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Best Time to Visit Disneyland in 2024 and 2025

by Leap on March 8, 2024 2964 Los Angeles

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It’s one of the most popular questions we get. I even have friends of friends message me and ask ... "Just when is the best time to visit Disneyland?" My answer is always "Whenever you can!" It’s the truth. Whenever you and your family can make the trip to The Happiest Place On Earth is the best time. But, of course, just like at Walt Disney World, there are some things to consider as you plan your trip to Disneyland. In this post, we're sharing highlights and considerations by season, plus our favorite times to visit Disneyland in 2024 and 2025.

Best Time to Visit Disneyland in 2024 - Partners Statue in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle

Before we jump in, it's worth repeating that no matter the season or the reason, you can have a magical trip to Disneyland. At Undercover Tourist, we've been honored to be a part of helping families plan their vacations for over 20 years. And 20 years adds up to a lot of Disneyland trips for the frogs! Within that time, we've learned the hows and whys of crowds and have paired that insight with our historical Crowd Calendar data to create our recommendations on when to visit Disneyland each year. In the past few years, we've seen that more and more visitors are planning their Disneyland trips around seasons and special events rather than just crowd levels — so we've adjusted this post accordingly to showcase highlights and considerations by season.

Maybe you've always wanted to see Sleeping Beauty Castle alight during the magic of the holidays. Or perhaps hopping around the parks during Halloween Time — collecting frightfully fun foodie finds or watching Jack Skellington take over the nighttime spectacular — is on your bucket list. Maybe you're like me and love taking your mom to Food and Wine Festival in the spring. Or, maybe you and the fam are heading over for a few days during summer break and want to know more about what to expect. No matter the whys or whens, we are here to help!

Best Times to Visit Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle lit up

Oh, and one more big reminder! We'd be toadally remiss if we didn't talk about the theme park reservation system at Disneyland. Since 2021, Disneyland has operated with a reservation system — that means, in addition to purchasing your ticket, you also need to make a theme park reservation. It's easy to do, but of course, certain dates will fill up in advance, including popular holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. So once you pick your Disneyland dates, don't froget to also make your reservation — the sooner, the better, for the best availability.

2023 was a BIG year for Disneyland, with the opening of the reimagined Mickey's Toontown, Adventureland Treehouse and the all-new Tiana's Palace restaurant. And 2024 is also shaping up to be a big year with Star Wars Season of the Force debuting, Pixar Fest returning and Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening . (Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens in late 2024, which means guests visiting before then should be prepared for the ride to be undergoing a refurbishment. Speaking of refurbishments, Haunted Mansion is also undergoing a refurbishment as of Jan. 22, 2024, and does not have a set reopening date.) Plus, Magic Happens parade returns as of Feb. 2, 2024!

Factors in Determining the Best Time to Visit Disneyland in 2024 and 2025

Best Times to Visit Disneyland in 2024 - Moana Magic Happens float

Much like at Disney World, busy times at Disneyland often align with school schedules and major U.S. holidays. If tadpoles are out of school, the odds are that they want to hop to Disney! And not just in California, and not just for spring or summer break. Many Arizona and Utah schools have fall breaks in October. The spring breaks at major universities in California also influence crowd levels. Over on the West Coast, some unique groups impact crowd levels at Disneyland including annual passholders, conventioneers, runners and special ticket holders (which we get into more detail below!).

First and foremost, with a smaller (in scale, not pixie dust) footprint on the West Coast, it takes less of a crowd bump to for things to feel more crowded than on the East Coast. That means that locals — who may visit more for opening festival days and weekends, or pop in for a casual dinner — have a distinct impact on crowd levels. Blackout dates for passholders have an impact on crowds, as well.

The same can be said for conventioneers. If you're heading to a nearby convention, of course you'd want to pop into Disneyland for a day or two. Most of the impact here is minimal, with one notable exception: D23. The annual Disney fan event hops between the West and East coasts each year, and in 2024, it's Disneyland's turn to host from Aug. 9-11. The 2024 event will also host the first-ever D23 Day at Disneyland Resort Aug. 8.

Returning in 2024 are also runDisney events, which will bring runners back to Disneyland to participate in two marathon weekends each year: Jan. 11-15 and Sept. 5-8 in 2024, and Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2025 (2025 fall date still TBD).

Disneyland also offers some incredible ticket deals for Southern California residents, California residents and sometimes the entire U.S. With those ticket deals come use-by dates. For those offers in particular, you may see dates fill up as those usage windows approach (gotta go before it expires!). One-day tickets may also impact crowd levels — particularly on the lower tier days. Since these are cheaper days to visit Disneyland, you may find that more people choose those tickets and attend those days.

Best Times to Visit Disneyland in 2024 - Oogie Boogie Bash Overlay on Disney California Adventure Park Entrance

One other thing to be aware of is any separately ticketed events that may be scheduled even during the best times to visit. Sometimes a park or an area of a park closes early for private events. That's why you always want to look at the Disneyland hours for the dates you want to visit so you don't encounter any surprises. We'll detail these in each season below, as well as share which dates for 1-day tickets are the cheapest (note that prices are flat for multi-day tickets and do not change based on dates like they do at Disney World.) You can also find a calendar of 1-day ticket tiers on our ticketing page for easy reference.

There are more Disneyland After Dark event dates in 2024 than ever before! These after-hours parties can cause the park to close earlier than usual, which means even if you aren't attending, you'll want to plan accordingly.

Best Times to Visit Disneyland - Infographic

Just looking for the quick version? Check out the infographic above for a cheat sheet of the least crowded dates at Disneyland in 2024. Let's get hoppin'!

