Disneyland Vacation Tips - Beat the Crowds

One of the best Disneyland vacation tips we can give is how to beat the crowds at Disneyland. But first, let's answer the question "Where is Disneyland located?"

Disneyland is located at 1313 Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim, California. Now one of two theme parks at the Disneyland Resort, Disneyland brings in visitors year-round.

So when is the best time to visit Disneyland?

There are several times of year to choose from. Ideally, visitors want nice weather and the smallest crowd possible. One of the best times of year to meet these standards is in the fall, after children have gone back to school, in between Labor Day and Columbus Day. In California, most kids are back in school by late September and the holiday crowds don't start coming until Halloween gets closer. Other times to visit would be mid-January to mid-February, and after Easter/Spring Break to the end of May.

Keep in mind that weekends will always be busier than a weekday. If you're planning an extended visit to the Disneyland Resort, visit the parks during the week and visit other venues on the weekend.

You can expect the weather at Disneyland to be pleasant most of the year. Rainfall is heavier during the months of January, February, and March. July through early September, Disneyland weather is going to be hot and the theme parks will be packed with people; if you'll be visiting the parks during the summer, dress cool, make use of the water rides, and make a point of staying after dark for the nighttime shows.

No matter what, have fun on your Disneyland vacation! Tips are great, but nothing beats first-hand experience. Imagine, explore, and enjoy the magic.

Avoid Disney World Crowds - Dad's Top 5 Tips

Avoiding Walt Disney World crowds is hard work. If you do a little homework, it gets easier. Here are Dad's top 5 Disney World tips to avoid Disney crowds.

Dad's Number One Tip -

Get there early - Come on sleepyheads roll out of bed. Mickey rewards early birds with short lines and uncrowded streets. The first hour of any day is the least busy in all of the Disney parks.

During the morning guests continue to arrive and crowds continue to build until late in the afternoon or early evening. Crowds will start to thin out a little as the evening progresses. For example, the line at Space Mountain first thing in the morning will be 10 minutes or less. By noon, on most days, that line will reach more than one hour. 

Somebody used to tell me "The Early Bird gets the Worm". I don't know about worms, but the early bird at Disney World almost has the parks to themselves.

Number Two -

Extra Magic Hours - If you are staying at a Disney Resort, take advantage of Disney's Extra Magic Hours. This is the program that allows Disney Resort guests access to the parks one hour before the published opening time or up to three hours after the park officially closes. This can really help avoid long lines at popular attractions. 

Every day one of the parks, including the water parks, participates in Extra Magic Hours. Disney allows guest in early or let's them stay late and ride the most popular rides in the park.

Number Three -

Know when to use Fastpass. A few years ago Disney started a program to lessen the length of time guest wait in line. It is called Fastpass. This program allows a ticket holder to bypass long lines of people via an alternative entrance.  

There are times when Fastpass doesn't save you time or the return time will conflict with other plans you might have. If the "Standby" line at an Fastpass attraction (they all have a clock showing Standby line times) has a wait time of under 30 minutes, getting a ticket probably won't save you any time. Go ahead and ride, or grab a ticket, ride the ride, and come back and ride it again later.

Fastpass is available for all park guests and, here's the best part...

It's free.

Number Four - 

Choose a slower time of the year to visit - There are several months when Walt Disney World crowds are smaller. Typically these months are when there are no school vacations. For example, mid-January to the end of February, and again in late August until Thanksgiving. During these times crowds are smaller the pace in the parks is slower and the restaurants are more available.

An added benefit to visiting during this time of year is that Disney usually offers special, lower, prices.

Number Five -   

Have a plan -  You can save a lot of time, and avoid Disney crowds, if you know where you are going and have a plan to get around the parks. In other words, do your homework. (If you're reading this that's probably what your doing.) 

Decide early where you are going to eat and plan your days around your meals. You can make Advanced Dining Reservations 90 days prior to arrival for most Disney World restaurants.

Your family can have a lot of fun planning a Disney World vacation together.