Disneyland in the first week of April or mid June?

[Walt Disney1955]

Which is a better time of year to go? The idea is that my wife and I plan on going sometime in 2012. I proposed the first week of April, since she goes back to work then (she is off for maternity leave which we get one year in Canada for). This way she doesn't have to bother taking any holidays since she is still off. We plan on having one of our mothers look after our son during that time so it'll just be us two.

But the other option is going in mid June when she has gotten back to work for a couple of months and has built up some holiday time. Personally I wouldn't mind doing it in April since she wouldn't have to waste a week's vacation.

But keep in mind we plan on exploring other parts of SoCal. Hollywood, the Beaches, a day at Universal as well. Maybe a sports game depending on what time of year it is (would love to see the Dodgers). All that coupled with a 3 day trip to Disneyland one of those days being in DCA.

So just some pointers, what is the weather like in early April? I know in mid June the weather is very nice, probably high twenties and the ocean should be very warm by then but what about April? Is the ocean warm enough to swim in at that time? Do a lot of people do it? What would the crowds be like at Disneyland in April as opposed to mid June?

 

[TP2000]

So just some pointers, what is the weather like in early April? I know in mid June the weather is very nice, probably high twenties and the ocean should be very warm by then but what about April? Is the ocean warm enough to swim in at that time? Do a lot of people do it? What would the crowds be like at Disneyland in April as opposed to mid June?

I have absolutely no idea how American temps translate into Metric temps, I am forever flummoxed by that on trips to Japan or Europe, so hopefully you can translate the temperatures.

Daily average temps for Anaheim in early April are High: 74, Low: 54. It is still possible to get some rain in early April, but it is pretty rare. The average rainfall for the entire month of April in Anaheim is 8 tenths of an inch, and any rain would likely come in the first two weeks of the month. But it's not unusual to have the last rainy day in SoCal in mid March, and then not see rain again until late November. The La Nina winter we are having is already very dry, so I wouldn't expect rain this April.

June is warmer, but can also have the "June Gloom" in Anaheim where beach fog rolls in early morning and stays nearly all day, creating a low and grey cloud cover that clears only at night. The same weather phenomenon happens in May, when it is called "May Gray"; it's part of the coastal climate of Orange County, as the vast Pacific Ocean is about 10 miles from Disneyland as the crow flies.

June high temps are High: 81, Low: 61, but the June Gloom can bring those temps down by 10 degrees in the daytime. It is almost statistically impossible for it to rain in June, with average rainfall for the entire month of just one tenth of an inch.

Ocean temps are going to be much, much colder in SoCal at any time of the year compared to Florida. Ocean temps in April will be barely 60 degrees, and most people don't go in past their shins because it is so cold. In June the ocean is warming, but not to the bathlike temps of Florida. By mid June you can expect ocean temps in the upper 60's, and they top out around the 70 to 73 degree mark in August. It's a bit of a shock to jump into the ocean in June or July, but after a couple minutes you adjust and can swim comfortably. California surfers wear wetsuits not to look hip, but as a means of survival because it's the only way to prevent hypothermia in SoCal waters for 6 or 8 months out of the year.

Surf's Up! But don't forget to Suit Up!

That said, there are fantastic beaches about a 30 minute drive south of Disneyland at Laguna Beach. Hip shops, fantastic restaurants, art galleries, swanky clifftop hotels, and gorgeous beaches for strolling and swimming and exploring. http://www.lagunabeachinfo.com/

Lovely Laguna Beach, California

Any beach in Orange County is going to be much nicer than the beaches up in Los Angeles County, which are more urban and dirtier and often divided up into luxury housing compounds right along the sand. Save Los Angeles for Universal Studios and Hollywood sight-seeing, and save your beaches for Orange County safety and cleanliness.

Crowds between those two times are variable, because Easter falls in early April this year. Also, in mid June you run up against the possibility of being there during or just before the grand reopening of DCA. There might be soft openings going on at that time for Cars Land, or there might still be construction walls up or stuff shut down for big media parties and previews. It's a tough call, and word hasn't gotten out yet on when exactly all the DCA stuff opens this summer; June? July? Who knows? The crowds are a bit bigger in early April due to Easter Vacation though. The peak summer season really doesn't start until the July 4th weekend.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Thanks, good to know. So Laguna Beach has looked nicer in other pictures that I have seen other than the ones you have posted above. I've seen those beaches flooded with people before. Am I wrong or was that just a random picture you posted?

 

[Walt Disney1955]

By the way, when is school out in the States, or California? Is it late June? If I go on June 17th will kids still be in school?

 

[NemoRocks78]

By the way, when is school out in the States, or California? Is it late June? If I go on June 17th will kids still be in school?

We're in north San Diego County and our kids get out of school June 7th. I imagine most schools in SoCal are finishing up around that time. :wave:

 

[Laura]

Weather in SoCal is impossible to guess, but almost always stays within a 20 degree range. One day it will be in the 80's (warmish hot), the next day it will be in the 60's (warmish cold). Once in a while you'll get a super hot day (90's) or a "super cold" day (50's), but not often. This is true no matter what month it is. Usually anytime the sun is out it's warm to hot, and anytime the sun goes down it's cool to freezing. My standard Disneyland outfit is jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt in the locker for when the sun sets. This is what I wear whether it be June or December. Occasionally in the summer I'll go for capris or shorts if it's going to be over 85.

Also, I don't know if Hollywood actually is hotter, but it always FEELS 10 degrees hotter than Disneyland. I'm always melting there. For this reason, I really dislike visiting Universal during the summer.