Spring — February, March, April

Best Time to Go to Disneyland - Food and Wine Sip and Savor with food and beverages

Are you ready for some extra special ... special events? We sure are! In addition to the expected springtime happenings — Disney California Adventure's Food and Wine Festival and spring breakers — some of our favorite entertainment, including Magic Happens, Wondrous Journeys and World of Color will all return from a brief hiatus this spring. Plus, a brand-new event, Season of the Force, will celebrate all things Star Wars, and Pixar Fest will return after several years. Plus, during springtime, the park is particularly beautiful with spring flowers and the pink Tabebuia trees in bloom. With so much fun hoppening this spring, we are predicting a busy season. We can't wait!

Highlights

  • Magic Happens parade returns Feb. 2, 2024
  • Celebrate Gospel brings additional entertainment and food to Disneyland Park Feb. 17 and 24
  • Anaheim Ducks Day in Disney California Adventure Feb. 22-23, 2024
  • Food and Wine Festival takes place from March 1 - April 22, 2024
  • World of Color returns from refurbishment March 1 (closed from Jan. 8 - Feb. 29, 2024)
  • "Wondrous Journeys" nighttime spectacular is back at Disneyland for a special presentation March 22 - April 14, 2024
  • Season of the Force is April 5 - June 2, 2024
  • Pixar Fest is April 26 - Aug. 4, 2024

Things to Consider

Disneyland After Dark Parties take place several nights these months, closing Disneyland Park at 8 p.m. on select nights, as well:

  • Sweethearts' Nite at Disneyland Park takes place Jan. 23, 25, 30, Feb. 1, 6, 8, 12 & 14, 2024
  • Disney Channel Nite at Disneyland Park takes place March 5 & 7, 2024
  • Star Wars Nite at Disneyland Park takes place April 16, 18, 23, 25, 30, May 2, 7 & 9, 2024
  • Spring break — elevated crowds from March 9 - April 7, 2024

The fall of Easter impacts Disneyland crowds in the spring. Some school districts base their spring break around Easter; others do not. When Easter falls earlier in the season, March or early April, it has the effect of making a more intense, but shorter spring break season. This is the case in 2024 — Easter is on March 31. When Easter falls later — like in 2025, when it falls on April 20 — the effect is a longer but less intense spring break season. Many California universities consistently have spring break the last two weeks of March, which can affect crowds then.

Our Overall Pick: Where do we begin! When it comes to springtime visits, if you aren't constrained by dates, we have a few suggestions to fit it all in. Come for the Food and Wine Festival in early March or mid-April if you also want to experience Season of the Force. Crowds are higher for peak spring break, but Wondrous Journeys fireworks may make it worth it to visit March 22 to April 14. Usually, fireworks are only on the weekends, so include a weekend day in your visit to see and do it all. Or, visit in late April to experience both Pixar Fest and Season of the Force.

Least Busy

  • Weekdays in February (minus the Super Bowl and days around Presidents Day)
    • Feb. 20-29, 2024
    • Feb. 4-7, 18-28, 2025
  • The first few days in March
    • March 2-8, 2024
    • March 1-6, 2025

Busiest

  • Presidents Day Weekend
    • Feb. 16-19, 2024
    • Feb. 10-17, 2025
  • Spring Break
    • March 9 - April 7, 2024
    • March 7 - April 6, 2025; April 18-20, 2025 (Easter)

Cheapest

  • Feb. 1, 6, 7, 2024 (Tier 0)
  • March 4-7, 2024 (Tier 2)
  • April 16-17, 2024 (Tier 1)

Summer — May, June, July

Summer break kicks off for most school districts in mid-June when you'll see an uptick in crowds — but in our opinion, it's pretty manageable over an extended period, with longer park hours and LOTS of entertainment! Summer is actually one of our very favorite times to visit. Exceptions to those long hours are Disneyland After Dark parties, which take place on select dates in May and June, closing Disneyland Park at 8 p.m. During this timeframe in 2024, Fantasmic! will return, as will Pride Nite, and the aforementioned Season of the Force and Pixar Fest will also run into summertime.

Best Time to Go to Disneyland - World of Color

Highlights

  • Fantasmic! returns May 24, 2024
  • Disneyland's birthday is July 17, 2024, bringing additional celebrations to Disneyland Park
  • Star Wars Nite at Disneyland Park takes place: April 16, 18, 23, 25, 30, May 2, 7 & 9, 2024
  • Season of the Force is April 5 - June 2, 2024
  • Pride Nite at Disneyland Park takes place June 18 & 20, 2024

Things to Consider

In summer, the thing to keep in mind is the weather. "June Gloom" offers some respite from the heat, though those temperatures do rise throughout the remainder of summer. July is manageable and less crowded than you'd think, especially on the weekends! Here are those Disneyland After Dark dates we mentioned:

  • Grad Nites take place May 10, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23, 28, 31 and June 2, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 14, 2024, at Disney California Adventure Park
  • Book your May and early June reservations early as SoCal Resident tickets expire June 2, 2024

Our Overall Pick: Proof that crowds are only part of the equation when picking the best time to go to Disneyland, we love the second half of July for the nightly fireworks, Pixar Fest and the newly returned Fantasmic!. Or, hop in on a weekday in May if you want Pixar Fest and Season of the Force.

Least Busy

  • Weekdays in May (except for Grad Nites and Memorial Day)
  • The first half of June (except for Grad Nites)

Busiest

  • Weekends and Grad Nite dates in May, plus Memorial Day
    • May 25-27, 2024
    • May 23-26, 2025
  • Summer breaks

Cheapest

  • May 8, 2024 (Tier 1)
  • Early June and mid-May have some of the lowest tiers

Fall — August, September, October

Best Times to Visit Disneyland in 2024 - Mickey Main Street Jack o Lantern

Enjoy the tail end of summer entertainment in early August, or, following that, take in the beautiful decorations, pumpkins and characters in costumes of Halloween Time throughout late August, September and October. Halloween Time is a popular time to visit, with the giant Mickey pumpkin on Main Street U.S.A., the decorated Cars Land and ride overlays including the Nightmare Before Christmas takeover that is Haunted Mansion Holiday.

