Hello- We are planning a trip to Disneyland in the third week in July because it coincides with a family reunion in Nor Cal. We went last year at the end of August and it was a dream. Probably because it was the end of summer and many CA kids were already back in school.

I love going to Disneyland in the Summer because of the warmth (I live near Portland, where it snowed yesterday!!!), and I like the extended hours.

But are we crazy? Is it going to be out of control wall to wall people? We always utilize fastpass and we get to the parks before opening. I don't want to be facing 1 to 2 hour waits with little ones in tow. We are planning on going Monday through Wednesday.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Going to Disneyland is a significant investment finanacially (and otherwise) and I don't want to be frustrated the entire time. Yes, I know frustration is a choice! :)

You aren't crazy at all. Just go into it realistically, knowing you will have loooong lines to wait in and that it will be really hot.

Make sure you utilize fast pass and early entry (if you have it) and always, ALWAYS take a mid-afternoon break-- go back to the hotel, swim, take a nap, and then go back to the park refreshed.

Our family goes in July every year except for this year, we have to go in August. We are from corvallis,OR and we love it in July. It can get crazy in the afternoon but we usually go on the rides we want to ride in the morning before it is crazy and then get fastpasses in the afternoon. We also usually go back to the hotel in the afternoon when it is the hottest or we just shop in the air conditioned stores. I think it all depends on if you are okay with crowds. I know we would think it is weird if it was unusally empty. So how is Disneyland in August??? We are going the 18th thru the 26th and we have never been in August. We are expecting hot weather. lol

You will have lines. Are you going to stay on site? Take advantage of all the early entry you can so that the mid-day crush won't get to you.

With kids plan the purchase of treats to eat as your waiting in those longer lines. Grab a couple of churros before entering HM, Pickle/fruit before Splash Mtn, Ice Cream before Space Mtn, French Frys before BTMRR; I always found that if we were occupied sharing a snack they lasted longer before getting fidgety.

I was there last July (16-20) With the exception of Nemo, it seemed the lines
were'nt that bad. Try hitting Nemo during the parades. The weather was
good for me, I went in August of '05, much worse. Take advantage of early
entry, maybe invest in RideMax. With only 3 days, it will go by fast. You mentioned little ones, I beleive Peter Pan & Dumbo are the top rides in FL,
hit those first. Since everyone usually migrates towrds Nemo in the AM. the
other parts of the park seem almost deserted. An afternoon break is wise.

We were there about that time last year. Expect lines to be 45-60 minutes. Expect it to be hot. Go swimming. And enjoy!!!

We will be going four non-consective days in July too. I love the heat! Crowds not so much. We usually go in June but cannot this year due to a dance recital. We will be staying with my parents in Aliso Viejo,so going to swim would be a huge waste of time, but if it gets too crowded and hot, we will go into Innoventions, Muppet Vision or catch the show at the Golden Horseshoe. :)

We have gone the past few years for 4th of July. It is pretty busy, but we know that and plan for it. Ridemax, afternoon swimming breaks and going with the flow is what works for us.

We go every year in July and its really not that bad. Yes its hot and yes it is packed with people, but its manageable as long as you have a game plan and take advantage of fast passes and early entrance( if your staying on site). If your staying in one of the hotels,take a break in the afternoon to swim, eat or nap. You are gonna have a great time and you just might run into me and my herd of children. If you do don't be scared, they are trained to only bite non-Disney lovers:D.

Summer is fun, just takes planning. The mantra of arrive early applies. Target non fp stuff, like fantasyland, if you have ee's use it. Get FP's for use later in the day, they can be used no problem even after the window on the ticket expires. The arrive early plan always seems to work simply cause not everyone can get up and get their group to the parks at openings.

We have gone in July and I don't think it is that bad. We always go either in June, July or August. Coming from outside of Phoenix, the temps are wonderful to us. The crowds are ok. With some planning and cool, easy going attitudes you will be ok.

My sisters family went last July and said that it was great. They said that during the weekend wasn't bad at all, because of blackouts for APs but during the week was a little busy. But she would pick to go back then. It's just a little warm. Even though it's about 20 degrees cooler than here, just being out in it all day is a little tiring. Go for it and have fun :D!

I only go offseason because of the lines -- I hate lines. I went in the summer for the first and only time in 06. We went the first week in August I was shocked by how easy it was. Granted we were there Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, not the busiest days, but it was as easy as the offseason. HM, POTC were walkons. Indy was mostly a walkon. I never stood in a line more than 15-20 mins.

I did go early and collect FPs to use in the afternoon, went to DCA when DL got crowded and spent late afternoon, early evening at the hotel then went back until closing. All that to avoid the worst times. But still I was surprised at how uncrowded it was.

We've gone during the last week of July/first week of August for the past 3 years and had a blast each time. This past year we also went over Discoverer's Day weekend and the second week of December. The holiday and December weekends seemed just as crowded as the summer.

As other posters have said, advanced planning will make a big difference in how efficiently you can move through AND enjoy the parks. Arrive early, use Fastpass, Priority Seating and Ridemax, and be sure to take a break and get off your feet in the afternoon - then stay until midnight and you'll feel the magic!

I will give another vote for Ridemax. I used it on a trip with just my DH last August and it was great. I hemmed and hawed and finally just bought it for our upcomming trip with the whole family (DD 7, DS almost5). I thought it might not be necessary in May. I also thought it might be too stirict for touring with kids but the plans I am coming up with look so workable and with some tweaking it is clear to see where the time savings are to be found.

I will give another vote for Ridemax. I used it on a trip with just my DH last August and it was great. I hemmed and hawed and finally just bought it for our upcomming trip with the whole family (DD 7, DS almost5). I thought it might not be necessary in May. I also thought it might be too stirict for touring with kids but the plans I am coming up with look so workable and with some tweaking it is clear to see where the time savings are to be found.

You don't need to by Ridemax to enjoy your trip. Just go, have fun, and get as many fastpasses as you can. There, I just saved you some money.

I like Ridemax. It gives me three solid months of high octane hypercompulsive obsessing before my trip. It also helps reassure me that, even going during an insane month like July, it is possible to minimize time in line, thus relaxing me, thus keeping me from sucking all the joy from my family. . .

LOL--we'll be there this July for our daughters' b-days...both of them have birthdays within the first seven days of the month (one before and one after Independence Day), so it's not as if we have much of a choice as to when to go if we decide to do DL to celebrate their birthdays. :D