The entire week of Thanksgiving, the parks are insanely busy, as tourists and locals alike flock to the parks to spend time together in the “Happiest Place on Earth” with their families.
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Summer vacation months and any holiday season when there are school breaks are some of the busiest days for visiting Disneyland, given all the kids out of school, so avoid them if possible if you want smaller crowds. The busiest days to visit Disneyland are during Christmas break, spring break, and fall break.
It's always a great time to visit Disney theme parks! However, when planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort, expect lower crowds from mid-September through mid-November (before the Thanksgiving break). Mid-January through mid-March is another time when potentially lower crowds are expected.
November is very busy crowd-wise thanks to Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas season at Disney World. If you have a good plan and are flexible, we are positive you will still have a great time.
Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, especially Monday-Thursdays. On weekends, Sundays are usually less crowded than Saturdays. Regular weekends tend to be less crowded than holiday weekends.
Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, especially Monday-Thursdays. On weekends, Sundays are usually less crowded than Saturdays. Regular weekends tend to be less crowded than holiday weekends.
Arrive Early, Stay LateIf daily operating hours are long, expect heavy crowds. Whenever Disneyland and Disney California open at 8 am or 9 am and Disneyland closes at midnight (or later), you can be assured that this is because heavy crowds are forecast.
November 2023 – Save for Thanksgiving and Veterans Day weeks, neither of which are as bad as the Christmas and New Year's holiday weeks in terms of crowds, November is similar to December. Early and mid-November are usually good times to visit Walt Disney World, and the week after Thanksgiving is exceptional.
The temperatures in Anaheim in November are fairly moderate, with highs reaching around 75ºF and lows in the mid- to low-50s. The weather is pretty chilly in the mornings and evenings with some warmth around midday. So, packing layers is the key to ensure that you're comfy and cozy all day long.
Though Thanksgiving week is definitely considered a busy time at Disney World, it's not nearly as crowded as other times of year – like Christmas. Throughout the week, crowds continue to build, with the Saturday-Wednesday before Thanksgiving generally being slightly less busy than Thursday-Sunday.
In addition to all of those, keep in mind that the weekends are almost always busier than the weekdays, with mid-week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) being less crowded than Mondays and Fridays.
Meanwhile, travel agents have pointed to higher ticket prices as a major factor in declining theme park attendance. On top of that, trips to Europe appear to be cannibalizing demand for domestic theme parks this year — likely both contributing to the downturn.
One no-show might not hurt, but Disneyland's penalties for three missed reservations in the parks can be extremely painful. As of the time of this publication, “no-show” Guests at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida are not subject to penalties.
If a Magic Key holder has a reservation and does not show up for that reservation date, you do get a strike. According to the Magic Key Terms and Conditions, if you are a no-show for three reservations in any 90-day period, you will not be able to make any new reservations for 30 days.
We recommend that guests with Early Entry plan to arrive at the park gates 15 minutes before the start of Early Entry. We recommend guests without Early Entry plan to arrive at the park gates 30 minutes before scheduled park open. Keep in mind you'll need to account for parking and security time, too.
Mornings are the best times at Disneyland to see popular attractions because lines are much shorter and the California sun isn't quite so hot. Before planning an efficient morning strategy for Disneyland there are a few key features of the Disneyland Resort that you must become familiar with.
Aside from Thanksgiving, November is again a typically quieter month. With temperatures that don't drop too low, a lower chance of rainfall, and lower wait times for rides due to thinner crowds, November is a great time to visit if you can.
If you're ambivalent about the Christmas celebrations, October is the easy pick here. The weather is slightly better in November, but November is a mess on the calendar. Thanksgiving and Veterans Day keep crowds ebbing and flowing, and the precise timing of those crowds will always be hard to predict.