On select nights, Mr. Oogie Boogie takes over Disney California Adventure for a separately ticketed Halloween party, the Oogie Boogie Bash. The park closes early most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday nights for partygoers to trick or treat and enjoy special entertainment.

Highlights

Best Times to Visit Disneyland - Car-tumes in Cars Land

  • Halloween Time starts early this year — Aug. 23 - Oct. 31, 2024
  • Gay Days take place Sept. 13-15, 2024 (be sure to make your reservation early!)
  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure is expected to open in late 2024!

Things to Consider

  • Pixar Fest wraps up Aug. 4, 2024
  • D23 takes place Aug. 9-11, 2024 (with an in-park day Aug. 8)
  • The Disneyland Halloween Party — The Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure  took place select days Sept. 5 to Oct. 31, 2023 (closing early Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Halloween). Dates are TBD for 2024
  • Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend takes place Sept. 5-8, 2024
  • Fall breaks increase crowds in October

Keep in mind that "off-season" low crowd levels can also mean shorter Disneyland hours and that less entertainment is available or that more rides undergo refurbishment. During some seasons, such as Halloween Time, September weekdays are less crowded. However, only weekends include fireworks, so take that into consideration, as well. We find Sundays to be less crowded than Saturdays. Weather can still be warm (hot, actually) but chillier at night.

Our Overall Pick: Around the pond, we love visiting Disneyland in August for lower crowds as tadpoles head back to school, and the potential for nightly fireworks. This year's hot take? We think the opening weekend of Halloween Time may be your best bet if you're in it for the seasonal festivities!

Least Busy

  • The month of August (minus D23 event)
  • Tuesdays through Thursdays in September (minus Sept. 5 race day)

Busiest

  • D23 Event - Aug. 8-11, 2024
  • Labor Day
    • Aug. 30 - Sept. 2, 2024
    • Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, 2025
  • runDisney race weekend - Sept. 5-8, 2024
  • October 2024
  • Elevated crowds Sept. 22 to Oct. 31, 2025

Cheapest

  • TBD

Winter — November, December, January

Best Time to Visit Disneyland - Cars Land Holidays

January generally has low crowds and beautiful weather (if not a little chilly), but it can get a little wet as it's the rainy season. The holidays and new year bring special entertainment, foodie finds and more  — and this year, we've got a new hotel opening to commemorate, too! Of course, during holiday breaks, you can expect more people enjoying the parks — but it's also a time full of holiday cheer, with festive lighting and decor, a special fireworks show and parade and more across the resort. (Did we mention hand-pulled candy canes and fan-favorite gingerbread? Oh, and SANTA!)

Highlights

  • Holiday Time brings daily entertainment (including nightly fireworks as weather permits) and festive décor to both parks from Nov. 15, 2024, through the first week of January
  • Mickey's and Minnie's birthday is Nov. 18, and that means a special cavalcade and there are often free buttons for guests
  • Lunar New Year brings Festival Food Booths, rare characters and a procession to Disney California Adventure from Jan. 23 through Feb. 18, 2024
  • Pixar Place Hotel opens Jan. 30, 2024
  • The Tier 0 weekdays bring affordability to weekdays in early November and mid-January weekdays

Things to Consider

  • The parks do offer scaled-back entertainment and shorter hours in January after the holidays end
  • runDisney will host races Jan. 11-15, 2024, and Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, 2025
  • The $50 kids ticket offer is valid every day from Jan. 8 to March 10, 2024
  • The SoCal Resident tickets are valid from Jan. 2 through June 2, 2024
  • World of Color is closed from Jan. 8 through Feb. 29, 2024
  • You may encounter ride closures in January, including Haunted Mansion and "it's a small world." Haunted Mansion is undergoing an extended refurbishment this winter to expand its queue and add a gift shop
  • Sweethearts' Night falls on nights in January and February, closing Disneyland Park at 8 p.m. these nights: Jan. 23, 25, 30, Feb. 1, 6, 8, 12 & 14, 2024

Our Overall Pick: If you don't want to visit during Holiday Time, Mondays through Thursdays in the first two weeks of November will be your best bet. If you'd like to visit for Holiday Time, we recommend the week after Thanksgiving or early December.

Least Busy

  • Weekdays in January (minus the week of New Year's Day and the days around MLK Day, when runDisney events return to the resort)
    • Jan. 17-18, 22, 2024
    • Jan. 7-15, 21-28, 2025
  • Mondays through Thursdays in November (minus Veterans Day and the week of Thanksgiving)
  • Mondays through Thursdays during the first half of December

Busiest

  • Week of New Year's and MLK Jr. Day Weekend
    • Jan. 1-16, 2024
    • Jan. 1-6, 17-20, 2025; Jan. 29 - Feb. 3, 2025
  • Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Week
    • Nov. 8-11; Nov. 22 - Dec. 1, 2024
    • Nov. 11; Nov. 22-30, 2025
  • Week of Christmas and New Year's
    • Dec. 20-31, 2024 (note: Dec. 7-8 will also be busy for Candlelight Processional)
    • Dec. 20, 2024 - Jan. 4, 2025

Cheapest

  • Jan. 9-11, 16-18, 22-25, 29-31, 2024 (Tier 0, but watch out for early closures)
  • Early and Mid-November weekdays
  • Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 2024 (Tier 3)

Going to Disneyland During a Busy Time? Don't Fret!

Best Time to Go to Disneyland - Avengers Campus

Even during the busiest times, there are ways to skip the lines and make the most of your time. Here are our best tips to reduce waits! Take advantage of the paid Genie+ system to skip the standby lines and use the Lightning Lane for select attractions. Again, our best advice is to purchase your tickets and make your Disneyland theme park reservations as soon as possible to secure your spot. Reservation availability is released 180 days in advance (or 90 days for Magic Key holders). You'll get the best price on Genie+ if you purchase it with your tickets as the price can fluctuate for day-of-use purchases. Be sure to check out our Jump Start guide for everything you need to know about planning in advance, all in one place!

