HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule

[HydroGuy]

Rule

If you want to be able to experience all of the rides and see all of the shows, visit DLR during high season and learn how to work with crowds. If you want to visit when it is least crowded, expect to miss some rides and shows.


Who This Rule Affects

Everyone

Explanation

The DLR rides require maintenance. In addition, on some rides improvements need to be added which require closing the ride. Finally, some rides have special seasonal additions that require them to be closed for certain periods. DLR plans ride closures when it will affect the least people - that means off season.

DLR shows such as the Remember Dreams Come True fireworks and Fantasmic! are expensive to operate. DLR provides these shows more frequently during crowded times, and less frequently during periods of low crowds. During high season Remember will be offered nightly, and Fantasmic twice each night. During off season these are typically only performed on weekends, and Fantasmic may only be performed once each weekend night.

I frequently read on Internet fourms people planning their visit during off season and then being disappointed that a favorite ride will be closed, or that a show will not be performed during weekdays when they are there. Visiting during periods of low crowds does have downsides.

With a good plan and a little research, and a commitment to get to the parks early, it is possible to visit the parks during high season and not wait in long lines. See the link below for "HydroGuy's How To Avoid Long Lines Rules".

Why Did I Post This Rule?

I find myself posting answers to the same question in different threads, and decided to make a list of “rules” to which I or others can quickly link in the future. In addition, the ideas behind the rule are often posted by others so I do not claim originality for the rule.

Other HydroGuy Rules

HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851

HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852

HydroGuy's How To Avoid Long Lines Rules: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199856

HydroGuy's Make Sure You Get On Your Favorite Ride Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199860

HydroGuy's Hotel Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

 

[AKGMom]

We are planning a trip in June 2007, after the kids are out of school and before my Eagle Scout starts working at a Boy Scout summer camp. We are traveling from the norteast U.S. with 17 year old, 15 year old and 12 year old sons. Is there any way to find out what will be closed and what the schedule for events and shows will be for that period of time? We also want to do Legoland, the San Diego Zoo and whatever else we can fit in our visit. Suggestions from the experts?

 

[hlbtimes2]

Most rides should be open, and show schedules should be pretty full. They try to have most things up and running for the peak summer season. During this past June, the only ride closed was Pirates. It was getting the new changes made, before the movie premier. There are some rumors that they might add some things next year, for the May movie premier. Of course, along with the full schedules, you'll find a lot of people in the park on summer vacation!

 

[DaveO]

We did the same trip from the NE in June. My only advice is to SKIP Legoland. Your kids are much to old for it. Mine were 5 and 4 and were bored after being Disney vets at a young age. Legoland is not worth the money.

Dave

 

[HydroGuy]

We are planning a trip in June 2007, after the kids are out of school and before my Eagle Scout starts working at a Boy Scout summer camp. We are traveling from the norteast U.S. with 17 year old, 15 year old and 12 year old sons. Is there any way to find out what will be closed and what the schedule for events and shows will be for that period of time?

You probably will not be able to get the schedule of events until 2-4 months beforehand. For example, right now you cannot even get a schedule for December - two months out. I know by late June DLR has transitioned to their full entertainment schedule - with parades, fireworks and Fantasmic every day. So you do not have to worry about what happens on any particular day, because pretty much everything happens every day. When entertainment is only on weekends, then you need to be sure to get some a weekend day or two into your trip.

Not sure about entertainment frequency early to mid-June. Does anyone know?

 

[Alex2kMommy]

We went in late September; small crowds except on the weekend, but several things either closed for refurb, closed for the season, or available only on the weekend.

Is there a way to find out all the 'little things' that are available only on the weekend? For instance, I stumbled across the villains' lair, and was so excited to see a villain, but no one was ever there. I finally asked, and the CM said the villains were out only on the weekend... Would have been nice to know before the weekend rather than just after.

And another surprise: On our last day we were walking down Main St. on our way to CA. We stopped to see the Dapper Dans for a few minutes, then stopped at the next corner where a band was playing, then stopped again by the Main St. Firehouse where the firehouse band was playing. Suddenly out popped Chip & Dale! They did a little skit with the band, then rushed away, then Goofy came out! Goofy also played around a bit, then dashed away. Then Cruella De Vil herself sauntered up, harrassed the band, toyed with another guest (really funny!), then continued on around the circle. MAN! Does this happen every day??? It was just by chance that we were walking by at that moment! And on our last day, what a treat!

 

[SoCalKDG]

The DLR is very much affected by AP holders as there are about 700,000 of them, with 4 different levels. I found that the middle of the week in July and August this past year were less crowded then May and June due to the fact that SoCal passholders weren't allowed into the parks during this time, with DCA much less crowded as AP holders make up much of its attendance.

I'd check out the Disneyland website and note when this group of passholders are allowed into the park and avoid going during the last 2 weeks of their eligibility.

 

[Dis Ohana]

Thanks for bumping this thread up! My search feature wasn't working and I couldn't find it.

 

[goalie5hole]

How long does everyone vacation in So Cal?
What else do you usually do while there?
Is LAX the closest airport?

