A few trip planning questions for August visit...

[labattblue]

1. Why does DLR only have their park hours posted up to mid-june versus WDW where the park hours are already out for August?

2. Did I read somewhere that Mickey's Fun Wheel only goes around once and then you get off?

3. I want to take my daughter on Grizzly River Run(maybe go on two times back to back) and was thinking about walking back to the Fairfield Inn to change versus lugging a change of clothes with us and then trying to change in a cramped bathroom stall. I know the walk from the esplanade to the Fairfield is 7-10 minutes. How much extra time from Grizzly River Run to the esplanade.


One comment(disclaimer:I know construction/renovations are inevitable)...I know many people are disappointed when they find out certain attractions are closed during their visit. Am I the only one who is disappointed more in terms of construction/renovations going on that takes away from park atmosphere. i.e scaffolding around the castle(when makeovers occurred), the lake being drained and walled off for the new "world of color" show, etc...

 

[disneymom23]

3. I want to take my daughter on Grizzly River Run(maybe go on two times back to back) and was thinking about walking back to the Fairfield Inn to change versus lugging a change of clothes with us and then trying to change in a cramped bathroom stall. I know the walk from the esplanade to the Fairfield is 7-10 minutes. How much extra time from Grizzly River Run to the esplanade.


We are also planning an August visit. I don't think you'll need to go back to change. It will be so hot in August that you should dry quickly. The water will feel good.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

1. Why does DLR only have their park hours posted up to mid-june versus WDW where the park hours are already out for August?

2. Did I read somewhere that Mickey's Fun Wheel only goes around once and then you get off?

3. I want to take my daughter on Grizzly River Run(maybe go on two times back to back) and was thinking about walking back to the Fairfield Inn to change versus lugging a change of clothes with us and then trying to change in a cramped bathroom stall. I know the walk from the esplanade to the Fairfield is 7-10 minutes. How much extra time from Grizzly River Run to the esplanade.


One comment(disclaimer:I know construction/renovations are inevitable)...I know many people are disappointed when they find out certain attractions are closed during their visit. Am I the only one who is disappointed more in terms of construction/renovations going on that takes away from park atmosphere. i.e scaffolding around the castle(when makeovers occurred), the lake being drained and walled off for the new "world of color" show, etc...

To walk from the "C A L I F O R N I A letters" to GRR would take approximately 5 minutes.

You walk toward Sunshine Plaza, make a right turn and walk past Soarin', and then the walkway curves around toward GRRrrrrrr.

HTH

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Aagghh!!! Bring extra clothes!!!!!!!

I can't stress this enough!

First.....ponchos are great & may cut out the need for a change. AND in the summer it can definately be warm enough that you A) Welcome the cold water OR B) You dry quick enough. BUT BUT BUT....I went in January...in jeans...w/ no change & I was wet the entire day. Please be prepared. Rent a locker - stash some tops/shorts.

And 2nd. My DS was not potty trained & we had the mother of all poop accidents.....I will NEVER go w/o a change of clothes again!!

I learned my lesson (2 lessons) the hard way - it's only fair I spread the knowledge.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

1. Why does DLR only have their park hours posted up to mid-june versus WDW where the park hours are already out for August?

2. Did I read somewhere that Mickey's Fun Wheel only goes around once and then you get off?

3. I want to take my daughter on Grizzly River Run(maybe go on two times back to back) and was thinking about walking back to the Fairfield Inn to change versus lugging a change of clothes with us and then trying to change in a cramped bathroom stall. I know the walk from the esplanade to the Fairfield is 7-10 minutes. How much extra time from Grizzly River Run to the esplanade.


One comment(disclaimer:I know construction/renovations are inevitable)...I know many people are disappointed when they find out certain attractions are closed during their visit. Am I the only one who is disappointed more in terms of construction/renovations going on that takes away from park atmosphere. i.e scaffolding around the castle(when makeovers occurred), the lake being drained and walled off for the new "world of color" show, etc...

DLR's park hours and entertainment calendar used to be updated about 3 or 4 months ahead of time; lately it's only been 6 weeks. When in doubt, blame Cynthia Harriss and Paul Pressler. (Just kidding.)

With shorter projection times DLR can reduce the entertainment if the crowd projections appear to be lower, and that allows DLR to save some money. That's all I can think of. Maybe someone else has some better ideas. But I agree, posting park hours and entertainment only 6 weeks ahead of time is not helpful to out-of-state Guests.

