Peak time for DL

We love WDW, but are thinking about visiting DL this year to see how it compares to WDW for ourselves. What is the off season time for DL? Is it basically the same as WDW?

We want to visit Hollywood also. Are there tours that would take us from a DL hotel to Hollywood or should we do that on our own? Since my husband hates driving in unknown areas and gets all stressed out when I%26#39;m driving, tours seem to maintain our family%26#39;s atmosphere better!

One other question, which hotel would be better, Howard Johnson or Candy Cane?

Thanks for your help!

Peak time for DL

OK, when is Peak Time, in California, it is a bit different than WDW, as the majority of visitors are local (described as a one day drive), and that Disneyland issues a lot more Annual Passports than WDW, it was last reported (unofficially) at over 700,000 AP holders for the DLR. This makes any weekend, and especially 3 day weekends when the schools get an extra day off busy.

So if you are looking for slow weekdays, the second week of January thru the first week in March are good, but you need to check for 3 day holidays, and avoid President%26#39;s Day week, as more and more schools are getting the entire week off.

Then you have large crowds for Spring Break from the second week in March until late April.

The last week of April and May are also slow during the week until Memorial Day Weekend.

June starts off just slightly busier than May, and each week gets busier. July and most of August are packed, though the last week of August can be good (aka light).

Most of September thru mid-December are also good slow weekdays, avoiding weeks like Thanksgiving and 3 day holidays.

The second half of December thru the first full week in January are very busy, the week between Christmas and New Year%26#39;s are the worst for crowds.

As for tours of Hollywood, Gray Line has a nice combo deal, a day at Universal Studios Hollywood, and then a few hours in the early evening in Hollywood.

graylineanaheim.com/sightseeing_tours_ana.cf鈥?/a>

As for the hotel question, both are good choices.

I prefer HoJo%26#39;s due to the fact it is a Hotel with nice grounds and pool areas, plus lots of free parking. The rooms are also nice and large. I just recently stayed there and took some photos, check out the TA Hotel Review page to see the photos.

Candy Cane Inn is an 2 story Motel, and the rooms are small. It does offer a free breakfast, which HoJo%26#39;s doesn%26#39;t. They are both the same distance to the park entrance.

Peak time for DL

probobly been said many a time but DarkBeer,you provide a wealth of info and the title of ';local expert'; is well deserved,info without attitude,now thats a good thing!

Oh, I do have an attitude, but I try to write for the appropriate venue, here at TripAdvisor, I try to be fair and express my comments without going overboard in the personal opinion comments.

I have a different style when I write my weekly article over at MiceAge.com, which is news and commentary, so a little more ';attitude';, but still a main focus on news. Also, the readership is different, as the majority of readers are Disney/Theme/Amusement park ';geeks';.

Then you can go into discussion boards such as MiceChat and a few other boards (my big ';Disney'; three are MiceChat, LaughingPlace and MousePad), I tend to let my attitude and personal opinons come out more strongly there.

Thanks for the complement! :)

Ditto about Darkbeer! I think I%26#39;m going to check out the other sites to get the ';attitude'; point of view! It%26#39;s great to hear it all!