When to go?

When is the best time to go to Disneyland?

This is a question asked among dads quite often. Why they are asking this question varies from dad to dad.

Some are thinking if I’m going to shell out bucco bucks for this darn trip, I’m not going when it takes two and half hours to get into that hollowed out log and then be thrown over a waterfall (not my line but I love it), it just isn’t worth it.

Others are worried about their kids. The thought is generally running through their mind, what on earth will I do if my kids end up having a melt down after we had to wait an hour and half to ride the Cars ride and still have another 30 minutes to go before we even get on?

Most are asking because they want to maximize their time. They want the most bang for their buck and don’t want to be overwhelmed by competing with a thousand other people to get a quick picture and autograph moment with Daisy Duck.

Crowds are mixed bag when it comes to Disneyland. On one hand, if you are going when everyone else is, you have a better shot that there won’t be any major rides shutdown for refurbishment. All of the parades and shows will be happening, the fireworks will be going (weather permitting), Fantasmic! and World of Color will both be running, and you won’t have to wonder if you are missing out on something?

On the other hand, the lines will be longer. It will be crowded. Parking your stroller will be an adventure as you will likely park it in one spot and possibly find it moved to another once you get off a ride. It can make for a frustrating situation if you are trying to knock out all of Disneyland in just one day and you realize the line to meet Mickey is over an hour long.

I haven’t mastered avoiding the crowds, but I know there are a few tips out there that people suggest. I’ve come to terms that I think more and more there are less “empty park” days at Disneyland (and lets face it, Disneyland is run by a corporation that likes to make money, they make more of it by having all of us in the park so they will do whatever to keep the park humming year round).

First, crowd forecasting websites. Have you seen these? We’ve followed them to some extent in planning our trips and I think they can be helpful but I wouldn’t rely on them 100%. This one: isitpacked.com has a calendar to tell you their predictions on how busy the park will be. There are others. Just fire up your favorite search engine and type Disneyland crowd forecaster and you’ll find yourself with plenty of options to consider.

Second, blackout dates for Annual Pass holders. The locals can easily fill Disneyland if they want to and to help give us out-of-staters a chance, Disneyland does have a few dates when Annual Pass holders aren’t able to use their pass. Sometimes this means there will be less crowds for the park. This isn’t a guarantee that the park will be empty but it is another factor to look into. You can view Disneyland’s blackout calendar for Annual Pass holders for 2019 here.

Third, follow the school calendar. If you’re traveling when school is out, expect higher crowds. If school is in, you might have some luck, but remember there are a number of other folks hoping to miss the crowds that will show up at the same time as you. Missing the crowds at Disneyland is an art not a science.

One other thing to consider, if you want to be a super sleuth on finding an empty Disneyland day, check out the calendar for the Anaheim Convention center. If you can find a time when there isn’t a major convention going on, that also helps alleviate some of the crowds.

I will say my favorite time of the year at Disneyland is in October. I love how they decorate the park for Halloween. It is adorable (I’m a dad with daughters I can say adorable and feel okay). It isn’t as hot as it is in the summer and the lights come on earlier which I think makes the park a little bit more magical.

I will also add, there is a difference between trying to fit Disneyland into one or two days in the middle of your seven day southern California vacation and just accepting that your vacation is mostly going to be Disneyland for four or five days.

If you’re trying to do it one day, temper your expectations. You may be able to do everything you want, but you may not. The crowds will play a factor in that.

Most of all, make having fun with your family the main priority. Seeing the smiles on your kids faces when they meet their favorite character or are running to ride their favorite ride again for the fifth time that day is why Disneyland is magical. Don’t get lost in trying to check the box that you did everything. If you had fun, then mission accomplished.

We are planning to go in November. We made this decision based on crowd forecasters and what worked with our work and kids school schedules. We’ll see how it goes.

We will be there when the park is transitioning from Halloween to Christmas. I imagine that will mean we will miss some rides as they will be shutdown to get their holiday decorations placed on them, but that’s just how it will be this go around.

When is your favorite time to go to Disneyland? What are your tips and tricks to get the most out of your time there?