Whens the best time to go to CA?

[Minnie824]

I posted this on the Disneyland board, but figured I'd get some responses here as well:
This year will be another WDW trip for us, but we were thinking of heading out to California in 2007 sometime. Of course we'll go to Disneyland, but want to spend some time touring, the beach, Hollywood, San Diego zoo. Anyway, DD will be in preschool 1st half of the year, then start Kindergarten in the fall. We dont really have any issue taking her out of school either way, so I'm just trying to get a feel for when the best time to go is, both for the weather and for the minimal crowds. Thanks!

 

[barkley]

don't come this time of year-we are flooding right now!!

as a northern californian who has been to disneyland many times i would say the BEST hands down time is early november or early december. the park is beautiful, the crowds are small. the weather can get nippy but nothing compared to the cold most people are used to (a jacket and a knit hat do fine). you won't get beach time, but honestly the water on the pacific coast is cold all year round-most folks only venture out when the sun is hot enuf to counteract it. i love beach walking in the winter-it's serene and peaceful, you can stop and have a steaming bowl of seafood chowder... the zoo and the tourist spots should be quiet that time of year, and you can get some of the best hotel rates to boot!

second choice would be begining of may (not the end-they are closed too many evenings for "grad nites"), nice weather-small crowds (everyone else goes spring break).

january-march is too much rain, april is spring break, june-august is too hot/crowded, september-october some weeks are good but you chance an intense indian summer heat wave.

 

[Glynis]

Our family usually goes the week after Labor Day. The crowds are light, you still have great weather, and the days are still long and beautiful. We have also done April which was nice, but kind of chilly and a bit rainy the year we went. October can also be good if you remember to bring a jacket for the evenings.

 

[disneymom3]

I personally love March. That is when I prefer to visit my family. Someone above said too much rain, but I haven't experienced that or remember that for March. Nov and Dec are also good months. Avoid July and August at all costs--too much smog and everything is brown.

 

[MoniqueU]

If you plan on going to the beach as a major part of your trip you might want to stick to summer months when our water warms up a bit. I like the summers here.

 

[mommaU4]

ANYTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! California is great and wonderful and a ton of fun any time of year. BTW, do you have room for one more?

 

[minniecarousel]

I'd avoid mid-December, June, July & August. All of the above comments are true. We had the best time in DLand on a rainy February day! But we get down there often - wouldn't want to plan a vacation for this time of year. Early December is nice since the Christmas decorations are up, Haunted Mansion has been turned over to the Nightmare Before Christmas & Small World is done in the Holiday theme(as long as they continue to do these). We very often go in September and have had both chilly weather and down-right HOT weather. So that's a toss-up.

Have fun whenever you go.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I'd recommend September. Most kids are in school, so it's not as crowded, but it's still nice enough to go to the beach, and the water is still warmer then than in the early summer. October and November are usually beautiful and pretty dry there, too. Don't go in June, as it's often foggy and gloomy much of the day -- known as "June gloom".

I guess it depends on whether you want good beach weather/hot park weather, or good park weather/cold beach weather. Although, like someone else mentioned, I also love walking on the beach in the winter. You can't lay out in the sun (well, who does that anymore, anyway?) or swim, but you can still enjoy the beauty of a nearly empty beach, and the kids can still build sand castles. Ah, I'm getting all nostalgic just thinking about it.