16 replies to this topic

[folsom44]

Is the week before xmas a good time to go? Anyone been? Wanting to avoid the crowds, but see the park decorated. Im assuming most schools are out the week of xmas and new years? Appreciate any feedback....

Sorry, not sure what i did..but i posted topic several times.

[Steve Heard]

I've never gone during the holidays, but am told it can be quite busy.

 

One friend said they had foot traffic controls and that people were walking shoulder to shoulder. Very claustrophobic.

 

The reason they go, however, is because it's beautiful. 

[mac_convert]

The best time to go is probably NOW! They have a super fast turn around from Halloween to Christmas. The month of December is always very busy, but like you figured the last two weeks are busier than the other weeks.

[caligirlz]

The lights last through Jan 6

https://disneyland.d...neyland-resort/

 

Hmm...found this blog http://www.disneytou...sy-crowd-times/

They say, "Christmas week through early January is insanely crowded" and "Weekdays in December until the Friday before Christmas week" are moderated crowded.

[traceyl]

We're going November 22 - 25th.  It will probably be super crowded because of the Thanksgiving holiday, BUT the Folsom High Marching Band is heading up the Main Street parade on the 22nd -- can't miss that!  Plus it will be decorated for Christmas, which is just stunning!

[Annet54]

I'm taking my son Dec 11-13, we went in 2010 around the same time and it was great, The weather was in the 80's, there were hardly any line, the longest one was about 30 minute wait. I think the first two weeks of December is the best time to go for the Holiday decorations as the kids down there are not out of school yet.  And another good thing is that the It's a Small World ride is not as annoying because it has Christmas music mixed in!  LOL!

[SacKen]

They often reach capacity around Xmas and New Years and sometimes stop letting people in. Crazy crowded.

 

Early November and early December are usually safe. I've been the first week of Dec a couple times and the crowds weren't bad at all. Never stood in line for more than 15 minutes, other than Cars Land because it's all shiny and new.

[2kids4me]

Before my daughter started HS, we went every year the week after Thanksgiving.  We just pulled the kids from school for that week (Monday-Friday).  It is not very crowded, the decorations are up, and my kids just did the independent study during the week of Thanksgiving.  I have heard the time during Christmas break can be very very busy.  If you have older kids, that might be fine, but the littles will get pretty cranky.

 

I do have to say we LOVE going during the holidays!  It really gets you into the spirit.  :-)

[sat]

We have been at different times through the year, and the best time seems to be right after Halloween.  They are putting up the Christmas decorations daily, and by the end of our trip, it was fully decorated.  The crowds are very minimal with no lines at the attractions.  We've been during Thanksgiving week, and it was crazy, something we will never do again.

[folsom44]

Thank you everyone for your responses....very helpful! Looking forward to the trip!

[aztransplant]

If you can swing it to go the week after next (the week BEFORE Thanksgiving week), I think you might have a much better time of it than the week before Christmas (especially if by "the week before Christmas" you mean the week leading up to Christmas). My nieces used to have that week off and Grandma, Mom, and Dad all said it was a great time to go -- Christmas decorations and parades are starting, hardly any lines, etc.

 

On the other hand, this year the girls don't get that week off; instead they had time off in October. Who knew that October is SUPER busy and crowded during the week??? All the Disney hotels were booked solid (they got a place about a mile or so away) and lines were CRAZY long. They even had a AAA special deal to get in an hour before the place officially opened and by the time they got to the place to get advance passes for one of the really popular rides (can't remember which one) the soonest they could get in was something like 2:30pm.

 

Hope you have fun whenever you choose to go.

[folsom44]

Thanks aztransplant..."the week before xmas" i am meaning the week of dec 15th. Are "most" kiddos still in school...does anyone know? Thanks

[2kids4me]

I think many kids will be in school that week.  It might get busy toward the end, so you would want to maximize Monday-Wednesday and be prepared for crowds Thursday and Friday.  A really good message board is disboards.com.  I have gotten so much information from that site.  It's overwhelming at first, but you can probably find an answer to almost any question!

[granto]

They often reach capacity around Xmas and New Years and sometimes stop letting people in. Crazy crowded.

 

 

Usually by noon most days and sometimes as early as 10am!!