AP Holders Swarm after Blackout Days? - The DIS Discussion Forums

dancer_mom · 11-09-2009, 11:58 AM

So I have been debating this back and forth with myself. 2nd weekend in August right before blackout dates are lifted... or last weekend in August? This trip will mostly be for the little ones ie: we will be doing Fantasyland and maybe will use baby swap once or twice but I want to go before Electrical parade goes dark. Any opinions.... THANKS

bumbershoot · 11-09-2009, 12:52 PM

Just remember, they create the blockout days because they know the parks will be "swarm"ing with non-AP holders and they're just trying to lighten the load. It's going to be busy no matter what.

If the e. parade is important to you, plan for that, plan for heavy summer crowds, have a plan, and have fun!

dancer_mom · 11-09-2009, 12:55 PM

Thanks - That's really what I was thinking... heavy crowds because they are blackout dates and probably heavy crowds cause it's last weekend in summer. We will just use FP and have fun!

Disney Dreams · 11-09-2009, 12:57 PM

Others will post crowd trends, history, etc.... My approach is different. Pick the dates that work best for you and your famiiy and go with it..

When we planned our trip to WDW, not once did we ask or worry about crowds. We couldn't control them. Our crystal ball is only reliable about 50 percent of the time, and Disney could line up a promotion any time to hit during our dates, so... why not just go with what works best and then plan accordingly?

That's our approach and it works for us.

Just my 2 cents,
Dreams

S. S. Columbia · 11-09-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancer_mom

So I have been debating this back and forth with myself. 2nd weekend in August right before blackout dates are lifted... or last weekend in August? This trip will mostly be for the little ones ie: we will be doing Fantasyland and maybe will use baby swap once or twice but I want to go before Electrical parade goes dark. Any opinions.... THANKS

FWIW, this year the Electrical Parade went dark after August 23.

Albort · 11-09-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S. S. Columbia

FWIW, this year the Electrical Parade went dark after August 23.

i dont remember it went out that early. I do believe it goes out September 3rd or 4th. right before labor day.

and yes, there was a surge of non blacked out APs right after the summer blackouts.

Sleepless Knight · 11-09-2009, 04:32 PM

If certain events like the electrical parade are an absolute necessity, then plan your trip to around when those events are happening and devise strategies for how to best deal with whatever the crowd situation may be.

When visiting during less crowded times of the year, there's always a tradeoff. Lighter crowds also quite often means that Disneyland has more attractions closed for maintenance whereas they try to keep almost everything opened during the busiest times of the year.

That said, if you visit during a very busy day, remember that getting to the park when it opens is one of the best ways to avoid crowds. You can experience a lot of attractions before the park gets too crowded and collect a lot of fastpasses for use later in the day.

engo · 11-09-2009, 05:06 PM

We were there right before/after the lift of blockout this summer (Aug). The crowds level was dramatically different after the blockout dates. We were there watching the e-parade every night. It's easier to find a good spot for e-parade viewing in the first several nights (before blockout is lifted). After the lift of blockout, there were more "experienced" locals in the park and it was harder for us to spot a good viewing location. Just my 2 cents.

S. S. Columbia · 11-09-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S. S. Columbia

FWIW, this year the Electrical Parade went dark after August 23.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albort

i dont remember it went out that early. I do believe it goes out September 3rd or 4th. right before labor day. ...

The DEP usually goes dark after Labor Day.

But this summer the DEP ended at the end of the summer Nightastic (Sunday, August 23).

Here's a thread from August:

No Electrical Parade on Schedule??
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2252681

dancer_mom · 11-10-2009, 10:23 AM

Thanks - these are all good things to think about. I know this last year was unusual with the summer nightastic so hopefully we will be safe on electrical parade. Interesting point about more 'experienced' show viewers being around. Will have to keep that in mind.

gatorfreud · 11-10-2009, 02:37 PM

We were there the weekend in August when AP's lifted - Saturday was blocked out, and it was fine. Sunday the blockout was lifted and WOW! It was very noticeably more crowded. If it is not a difference to you, I would definitely not pick the weekend in which they are lifted.

Kim

bumbershoot · 11-10-2009, 03:46 PM

As was already said, they didn't JUST lift the blockout. They added something BIG at the same time. It was Disney's ridiculous and stupid planning that caused so many people to be there.

Hopefully they won't do the same thing again.

But no matter what, if Disney is offering something good and fun, you can expect people to want to see it!

Oh I wish they showed the e. parade so much more often...my husband and son have still NEVER seen it.

Disney Dreams · 11-10-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumbershoot

...It was Disney's ridiculous and stupid planning that caused so many people to be there.

LOL Unless your goal is to increase sales and revenue. Then someone somewhere did brilliant, perfect planning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumbershoot

...my husband and son have still NEVER seen it.

Oh wow!

Favorite Disney parade ever.

- Dreams

bumbershoot · 11-10-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disney Dreams

LOL Unless your goal is to increase sales and revenue. Then someone somewhere did brilliant, perfect planning.

Oh wow!

Favorite Disney parade ever.

