Better day - Friday (grad night) or Monday after blocked out weekend?

[2vets]

Hi, all!

WDW veteran and AP holder here, but essentially a first timer at DL. I live in San Diego but grew up in FL, so WDW is just in my blood. Planning a first real visit with my sister and niece in early June, and…yeah, grad nite season. We are staying at GCH, have parkhoppers and genie +, and are doing the parks together Sat and Sun - