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

[mt mommy]

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.

 

[figment_jii]

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.

There is no longer a true "off" season, but there are still periods when the crowds will be fairly low. I think weekends are generally always busy because of day trips/weekend trips, locals, and AP holders that can go into the parks without having to miss school or work. Special events and "seasons" towards the end of the year also really drive up attendance (e.g., HalloweenTime, Holidays). Also, as you mentioned, the staggered breaks for schools lead to guests visiting at different times (especially pronounced for the "Spring Break" period). Finally, I also think Disneyland offers promotions (like the current SoCal ticket deal) to increase crowds during historically quieter times of the year.

 

[Blue32]

There is no longer a true "off" season, but there are still periods when the crowds will be fairly low. I think weekends are generally always busy because of day trips/weekend trips, locals, and AP holders that can go into the parks without having to miss school or work. Special events and "seasons" towards the end of the year also really drive up attendance (e.g., HalloweenTime, Holidays). Also, as you mentioned, the staggered breaks for schools lead to guests visiting at different times (especially pronounced for the "Spring Break" period). Finally, I also think Disneyland offers promotions (like the current SoCal ticket deal) to increase crowds during historically quieter times of the year.

I agree with all these. I'll add that some people, I would gather a lot of people try to plan trips to avoid large crowds at Disney. More people planning trips when crowds are lower make those "not as crowded" times a little busier.

 

[ehrawn]

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.

There are off seasons, only the definition of what that means has changed. It used to be that management wasn't as good about dealing with the lower attendance numbers, but by reducing operating hours and closing attractions, the Parks feel just as crowded as during high-attendance periods. Decades ago, if you went during the off season, you'd have the run of the park. Now, off season just means you'll be looking at construction walls, have to skip your favorite attraction and you won't get to see a nighttime show. I'm of the opinion, as of late, there is no advantage to visiting during the off season.

 

[StormyCA]

All of the above, plus I think there are more Disney-loving adults going on 'adults only' trips who choose to go during the traditional school year (that's ME!!) to take advantage of lower crowds.

Considering how hellacious crowds can get, especially during summer and holiday season, it's no surprise that those who can go at other times do so. And that parents are taking their children out of school. We took our DS2 out of school to be able to go 'offseason' a few years in a row and that was 10+ years ago.

 

[JandD75]

"Decades ago, if you went during the off season, you'd have the run of the park."

How true!! I miss those good, old days!!

 

[squidlet]

I also think it's due to the major improvements that DL has made over the past decade or so. For me anyways, before the 50th anniversary DL was just ok -- certainly not worth more than a day trip every few years. Now the fireworks are fantastic, the rides are better (ex. IJA, TOT), DCA is improving, WOC, etc.
More to do and see = larger crowds!!!

 

[bakerudall]

All of the above, plus I think there are more Disney-loving adults going on 'adults only' trips who choose to go during the traditional school year (that's ME!!) to take advantage of lower crowds.

Yes, there seems to be a much higher percentage of adults now. More people have grown up with Disney and the parks, and they still love to go.

Also CarsLand and Halloween Time have a lot to do with increased attendance. People that used to go in the fall for off-season had to switch to Jan-Feb (before spring breaks).

 

[Angrose]

I've also noticed more RunDisney events, like the Marvel Run in mid-November which I think is typically a quieter time as well as the Star Wars run that is happening this weekend. From a business standpoint it's smart of Disney to offer those events to bring people in during the quieter times.

There are definitely still quiet times, but unfortunately you do pay for it with refurbs. We took my son for his first trip at the end of Jan 2015 and there were hardly any crowds at all. It was a great time to go, other than some of my favorites being down like IASW and Splash. I wouldn't hesitate to go that time of year again!

 

[GatorChris]

I also think it's due to the major improvements that DL has made over the past decade or so. For me anyways, before the 50th anniversary DL was just ok -- certainly not worth more than a day trip every few years. Now the fireworks are fantastic, the rides are better (ex. IJA, TOT), DCA is improving, WOC, etc.
More to do and see = larger crowds!!!

So does that mean the next three months will equal an empty park? Becuase all that stuff you mentioned is down for refurb until April or May.

I think one of the reasons there is no "off" season is boards like this one. When I first went during an off season to WDW, it was empty. Nowadays, those off seasons are full of people. No doubt because they come to places like this and find out all the information that we have learned years ago. So do we blame the Internet for the loss of true off-season? And if so, does that mean we blame Al Gore?

 

[figment_jii]

So does that mean the next three months will equal an empty park? Becuase all that stuff you mentioned is down for refurb until April or May.

