Which of these dates make the most sense?

[MagicalMomAZ]

Thanksgiving (Maybe Thurs - Sat)
After Christmas (26-28th)
July (end of month)

With a kid in college who doesn't want to be left out, these are my only choices. We pretty much hate crowds, I hate heat...so, we thought Fall would be better but HOLIDAYS.

Any preference?

 

[ParkHopper1]

Pretty sure you picked the WORST three options if crowds are your concern!

Between Christmas and NYE is the busiest time at the park and last few years there have even been capacity closures.
EVERYONE is on Thanksgiving holiday...Friday and that weekend are another jam packed time
July is height of peak summer season...but more likely to be less of a zoo then you other two options. That is my choice even given the weather.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I think between Thanksgiving and July. Wouldn't go right after Christmas, because I'd think people are out of school and work and going for the decorations. July would be my pick, personally, but I like heat. I never feel like riding the water rides in winter!

 

[Imdboss]

We went the third week of July last year and the crowds weren't too horrible however it was very hot!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Of those choices, I would probably pick July. I avoid holidays (or days right before/after) like the plague. I would rather be there when it's hot (and I HATE being hot.)

 

[gottalovepluto]

What's the worst thing- crowds or heat?
If crowds: end of July
If heat: Nov

Also it WILL be crowded on those 3 options. If being packed in like a sardine is going make your family miserable I would consider an alternate vacation (and I love Disneyland) for this year.

 

[SMD]

I would do Christmas. When I was in college, things came up over Thanksgiving and during Summer and I didn't end up being home every year during those times. I guess there's a chance that with this being the first year without any leftover premium APs it won't be completely awful that week. (Just 90% awful...)

 

[allsaintsatx]

Have you thought about going during your kid's spring break?

Unlike Christmas and Thanksgiving vacation, spring breaks are different for a lot of schools so you might have less crowds than those holidays. Our DS's spring break is early March which is earlier than most.

Granted, it will still be busy during spring break but not week-after-Christmas busy! And, the weather would be quite nice.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Have you thought about going during your kid's spring break?
Unlike Christmas and Thanksgiving vacation, spring breaks are different for a lot of schools so you might have less crowds than those holidays. Our DS's spring break is early March which is earlier than most.
Granted, it will still be busy during spring break but not week-after-Christmas busy! And, the weather would be quite nice.

That's exactly why we can't go on spring break - both kids are free on different weeks. And I agree, if I could I'd choose that week over any other.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

I'm wondering if we should just play it by ear. We'll be in Orange County from July 15-29 & then Central coast 29-Aug 1 (my 41st birthday is Aug 2!)...maybe I'll just watch the weather. If it's too cool for the beach maybe we'll hop in the car early morning & trek to Anaheim. If it's warm every day (heatwaves the last few summers!), I'll revisit a November trip.
The issue is Thanksgiving, our family has dwindled & we could leave for 4 days to do something fun & non-traditional so Thanksgiving in DL just had a lot of allure.

 

[agamble]

If these are your three choices, I would go in July unless you really just can't bear the heat.

1. July is sooner, yeah for a trip!

2. July is not holiday season with crazy crowds, it's just typical busy. Thanksgiving is busy and Christmas is the busiest time of the year.

3. Refurbishments are kept to a minimum giving the crowds plenty of queues to stand in

4. Summer crowds aren't as bad as everyone makes them out to be, there are lots of blockouts that help and there are three months of summer that family trips are spread out over.

5. The temperatures in the morning and night are actually very pleasant, and Disneyland is the best early in the morning and later at night.

 

[cruisehopeful]

The issue is Thanksgiving, our family has dwindled & we could leave for 4 days to do something fun & non-traditional so Thanksgiving in DL just had a lot of allure.

From reports of this past year, Thanksgiving sounded like an okay time. You can get a really nice Thanksgiving dinner at the Disneyland Hotel or Storyteller's at Grand Californian on Thanksgiving day. You have to book those right when they open up at 60 days out.

The days after Christmas sounded like a mob. There were reports of less than normal crowds before Christmas, but very crowded after.

July is an okay time to go. It is very hot and crowded, but you can get soaked on Grizzly Rapids and that will help keep you cool for a couple hours.

Between the 3 choices, I'd pick Thanksgiving, then July and if I were going after Christmas, I would plan on spending a lot of time away from the parks to keep my sanity.

 

[VandVsmama]

Go in July.

Friends of ours went to DL in the days after Christmas this past year and they said that it was SO crowded. Crowded to the point where even to get popcorn, you had to stand in a long line.

Thanksgiving is also REALLY REALLY busy.

Given your time of year restrictions, unfortunately, what you won't be able to get is "not hot" and "not crowded." You can work around the hot weather. It will be less crowded in July than it will be at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

So how do you "work around the hot weather?" By doing a couple of things:

1. Get up early and get to the park entrance 30 min before rope drop. Normal park opening in July will be 8am. Get there at 7:30 am. GO GO GO on rides all morning long.
2. Stay within walking distance.
3. When it starts to get hot in the afternoon, escape to your hotel. Hang out at the pool. Take a nap. REST AND SLEEP! Watch TV. Do something that is relaxing and involves no physical activity.
4. Early evening (~ 5-6 pm) - go BACK to the parks.
5. Repeat #1-4 for each day you are at Disneyland.
6. Pack a spray bottle mister thing (you can find them at Walmart) in your luggage. DL will probably sell them in the summer, but they're a lot more expensive.
7. Dress for hot weather.
8. WEAR A HAT!
9. Drink throughout the day. And if it's REALLY hot, then alternate water and Gatorade/Powerade.
10. Get 1 of those Frog Toggs Chilly Pad things and use it.

 

[Nevada Jen]

Can you swing staying on site for thanksgiving? Because extra magic hour might make that a lot more doable. That would probably be my first choice. End of July is a big fat no for me. Its just way to hot and humid to be fun for me. During that weather I would rather be at a beach. The other option is to pick a weird couple of days off that your college kid has off and pull the other kid from school during a time that is less likely to be mobbed.