Hi, I’m Kimberly from PackedwithFun.com, the official blog for Get Away Today. I’m so excited to be featured here on Busy Mom’s Helper to share some of my passion for Disneyland. It is the Happiest Place on Earth year-round, and one of the questions our agents get asked the very most is, “When should I go?” Everyone’s idea of a perfect vacation is a little bit different, so I put together this month-by-month guide to help you figure out the perfect time of year to plan your family’s 2016 Disneyland vacation. Keep in mind that the Disneyland Diamond Celebration will continue into next year, but Disney has not released an exact end date. Because of that, anything related to the 60th Anniversary is a best guess based on past celebrations. 🙂 Thanks for reading and enjoy!

January: The first week of the month will still technically be considered Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, which means you can still experience Haunted Mansion Holiday, “it’s a small world” holiday, magical Christmas décor and more. It’s a great way to see the holiday magic without the holiday crowds. The rest of the month is a good time to visit if you’re trying to avoid crowds.

February: Almost the entire month (minus a couple of national and state holidays) is considered non-peak season time. It’s a great way to visit the resort and get the best deals on hotels and tickets.

March: March starts the official spring break season, which generally means longer park hours and added entertainment. During busier travel times, the most popular shows (like World of Color – Celebrate!, Paint the Night Parade and Fantasmic!) are offered twice. The second showings normally have fewer crowds.

April: Spring break season is still going strong in April, which again means longer park hours and more entertainment. Keep in mind that during even the busiest travel times, Disneyland Forever, the current fireworks show is only shown once per night. However, for the first time ever, the fireworks can be viewed from five areas throughout the park. If you can, you should try to see it from as many vantage points as possible.

May: This is a great time to catch all of the Disneyland excitement in that sweet spot after spring breaks are over and before school is out for the summer. Since it’s not quite peak travel time yet, you can normally get some great deals when you book early. Grad Nites begin mid month and continue through June, so if you have a graduating senior, it is a great way to celebrate.

June: Travel in the beginning of the month before the Summer break rush if you’re looking for fewer crowds. By mid-month you’ll have extra hours at the parks with both earlier mornings and later nights. I must say, there’s nothing quite like summer nights at Disneyland!

July: The height of summer means longer park. It’s also the month with more scheduled entertainment, and there is always a special patriotic fireworks display to celebrate the 4th.

August: This is the perfect month for a quick getaway before school starts. Some schools begin the school year mid-August, so if you have young kids or if your school starts later in the month, plan your Disneyland trip from mid to late month for fewer crowds and enjoy all of the summer festivities.

September: Labor Day weekend is a great time to sneak away for a quick getaway. Or, you can wait until mid-month and be at the Disneyland Resort when Halloween Time officially kicks off. It’s a prefect way to experience all of the Halloween fun before the crowds begin. If you want to attend Mickey’s Halloween Party, a private ticketed event, you’ll want to plan around the end of the month. The first Mickey’s Halloween Party of the season has traditionally fallen during the last weekend of September.

October: Halloween Time is in full force and is one of my personal favorite times of the year to visit Disneyland, with or without the Diamond Celebration. When you’re making your general itinerary, you’ll want to check the calendar for Mickey’s Halloween Party. It’s a private ticketed event that requires separate admission. On those select nights, Disneyland closes early, so if you aren’t going to the party, you’ll want to make other plans for the evening. I recommend watching World of Color – Celebrate!, or just playing at Disney California Adventure. It would also be a great time for dinner reservations for any of the themed Downtown Disney restaurants, a character dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen, or a feast at Medieval Times.

November: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort begin mid-month, and it’s a really magical way to ring in the season. Both parks transform into a winter wonderland and seasonal entertainment is added to the line-up. For fewer crowds, visit earlier in the month. If you want a Thanksgiving Day to remember forever, travel over Thanksgiving and book the Thanksgiving Day Feast at the Disneyland Hotel. Many other restaurants have special Thanksgiving dinners for the occasion.

December: The entire month of December is a celebration of the seasons and the height of Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. Travel early in the month for fewer crowds and to get into the holiday spirit.

Consider giving your family a holiday Disneyland vacation, no matter when you travel. If you are traveling over Christmas or New Year’s, you’ll want to arrive to the parks early as they have been known to reach capacity on these holidays. Also, remember that higher park attendance means longer park hours, so you have more time in the parks to enjoy it all.

I hope that this month-by-month guide helps you make your 2016 Disneyland vacation plans. When you book with Get Away Today, you can hold your 2016 Disneyland vacation for just $125 down with our interest free layaway plan. It’s the best way to get a head start on your vacation and lock-in your low price. Plus, Busy Mom’s Readers can save an extra $10 on any 2-night or longer package. Just use promo code: BusyMomsHelper You can view our 2016 Disneyland packages online, or call our Disney Experts at 855-GET-AWAY.