Ta-da! There it is — the best time to go to Disneyland in 2024 and 2025! Don't froget that you can purchase discount Disneyland tickets from your favorite frogs! For more planning essentials, check out our Jump Start guide for everything you need to know, all in one place. Ribbit!

Related: 40 Tips to Maximize Your Time at Disneyland

Keep hopping!

Keep hopping, Leap!
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1551–1600 of 1793 comments
Apr 7, 2016 at 5:26 a.m. Kristen Says...

I am desperate for some advice on when to visit. I'm graduating college on May 19th, so I was planning on going on May 20th while the momentum is up, however, there's Grad Nite that day as well as that Saturday. Should I go that Sunday instead? Which day do you think would be less crowded?

Thanks for your help!!

Reply
Apr 24, 2016 at 4:45 p.m. Andrew Says...

I, too, would like to know the actual impact of Grad Nites on the crowds during the day. I get that it might be crazy after the school day is over, but how is it during the day when the kids are still in school? Do the schools take them during the school day or do they wait until after school is over?

Reply
May 8, 2016 at 9:17 p.m. Victoria Says...

We went on a grad night two years ago. Never. Ever. Again. It was madness. Crazy kids everywhere. Huge lines. Hot. Crowded. We left at 7 and I'm one to never leave before close. It seriously ruined the day.

Reply
Apr 27, 2016 at 1:21 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Andrew,

The grad nights are all day and during the school day. They do make the park a bit more crowded than usual, but more medium crowds. The grads leave Disneyland park by 9 p.m. for a private party at California Adventure, so you might see the crowds thin out for the fireworks and evening.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
May 15, 2016 at 8:07 p.m. Emmertee Says...

We are just leaving from our four day trip to Disney and there were grad nights on Friday and Saturday. I did it notice a thinning of crowds after 9:00. There were screaming kids everywhere and the nights were the absolute worst. I've been to Disneyland many times and have never seen the lines as ad as they were during the grad nights.

Reply
Apr 10, 2016 at 3:22 a.m. Megan Says...

That day would probably be fine. Mid-May isn't so busy and grad nighters won't effect the crowds because most schools require the students to take a bus as a group to go. They would arrive until 7 or 8 at night

Reply
May 15, 2016 at 8:11 p.m. Emmertee Says...

No! They are everywhere all day and night. There was a huge difference between grad day crowds and non grad day. If you can avoid the grad days, I highly recommend it! We just experienced two of our four days as grad days. Not good!

Reply
Apr 1, 2016 at 3:17 p.m. Alexia Says...

Hate to be a bother but I could really use some advice! So we go to WDW every year & would like to switch it up and use our DVC membership to go to DL & maybe even fly down to San Francisco afterwards and spend some time there. We're not really committed to any particular week but would like to go when its still cold in NJ. How are the crowds end of Feb & early March? Is it still cold there? Can we swim? I'm a master WDW planner (even got married there) but I have no idea what DL is like. I'm lost!....now I know how 1st timers in WDW feel : (

Reply
Apr 5, 2016 at 11:54 p.m. Nikki Says...

As far as visiting San Francisco in Feb/March: Maybe I'm a wimpy Californian but I would never swim in SF. It's really cold, if you are looking for a good beach to get a good California experience, stay south. Newport, Pismo, and Santa Cruz are all very movie-esque.

Reply
Apr 13, 2016 at 8:30 p.m. Dianasaur Says...

I agree the Pacific Ocean is too cold to swim in during winter without a wetsuit, but as far as dates go, just make sure you avoid the weekend of presidents day Feb 20th, and before spring break gets rolling here in mid march. Early Feb is great!

Reply
Apr 10, 2016 at 3:45 a.m. Ethan Says...

You're definitely not wimpy, the ocean currents bring water down from Alaska, making the west coast ocean temperature VERY cold!

Reply
Mar 23, 2016 at 5:01 a.m. Alisha Says...

Hi Team,

Thanks for all your updates, they are great. We are coming over from Australia to check out Disneyland in May just as a couple with no kids.

I tried to ring to book into Blue Bayou during our visit – for my birthday :( – and they advised that Blue Bayou would be closed from 9th to 13th of May (the whole time we are there). Would it be safe to assume Pirates would be close during this period as well? Just wondering whether it would be worth it to shuffle the trip a day earlier to arrive, as we bought 5 day tickets anyway, just in case we wanted to go on the morning we left, but we could arrive a night early and just do dinner and the Pirates Ride. Any thoughts on whether this would be worth it? Thanks! Alisha

Reply
Mar 30, 2016 at 9:48 p.m. Tracey Says...

I would, Alisha! Pirates is a classic and you don't want to miss out on a monte cristo at Blue Bayou ???? But that's just my feeling on it ????

Reply
Mar 30, 2016 at 10:28 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Alisha,

It does look like Pirates of the Caribbean ride will be closed for refurbishment starting May 9. It's up to you if you want to change your trip. If riding on Pirates and eating at Blue Bayou is a priority to you then, coming a day sooner will allow you to do that. Here are all of our Disneyland refurbishments.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 20, 2016 at 5:44 p.m. Stephanie Says...

My husband and I would like take our 2 boys ages 5 and 7 to Disneyland in 2017. I'm a teacher so we're limited on when we can go. We can go March 15-19 (spring break), June-mid August, Thanksgiving week, anytime from Christmas-New Year's. Which of these dates do you recommend? Thanks!

Reply
Mar 28, 2016 at 10:31 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Stephanie,

Summer and then spring break would be the best dates, although it will still be busy.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 17, 2016 at 6:58 a.m. Keiran Says...

Hi - hoping to book a stay at Disneyland Resort in January 2017 but the website won't let me make reservations yet... any idea when they open up for 2017 reservations?

Reply
Mar 21, 2016 at 2:55 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Keiran,

Reservations are available through Jan. 6, 2017. Other January dates should be available in July or August.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 11, 2016 at 12:50 a.m. Christine Says...

