There’s a 4 month stretch encompassing Halloween, Christmas, and Lunar New 12 months that we like at Disneyland and Disney California Journey. Those are our 3 favourite vacations, however they may be able to be very busy. We aren’t the one ones who love those occasions of yr, and the parks can also be full of vacationers and locals on height dates. Thankfully, there’s one window of alternative that we’ve discovered has grow to be persistently uncrowded.
Let’s get started with the fundamentals. Throughout the aforementioned 4-month stretch–from October via January–some distance and away our favourite time to do Disneyland is Christmas. There’s one thing particular concerning the vacation season, and we make some extent to discuss with as time and again as we will all through November and December. (See our Information to Christmas at Disneyland for the whole thing we like about this time of yr.)
The disadvantage of the Christmas season is that it’s already shorter than Halloween through just about a complete month, and it has extra height season dates which are unhealthy occasions to discuss with. We’re in reality just a little frustrated that Vacation Time is beginning per week later this yr, as a result of that eradicated one in every of our different favourite occasions. (We’ll nonetheless be there then, so right here’s hoping for comfortable openings!) If you do away with the top crowd weeks round Thanksgiving, Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve, you’re left with simplest a few doable choices.
Fortunately, we’ve discovered some of the very best home windows to discuss with Disneyland, and it’s nonetheless moderately of a secret. This time-frame may in reality come as much less of a wonder to Walt Disney International fanatics, because it being a good time to discuss with has been some of the worst-kept secrets and techniques there for ages.
In reality, long-time readers of the weblog may know that our #1 favourite week of the yr at Walt Disney International is the only after Thanksgiving. We’ve advisable it numerous occasions over the past decade-plus, and it’s been our go-to for ages. Again once we lived within the Midwest, our annual WDW Christmas shuttle generally began the Sunday after the vacation.
Now that we’re Disneyland locals once more, we discuss with on a weekly foundation and feature “unintentionally” came upon that the similar is correct at Disneyland. Neatly, more or less. Not like at Walt Disney International, this nice time to discuss with isn’t anchored to the bottom of Thanksgiving. Even though that isn’t a foul time to discuss with, both.
Statistically talking, crowds do drop after Thanksgiving at Disneyland. This usually begins to a point on that Saturday, with a sharper drop on Sunday and the next week. You’ll be able to be expecting crowd ranges to fall from 8/10 to ten/10 ranges the week of Thanksgiving to two/10 to five/10 ranges that subsequent week.
Alternatively, this isn’t essentially the most productive week to discuss with all through the vacation season (and through extension, all the yr). Our favourite week generally happens one week later, and can get started as a substitute on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Emphasis on “now not essentially” and “generally” as a result of we’re basing this on previous precedent and wait occasions information from the previous few years.
Thanksgiving is going on later than standard this yr, so it’s imaginable that our favourite dates in December 2024 gained’t be slightly as fascinating because of that. (Simply wish to be up entrance about that asterisk–we nonetheless be expecting the trend to carry true, however the transferring of Thanksgiving does introduce a component of uncertainty.)
Let’s talk about why that is our favourite week to do Disneyland…
Candlelight Processional – This may appear to be an unusual beginning position, however this being a good time to discuss with flows from Candlelight Processional, which is utterly other from the model at EPCOT. We completely adore it on each coasts, but it surely’s unequivocally higher at Disneyland. Regardless, we’re now not citing Candlelight Processional for the caliber of the revel in, pageantry, and so forth. (For extra concerning the revel in, see our Information to Candlelight Processional at Disneyland.)
Candlelight may be essentially other at Disneyland. Not like at EPCOT the place it’s an providing for normal visitors and a method of accelerating attendance and promoting eating applications, it’s none of the ones issues at Disneyland. Nearly the other, in truth. Candlelight Processional isn’t meant for the common visitors at Disneyland.
It isn’t designed to attract crowds, and Disneyland actively tries to cut back them through now not publicizing anything else about Candlelight Processional by any means. When you Google “Candlelight Processional,” you’ll virtually completely see effects for Walt Disney International. Even including “Disneyland” to the question most commonly brings again Walt Disney International pages. There isn’t anything else about Candlelight Processional at the respectable Disneyland website online in any respect.
Level being, Disneyland doesn’t need common visitors to learn about Candlelight Processional because it’s now not for them–it’s for VIPs and Membership 33 contributors. This may be as a result of Candlelight Processional is held on the entrance of the park, proper on the Major Side road USA Teach Station.
Which means The city Sq. is extremely congested from mid-afternoon on, and mainly turns into a stressed mob by the point Candlelight Processional rolls round, packed into the general public spaces like sardines. Although Disneyland doesn’t publicize it, locals learn about Candlelight, and display up anyway, regularly status in the similar spot for hours. All of this exacerbates the congestion on the entrance of the park.
As a result of all this, standard knowledge were to keep away from Disneyland all through Candlelight Processional weekend. Talking from revel in, this used to be just right recommendation for a minimum of a decade via 2019. We had executed Disneyland in this weekend, and it used to be a madhouse. And now not simply on the entrance of the park.
