Surprisingly it Looks Like Disneyland in October Won’t Be Nearly as Crowded as Previous Years

There are certain months out of the year at Disneyland that have become extremely popular in recent years. We can always expect large crowds during certain times like the last week of December during the holidays, three-day weekends, and Spring Break, but one month in particular has stood out as especially popular in previous years.

Disneyland in October has become one of the busiest months of the year, even warranting a great deal of discussion in our list of Disneyland dates to avoid if you hate crowds, but it appears as that pattern may be changing a bit this year.

Below, we'll talk about why you may want to reconsider a trip to Disneyland this October if you're avoiding it due to the crowds!

Disneyland October Crowds

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October has grown immensely in popularity in recent years as the Halloween celebration runs throughout the month and many kids are out of school on Fall Break towards the middle of the month. October 2023 was one of the busiest Halloween seasons we have ever seen. In our article on the times of year at Disneyland with the worst crowds (linked above), we said, “October has easily outpaced the summer season and even the holidays to become the busiest month at Disneyland!”

However, it doesn't look like October will quite be living up to that reputation this year. If you look at the Disneyland reservation calendar for this month, you'll see that park reservation availability is still wide open throughout the month.

There is also still plenty of availability for hotel rooms throughout the month as well. See this availability through Get Away Today for a trip from 10/18-10/20. You can get the lowest rates and EXCLUSIVE deals on Disneyland tickets and hotels via our private link here to book.

There are also reduced rates available in this timeframe for other hotels like Best Western PLUS Stovall's Inn, Anaheim Mariott Hotel, and more, as well as several options for hotels with free nights like Best Western PLUS Pavilions, The Westin Anaheim, and more.

If you decide to plan a last-minute trip this October, be sure to book through Get Away Today to secure the best deals on tickets and hotels. We recommend buying your tickets ASAP before the expected Disneyland price increase this month. There is no downside to booking early through Get Away Today, as they will price match if there are lower prices released in the future. BOOK NOW>

It's possible that the summer ticket special that recently ended may have pulled forward demand into September. The Halloween celebration started earlier than ever before this year in late August, which was likely a move to space out the crowds in response to the popularity of past years. This, combined with the fact that many people have realized how busy this month can get and avoided it, has likely contributed to lower crowds than usual in October. During a recent park visit, we were surprised at the low crowd levels in both parks.

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It's still likely that crowds will increase throughout the month as we approach the time when schools are out on Fall Break, and the second half of the month will get busier. However, if you are avoiding a Disneyland visit out of fear of huge crowds this month, you may want to reconsider. Between the Halloween Screams fireworks, special Halloween foods, ride overlays, and characters in their cute seasonal attire, this celebration is a great time to visit the parks.

There's still a great opportunity to get a Fall Break trip planned to visit Disneyland this year in October.

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