Hi there, Richard, and welcome to
planDisney!
Your April visit to the
Happiest Place on Earth will be here before you know it, so let the countdown begin! Though there isn’t necessarily an “off-peak” time to visit the Disneyland Resort,
you can usually expect lower crowds from mid-September through mid-November, and mid-January through mid-March. Now, it sounds like your vacation dates are already set for the first half of April 2023. April tends to be a bit busier since many schools in the United States have Spring Break during that month. For example, I live in California, about 30 minutes south of the Disneyland Resort, and my children will be on their Spring Break from April 3-7, 2023. So, I expect the parks to be a bit busier during that time. Your best bet for lower crowds may be toward the middle of the week, specifically on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On the other hand, the good news about traveling during a busier time of year is that operating hours should be longer than during the slower months, and there should also be more showings of parades and nighttime spectaculars. In fact, the Magic Happens parade is expected to return this spring, so I’m crossing my fingers you’ll get to see it – it’s one of my favorite parades! Plus, get ready to experience the Disney100 celebration,
which kicks off at the Disneyland Resort on January 27, 2023!
In addition, I have a few recommendations that should help you make the most of your Disney days. First, be sure to add
Disney Genie+ service to your theme park tickets daily. This service will help you avoid waiting in long standby queues, and allow you to enter many attractions through the much faster Lightning Lane entrance. Plus, it includes unlimited downloads of your Disney PhotoPass pictures, too! To use Genie+ service, you’ll also need to download the
Disneyland app, which is my favorite handy helper in the parks. Be sure to check out the
Mobile Order option, which allows you to order food and drinks ahead of time, once again bypassing the line!
I hope this information helps, Richard! If you have any other planning questions, please stop by… we’re all EARs!
Happy planning,
Kristin