No, the parks are not going to be empty, but it is traditionally the quieter time of the year (Jan/Feb, not including holiday weekends).

You say that the things squidlet mentioned are down for refurb until April or May, but I haven't seen anything about a prolonged closure at IJA or ToT. I'm guessing you were referring to WoC and fireworks, but just to avoid having folks think two more attractions are closed in the Spring, it would be worth clarifying that point.

 

[squidlet]

So does that mean the next three months will equal an empty park?

Ah, one can only hope! Even with the current closures there still is plenty to keep me interested in visiting during the "off season". Did I feel the same 15 years ago? Absolutely not.

 

[Lilly Belle 84]

Also don't underestimate the local AP's. For the So Cal passes during "off season" you get entry on everyday except Sat and holiday weekends/major holiday times. Then you're basically out July and most of August, when we lived in the area we were there at least 2 weekends (Fri after school or Sun) a month. Sometimes hubs and I would pop in when we had no kids for an hour or two. The So Cal AP's are not that much and a lot of people have them.

 

[KatrinaVanTassel]

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.

 

[dizneefan13]

Yes, there seems to be a much higher percentage of adults now. More people have grown up with Disney and the parks, and they still love to go.
Also CarsLand and Halloween Time have a lot to do with increased attendance. People that used to go in the fall for off-season had to switch to Jan-Feb (before spring breaks).

I agree. Those of us who grew up with Disney are now bringing our kids/grandkids to the parks to see what all the fun is about!

 

[mt mommy]

There is no longer a true "off" season, but there are still periods when the crowds will be fairly low. I think weekends are generally always busy because of day trips/weekend trips, locals, and AP holders that can go into the parks without having to miss school or work. Special events and "seasons" towards the end of the year also really drive up attendance (e.g., HalloweenTime, Holidays). Also, as you mentioned, the staggered breaks for schools lead to guests visiting at different times (especially pronounced for the "Spring Break" period). Finally, I also think Disneyland offers promotions (like the current SoCal ticket deal) to increase crowds during historically quieter times of the year.

I agree, DLR definitely has more special events that they have done in the last 10+ years.

There are off seasons, only the definition of what that means has changed. It used to be that management wasn't as good about dealing with the lower attendance numbers, but by reducing operating hours and closing attractions, the Parks feel just as crowded as during high-attendance periods. Decades ago, if you went during the off season, you'd have the run of the park. Now, off season just means you'll be looking at construction walls, have to skip your favorite attraction and you won't get to see a nighttime show. I'm of the opinion, as of late, there is no advantage to visiting during the off season.

I think sometimes off season is worth it, only because I can actually have 6 inches of room after the fireworks, rather than "smashed" walking during peak times!! I agree it can be disappointing to have favorite attractions closed during Off peak.

All of the above, plus I think there are more Disney-loving adults going on 'adults only' trips who choose to go during the traditional school year (that's ME!!) to take advantage of lower crowds.

Considering how hellacious crowds can get, especially during summer and holiday season, it's no surprise that those who can go at other times do so. And that parents are taking their children out of school. We took our DS2 out of school to be able to go 'offseason' a few years in a row and that was 10+ years ago.

We take our kids out of school, so I agree this adds to more crowds.

"Decades ago, if you went during the off season, you'd have the run of the park."

How true!! I miss those good, old days!!

AHHHH, the good ol' days of no crowds.

I also think it's due to the major improvements that DL has made over the past decade or so. For me anyways, before the 50th anniversary DL was just ok -- certainly not worth more than a day trip every few years. Now the fireworks are fantastic, the rides are better (ex. IJA, TOT), DCA is improving, WOC, etc.
More to do and see = larger crowds!!!

Yes, the improvements have been great. But, we need patience with the crowds. It's a trade off, isn't it!!

Yes, there seems to be a much higher percentage of adults now. More people have grown up with Disney and the parks, and they still love to go.

Also CarsLand and Halloween Time have a lot to do with increased attendance. People that used to go in the fall for off-season had to switch to Jan-Feb (before spring breaks).

Halloween Time is so fun, but yes more crowds. Carsland is a fair trade for me!! LOVE THAT PLACE!!

I've also noticed more RunDisney events, like the Marvel Run in mid-November which I think is typically a quieter time as well as the Star Wars run that is happening this weekend. From a business standpoint it's smart of Disney to offer those events to bring people in during the quieter times.

