Which time to go?

[Pdollar88]

I’m looking to get a jump on reserving an off property hotel for my potential spring Disneyland trip? Given a choice, would you go the first week in March (3-8 or 9) or early May (6-11 or 12).

I’d love to go in the fall, but this trip will likely be with my bf. And his dates are constrained by school.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Your first dates might cover the opening of the Food & Wine Festival at DCA. This year that ran from 3/02 to 4/12. F&W is lots of fun. For your second set of dates, check to see when the dates are released for the 2019 Grad Nites. This year, Grad Nites start May 4th. I would try to plan for the most days you can (so March 3-9 or May 6-12). That way you will have time to enjoy the parks at a more relaxed pace, including TS meals, shows, parades, live music, people watching, shopping, re-dos of favorite things, etc. And the extra day will also allow you to include a beach day or some other sightseeing, since you mentioned in another thread that you were interested in doing some non-Disney things, too. Your dates may not have the high season entertainment schedule (which means nightly entertainment will most likely be on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays), so keep that in mind. And there may be more refurbs scheduled during your dates, too -- just so you're aware of that. Easter is later next year (4/21), and peak Spring Break is usually the two weeks before and two weeks after the holiday. I don't know how early DLR will go to the high season schedule and when they would move back to low season.

 

[Pdollar88]

Thank you for your experience and suggestions! I know much less about special events that affect DL crowds. I definitely wanted to stay for a longer trip, so also thank you for validating that!

I'm unsure which dates would be best for us. And honestly, it might end up being a solo trip and I'll be a bit more flexible.

I'm going to go ahead and book some placeholder reservations for March. When May opens up, I may snag some reservations then too. Are the early May dates also out of the high season schedule? I am really hoping to see most of the nightly entertainment while I'm there, so that would be a big factor in my decisions.

So I might expand my dates to consider Mid-June. If I remember correctly, it’s not as ridiculously hot as WDW in summer.

 

[agamble]

Yes, the May dates are also weekend only firework dates. And grad nights.

I would do March if crowds are your concern. Do May if you really want to ride the water rides. One, or both are likely to be closed in March. GRR was open early March this year, but Splash was closed.

 

[Pdollar88]

Oh goodness. Now I’m also looking at annual pass prices (I live in NC?!). Simply because I’d like to go during “normal” time to see DL, and then return for Halloween.

Don’t know if I can justify making two five day trips (which would cover the AP). But if I was going to renew my WDW AP and travel there 2-3 times, it would probably be about the same.

 

[Cal-Pie]

The dates in March will coincide with the natural products expo, which doesn't have much effect on the parks, but does definitely increase hotel occupancy. So getting placeholder reservations in place now is a very good idea.