Alternatively, as with such a lot of issues, the closure and post-reopening insurance policies modified issues. In the previous couple of years, we’ve spotted that Disneyland isn’t just about as busy all through Candlelight Processional. The entrance of the park remains to be a madhouse, positive, however whenever you get handed Major Side road, it’s now not just about as unhealthy. In reality, we’ve been stunned through simply how low wait occasions were right through the park.
There are two causes for this. The primary reason why is visitor demographics. This isn’t a well-liked time for vacationers, so it’s most commonly locals who’re disproportionately doing issues as opposed to points of interest. They’re there to camp out for Candlelight (outdoor the viewing space), benefit from the spirit of the season, and so on. They upload to congestion, however now not wait occasions for rides.
That on my own doesn’t give an explanation for it, despite the fact that, because it’s at all times been the case that this weekend is busier with locals than with vacationers. The largest distinction is nearly veritably park reservations. Disneyland now has granular regulate over attendance, having the ability to restrict the reservation pool for normal price ticket holders and, a lot more importantly, Magic Key Annual Passholders. This permits Disneyland to successfully block out APs through dramatically lowering reservation availability. This capability cap is one thing that didn’t meaningfully exist in 2019 or previous.
After all, that is at all times matter to modify and Disneyland may select to open the floodgates on Magic Key park reservations for December 7-8, 2024. In so doing, this could move from a super weekend to an terrible one–as used to be the case prior to now. However we extremely doubt that may occur, as a result of Disneyland has no incentive to take action. Reservations are already long past for Sunday, and each tier of AP with the exception of the highest one is already blocked out on Saturday. All indicators are these days pointing to contemporary historical past repeating itself and this being a just right weekend to discuss with from the standpoint of wait occasions. Simply keep off of Major Side road within the afternoon, because it’ll virtually for sure be packed!
Fortunately, the low crowds shouldn’t finish as soon as Monday, December 9, 2024 rolls round…
Crowds & Wait Instances – As measured through moderate wait occasions, December 3-7 used to be some of the slowest stretches of closing yr (the similar dates to what we’re recommending as soon as adjusted for the timing of Thanksgiving). Day by day crowd ranges have been 1/10 or 2/10. When you amplify that to incorporate the prior Friday and Saturday (December 1-2), crowds have been nonetheless underneath moderate, however now not slightly as favorable.
Crowds did spike at the following Friday, and that Saturday noticed 8/10 crowd ranges. The week after that used to be slightly crowded, however nonetheless underneath moderate. Nearly each date from the Saturday after Thanksgiving till mid-December used to be slightly crowded or underneath. (December 9 is the largest outlier–I will be able to’t give an explanation for why it spiked to eight/10 crowds.)
In the case of Disneyland crowds, one adage rings true: historical past doesn’t repeat itself, but it surely regularly rhymes. On this context, because of this common developments and patterns play out from yearly, however the specifics generally vary. That is due largely, as soon as once more, to park reservations. Natural call for from vacationers is low all through those weeks, however now not amongst locals. All it could take is Disneyland taking a look eventually yr’s numbers and opting to ‘open the valve’ on Magic Key AP reservations. With that transfer on my own, closing yr’s 2/10 crowd ranges grow to be 5/10 or upper. That’s actually all it takes.
Since locals are the main drivers of December attendance outdoor of vacation weeks, different variables that affect their want to discuss with are at play. If it rains or is unseasonably chilly, it’s sport over–Californians gained’t discuss with the parks. They are going to, alternatively, disproportionately achieve this within the days that practice. Level being, crowd developments at Disneyland are extra fickle than at Walt Disney International. Vacationer developments are predictable, however that’s simplest part (or so) of the equation.
Our expectation is in reality rather upper crowd ranges for the second one week of December 2024, and about the similar numbers for the week straight away after Thanksgiving. The root for that is, slightly merely, that 1/10 and a couple of/10 crowd ranges are very low–and it’s tough to copy numbers that just right. Alternatively, wait occasions were trending downward year-over-year as pent-up call for exhausts itself. So who is aware of.
Frankly, we’re glad each time crowd ranges are 5/10 or underneath in November and December. The qualitative upsides greater than make up for even moderate crowd ranges, and reasonable crowds are nonetheless low through vacation time requirements. When you assume the primary or 2d weeks of December 2024 are busy, return between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve. You’ll be disabused of that perception actual rapid, and shall be begging for a go back of the ones first part of December crowds. It’s all relative.
Talking of all of it being relative, it’s additionally value a reminder that past due November via mid-December is busier now than it used to be a decade in the past. However that’s true of just about all dates of the yr. Disneyland annual attendance has greater through a number of tens of millions of folks, and park growth has now not stored tempo. So crowds are worse, around the board, than they have been in 2014! However except you might have a time system, that doesn’t do you any just right.
Crowds and Candlelight Processional are the 2 largest causes to discuss with Disneyland all through this week. Right here’s what else we like about this time-frame all through the vacation season at Disneyland, and why you will have to discuss with all through this sort of weeks when you’re already making plans a 2024 or 2025 holiday all through Christmas-time…
“Entire” Christmas – Not like Walt Disney International, the vacation season isn’t actually phased at Disneyland. It’s imaginable you may see fewer decorations within the resorts when you discuss with in mid-November, however the entire leisure, appeal overlays, and so forth., shall be in complete swing proper from the outset.