As far as the ocean being warm - HA. Doesn't happen. I've lived here 2 1/2 years and never once stepped into the water (though once I did fall in fully clothed during a kayaking tour). Keep in mind, I love swimming in the ocean, I love boogie boarding, I love snorkeling, all that stuff, but I can't do any of it here. It's freezing cold in the water every day of the year and I won't go near it. The beaches themselves are also not very warm. Even in the middle of summer I tend to freeze to death sitting on the beach (70's and windy makes me cold). Disneyland and Los Angeles are more inland so they are much warmer than the beaches. I live a mile from the ocean and rarely go to the beach. Also, it's a huge pain to find any decent parking at any beaches in the summer.

Both April and June will be crowded at DL, but with all the new stuff opening up this summer, I expect it's going to be a complete madhouse at DCA in June. 3 days should give you enough time to see everything if you're using fastpass and single rider lines.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

We're in north San Diego County and our kids get out of school June 7th. I imagine most schools in SoCal are finishing up around that time. :wave:

Thanks.

Weather in SoCal is impossible to guess, but almost always stays within a 20 degree range. One day it will be in the 80's (warmish hot), the next day it will be in the 60's (warmish cold). Once in a while you'll get a super hot day (90's) or a "super cold" day (50's), but not often. This is true no matter what month it is. Usually anytime the sun is out it's warm to hot, and anytime the sun goes down it's cool to freezing. My standard Disneyland outfit is jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt in the locker for when the sun sets. This is what I wear whether it be June or December. Occasionally in the summer I'll go for capris or shorts if it's going to be over 85.

Also, I don't know if Hollywood actually is hotter, but it always FEELS 10 degrees hotter than Disneyland. I'm always melting there. For this reason, I really dislike visiting Universal during the summer.

As far as the ocean being warm - HA. Doesn't happen. I've lived here 2 1/2 years and never once stepped into the water (though once I did fall in fully clothed during a kayaking tour). Keep in mind, I love swimming in the ocean, I love boogie boarding, I love snorkeling, all that stuff, but I can't do any of it here. It's freezing cold in the water every day of the year and I won't go near it. The beaches themselves are also not very warm. Even in the middle of summer I tend to freeze to death sitting on the beach (70's and windy makes me cold). Disneyland and Los Angeles are more inland so they are much warmer than the beaches. I live a mile from the ocean and rarely go to the beach. Also, it's a huge pain to find any decent parking at any beaches in the summer.

Both April and June will be crowded at DL, but with all the new stuff opening up this summer, I expect it's going to be a complete madhouse at DCA in June. 3 days should give you enough time to see everything if you're using fastpass and single rider lines.

Thanks for the info. I am really leaning towards going to SoCal in early June now. The reason for this would be to take advantage of things during the week when the kids are still at school. Yeah I know, there is never a down day at Disneyland but I would guess a Monday or a Tuesday during normal school days are less busy than a Saturday or a normal weekday in June once the kids are out. I assume this is correct?

Also I am just going by what I am used to up here in Canada. There is a beach called Sauble Beach we go to every summer, multiple times. Once mid July hits the water is usually alright. Well, I mean when you first set foot in its very cold, even in July, but it is one of those things where if the sun is shining down on you that all you have to do is dunk your head under water and then it feels warm. You get the drift. Anyway, this happens all summer. The water is almost always like that. But we're still comfortable in there.

Now we're Canadians of course, so maybe we'll go to California in June and wonder what all the fuss is about with this "cold" ocean. I don't know, but I am taking a guess that ocean water in L.A. in early June is at least as warm as lake water in July up in Canada (near Toronto).

So early June is probably a good time and one where we can avoid less crowds? Plus the Matterhorn will be running again by June.

 

[Laura]

Thanks.



Thanks for the info. I am really leaning towards going to SoCal in early June now. The reason for this would be to take advantage of things during the week when the kids are still at school. Yeah I know, there is never a down day at Disneyland but I would guess a Monday or a Tuesday during normal school days are less busy than a Saturday or a normal weekday in June once the kids are out. I assume this is correct?

Also I am just going by what I am used to up here in Canada. There is a beach called Sauble Beach we go to every summer, multiple times. Once mid July hits the water is usually alright. Well, I mean when you first set foot in its very cold, even in July, but it is one of those things where if the sun is shining down on you that all you have to do is dunk your head under water and then it feels warm. You get the drift. Anyway, this happens all summer. The water is almost always like that. But we're still comfortable in there.

Now we're Canadians of course, so maybe we'll go to California in June and wonder what all the fuss is about with this "cold" ocean. I don't know, but I am taking a guess that ocean water in L.A. in early June is at least as warm as lake water in July up in Canada (near Toronto).

So early June is probably a good time and one where we can avoid less crowds? Plus the Matterhorn will be running again by June.

Early June is definitely better than mid-late June. The crowds will probably be thick in the afternoons and evenings when everyone leaves work/school, but not too bad during the day.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Early June is definitely better than mid-late June. The crowds will probably be thick in the afternoons and evenings when everyone leaves work/school, but not too bad during the day.

But it should even out since the evenings will see the tourists leave early (some of them) right?

 

[TP2000]

But it should even out since the evenings will see the tourists leave early (some of them) right?

No. Evenings will be very busy with Fantasmic, World of Color, fireworks, Mad T Party, plus all the locals coming in for their favorite rides. It only empties out during the last 30 to 60 minutes of the operating day.