Why do you think is there no longer an "OFF" Season??

[mummabear]

I know many, many people LOVE Disneyland! Why do you think there is no longer an off season?? People choose to take kids out of school? Maybe year round schools with different breaks?? Just curious.

Despite being considered a locals park DL has loads of overseas visitors whose school breaks very different times than US

 

[rentayenta]

I know many, many people LOVE Disneyland! Why do you think there is no longer an off season?? People choose to take kids out of school? Maybe year round schools with different breaks?? Just curious.

We take our kids out of school, live in Utah, and have APs. We fill in what use to be the off time and I think there are many that do the same.

 

[tarheelalum]

I think the cost of airfare has also had an effect. 5 years ago where I live the airlines constantly ran specials to Vegas, Hawaii and the east coast. Now it costs an arm and leg to fly anywhere due to all of the consolidation within the airline industry. I think this plays a major role in the vacation habits of the 24 million people in SoCal. Its a lot cheaper to stay local and go to DLR. I know the cost of airfare has its affected my family in how we vacation.

 

[sophies*mom]

My kids are not in school yet, so I most definitely would rather go during March/April before or after spring break, which is what we did last trip and what we are doing this next trip. After braving summer crowds as a single person, there's no way I would want to maneuver a stroller through the parks when it's shoulder to shoulder people (I have memories of being run over by strollers as a teenager! lol).

When my kids do start school (DD will be in kinder in the fall) I would have no problems taking her out to avoid crowds.

 

[disneychrista]

The Internet

 

[TheLanes]

My kids are not in school yet, so I most definitely would rather go during March/April before or after spring break, which is what we did last trip and what we are doing this next trip. After braving summer crowds as a single person, there's no way I would want to maneuver a stroller through the parks when it's shoulder to shoulder people (I have memories of being run over by strollers as a teenager! lol). When my kids do start school (DD will be in kinder in the fall) I would have no problems taking her out to avoid crowds.

Yep, we have SoCal passes and pull the kids out a few times a year to go midweek. With all the other kids we see during these trips, it's obvious were not alone!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I know many, many people LOVE Disneyland! Why do you think there is no longer an off season?? People choose to take kids out of school? Maybe year round schools with different breaks?? Just curious.

I think it's pretty much because DCA no longer stinks.

 

[starjazz]

15-20 minute wait in low season = 30-40 minute wait in summer.

10 rides per day = 150-200 minutes saved

I'll trade refurbs (even the "long" list of 9 of them) for 2.5-3.5 hours in the summer heat any day. But that's just our personal preference.

 

[GoBears 1980]

I know many, many people LOVE Disneyland! Why do you think there is no longer an off season?? People choose to take kids out of school? Maybe year round schools with different breaks?? Just curious.

Because there are one million or more Annual Pass Holders.

When I was a CM in the 1970's we used to close Monday & Tuesdays in the winter it was so quiet. Even at that there were weekdays we'd have an in park attendance of 10,000 or less.

It was awesome to be able to have real conversations with guests before you had to dispatch the ride vehicle.

 

[Gisele]

Go bears.......

Honestly, that many annual passholders?

 

[GoBears 1980]

APs have led to more "steady" crowds year round and that was why Disney established the program. It is finally doing exactly what it is supposed to do. I think a key reason the passes are so popular now is not only the nostalgic factor of "I grew up with it", & the fact that the parks have so much more to offer than they used to, but mainly Disney has a monthly payment program for passes that make them seem much more affordable than shelling out a large chunk of money all at once. Especially when you're talking about local families with APs, that can be a really large amount of money to pay all at once but the monthly payment option makes it much more budget friendly.

Frankly I think Disneyland offers far less these days....

No Skyway, no Rocket to the Moon, no America the Beautiful, no Carousel of Progress, only one Autopia, no Subs (not really), no People Mover, Astro Orbiter greatly diminished, no Main Street Arcade, Main Street Tobacco Shop (a staple of turn of the century America), no Motorboat Cruise, no Stagecoach, no Pack Mules, no Mike Fink Keel Boats......

I don't mind when an attraction like Rainbow Caverns Mine Train gives way to Big Thunder, but the shutting of rides with no replacements does bug (and no Innoventions is not a sub for CoP).

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Frankly I think Disneyland offers far less these days....

No Skyway, no Rocket to the Moon, no America the Beautiful, no Carousel of Progress, only one Autopia, no Subs (not really), no People Mover, Astro Orbiter greatly diminished, no Main Street Arcade, Main Street Tobacco Shop (a staple of turn of the century America), no Motorboat Cruise, no Stagecoach, no Pack Mules, no Mike Fink Keel Boats......

I don't mind when an attraction like Rainbow Caverns Mine Train gives way to Big Thunder, but the shutting of rides with no replacements does bug (and no Innoventions is not a sub for CoP).

