Questions about heading to DLR When DCA closes, after the second WOC show

JenEMT

I share a birthday with Disneyland!
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
so I'm sitting here, working on some of our details for our trip December 7-11. We are a close down the parks type of family, and plan on heading to Disneyland after DCA closes. I'm wondering how difficult this may be, crowd wise? For example, Monday December 7th, DCA closes at 8, with the second WOC show at 815. DLR closes at 11pm, with PTN at 8:45 and fireworks @ 930.

How come WOC is at 815, when the park closes at 8? We plan on watching that showing. So that would leave us heading to DLR when Main Street is most likely packed for PTN, right?
 
We watched a WOC at 8:15 with the park closing at 8 pm. The show is about 30 minutes long. When it is over they make everyone go out the same pathway that goes past BugsLand. Only Resort Hotel Guests can exit down the path past Grizzly River Run. You will have a hard time getting in early enough to catch PTN
 
Yes, you'll be heading into MS when it is packed for paint the night. The first PTN starts at small world, though, and it takes time to get to MS so if you leave right after WOC, you will get in before PTN hits town square.

If you are planning on watching PTN, you won't find a curbside spot...you could probably find some place in TS to stand and watch it, though.

If you are wanting to get into DL for rides, you'll be able to get through to the lands before PTN hits MS. We watched the second WOC last wednesday, then left for DL right away. We had no problems getting through town square and MS before PTN arrived in the hub. We got to the matterhorn and watched a good portion of the parade continuing into the Hub while we were in line.
 
We watched a WOC at 8:15 with the park closing at 8 pm. The show is about 30 minutes long. When it is over they make everyone go out the same pathway that goes past BugsLand. Only Resort Hotel Guests can exit down the path past Grizzly River Run. You will have a hard time getting in early enough to catch PTN

We are staying at PPH, so would it make sense to take that exit to head back to DLR, or just flow with everyone else past bugs land?
We don't plan to watch PTN or the fireworks that night, just rides. Not sure yet which ones. Most likely IAJ, PoTC or BTMR, maybe even splash.

Yes, you'll be heading into MS when it is packed for paint the night. The first PTN starts at small world, though, and it takes time to get to MS so if you leave right after WOC, you will get in before PTN hits town square.

If you are planning on watching PTN, you won't find a curbside spot...you could probably find some place in TS to stand and watch it, though.

If you are wanting to get into DL for rides, you'll be able to get through to the lands before PTN hits MS. We watched the second WOC last wednesday, then left for DL right away. We had no problems getting through town square and MS before PTN arrived in the hub. We got to the matterhorn and watched a good portion of the parade continuing into the Hub while we were in line.

Perfect, yes we plan on leaving right after the second WOC, and want to ride rides at DLR until closing. Not really intending to watch the parade or fireworks that night (although if we glimpse the FW while riding something, that would be awesome). What is the best route to get into DL at that time?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:


We are staying at PPH, so would it make spa you sense to take that exit to head back to DLR, or just flow with everyone else past bugs land?
We don't plan to watch PTN or the fireworks that night, just rides. Not sure yet which ones. Most likely IAJ, PoTC or BTMR, maybe even splash.



Perfect, yes we plan on leaving right after the second WOC, and want to ride rides at DLR until closing. Not really intending to watch the parade or fireworks that night (although if we glimpse the FW while riding something, that would be awesome). What is the best route to get into DL at that time?

Thanks!
When we entered, our intent was to go down main street on the right hand side (the side with the magic shop, music shop, silhouette shop). We came through the tunnel on the opposite side of TS, though, by city hall. When we crossed TS, we noticed that the bypass that runs behind the magic/music/silhouette stores was open, so we used that. IIRC, it lets you out near the Plaza Inn/Baby Care Center area. From there we got to the matterhorn via Tomorrowland very easily. Later on, after the fireworks (which we watched at small world that night), we crossed to frontierland via the walkway by the Casey Jr Train to get to Thunder Mountain before closing (got there with a few mins to spare...fireworks were at 9:30, park closed at 10).

If you were wanting to head to Adventureland/Frontierland first, I'd probably walk through the stores on that side of main street to avoid the crowds on the sidewalk.
 
We are staying at PPH, so would it make sense to take that exit to head back to DLR, or just flow with everyone else past bugs land?

Thanks!

We used that way to take the GCH exit back to our rooms. I don`t know if they allow you to continue past Soaring to get to the main exit. If they do you`ll avoid the herd but the biggest log jam will be at the exit turnstiles.
 
We rode big thunder during the fireworks last time we were there it was really cool way to view them if you can time it right.
 


I remember reading that in years past they closed entrance to DL during the parade/fireworks, when DCA closed at the same time.
 
I remember reading that in years past they closed entrance to DL during the parade/fireworks, when DCA closed at the same time.

One of the nights we were there, we entered DL as paint the night was entering TS. DCA was closed, but the entrance to DL was still open and we had no problems getting in (just problems getting past the parade as it was already in TS that night)
 
One of the nights we were there, we entered DL as paint the night was entering TS. DCA was closed, but the entrance to DL was still open and we had no problems getting in (just problems getting past the parade as it was already in TS that night)
I think it may also depend on crowd levels or it may just be that they did it the one year and no longer do it. I have no experience with this. I haven't even been to the parks in over 2 years.
 
I hope not :).
Would it make any sense to use the DCA exit, then head into DL? Or DTD to the monorail?
 
We got in just as Mack was entering Town Square and asked a CM if the train was running during the parade, she asked how many in my party and when I told her she opened the chain and let us up the steps of the Main Street station. We actually had a pretty good view of the parade through the fence on the loading platform while we waited about 10 minutes for the train! It was so loud, that was as close as the kids wanted to be anyway! We got off at the New Orleans Square station and went on Pirates and Splash Mountain while the fireworks went off! It was perfect!
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top