Would you visit Halloween or Christmas?

[bethwc101]

We will be doing our first ever siblings trip next year. There is a decent age gap between us older two and the younger two who are in middle school. We would have to go during their school breaks so either fall or winter break. We were hoping to do one last year, but we couldn't get dates lined up, so we want to start planning sooner.
We would likely NOT be doing a halloween party if we went during fall break so that might cut into a couple park days, but are halloween fans. The younger two have never been during christmas time so that could be fun. Our party is split 50/50 so I am looking for some outside perspective. We would be staying offsite.
Note, if we went during winter it would be christmas week .
I would love some opinions

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I would not go Christmas week. It will be insanely crowded. Halloween time is also crowded but nothing like Christmas week.

 

[Plip]

Note, if we went during winter it would be christmas week .

My initial thought was Christmas over Halloween, but that was based on all-else-being-equal kind of thinking. But if Christmas means Christmas week, then I agree with @SOCALMouseMommy. I would prefer a less-crowded week. It might depend on what kind of activities you and your siblings enjoy together, but especially for the middle-schoolers, I would think the less-crowded week would be a better fit.

 

[lcp9]

Christmas is fun but YIKES it's bad. I mean, fall has potential to be bad too but depending on the dates of fall break it has the potential to be less bad. Crowds are a major factor for us though, 3 year olds are much less willing to wait in line than a middle schooler. With maxpass fall will probably be better than Christmas, and Halloween is awesome anyway. If they do halloween screams again with projections at Disneyland (without having to do the party), I would choose halloween every time. Best show hands down.

 

[Ariel1033]

We have gone during Halloween time, and LOVED it!!! Have not been for Christmas time yet, but am going next year. We are going the first week in December to try to avoid the crazy crowds of Christmas week. I love anything Christmas, and would normally say to go during that time, and save Halloween for another visit, but like some people above have stated....Christmas week is NUTS and at capacity some days....and may not be as enjoyable. In this instance, I would go during Halloween and save Christmas for another visit when you could visit another week. Whatever decision you make, you will have an amazing time and make wonderful memories....in the end, you won't regret either choice!!!

 

[tink89]

We have gone the week before Christmas, after Christmas, and Christmas week and we just went during the Halloween time and went to a party and got everyone in our party Halloween was as busy or maybe even busier. Either time is great at Disneyland. Just expect crowds at both times.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Halloween because daylight hours are longer. It can get very cold when the sun goes down and at Christmas, that's about 4:40pm.

 

[dmar]

Agree with posters above saying Christmas week will be crazy busy... so if you're there during that time.. expect long lines even for quick service restaurants. If it wasn't for the crowds, I would say Christmas hands down. Just the decorations and atmosphere is amazing... but once you factor volume of people.... (all the local school kids are out)

Halloween is great, just a different vibe and setup. At least you will have the morning/day of before the locals come in the afternoon if you go on a weekday.

 

[sjmac42]

If you go at Christmas, depends a bit what you mean by Christmas week. If it’s from the 25th to the 31st then you’ll need to arrive at least an hour before rope drop and probably have a 4-5 day ticket and expect capacity, or close to it, crowds. If you’re doing something like I am and arriving the weekend before, still really packed but a little more manageable although you’d still want a 4-5 day ticket.
if you go at Halloween and don’t want to do a Disney Halloween Party (they’re at DCA these days), maybe Knott’s Scary Farm would be an option at that time of year with just a 2-3 day ticket for DL.
All the best.

 

[Aurora0427]

After the crowds this fall over Columbus Day weekend, I can’t even imagine Christmas week crowds. As much as I love Christmas season at Disneyland, I’d go for Halloween. Just avoid the first 2.5 weeks of October like the plague due to out of state fall breaks and Columbus Day.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

The question do you want to listen to Christmas music if so everything is Christmas parades fireworks world of color and small world.

We did Halloween last year and just got back from our Christmas trip this year.

I like Halloween better but both are good you won't be disappointed in either

 

[HelsBels16]

Really this reply relates more to WDW so apologies for that. I love the Halloween party best, but love the decorations for Christmas throughout the entirety of parks and resorts.

 

[disneylover102]

I love the park decorations at Christmas time way more than Halloween time but we went December 28 and 29 3 years ago and it was INSANE. If you go at Halloween time, it may be crowded but not insane.

 

[azdisneylover]

I would choose Halloween time over Christmas time because I like the weather in October over December. If you do go in October, I hope you reconsider your choice of not going to a party. They are fun, and trick or treating with your kids (and getting your own candy) is the best. Early in October, the weather can be very warm, and the wet rides, Grizzly Rapids, for example, is a nice reprieve. The treats are pretty interesting too. Oh, and so is people watching during this time. You will be surprised at how creative people are with their costumes! You may even see a celebrity or two too!