Advice + Poll: Choose day of arrival or departure?

[onlyoneash]

Background: We have a Disneyland vacay planned Tuesday through a Saturday in Sept. (12-16) We have 4 day tickets (we don't want to add a 5th as we want a beach day).

*DCA is the park needed to hit Tues or Sat. Staying offsite across the street

*Arrive on Tuesday and will be at our hotel around 2 pm

*Depart on Saturday and could stay in DL until 3ish.

We are already planning full days on Wed, Thurs, Fri. Would you go Tuesday or Saturday for your 4th day in my situation?

 

[figment_jii]

Are you likely to get to the parks at rope drop on Saturday? For my family, we aren't necessarily that likely to make rope drop by the end of a trip, so I'd probably opt to go to the parks on Tuesday because it's arrival day and everyone is usually full of energy that day and can make it to closing (although, in September, that's usually on the early side).

 

[Geemo]

Background: We have a Disneyland vacay planned Tuesday through a Saturday in Sept. We have 4 day tickets (we don't want to add a 5th as we want a beach day).

*DCA is the park needed to hit Tues or Sat. Staying offsite across the street

*Arrive on Tuesday and will be at our hotel around 2 pm

*Depart on Saturday and could stay in DL until 3ish.

We are already planning full days on Wed, Thurs, Fri. Would you go Tuesday or Saturday for your 4th day in my situation?

Does your time in Sept include any of the MHP days?
If it does make sure the early closure of DL on those days is planned into your schedule.

 

[tnzzz]

We hit the parks on arrival day. We usually have more energy then the last day of our trip. You could spend some time on the other day in DTD before departure.

 

[onlyoneash]

Does your time in Sept include any of the MHP days?
If it does make sure the early closure of DL on those days is planned into your schedule.

No, we will miss the Halloween parties. 12th-16th of Sept.

 

[onlyoneash]

Are you likely to get to the parks at rope drop on Saturday? For my family, we aren't necessarily that likely to make rope drop by the end of a trip, so I'd probably opt to go to the parks on Tuesday because it's arrival day and everyone is usually full of energy that day and can make it to closing (although, in September, that's usually on the early side).

Oh thanks... that is something I didn't think of!

Rope drop isn't too bad in Sept since it starts later...no 6 am craziness (plus we live further east, so even a 7 am rope drop feels like 9 am to us) but the end of a vacay is exhausting.

I 100% thought we should go Tuesday too.... but my (and hubby's) conflict about going Tuesday instead of Sat is then that makes Saturday our beach day and I know those can be busy on Saturdays vs Tuesday. Also, there seems to be more going on Saturday vs. Tuesday at DCA since the new Halloween decor will be up on Sat, but not on Tuesday?

Haha! See my dilemma? I'm sure we would have fun either way, but it's nice to hear about things I didn't think of!!! Thanks!

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I would go with arrival day. I love getting to Anaheim and heading right for the parks, most trips we don't even bother checking in to the hotel first.

 

[figment_jii]

No, we will miss the Halloween parties. 12th-16th of Sept.

That does change the complexity of things...will you have a chance to visit DCA on Friday? While no one really know how much HalloweenTime things there will be in DCA this year, I think it would be worth visiting DCA at least once after HalloweenTime starts. So if you don't have a chance to visit DCA on Friday, then I would probably opt to go on Saturday to DCA. If you're not interested in HalloweenTime, then I'd stick with the Tuesday plan.

Yes, with the kick-off to HalloweenTime starting on 9/15, I expect the parks to be quite busy that weekend (Fri evening through Sunday). That's pretty typical for most of HalloweenTime (weekends are very busy).

 

[onlyoneash]

That does change the complexity of things...will you have a chance to visit DCA on Friday? While no one really know how much HalloweenTime things there will be in DCA this year, I think it would be worth visiting DCA at least once after HalloweenTime starts. So if you don't have a chance to visit DCA on Friday, then I would probably opt to go on Saturday to DCA. If you're not interested in HalloweenTime, then I'd stick with the Tuesday plan.

I do love Halloween, but if the kids are exhausted by Saturday, then no one is going to be enjoying themselves.

We are spending all day at DL on fri since it will be the only day we have to get F!, The Mickey map show, fireworks, etc...
So Sat would be our only day to see DCA Halloween.

I just noticed DCA closes at 8 on Tues. Dang. Maybe we will go Saturday and hope the kids aren't too tired

 

[tnzzz]

Oh thanks... that is something I didn't think of!

Rope drop isn't too bad in Sept since it starts later...no 6 am craziness (plus we live further east, so even a 7 am rope drop feels like 9 am to us) but the end of a vacay is exhausting.

I 100% thought we should go Tuesday too.... but my (and hubby's) conflict about going Tuesday instead of Sat is then that makes Saturday our beach day and I know those can be busy on Saturdays vs Tuesday. Also, there seems to be more going on Saturday vs. Tuesday at DCA since the new Halloween decor will be up on Sat, but not on Tuesday?

Haha! See my dilemma? I'm sure we would have fun either way, but it's nice to hear about things I didn't think of!!! Thanks!

I might be inclined to go on Saturday since you'll have the Halloween decorations (and less ride closures) that day. I also don't know that I would want to do the beach same day as departure.
So I change my recommendation based on this information

 

[HydroGuy]

IMO it depends on how long you are traveling. If you are up super early on Tuesday and take a flight, etc., it may be better to just rest.

I voted for Saturday but I did not look at park hours or MHP or anything.

Also, Saturday will be into full Halloweentime mode since that starts Friday the 15th. So you will get a little more of that.

 

[jrjankowski8]

Looking at the hours and EMH times, I'd go with Saturday. On Tuesday DCA is only open until 8pm. If you're just getting to your hotel at 2pm that means checking in, getting your bags together, getting settled, etc., you will probably only enjoy the park for a few hours. Plus by that time, all the FPs will be gone. On Saturday DCA opens at 8am with no EMH so you can get a couple of FPs and enjoy the big rides again.

 

[chickapin parterre]

you can do DTD on tuesday and if you walked.....ride that wild ride of all that puts everyone at risk......the tram

 

[onlyoneash]

On Saturday DCA opens at 8am with no EMH so you can get a couple of FPs and enjoy the big rides again.

Also, Saturday will be into full Halloweentime mode since that starts Friday the 15th. So you will get a little more of that.

Looks like Saturday is our best bet. We will enjoy the beach and maybe a bit of Downtown Disney on Tuesday when we land! Thanks guys.

 

[onlyoneash]

I just checked the poll results and it is at 50/50 (that's how if feel too, Lol!) I guess I will look at that as the glass half full and either day we go will be fun.