What is the best time of year to visit Disneyland Resort?

aliastin · Post by **aliastin** » Apr Thu 03, 2008 12:25 pm

When I was a kid it was around Thanksgiving, but now I hear that is no more. Any advice?

When I say "best" I mean LEAST BUSY.

cap396 · Post by **cap396** » Apr Thu 03, 2008 12:52 pm

I haven't been in awhile (but I'm going this weekend!), but when I used to go alot, weekdays in the fall were the least crowded, except Friday. Even better is a rainy weekday (sure, you might get wet, but the rides stay open and sometimes its a ghost town). Next best would be mid January and early February, except super bowl Sunday is pretty crowded. Avoid New Year's Eve, the day after Thanksgiving and the 4th of July weekend. Christmas Eve isn't too bad but Christmas Day is busy. Labor Day isn't too bad considering it's a holiday.

I haven't been since DCA opened, so maybe crowd patterns have changed somewhat. A good indication is to look at the park hours. If the park is open late, then it's going to be more crowded.

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Apr Thu 03, 2008 9:50 pm

It wasn't so bad when I went today. Most of the rides were a good half hour wait even if I used the Fast Pass for majority of them. But like cap said, it's best to go around a rainy day since most of the people like to avoid it.

faxprincess · Post by **faxprincess** » Apr Fri 04, 2008 12:54 pm

We used to go around October or the begining of November, and it wasnt' so bad, but it's starting to get pretty crowded with all the Fall stuff they're doing. We did go at the first part of February this year, and the crowds weren't bad at all - just stay away from President's Day!! My brother who works at Disneyland said January is a really good time!

soccermouse · Post by **soccermouse** » Apr Tue 08, 2008 10:53 am

ANY TIME YOU CAN. But seriously, we try to go once in a while in mid-October to enjoy the Halloween decorations, etc and also the week before Thanksgivings to that we can enjoy the Christmas decorations and parade WITHOUT the big crowds.

aliastin · Post by **aliastin** » Apr Wed 09, 2008 3:31 pm

thanks for the advice! It is helping in my trip planning! ....

billville · Post by **billville** » Apr Wed 09, 2008 3:42 pm

I would say between august and january are probably the best times to visit. Ive noticed that crowds aren't rediculous in size and the weather is perfect!

acgonzales · Post by **acgonzales** » Apr Thu 10, 2008 11:42 am

It all depends on what's your liking...if you like VERY pretty and sparkly ambience then Christmas time is the best time of year. For me it's Halloween time because that is my favorit holiday but also during the off season time too in Jan - March and September, that is when the park has very few crowds during the week (at least that is what I notice when I am there during those months)...Summer is fun too but expect not to get on too many rides in one day because of the VERY BIG CROWDS

kbken · Post by **kbken** » Apr Sun 13, 2008 10:25 pm

We haven't been since just prior to DCA opening. We are going in mid October to renew our relationship with the parks. Besides, I like PoC and Small World better at DLR than at WDW. I also need to get some new pics of the much cooler (at least IMHO) HM exterior at DLR. I'll let you all know how the crowds are.

Ken

Shinku · Post by **Shinku** » Apr Wed 16, 2008 3:15 am

An easy estimator for when there will be crowds: Check the blackout days for the annual passes. Any saturday will probably be busy, any three-day-weekend or major holiday will be busy, all summer and spring break? busy.

Try for mid-week days in the parks, maybe use the weekends to see other sights around the area or take a day at the beach.

My own personal answer: Sometime between january 2nd and March 1st. A little on the cooler/rainy side, but that generally helps keep crowds away as well.

CDAbleson · Post by **CDAbleson** » Apr Wed 16, 2008 9:30 am

I was there in Early March, on business, and the park was absolutely EMPTY, the weather was beautiful, and we had a grand time.....

danimal3114u · Post by **danimal3114u** » Apr Wed 16, 2008 9:56 am

billville wrote:I would say between august and january are probably the best times to visit. Ive noticed that crowds aren't rediculous in size and the weather is perfect!

agree whole heartedly with Billville on this one! The crowds are definitely lower during the fall, and the weather is very nice. Of course, you'd want to stay away from the park from mid-December through the first week in January, and Thanksgiving weekend.

bamato · Post by **bamato** » May Wed 14, 2008 4:50 pm

My wife and I went to DLR april2-3 for our honeymoon, and the park was so packed it was silly. Even PoTC had a 45 minute wait. Which I think is long since PoTC has always been the ride I go on to pass the time when I'm waiting for a fastpass ride to go on. From what I've heard, fall is a good time to go. Mostly because kids are just starting to get back into school and parents like to wait till the holidays to take vacation. I usually base my park visits on whether or not kids will have the day off.

disneyland2006 · Post by **disneyland2006** » May Mon 19, 2008 3:14 pm

Between September or October is the best time, I would say. Thats about the time I went and it's pretty empty and the weathers not too hot and not too cold... Plus you get to see HalloweenTime.

Post by **subsonic** » May Tue 20, 2008 11:38 am

The best time is Feb 7th 2009!