Accordingly, this comes right down to the festive environment outdoor Disneyland. If you wish to revel in Christmas in Tremendous Nintendo International at Common Studios Hollywood, you must discuss with after Thanksgiving. Similar is going for different Southern California theme parks and vacationer points of interest.
Maximum of our favourite spots right through Orange County don’t get decked out till the very finish of November or December. We like the Seaside Towns this time of yr, and as at all times, our favorites are Dana Level and Laguna Seaside. (The previous in reality does get started its vacation lighting show in mid-November, in order that’s now not the most productive instance.)
Decrease Costs & Higher Offers – With decrease occupancy than the height weeks of the vacation season, it will have to come as no wonder that there are higher offers available between the height weeks of the vacations slightly than all through them. There are these days nice reductions on the Inns of Disneyland Hotel on Sunday via Thursday nights from now via December 19, 2024.
Now not simplest that, however the lodge rack charges and different costs are decrease first of all than all through Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New 12 months’s weeks. When you take a look at the Least expensive Instances to Cross to Disneyland, you’ll see that those two weeks are the most productive of the vacation season. Nonetheless now not as little as the actual low season, however lovely shut!
It’s additionally more straightforward to e-book discounted off-site resorts by the use of Get Away These days to save cash for early to mid-December than round vacation weeks. What we’re seeing at the moment is far better availability and considerably decrease costs for those first part of December dates. Win-win!
Climate – We like the elements in Southern California at Christmas. Disneyland virtually at all times beats Walt Disney International on this regard, but it surely’s very true right through the vacation season. It’s now not actually that the primary part of December is healthier than later within the month or November, all dates are (roughly) similarly just right.
Relatively, it’s that November and December are higher than the 2 months sooner than them (too sizzling) or the 2 months after (too chilly). With that mentioned, this time of yr isn’t for everybody. It does get chilly in California, particularly within the evenings. To every their very own, however I will be able to take having to put on a coat over sweating via my blouse any day of the week. You’ll be able to at all times upload layers, however there are simplest such a lot of you’ll subtract sooner than safety says, “sir, you’ll’t take off your blouse right here.” (Buzzkills.)
Whilst it’s now not at all times best, we’ve discovered that 90% of the time, the elements in early to mid-December is our candy spot. Up to I like past due August and September for low crowds, I’ll thankfully take care of rather increased attendance for a lot better climate. It’s a very easy business off for us.
The one asterisk here’s that that is California’s wet season. However that doesn’t actually imply the similar factor in Anaheim because it does Orlando–there’s an 11-14% probability of rain on moderate all through those dates, for a grand overall of one.8 inches of rain over the process all the month. That’s mainly a actually wet day or two in Florida. And the upside at Disneyland is {that a} wet day clears out the park, which doesn’t occur at Walt Disney International.
In the end, it will have to be simple to look why December 8-12, 2024 is the most productive window of all the yr to discuss with Disneyland. In case your time table isn’t that versatile, just about any date beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving (December 1) via December 15, 2024 will have to be just right. Any later than that and also you’re visiting all through a mix of vacationer occasions and when locals scramble to get of their closing visits of the yr sooner than heavy-handed blockouts take impact. That introduces too many wildcards for assured suggestions about when crowds shall be favorable.
When you’re these days making plans a shuttle, our advice could be to make December 8, 2024 your first day within the parks and December 12, 2024 your closing day. We generally counsel heading off Mondays, however there’s no wait occasions information from the previous 3 years to indicate that day of the week is busy all through this time-frame. (I’d nonetheless more than likely err at the facet of warning and do a non-parks day if I had flexibility–you almost certainly aren’t doing 5 days within the parks.)
That’ll virtually for sure be the candy spot for the most productive of crowds, wait occasions, climate, seasonal spirit, and so on. With that mentioned, if we had to select a next-best set of dates from a qualitative standpoint, it’d be tough to make a decision between December 1-6, 2024 and November 17-22, 2024. Regardless, doable trip dates to imagine in your long term journeys to Disneyland!
Making plans a Southern California holiday? For park admission offers, learn Pointers for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Lodge Opinions & Scores. For the place to devour, take a look at our Disneyland Eating place Opinions. For distinctive concepts of items that’ll support your shuttle, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Holiday Making plans Information. In any case, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and plenty of different SoCal towns!
YOUR THOUGHTS
When you’ve executed Disneyland post-Thanksgiving, what used to be your revel in? Have you ever visited all through Candlelight Processional weekend in any of the closing 3 years? If this is the case, have you ever spotted a identical dynamic of heavy congestion on Major Side road however decrease wait occasions right through the park? When you’ve visited this identical week in prior years, how do you assume this yr compares? Ideas about anything coated right here? When you’re a common customer all through this time-frame, what’s your tackle crowds, wait occasions, seasonal spirit, climate, and so forth? Agree or disagree with our evaluation of those two weeks as the most productive time all through the vacation season? Any questions we will mean you can resolution? Listening to your comments is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
