When would you go?

[Eeee-va]

I'm just curious.

My AP expires in the middle of June (around the 19th), and we can probably make one more trip before then, probably no earlier than after Easter and obviously no later than mid-June. We went last June and then December. I was thinking we'd go sometime after World of Color opened, but I had forgotten just how much more magical Disneyland is with lighter crowds (and cooler weather!). I found the December trip to be several times more fun than the June trip, and it wasn't just the Christmas aspect. Rides are a pretty big priority, but then, ambiance is too--though I'd MUCH rather have a few more construction walls and a few less sharp elbows in the ribs.

If we go before World of Color opens, we may have lighter crowds if we're lucky? Hopefully we could see the RDCT fireworks (my travel-partner has never seen them)--but I know those could very easily be canceled due to winds/weather. I'm also very interested in seeing Captain EO, but I'm figuring that it will be running at least through June anyway.

If we go after World of Color opens, there will likely be huge crowds at DCA (and we'll likely be braving them to try to see the show ). The Rivers of America MIGHT be open again, but we might miss the dates for RDCT? (depending on our timing/luck).

I guess it's sort of the classic off-season versus on-season debate. Argh! What would you do?

(It's honestly not entirely up to me anyway but I'm still curious. )

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

I would go Mid-May. The schools are not out yet and planning around Disney Construction is an iffy proposition. You never know when things will be behind schedule or if they will have soft openings.

If crowds aren't your thing, and you want to see the World of Color, then I would get one night at Paradise Pier with a park view. I cannot handle crowds and that is my plan for when it opens.

 

[DLR29]

I would go sometime between mid-May and mid-June. I would not pass up an opportunity to see WoC. My recommendation is to go for a few days midweek to have less crowds and maybe schedule at least 1 weekend day to see WoC. We also don't know yet if WoC will be strictly shown on weekends during that time or if it'll run nightly. I think RDCT will run until late June, so I wouldn't worry about missing dates for that. Magical! is just for the big summer promo.

 

[kjh73]

Sorry this is off topic...I don't have any advice as to when you should go...but I was wondering when you went in December and what the crowds were like...we would really to see the parks decorated for Christmas but miss the big crowds! Thanks!!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Eeee-va, I would go during the last week right before your AP expires. This past June everything was up and running and they had preview shows of the Magical fireworks, etc starting June 11. That's if you want to see the shows anyway. Obviously AP crowds were bigger because of the Murphy the Dragon stalking AP holders who were to be blocked out after the 16th, but we got to see and do everything we wanted. The downside is Grad nighs also happen during that time but it's only like one night a week, IIRC. Hydroguy has posted about Grad nights in the past somewhere if you search.

Sorry this is off topic...I don't have any advice as to when you should go...but I was wondering when you went in December and what the crowds were like...we would really to see the parks decorated for Christmas but miss the big crowds! Thanks!!

We used to love to go in early December after Candlelight Processional and CM parties are over with and before school is out for the kids; usually around Dec 7-17 or so depending on the calendar. It'll get progressively busier the closer you get to the holidays and the kids being out of school, but not anywhere near as busy as it is once they are on break. Everything is up and running, and they used to have long holiday hours during this time; not sure if that has changed this past year due to the economy, but that's how it was in prior years when we went.

 

[kjh73]

We used to love to go in early December after Candlelight Processional and CM parties are over with and before school is out for the kids; usually around Dec 7-17 or so depending on the calendar. It'll get progressively busier the closer you get to the holidays and the kids being out of school, but not anywhere near as busy as it is once they are on break. Everything is up and running, and they used to have long holiday hours during this time; not sure if that has changed this past year due to the economy, but that's how it was in prior years when we went.[/QUOTE]

Thanks...this is good to hear...I was kind of thinking the 1st part of December....I wouldn't want to go at the end of Nov...because of Thanksgiving.

 

[Eeee-va]

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone! I do love Fantasmic! but I don't know that it will be playing while RDCT is, and for myself I'd rather see RDCT, though I can't speak for the rest of my party. (One site says Fantasmic! will be back in May once the Rivers of America are filled, but I thought I had heard it wouldn't come back until the summer season.) At any rate, I saw Fantasmic! three times in 2009 so if I miss it I won't be heart-broken. (Although I'm wondering if my friend's mom, who might be going with us, would want to see it....)

I hadn't heard about the private viewing area from the Paradise Pier...interesting! Do you think it would be a good view?

Do you think that WoC will cause massive lines everywhere, or just big crowds for the show? (I know the word is that they'll close most of Paradise Pier early, but I'm frankly not as concerned about crowds in DCA--in fact, I'd imagine the rest of the park would be pretty empty while the show is going on, even if the whole area around the lagoon--likely on all sides--will be insane.)

For December, I went Wednesday, 12/9 - through Sunday, 12/13 and it was just lovely. Crowds were fairly light (though since the last time we had gone was June, I was just shocked to see big rides with a 20 minute wait at 2:30 in the afternoon!). Saturday got a little busier but it was raining the whole day so it wasn't bad. I imagine it would have been MUCH busier if not for the rain. Sunday morning was fine and it wasn't bad until about 2 (when we left), but things were starting to get busy in the afternoon. (I'm sure some families were starting vacations but I'd imagine the biggest contributor was the locals wanting to enjoy a fine day at Disneyland.)

 

[Eeee-va]

Now I'm curious--with World of Color's premiere now pushed back reportedly to 5/1 (or as late as Memorial Day), when would everyone be thinking would be the best time to go? I think we're wedded to May, actually, and can't go Memorial Day weekend. Should I go for the last weekend before Memorial Day to give the best chance of seeing WoC (which would be crazy-crowded if it happeend)? Or just book the first week and figure that we probably won't see it anyway but if we do we'll just have to deal with the crowds?