Fall Has Its Advantages For Disneyland Visitors

Most everyone loves Disneyland, but hardly anyone survives a visit without griping about the lines, the crowds and the prices at the concession stands.

There are, however, ways to mitigate the headaches - starting with timing a visit for the least busy times of year.

Disneyland spokesman John McClintock has one firm piece of advice for those who can’t bear the thought of waiting more than 30 minutes for a ride: Avoid the Fourth of July.

That’s the busiest day in the park, McClintock says, a day when attendance can reach 70,000.

“I have to think it’s a different 70,000 people every year,” he adds, “because after experiencing it once, who would come back?”

A better bet, he suggests, is to arrange a Disneyland visit for right after Labor Day, when crowds are down but summer hours and entertainment are still in full swing.

Late September and early October are the least busy times, according to McClintock. But the downside to visiting then, he warns, is that some attractions will be temporarily out of service for maintenance.

Delay a visit by a few weeks more and you may hit bingo. “From the end of Thanksgiving week to the beginning of Christmas week is always quite slow because people have other things to do. And it’s a time when the park is really up to speed because the Christmas parade and the Christmas decor are all there,” McClintock said.

One off-season hazard that visitors should be prepared for is rain. Short ride lines are virtually guaranteed during inclement weather - for those who remember to wear rubber-soled shoes and bring a poncho.

At any time of year, the park starts filling up by 10:30 a.m. and is at its most crowded by around 1 p.m., McClintock notes. Those mid-day hours are “a good time to find a cafe or take the kids to Tom Sawyer’s Island,” he recommends. “An energetic kid can spend two hours climbing trees and swinging on the bridge there.”

If you have to ride something at peak time, make it Pirates of the Caribbean, which has one of the fastest-moving lines in the park, McClintock suggests.

The best time on a daily basis to whiz through your favorite attraction with hardly a wait is just before the park closes.

Want to beat the cost of restaurant and concession-stand meals at the park?

Picnicking inside Disneyland is not allowed, but an area just outside the entrance has tables for those who want brown-bag it.