 

[northshoremama]

we haven't vacationed as a family yet in southern california...so i can't answer how many days...

but there's knotts berry farm, universal studios...and sea world in san diego...

the closest airport to DL is SNA (orange county)...much closer than LAX

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Is LAX the closest airport?

My preferred airport is LGB. Much closer, smaller, less expensive (for me).

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

This is an excellent and frequently disregarded rule.

 

[smartlabelprint]

When is off season? I tried to book spring break thinking everything would be open. It won’t be. But at least it will have longer khours.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Even though this was suggested over 10 years ago, it is still good advice.

 

[StormyCA]

To me (so my opinion only) 'off season' is pretty much a thing of the past. There are now simply 'less crowded' times; 2nd week of Jan through the week before Spring breaks start (so late Mar-early Apr) and mid-Aug through mid-Sept, excluding holiday weekends.

As far as 'everything running' I think that's pretty much confined to high Summer season (Memorial Day to early/mid-August) and Holiday Season (Halloween through New Year's). Although when they have major projects like the current Pixar Pier and long needed big refurbs like the current one for Splash, those rules go out the window.

 

[HydroGuy]

To me (so my opinion only) 'off season' is pretty much a thing of the past. There are now simply 'less crowded' times; 2nd week of Jan through the week before Spring breaks start (so late Mar-early Apr) and mid-Aug through mid-Sept, excluding holiday weekends.

Unfortunately for guests and fortunately for Disney this is more true every year. I still think finding a weekday in a traditional off-season time (like September before HalloweenTime kicks in) can offer some lower crowds. But it is harder to find. I remember going with my grandfather as a teen (cough, cough, 40 years ago, cough, cough) in January and riding Space Mtn over and over again essentially walk-on.

On the bright side, if Disney is keeping the parks more full that means they are making more money which means they have more to invest in new rides and shows. We have seen a lot of that in recent years at DLR.

As far as 'everything running' I think that's pretty much confined to high Summer season (Memorial Day to early/mid-August) and Holiday Season (Halloween through New Year's). Although when they have major projects like the current Pixar Pier and long needed big refurbs like the current one for Splash, those rules go out the window.

Yah, you are right. That has always been the case that of the "Big 3" high season time periods (Spring Break/Summer/Holiday) that Summer and Holiday are the most untouchable. Spring Break still often has one big ride down like Splash (and also CA Screamin this year).

 

[StormyCA]

Unfortunately for guests and fortunately for Disney this is more true every year. I still think finding a weekday in a traditional off-season time (like September before HalloweenTime kicks in) can offer some lower crowds. But it is harder to find. I remember going with my grandfather as a teen (cough, cough, 40 years ago, cough, cough) in January and riding Space Mtn over and over again essentially walk-on.

On the bright side, if Disney is keeping the parks more full that means they are making more money which means they have more to invest in new rides and shows. We have seen a lot of that in recent years at DLR.


Yah, you are right. That has always been the case that of the "Big 3" high season time periods (Spring Break/Summer/Holiday) that Summer and Holiday are the most untouchable. Spring Break still often has one big ride down like Splash (and also CA Screamin this year).

Agree. But even as recently as 2013 and 2014 BFF and I did a week each year in February and the parks were basically a ghost town! We did another trip in early August of 2014 (still school's out) and the crowds were busy but 'manageable'.

I've been 4 times since then at various times and the crowds are significantly higher relative to what I was used to pre-60th. I don't know what happened with the celebration for the 60th in 2015 but it seems to me that ever since then it's been crazy!

 

[sherilaine]

I agree that this old thread is being resurrected at a great timel! We are "off season" folks - we have put off going during Spring Break and during the holidays for end of February and early March. However, I have a feeling that after this upcoming trip we may considering changing that. The issue for us about going during the summer time is that we use Disneyland as an opportunity to get a break from our cold Canadian winters. This year though it looks like while hours are longer during Spring Break - there will still be ride closures happening along with larger crowds.

We don't go in assuming you can eat your cake and have it too, low crowd days are few and far between now, you take your chances with anytime you pick and we've had something down or under construction on every trip but honestly the more you know about getting the most out of your time is your secret weapon and all the advice found on this board has made our trips the success they have been!!

 

[katyringo]

I will say this. We went the week between Christmas and New Years and so many blogs, etc has me petrified that our vacation would be absolutely horrible and worthless due to the crowds. We researched and had an Amazing time! We aren’t even looking at crowd predictions in planning for our next trip. I would rather have all the rides and shows available. We were able to see fantasmic, fireworks, world of color, parade, a Christmas parade thing in DCA, the band, and ride all the headliners in 3 days during, which 2 of the days were at capacity. We are planning our next trip for the same time.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I ran into one of those slow times just this year, so it can happen! Sept 6-9 was a ghost town, it was fabulous!!!

Yes, it used to be like that more frequently, but you can still get those weeks. It also helps now that my husband is a CM here at WDW, I can look 3-4 months ahead on our calendar. If CM's are blocked out, I know it's gonna be bad! LOL