Any advice for planning a trip to Disneyland Sept. Tues. 19- 22Thus. 2016. Hope it's not too busy because Halloween festivities.

Reply
Apr 6, 2016 at 6:04 a.m. jeff Says...

We went last year during 1st week of october and i hadn't seen a crowd that large in 20 years. Staff @ disneyland said unusually busy during the halloween season during that time, but do to the fact of ride changes, some kind of student break during the college year, and the whole halloween theme, best rides were all 1.5 hours or more the whole day. But remember, disneyland always has those "surprise days" where a lot of people just have your same plans. Even if it was a wednesday.

Reply
Mar 17, 2016 at 3:17 p.m. Tim Says...

We went in 2014 mid Sept aTues-Thursday and it was very festive for Halloween but was a 20 min wait tops for the major attractions.

Reply
Mar 13, 2016 at 9:17 a.m. Reamsa Says...

Those are the days we are planning on going too and 3 hotels are sold out or are not allowing booking on those days as of right now!!! I am wondering if that's a bad time to go or what is going on during that week?!?!

Reply
Mar 9, 2016 at 9:40 p.m. Suzie Says...

What do you think the April 2016 opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios might do to the late April crowds at Disneyland? We'd love to hear your opinion. :)

Reply
May 26, 2016 at 11:06 a.m. V Says...

I will be in LA for 3 days during the Memorial weekends: from Saturday May 27, Sunday May 28 and Monday May 30 (Memorial Day). I am wondering which day would be best to visit Disneyland? Would it be Monday (the holiday)?

Reply
Feb 28, 2016 at 12:53 a.m. Michelle A Says...

I was curious since I am getting married in July and the bachelor and bachelorette party is going to be combined and it's usually somewhat before the wedding when do you think we should go our wedding date is July 16,2016 so we deal with the crowds but on the calmer side.

Reply
Mar 8, 2016 at 4:25 p.m. Jasmin Says...

Will it be busy April 4-5? It's a Monday and Tuesday. Should we go to Disneyland or Disney adventure first?

Reply
Feb 27, 2016 at 3:36 p.m. Kim Says...

Hi!

I am planning a Disney vacation May 8th to the 13th. I noticed that is the week following the kids half marathon. Do you think that will be a busy time and should I push off the vacation to the following week?

Reply
Mar 18, 2016 at 11:38 p.m. Missy Says...

The 8th will be busy because of Mother's day and that is the Marathon day. The 9th will still be a tad crowded because people from the races will usually stay an extra day if they came from out of state especially. But the 10th, 11th, and 12th should be fairly good and not as crowded. Then the 13th will be crowded again because its grad night for local high school students.

Reply
Mar 5, 2016 at 4:43 p.m. Dani Says...

It is VERY busy if you go over the run! It also costs more for hotels & cars, even more than Thanksgiving. Plus with them celebrating their 60th birthday since last year they have had record numbers! Plus they start doing graduation nights during May & close early and get more crowded. Lot of SoCal Select AP holders also go during May because their passes get blocked in June for the summer. They don't sell that AP anymore but you can still renew it, so there are still people utilizing it! They also do brunches & stuff for mother's day which makes it even more crowded. I have done the runs, gone to the park 100+ times, have an AP, I can tell you from personal experience it will be busy!

Reply
Apr 25, 2016 at 10:15 p.m. Chantelle Says...

I will be there the 8th-10th and an having a hard time deciding whether or not we should do Disney on the 8th and battle the crowds so that we can do CA Adventure on the 9th with less crowds and then Disney again on the 10th. Or, should we just avoid Disney on that Sunday (the 9th) and do CA Adventure on the 9th and Disney on the 10th-11th?

Reply
Mar 4, 2016 at 9:03 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Kim,

It's a pretty good time to go!!

https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/crowd-calendar/may-2016/#calendar

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 23, 2016 at 6:33 p.m. AJ Says...

Hi there,

My friend and I are planning on going to Disneyland today but were unsure how packed the park really is, is it true we have to wait up to an hour or two to get on a ride? We're just here for the day so we aren't sure if we are better off spending our money at the beach since the Canadian dollar is so low it would be $140 us to go to the park

Reply
Feb 21, 2016 at 1:36 p.m. Jeff Lahti Says...

The NCAA tournament regional finals are March 26 in Anaheim. Do you see that affecting Disneyland attendance at all?

Reply
Mar 20, 2016 at 9:16 p.m. marty Says...

heck yea! the crowd calendar will be "forget about it" d land and dca will be twice as packed!! :0(

Reply
Feb 20, 2016 at 2:44 p.m. Elizabeth Says...

We were planning to go to Disneyland on Thursday (May 5) and Disney California Adventure on Friday (May 6) but I saw that it's when the Tinkerbell marathon begins. Would this be a bad time to go? Is it best to go on Tuesday and Wednesday of that same week or would it be just as crowded? Please let me know ASAP as I need to book flights and hotels ASAP. Thank you!!!!

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Mar 3, 2016 at 4:35 a.m. bre Says...

This article mentions nothing about the Tinkerbell half marathon. I'm trying to book and it's sold out. You would think they would do more research regarding best and worst times to visit. Not helpful.

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Feb 19, 2016 at 4:34 a.m. Stephanie Says...

Hello! Is there a schedule for regular refurbishments/seasonal decorating on the rides at Disneyland? I'm trying to plan a trip in the off season, but don't want to go and see my favorite rides are closed down.

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Feb 19, 2016 at 12:50 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Stephanie,

Here is a link to Disneyland refurbishments:

https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/disneyland-refurbishments-closings/

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 18, 2016 at 4:18 a.m. Laela Says...

We are planing to visit Disneyland April 25-29 2016 Will this be a low crowd time? Anything going on this week that will make it have higher crowds?

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Feb 16, 2016 at 3:36 p.m. Matilde Bekker Says...

Hi

We are going there from 6 (sunday) november - 9. (Wednesday) november. Just before the super hero run. We thought this was a good time because there is no Holiday. But now i see that there is mickeys bonfire on the 7.

