Originally Posted By cdadisney I know Disneyland is always busy, but can anyone tell me the best time to visit? When are the crowds the smallest?
Originally Posted By SleepingBeauty82 Because of the new promotions they've had in the last few years ("Yea of A Million Dreams" and "Get In Free On Your Birthday") there hasn't rally been a "down" time at the park. Personally, the slowest times I've been are right at the end of April during the week (Spring Break is over and Summer Break hasn't started) and the second half of September (school is back in session and Halloweentime hasn't started yet).
Originally Posted By Mickeysbestfan We like to go the sunday-wed right after Thanksgiving. Seems to start getting busy again about that thursday for the CP weekend. Also the Monday-thurs right after the CP weekend. The hours are shorter for the CM parties, but the park is not really busy at all.
Originally Posted By MerryMouseWife We have been regularly going to Disneyland since 1992. That first visit was terrific with very small crowds; we went the third week in October. In years past, right after Halloween, literally November 1, has been very good for low crowds. Even just a couple of years ago, in 2006, the crowds were very manageable. The last time DH and I went was the Tuesday after Thanksgiving through that Friday. The park was more empty than I have seen it in a very, very long time. The way the calendar fell that year, it was a week before the Candleligh Procession and before the early closures for cast member parties. I have pictures of completely empty Frontierland walkways up to very late morning. It was almost eerie, but we loved it. I would say that late January-early February; late April to mid-May; late September to third week in October; November 1 to the week before Thanksgiving would be probably the least crowded times. We all get anxious when the park is crowded like it gets for summer months so we risk attraction refurbs to have fewer people in the park. No matter when you go, have a great time. Didn't mean to make this a book. : )
Originally Posted By MerryMouseWife Came back to add that all of our experiences were during the weekdays not the weekends. The weekends are always busy so we try to avoid them.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney First week in November has very light crowds during the week. Friday is definitely more busy though.
Originally Posted By SleepingBeauty82 Saturdays from about April-August aren't too bad since all the Annual Passes are blocked out except Premiums...
Originally Posted By Mickeysbestfan Yes and from the wed before Thanksgiving til the Saturday after it's pretty much packed. If you go knowing it's going to be that way it's fairly easy to get around. It starts to slow down on Sunday.