- Dreams

But they peeved people, too, which makes them LEAVE the parks and get angry. And as so many people think, AP holders don't buy anything, so they were just using their prepaid admission and gumming up the works (not my opinion, by the way).

And I know, it's the best parade. Hubby never even saw it as a kid! However, he did see EO, and his brother was there in an overnight line for the start of Space Mountain, so it all evens out, LOL.

11-09-2009, 11:58 AM	#1
dancer_mom Earning My Ears Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 30	AP Holders Swarm after Blackout Days? So I have been debating this back and forth with myself. 2nd weekend in August right before blackout dates are lifted... or last weekend in August? This trip will mostly be for the little ones ie: we will be doing Fantasyland and maybe will use baby swap once or twice but I want to go before Electrical parade goes dark. Any opinions.... THANKS

11-09-2009, 12:52 PM	#2
bumbershoot DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 19,272	Just remember, they create the blockout days because they know the parks will be "swarm"ing with non-AP holders and they're just trying to lighten the load. It's going to be busy no matter what. If the e. parade is important to you, plan for that, plan for heavy summer crowds, have a plan, and have fun! __________________ -molly 13 DLR trip reports of various kinds found through this link *prepretrip report for WDW* Last edited by bumbershoot; 11-09-2009 at 12:53 PM. Reason: forgot a letter

11-09-2009, 12:57 PM	#4
Disney Dreams Proudly afflicted with TDMA! Major pin collector in denial Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Somewhere this side of the rainbow Posts: 9,948	Others will post crowd trends, history, etc.... My approach is different. Pick the dates that work best for you and your famiiy and go with it.. When we planned our trip to WDW, not once did we ask or worry about crowds. We couldn't control them. Our crystal ball is only reliable about 50 percent of the time, and Disney could line up a promotion any time to hit during our dates, so... why not just go with what works best and then plan accordingly? That's our approach and it works for us. Just my 2 cents, Dreams __________________

11-09-2009, 04:32 PM	#7
Sleepless Knight Jedi Knight Seeking His Jedi Princess There's a time and a place for each Join Date: May 2008 Location: Riding Out of the Dawn Posts: 1,544	If certain events like the electrical parade are an absolute necessity, then plan your trip to around when those events are happening and devise strategies for how to best deal with whatever the crowd situation may be. When visiting during less crowded times of the year, there's always a tradeoff. Lighter crowds also quite often means that Disneyland has more attractions closed for maintenance whereas they try to keep almost everything opened during the busiest times of the year. That said, if you visit during a very busy day, remember that getting to the park when it opens is one of the best ways to avoid crowds. You can experience a lot of attractions before the park gets too crowded and collect a lot of fastpasses for use later in the day. __________________ Once Upon A Christmas Dream December 2007 Once Upon A Dream Come True: The Walt Disney Studios February 2008 The Mouse, The Princess, and 42: June 2008 Trip Report

11-10-2009, 02:37 PM	#11
gatorfreud DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 787	We were there the weekend in August when AP's lifted - Saturday was blocked out, and it was fine. Sunday the blockout was lifted and WOW! It was very noticeably more crowded. If it is not a difference to you, I would definitely not pick the weekend in which they are lifted. Kim __________________ Me DH DS6 DS4 6/04, 7/06 - Pop Century 12/06 - MVMCP, Contemporary 3/07 - All Star Sports 7/07 - Disney's Vero Beach 11/07 - MVMCP, POR and Coronado Springs 1/08 - Disneyland 3/08 - Camping at Fort Wilderness 6/08 - Saratoga Springs and SWW! 10/08- DLR, GCH no kids! 11/08 - DLR, DLH Thanksgiving 4/09- Off site 6/09 - CBR and Poly 9/09- DLR, DLH

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11-09-2009, 12:55 PM	#3
dancer_mom Earning My Ears Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 30	Thanks - That's really what I was thinking... heavy crowds because they are blackout dates and probably heavy crowds cause it's last weekend in summer. We will just use FP and have fun!

11-09-2009, 05:06 PM	#8
engo Earning My Ears Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 31	We were there right before/after the lift of blockout this summer (Aug). The crowds level was dramatically different after the blockout dates. We were there watching the e-parade every night. It's easier to find a good spot for e-parade viewing in the first several nights (before blockout is lifted). After the lift of blockout, there were more "experienced" locals in the park and it was harder for us to spot a good viewing location. Just my 2 cents.

11-10-2009, 10:23 AM	#10
dancer_mom Earning My Ears Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 30	Thanks - these are all good things to think about. I know this last year was unusual with the summer nightastic so hopefully we will be safe on electrical parade. Interesting point about more 'experienced' show viewers being around. Will have to keep that in mind.

11-10-2009, 03:46 PM	#12
bumbershoot DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 19,272	As was already said, they didn't JUST lift the blockout. They added something BIG at the same time. It was Disney's ridiculous and stupid planning that caused so many people to be there. Hopefully they won't do the same thing again. But no matter what, if Disney is offering something good and fun, you can expect people to want to see it! Oh I wish they showed the e. parade so much more often...my husband and son have still NEVER seen it. __________________ -molly 13 DLR trip reports of various kinds found through this link *prepretrip report for WDW*

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