There are definitely still quiet times, but unfortunately you do pay for it with refurbs. We took my son for his first trip at the end of Jan 2015 and there were hardly any crowds at all. It was a great time to go, other than some of my favorites being down like IASW and Splash. I wouldn't hesitate to go that time of year again!

DLR is smart having special events in the off season. Good for them, sad for us!

So does that mean the next three months will equal an empty park? Becuase all that stuff you mentioned is down for refurb until April or May.

I think one of the reasons there is no "off" season is boards like this one. When I first went during an off season to WDW, it was empty. Nowadays, those off seasons are full of people. No doubt because they come to places like this and find out all the information that we have learned years ago. So do we blame the Internet for the loss of true off-season? And if so, does that mean we blame Al Gore?

BLAME AL GORE!! LOL!! Yes, all of us looking for the latest Disney tip at the push of a button has changed things a bit, huh???

No, the parks are not going to be empty, but it is traditionally the quieter time of the year (Jan/Feb, not including holiday weekends).

You say that the things squidlet mentioned are down for refurb until April or May, but I haven't seen anything about a prolonged closure at IJA or ToT. I'm guessing you were referring to WoC and fireworks, but just to avoid having folks think two more attractions are closed in the Spring, it would be worth clarifying that point.

Good point.

Ah, one can only hope! Even with the current closures there still is plenty to keep me interested in visiting during the "off season". Did I feel the same 15 years ago? Absolutely not.

There is still plenty to see and do!! YAY!

Also don't underestimate the local AP's. For the So Cal passes during "off season" you get entry on everyday except Sat and holiday weekends/major holiday times. Then you're basically out July and most of August, when we lived in the area we were there at least 2 weekends (Fri after school or Sun) a month. Sometimes hubs and I would pop in when we had no kids for an hour or two. The So Cal AP's are not that much and a lot of people have them.

Ah yes, the whole reason i look for the Holidays in So Cal school districts before planning my trip!!!

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.

I personally like the off season, plus the weather is always better in So Cal in January and February than most of the country!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

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.

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

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.

There is still an off-season, but as the years went on, the length of that period has drastically decreased. The attendance has climbed up, new attractions kept on coming, and disney held special events and seasonal offerings that only increased the off-season crowds. Anytime of the year has its pros and cons, off-season has less crowds, more refurbs, and less entertainment, and busy season has more crowds, less refurbs, and more entertainment. The off-season IS more crowded than in the past but when you compare it to true high-season, there is a noticeable difference in the crowds.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

A lot of it has to do with us locals. Many people are buying annual passes these days because it's cheaper than going to the parks even twice without it. Plus, Disneyland has many more seasonal activities than they used to, so people who usually go, say, during the winter holidays, start going for Halloween and Easter, too.

 

[Sherry E]

I think that everyone has given great answers. It's really pretty simple -- Disneyland Resort has gotten more popular and crowded, overall, because more things have been added; there are more things to do; more people have Annual Passes; more people are making DLR a destination when they used to go to WDW; and Disney is adding in more events (I call them "pop-up events") to fill in the less busy times.

Prior to 2006, Halloween Time (the season, not the specific Halloween party) was not a thing. Haunted Mansion Holiday had been around for several years, and the Halloween party actually started back in the '90s before being shelved, but when those things suddenly became packaged as part of Halloween Time, crowds grew. The Halloween Time season became official in 2006, and it bridged the gap between the super-busy summer season and the super-busy holiday season, eventually becoming a big draw of its own.

Technically, by Disney's standards and numbers, most of the Halloween Time season is still considered to be the off season -- but from a guest's perspective, it doesn't appear to be off season at all because there is no shortage of people in the parks.

In the late winter through late spring, now there are things like Bayou Bash (which skipped last year due to, I think, the work that was being done on Club 33) and the Easter egg hunt (I saw a lot of people wandering around both parks with the maps for the hunt in their hands last year), and the 24-hour event, etc. Of course, Frozen Fun is popular. This year (and probably into next year) there will be various events for the 60th anniversary. Within the next couple of years we will probably see a lot more changes in both parks (I think that DCA may be teetering on the brink of another extended phase of significant changes, beginning with the re-imagining of Condor Flats, and Disneyland will probably get some sort of Star Wars something-or-another added in).

There's always something going on now. I think that the only time there would truly be a significant off season anymore is when there is literally nothing out of the ordinary going on -- no special holidays of any kind, no special "days" (Bats Day, Dapper Day, Gay Days, Raver Day, whatever kind of day, etc.), no festive seasonal events and no new attractions or shiny new versions of old attractions.