowds are manageable, hours and entertainment are predictable. The parks are usually open 8-Midnight (DL) and 8-10 (DCA) every day, with fireworks and entertainment every night! No special events either, so little risk of an early park closure.

Next year is a little different for two reasons.

1. It's the 250th July 4th - does that generate more crowds than usual? I don't think so, because daily ticket prices are still high. July 4th has been very empty for many years (I was personally there the last 2 years and the parks were not crowded the entire weekend).
2. MK blockouts are being loosened next summer. Believe used to be blocked every Saturday, and that's no longer the case. Enchant is being replaced by a new pass that will allow some summer access (TBD). The two lowest passes used to be blocked all of July.

I still envision July being good, but it might be more crowded than the past few years.

Thanks!! I am leaning toward late July.

 

[joseph821]

I love July! We can't go next July because we're trying to squeeze in a trip around Memorial Day before our youngest turns 3.

July is great because crowds are manageable, hours and entertainment are predictable. The parks are usually open 8-Midnight (DL) and 8-10 (DCA) every day, with fireworks and entertainment every night! No special events either, so little risk of an early park closure.

Next year is a little different for two reasons.

1. It's the 250th July 4th - does that generate more crowds than usual? I don't think so, because daily ticket prices are still high. July 4th has been very empty for many years (I was personally there the last 2 years and the parks were not crowded the entire weekend).
2. MK blockouts are being loosened next summer. Believe used to be blocked every Saturday, and that's no longer the case. Enchant is being replaced by a new pass that will allow some summer access (TBD). The two lowest passes used to be blocked all of July.

I still envision July being good, but it might be more crowded than the past few years.

@OlliePop27 What parts of July have you gone?