I disagree, many of your beloved attractions have gone, but disney has build many big attractions since then, plus a whole new park across the esplanade. How quick we are to forget that carsland is only a few years old.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I have the socal select pass, so I only go on weekdays. A weekday in February is empty compare to the insanity I experienced when we went on a Saturday last month. The "off" season may not be as empty as it used to be, but I also think the "on" season has gotten much crazier. Still worth it to go in the off season.

Right. Everything is relative. The off season may not be as dead as in the past, but it's still much quieter than peak season.

As for the refurbs/closures, it's almost impossible to visit when EVERYTHING is running. But you can check, during your trip planning, the refurb schedule on sites like Mouse Planet or on Disney's own web sites. That way, you can be sure that your favorite attractions won't be closed during your visit.

 

[emily94]

I know many, many people LOVE Disneyland! Why do you think there is no longer an off season?? People choose to take kids out of school? Maybe year round schools with different breaks?? Just curious.

I definitely think there still is an "off season"! I was at DL two weeks ago, during the week, and LA/OC area schools were back in session and I didn't see a wait time over 60 minutes (even for RSR)! I am in college and we have a longer winter break than elementary/middle/high schools. We also have an earlier spring break, early-mid March, rather than around Easter (I went to Catholic school so always had Easter based spring breaks). When I was in school, my mom would take me out of school to go to Disneyland, obviously this is a highly debated topic I don't believe that I fell behind because of this and teachers were accommodating, assuming you didn't take an excessive amount of time off...

As others have mentioned, the So Cal APs (don't know specifics) are valid during the "off season" and the "off days" - mid week.

To avoid crowds, I would suggest off season and mid week!

 

[GoBears 1980]

I disagree, many of your beloved attractions have gone, but disney has build many big attractions since then, plus a whole new park across the esplanade. How quick we are to forget that carsland is only a few years old.

Which rides replaced the ones I mentioned? What has Disneyland added as a major ride in the last 20 years?

Disney had to do a lot to rescue DCA from the fiasco it was when they opened with the out of the box rides. The few original ones, like Superstar Limo, were disasters. They've probably closed half the original attractions in a park not yet 14 years old.

 

[Astylla]

Back on topic -

I personally feel there are many factors to feeling like there isn't a traditional "off season". Several were touched upon and definitely having forums and internet access to information on a much more accessible scale can certainly impact it. Everyone sees "Oh these months are supposed to be slower" so many more people decide to go at those times initiating a higher crowd index and busier park.Also DLR is also hosting events like cheerleading competitions more often , races and other events which directly impact crowds and the surrounding areas.

DH and I still see off season as meaning a slower time in the parks - not dead unless it rains ( which we LOVE) but definitely more enjoyable for us than shoulder to shoulder people which we have experienced as well. We inadvertently scheduled a trip about 6 months in advance before we knew the final opening day of Carsland..which was our first park day..
It was an experience for sure and glad we were there but man no desire to do that again!

Being AP holders but living in NorCal we have gone at all times of the year. There is a slowER season but not that some were typically used to in years past. With that said I am sincerely looking forward to our 6 nights starting on Sunday even with the closures. We are doing some new things like Napa Rpse Chef's counter and trying out the fantasmic dinner package as well as looking forward to the new Frozen area too. There is never a truly bad day for us at Disneyland.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Getting back to the subject,
They still have off season periods but hey are much shorter - maybe a week or two here and there.
I research our travel times extensively and always manage to get a few days in the park when occupancy is at a 2~3.
Sure makes for a relaxed visit.

 

[Sherry E]

Several people have suggested that we get back on topic, and yet the 'taking kids out of school to go to Disneyland' debate/discussion continues! It really warrants its own separate thread.

Let's get back on track with the 'why do you think there is no longer an off season' discussion.

 

[cats mom]

I know many, many people LOVE Disneyland! Why do you think there is no longer an off season?? People choose to take kids out of school? Maybe year round schools with different breaks?? Just curious.

Personally I think 2 of the biggest factors are:

1. Disney offering an interest free payment plan for AP's
Estimates are that the # of AP holders increased dramatically when Disney did that.

2. Disney coming up with themed events that bring people in during traditionally low crowd periods.
October used to be our favorite time to visit, not anymore. Halloween Time is far too popular. It's somewhat the same with Run Disney events. I avoid those weekends and the days leading up to and following them if at all possible... unless I just want to do a little people watching or purse spotting that is (many Run Disney junkies also seem to be Disney handbag enthusiasts).


As for the original question; yes, I think some people take their kids out of school for Disneyland trips, and I imagine that has some impact on crowds. I'm not sure how measurable it is though since it's more spread out than hundreds of families descending on the parks at once during traditional school breaks. DL during UEA anyone? That's another one worth avoiding if you don't like crowds.

 

[Sherry E]

I created a whole separate thread for discussing/debating the subject of taking kids out of school to go to Disneyland, so further discussion about it should go there.

Here is the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3371649


Carry on with the "Why do you think is there no longer an 'OFF' Season??" chat!