Do you Think it Will be very Busy on this period?

Best regards

Matilde

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Feb 15, 2016 at 1:20 a.m. George Says...

Hello. We will be visiting Disneyland on Monday, May 9th and Tuesday, May 10th. Would it be better to visit Disney California Adventure on Monday and Disneyland on Tuesday or vice versa? We are only visiting for two days and I want to avoid the crowds if possible so we can make the most of our time. Thank you.

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Feb 26, 2016 at 11:09 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi George,

Generally we'd suggest Disneyland on Monday and Disney California Adventure on Tuesday for the lowest crowds in each park, but keep in mind that many people hop between the parks.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 14, 2016 at 8:26 p.m. Ottawa Mom Says...

To confirm, Presidents Day in 2017 is Feb 20, 2017.... Does this change your comment above "President's Day - Feb. 12-15, 2017" as a Worst time to visit Disneyland...?

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Feb 25, 2016 at 11:11 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi,

Yes, thanks for the catch, I've adjusted those dates.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 14, 2016 at 2:39 a.m. SPierce Says...

Traveling from NC for my daughters 2nd birthday. Wr want to visit with her cousins in LA sometime between thursday, july 7 and July 9, any recommendations

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Feb 13, 2016 at 1:39 a.m. Akua Says...

Hi There! First, thanks for listing all this great information - very helpful. My birthday is coming up this Tuesday February 16th and I'm wondering what kind of crowds to expect on this day. My fiancé and I were hoping to go on my birthday but we have flexibility to go any day. It is the Tuesday after President's Day but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there might be a light crowd since it is Tuesday and most people will hopefully be at work/school. What do you think? Would you recommend avoiding this Tuesday or do you think we'll find Tuesday is smooth sailing? Also, we have 1 day park hopper tickets so we'll need to be able to pack in as much as possible (mostly rides).

Thanks so much for your help and insight!

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Feb 12, 2016 at 5:51 p.m. DisneyVisitor Says...

You forgot to mention super bowl as one of the WORST times to visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My trip just got ruined by Peyton Manning who I could not care less about, and especially now that he ruined the Monday that was supposed to be low crowds at the park! I specifically chose "the weekdays in February, BUT NOT AROUND PRESIDENT'S DAY" to spend a lot of money to travel from the Midwest to visit the park, which I have not got to do for 15 years because of the cost. Saturday and Sunday I expected to be busy, but Monday we had the Peyton Manning incident, and Tuesday I was throwing up. So basically my trip SUCKED. I will not return until they do something about the crowds!!!! I don't need tips on "How to beat crowds". They need to FIX THE SITUATION.

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Feb 25, 2016 at 6 p.m. emiseekayeewhy Says...

What exactly do you suggest they do? Not let anybody in? Shut down the park? Give you special treatment and let you have the whole park to yourself for the day?

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Feb 12, 2016 at 10:29 a.m. Morgan Says...

So we are here in Cali for presidents day weekend. Tossing around the idea of going to Disney for a day. I notice you say it's not a good weekend to go but how busy are we talking?

I mean, I came with my daughter last summer, unknowingly the same day as the D23 convention. I was blown away by the amount of people there. It was seriously like shuffling through a herd of zombies trying to walk around. (It was also during that heat wave and it was 106 that day which made it even more awful!)

Anyway, we survived that day. So When you say Presidents' Day is busy...is it the same busy as summer or Christmas etc? I just assumed February would be at least a little better of a month to go:/

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Feb 18, 2016 at 7:17 p.m. Venus Says...

Basically, any holiday is going to be busy at Disneyland. I think because most people with an annual pass are going to be there. That includes local families whose kids are out of school for the day.

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Feb 18, 2016 at 4:59 a.m. Peggy Says...

2/17/16 We were at Disneyland today & it was packed. Apparently Presidents Day has been extended. Trying Ca Adventure tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

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Feb 12, 2016 at 11:20 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Morgan,

I think you will find it as busy as the D23 convention day and maybe even more so.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 11, 2016 at 4:51 p.m. DisneyGeek Says...

We just went February 5-10th, Which is supposed to be low crowd. what a joke!!! it was like a mosh pit the whole time. I am seriously considering not coming back until they do something about it.

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Feb 19, 2016 at 6:56 a.m. Kelly Says...

We were the Feb 3-10 and found it to be great. Monday the 8th was crazy, thanks Payton Manning, but the rest of the time we had no trouble getting on the rides and it was enjoyable. Maybe you need to utilize your fast passes better next time.

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Feb 10, 2016 at 6:25 a.m. Karime Says...

Im planning a trip to disneyland what will be the best time to visit in august

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Feb 9, 2016 at 8:03 p.m. Stephanie Says...

We are from South Africa and planning to go to Disney world between July the 7th and the 18th - will this be a good time? I have 3 kids ages 7, 14 and 17.

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Mar 6, 2016 at 10:14 p.m. Diane Says...

Honestly, summer is not a great time to visit Walt Disney World in Florida because of high crowds and high temperatures. Of course, if that is the only time you can go because of your visit to the USA, then go, but be prepared to take afternoon breaks by returning to your resort pool with the kids.

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Feb 10, 2016 at 1:20 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Stephanie,

This is a busy time:

https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/crowd-calendar/july-2016/#calendar

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 8, 2016 at 1:23 a.m. Shannon Says...

We're heading to Disneyland the first week of June. Do you think it would make a difference if we were there Monday (6/6)/Tuesday (6/7) vs Thur (6/9)/Fri (6/10) of that week? I expect Mon and Fri are the busiest week days, but curious if one was better than the other.

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Mar 1, 2016 at 9:06 p.m. Flor Says...

I'm on the same boat. We're taking our chances with June 7th and 8th.

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Feb 21, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Beth Says...

This year, due to anniversary celebration, everyday is more crowded than predicted. But I was there fom Jan. 25-29 and Monday was definitely less crowded than Friday.