 

[Cliffside]

DLR's park hours and entertainment calendar used to be updated about 3 or 4 months ahead of time; lately it's only been 6 weeks. When in doubt, blame Cynthia Harriss and Paul Pressler. (Just kidding.)

With shorter projection times DLR can reduce the entertainment if the crowd projections appear to be lower, and that allows DLR to save some money. That's all I can think of. Maybe someone else has some better ideas. But I agree, posting park hours and entertainment only 6 weeks ahead of time is not helpful to out-of-state Guests.

Yes I agree. We are visiting at the end of August for the first time. I am used to WDW where you can plan further out. We were going to be visiting on a Mon Tues and WEd originally but then I noticed in the past that Alladin and the Electrical Parade were not performed traditionally on those dates so we changed our itinerary to be Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I hope I did not do that for nothing. I originally picked those dates thinking that the park would be less crowded during the week than on a weekend. I hope we did the right thing.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I think they have free lockers near the Rapids you can use for a short time while on the ride. At least they did. I've never used them. We put cameras and phones in ziplock baggies. In the summer our clothes dry out fast. In Jan when we went, I knew better than ride a wet ride. I'm a chilly person by nature so I knew I would not enjoy it then.

Genrally the hours are the same all summer, but I don't know when in August they go back to non summer hours since kids go back to school so early these days.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

2. Did I read somewhere that Mickey's Fun Wheel only goes around once and then you get off?

Yes! And that was PLENTY for me!

 

[mousireid]

I went to WalMart and bought us all 99c ponchos for the scardey cats. Actually I wore mine but my butt got wet (SIT ON PONCHO NEXT TIME!) and some of my legs/feet. However it was warm enough to dry pretty fast.

 

[pixiewings71]

I'm not sure sitting on the poncho would help much, the water is going to splash up on your seat anyway. In January you won't dry out, it's not hot in Jan! lol In August you will be fine! Trust me, I will only ride GRR May-Sept because I don't want to be wet all day. lol Altho we did ride Splash once when we stayed at the GCH in Nov, we rode it last and then rode the monorail back to DTD and yes, we were wet.
I would just take clothes, just get a locker for the day, they are available in both parks and aren't that much $$$.

And yes, of course I get disappointed with the walls and the drained lagoon but I keep reminding myself how amazing it's going to be in a couple of years and then it's all good. I mean refurbs happen all the time so why worry about it? Of course I have been lucky the past few years and have been able to get an AP so if we miss something it's not as sad as it might be otherwise.

 

[teatime]

1. Why does DLR only have their park hours posted up to mid-june versus WDW where the park hours are already out for August?

2. Did I read somewhere that Mickey's Fun Wheel only goes around once and then you get off?

3. I want to take my daughter on Grizzly River Run(maybe go on two times back to back) and was thinking about walking back to the Fairfield Inn to change versus lugging a change of clothes with us and then trying to change in a cramped bathroom stall. I know the walk from the esplanade to the Fairfield is 7-10 minutes. How much extra time from Grizzly River Run to the esplanade.


One comment(disclaimer:I know construction/renovations are inevitable)...I know many people are disappointed when they find out certain attractions are closed during their visit. Am I the only one who is disappointed more in terms of construction/renovations going on that takes away from park atmosphere. i.e scaffolding around the castle(when makeovers occurred), the lake being drained and walled off for the new "world of color" show, etc...

first take a poncho and you will not have to change your daughter, we take them in our packs and there a life saver !! I just tuck my little one up in it once he is seated and off we go, oh and I put crocs on him with socks and when we go on water rides I take the socks off .
second I to am disapointed to see all that construction, to one who travels from afar its a downer, but I do understand and I do know that park will be better then ever in a year

 

[S. S. Columbia]

1. Why does DLR only have their park hours posted up to mid-june versus WDW where the park hours are already out for August?...

We are visiting at the end of August for the first time. I am used to WDW where you can plan further out. We were going to be visiting on a Mon Tues and Wed originally but then I noticed in the past that Alladin and the Electrical Parade were not performed traditionally on those dates so we changed our itinerary to be Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I hope I did not do that for nothing. I originally picked those dates thinking that the park would be less crowded during the week than on a weekend. I hope we did the right thing.

I think you made a good choice, since Aladdin, the Electrical Parade, and Fantasmic should be running on Sunday, August 23 and Sunday, August 30. That's based on Aug. '07 and Aug. '08.

Here are the calendars from Aug. '07 and Aug. '08:
http://www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-dlr2-200708.asp
http://www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-dlr2-200808.asp