After the decision to visit the Disneyland Resort has been made, the most daunting task is left to complete. Trying to find that right time to visit might seem easy enough at first, but with the dizzying array of holidays, on seasons and off seasons, choosing that perfect time to visit the Resort is a little more difficult than it might first appear. As a general rule of thumb Intercot West suggests the following guidelines:

The on-season is the best choice if:
Seeing all of Resorts famous shows is a must

Crowds are not a problem

Having the option of 15 hours to visit the park, from 8 a.m. to midnight is a plus

The off-season will be best if:
Extremely small crowds are a preferable

Getting onto attractions without being forced to use Fastpass sounds appealing

Viewing the larger shows is not a priority

Shorter park hours, usually from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., are okay

Attendance Over the Years

Over the year attendance at the Disneyland Resort varies greatly. The following is a graph with a breakdown of the different periods of the year and corresponding crowds at Disneyland park: Since the opening of Disney’s California Adventure, overall crowds at the Disneyland Resort has increased due to the resort now being a multiple day vacation spot. Though the above graph shows attendance results prior to Disney’s California Adventure’s opening, the crowds should fluctuate in a similar manner over the year.



Park Hours and What They Represent

When deciding when to visit the Disneyland Resort, park hours should be the number one guide for estimating attendance. Planners at the Resort will usually offer increased hours when they expect larger crowds. For example the normal hours deep in the off-season are usually 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., compared to 8 a.m. to Midnight for the average summer day. Operating hours are a very clear indication of what attendance is expected for a given day.

On the extremely rare occasion underestimates will be made as to the attendance on a given day. In these cases Disneyland will extend its operating schedule by an hour or two, to accommodate the increased crowds. Announcements will be made throughout the park notifying visitors of these changes.

On Season

The on season is best known as that time when the Disneyland Resort sees its largest crowds. Vacation periods are created with federal holidays and the long summer break afforded to most school children. The Disneyland Resort is a very popular choice for families and groups looking for something to do on their much-deserved time off and the crowds definitely show this.

When Is It?

Traditionally the on season shows is longest sustained attendance rates during the summer, which runs Memorial Day weekend in the end of May until Labor Day weekend during the first week of September. Holiday periods are no exception to the increased numbers of guests. Presidents Day weekend in February, the weeks around Easter/Spring Break in March or April, Thanksgiving weekend at the end of November, and Christmas Day until New Years Day in December often mirror the crowds seen during the summer. There will also be a few periods of time throughout the year where the Resort will see increased guest traffic due to special events or other unexpected time-off traffic.

What's Offered?

While these times are the busiest of the year, they are a great opportunity to see all of the shows the Resort is offering. The Resort looks too keep all guests entertained, even when there are large crowds. During the on season the Resort will offer its full slate of entertainment features from its daytime entertainment to the nighttime spectaculars.

Crowds

The on season does have its fluctuations in attendance with the lightest crowds from Tuesday to Thursday during the week. Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest time with later hours and peak attendance. The parks are open late every night, usually until midnight, during the on season. Guests should be prepared for the crowds and hot temperatures. The What to Bring/Wear and Attractions sections in this guide offer information on how to beat the heat and offer recommendations on seeing the main attractions without being absorbed in heavy crowds.

Tips

Summertime is definitely a good time to visit for those guests who would like to see the Resort's largest shows and do not mind if they cannot ride every attraction. For those guests who would like to get on as many rides as possible and must visit during the summertime, it can be done but must be planned out accordingly. Most guests dislike this season because of how busy it is, but it depends on the attitude and expectations of the guest. Here are a few tips for guests entering the park during the on season:

Guests should ensure the family is well rested and gets a good night's sleep before the big day(s) at the parks so that crankiness is kept to a minimum.

Guests should not enter the park expecting to ride every ride or see every show, as this is just not possible on a busy on season day. Guests who are aware of this and come just to enjoy the day will have a much more relaxed time.

Guests with young children should be aware of the different attractions for children and adults, and should try not to get frustrated if a child wants to spend hours in one location of the park.

It is recommended to plan a break during the middle of the day, when the park is the busiest and the hottest. For guests staying at a hotel close to The Disneyland Resort, it is a good idea to return and take a rest. Another relaxing option is to visit one of the less popular attractions in the parks. See Midday - Afternoons in the Attractions section for details on the less popular attractions. Often a short rest or period of relaxation is well needed and well deserved, and guests should not hesitate to take one in the middle of the day.

Disney's California Adventure

Disney's California Adventure has added an extra twist to larger crowds during the on season. This park has a limited capacity of 30,000 to 35,000 guests, which is sure to be met on the Resorts busiest days. If this happens they will stop selling tickets to guests, but should let those who already hold tickets enter.

Off-Season

A favorite of Resort regulars, the off-season offers small crowds with a very relaxed atmosphere. The off-season includes all the time periods that are not listed above as part of the on season. The off-season is a great time for guests who would like to visit the parks without all the crowds and who don't mind missing some of the more popular shows. Weekdays during the off-season (excluding some Fridays) don't usually have much in the way of entertainment.

There is some daytime entertainment, but nothing large and the parks are usually not open past 6 or 8 in the evening. Weekends (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) will typically include most of the summertime shows. The parks are open until 10 p.m. or midnight. Guests who cannot visit during the week should visit on Sunday, which offers all the same shows that Saturday does but without the crowds. Sunday's are also only open until about 10 p.m. as opposed to Saturday's midnight. Guests who dislike crowds should try to stay away from the park on Saturdays, as it may get as busy as summer days.

This is a great time to visit for guests who are willing to take their child out of school. Since the attendance is much lower a day at the park(s) becomes less taxing, which helps to provide more energy to keep going for longer periods of time.