Reply
Feb 6, 2016 at 12:17 p.m. mikey Says...

Will late november to mid december 2016 be a good time to visit or will there be crowds miles long? Thanks in advance. Mikey

Reply
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:24 a.m. Brandi Says...

I am thinking of taking the kids for mothers day weekend May 7th, 8th and 9th. Is mothers day and fathers day usually pretty busy?

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Feb 10, 2016 at 12:51 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Brandi,

These dates are expected to be pretty busy, although not as busy as most other holidays. Mother's Day Weekend coincides with the Tinker Belle Half Marathon, and the end of June is just a busy time in general. Because passholders are blocked out in June, this looks like a slightly better time.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 5, 2016 at 10:18 p.m. NIkki Says...

Hi I am looking for the best time to take my 2 toddlers to disney for a 5 day park hopper. Is October a good month? also would it be more cost efficient to get an annual pass vs a 5 day park hopper. As well as the fast pass band?

Reply
Feb 5, 2016 at 11:36 a.m. Flavia Says...

Hi!!! The first time I went to Dsneyland me and my husband got there early in the morning, and by 4 pm we left because we were really tired.

This time we want to see the night fire works. So, what is the best time to go to the park, walk around and see the fire works?

Reply
Feb 10, 2016 at 12:42 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Flavia,

We still think arriving early is a good idea, so you take advantage of lower crowds, but instead of leaving at 4, take a break and return to your hotel. Then come back that evening for the fireworks.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 4, 2016 at 11:25 p.m. Sylvia Says...

I had to reschedule our family Disney vacation to March 9, 10, and 11. It was a nightmare finding a hotel as everything was booked! one of the desk employees of one of the hotels across the street from the main entrance had mentioned that I was arriving during the "Natural Products Expo" which is why everything is booked. he mentioned that it's a huge deal there, vendors line the street with booths to give out product samples. He also said the street would be very very busy and crowded but Disney parks would likely be a little empty because of this. Is this true? If so, I hit the jackpot on vacation days! Is it true the Natural Product Expo seems to draw the crowd from Disneyland?

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Feb 23, 2016 at 9:22 a.m. Zac R Says...

Depends. Sometimes it has the opposite effect depending on the guests at expo. Expo seems a lot smaller this year than usual so I can't see it having much effect. Quite surprised you had an issue with hotels though. I'm still seeing full availability on all the Disney partners hotels for that week.

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Feb 22, 2016 at 4:53 a.m. Monica Says...

Hi, I attend the Expo every year and it's busy. Restaurants are also normally booked up with reservations. The park depending on the day might be light but it's also the start of spring break for many districts so you may run into that at the parks. Just plan on getting to the parks right as they open and make use of the slower time. By noon is when it's the busiest. Have fun! We just took the family the second week in December and had a blast!

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Feb 3, 2016 at 12:07 a.m. Karley Says...

How is Super Bowl Sunday is it super busy?

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Feb 2, 2016 at 10:04 p.m. Amanda Jones Says...

Hi, I was thinking of going Super Bowl Sunday this year! Do you think it will be packed?

Thank you!

Reply
Feb 2, 2016 at 7:42 p.m. Jesse Says...

We're flying to California to visit family and we're planing to go to Disney on Sunday Feb 14th (Valentines Day). Thoughts?

Reply
Feb 2, 2016 at 7:20 a.m. Ashley Says...

Why does the park get busy on March 5th-11th as stated in your suggestions above?

Reply
Feb 16, 2016 at 8:47 p.m. Laura Says...

I think it's because Harry Potter land is opening at Universal Studios that week so a lot of people will be going to both.

Reply
Feb 1, 2016 at 1:17 a.m. Tesia Says...

Hi there I'm thinking about visiting Disneyland Memorial Day weekend and I notice it isn't on your list of terrible days, do you think Friday Saturday or Saturday Sunday would be best?

Reply
Feb 2, 2016 at 9:07 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Tesia,

These are usually very busy days because Disney typically hosts a 24 hour day on the Friday before. Sunday would likely be the best of those days, but I would expect is to be busy.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Apr 20, 2016 at 12:41 p.m. Lynn Says...

I noticed they cancelled their 24 hr party for the Memorial Day weekend - do you think that will make it any less busy at all?

Reply
Apr 25, 2016 at 2:25 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Lynn,

If there is no 24-hour event, that would definitely help crowds over past years, but with it being a holiday weekend, it will still be crowded.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 30, 2016 at 6:35 a.m. Pam Says...

Hi, my son and I will be in the parks Feb 17-19... I know it's crowded on Presidents Day (15th) but do you think it will be less crowded W-F of that week? Hoping so!

Reply
Jan 28, 2016 at 9:02 p.m. Shauna Says...

We will be at the park Feb 29th- March 4th and when I went to book a hotel a lot of the hotels were booked already. Is there something going on that week? I booked this week because it is usually considered to be slow time but now I am scared it is going to be packed.

Reply
Feb 7, 2016 at 5:01 p.m. Trina Says...

I just checked the Disneyland special events and Anaheim Convention schedules. There are no planned events. If you are trying to book a park hotel, then yes, they are usually full ahead of time. If you are trying for an off site hotel, you should have no issues. Only thing I can imagine is the east coasters coming for their spring breaks.

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Jan 28, 2016 at 6:40 p.m. Eric Says...

I don't think there is any day you can go that it isn't swamped. We just went on Monday January 25th...a regular school day, no holidays, no special celebrations and the park was PACKED...a complete cluster. While wait times for rides in the morning weren't horrible (under 30 min), simply walking around we felt like we were in a sea of people..no open areas...no where to breathe. We won't be going back to Disneyland again.

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Feb 7, 2016 at 10:20 a.m. Erin Says...

My birthday is in early October which is normally a very slow time for Disneyland (I only ever go on mid-weekdays). My dad decided to go with me last year and I was super excited! It. Was. Packed. I think it has been busier since the 60th Diamond Anniversary started. I have been a pass holder for a couple years now and noticed it has been noticeably more crowded since June. I think it will die down a little when the event is over. I mean there will always be something going on, but I think there are just a lot of people who wanted to be a part of the anniversary celebration. Don't give up on Disneyland forever!

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Feb 3, 2016 at 3:45 a.m. Quinn Says...

Eric - was there on that day as well and totally agree with you. Disneyland was busy and long waits during the day, the whole week was busy there in fact. California Adventure wasn't as bad but was busier than usual for that time of the year. I think the 60th celebrations were a part of it as well as the Star Wars interest with the release of the movie. Tomorrow Land was always packed with people. I will go back (love the place too much) but will plan for a less busy time (2017).

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Jan 27, 2016 at 3:52 a.m. Pete Says...

We are not locked-in for May so if you have any tips for when the shortest lines for the major rides would be it'd be appreciated.

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Feb 7, 2016 at 3:26 a.m. Mary Lou Says...

Oooops Pete......I meant NOT very crowded! Mid May was great!

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Feb 7, 2016 at 3:25 a.m. Mary Lou Says...

Hi Pete, stay away from Memorial weekend. We went mid May a few years ago and it was beautiful and very crowded. I would definitely go that time of year again! Rides are ready for summer and weather was so nice. Have fun!

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Feb 2, 2016 at 5:39 a.m. June Says...

Get a fast pass at the busiest ride then get in line (if it's not busy yet) ride it and come back later with fast pass to ride again

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Jan 27, 2016 at 3:36 a.m. Pete Says...

Hi Leap, Thanks for the tips! We are coming from Australia to pay a second visit to Disneyland. May seems like a good month to come and I assume that mid-week is best. We were there in April of 2013 for a dance concert at the park that my daughter was in so we had no choice, but during Spring Break the lines were up to 1.5 hours (3.5) if you were mad enough to wait for radiator springs! Would you be able to estimate waiting times in May of this year for say, Space Mountain? Thanks in advance, Pete.

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Jan 26, 2016 at 6:02 p.m. Melanie Says...

Hi! I'm going tomorrow (1/27) for my birthday. Will that be a pretty good day to go?

Reply
Jan 26, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Melanie,

Yes, should be a great day to visit!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 24, 2016 at 5:42 p.m. Rebecca Says...

Hello! My family and I are planning on visiting Disneyland for the first time either late this year or next year. We were thinking of visiting in September, when would be the best good time to visit for fewer crowds? Also my kids are 8 and 2, how many park days do you think we need to have a nice relaxed vacation but also get to experience all the rides? Thanks!

Reply
Jan 26, 2016 at 1:41 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Rebecca,

Weekdays the first couple of weeks in September should be nice. I would recommend three days, and you might consider a fourth.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 23, 2016 at 11:44 a.m. Sam Says...

Hi, we will be looking to be at disneyland around Nov. 16-19. How long would wait time be around then on a normal ticket? And are there tickets or ways to jump to the front of the line, or jump queues with permission? Just don't want to be spending hours in line

Reply
Jan 21, 2016 at 10 p.m. Errol G. Says...

Hello, Walt Disney World Veteran here... Visiting Disneyland, CA for the first time Friday, February 5th. Wondering if Friday is considered the "weekend" as they do have the extended hours. Just trying to gauge crowd levels. Going to attempt both DL & DCA in one day. Auy!

Reply
Jan 21, 2016 at 8:07 p.m. Jeff Says...

Planning on being at Disneyland September 12th-14th

is that a good time going with 3 kids ages 5,7,9

Reply
Jan 21, 2016 at 1:58 a.m. RG Says...

Thinking of 1st ever Disney trip with the whole family (6 adults, 11 kids) during Thanksgiving 2016. Sounds like it might be a bad idea? Heard it wasn't so bad. Tips? Better days that week to visit. Kid ages 1-17.

Reply
Feb 8, 2016 at 3:24 p.m. Shirley Says...

My birthday is the week of Thanksgiving, sometimes on Thanksgiving, with that said I went for years during this week but now each year is getting worse :-(. There are ssoooo many people this time of year you'd think it was Christmas. Now I wait till after but just before Christmas and hardly have to wait (about 20-40 min).

Reply
Jan 20, 2016 at 10:53 p.m. ChadV Says...

Curious as to why March 5-11 is a busy week? I was making plans for that week thinking it would be "slower". Is it Spring Break in Cali during that time? Would the week prior to that, or after that be better?? Thanks!

Reply
Jan 26, 2016 at 1:13 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Chad,

This is when spring break season kicks off, although the heaviest crowds don't begin until the 19th. If you could visit the week before, I think you will find smaller crowds.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 20, 2016 at 8:38 p.m. Sabrina Says...

Hi there! My little one's bday falls on Easter Sunday this year. I would love to take her to Disneyland for her special day. We would only be going on rides suitable for a toddler. What should I expect? Any info is greatly appreciated!

Reply
Jan 26, 2016 at 1:11 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Sabrina,

I would expect serious crowds during this time. Pack your patience and expect longer-than-normal waits. You may find more helpful tips in our post on taking a baby to Disneyland.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 20, 2016 at 7:32 p.m. Drea Says...

Hello, We are planning a trip to Disneyland in April. We will arrive Weds night the 13 and have Thurs Friday and Saturday there. We head home Sunday. I was thinking of doing one park for 2 days and 1 for one day. My kids have never been so this will be there 1st time!

Reply
Jan 19, 2016 at 3:39 p.m. Doug Says...

Planning a trip for spring break knowing it is a busy time. We have 2 teenagers and a 4 year and they really want to bring him. So, any ideas best timeouts come. We could come March 11th Friday for over weekend or should we wait til Monday or Tuesday. Thinking 2 or 3 days in park. Any suggestions appreciated. If we fly in March 11, we could be at park by 12:00.

Reply
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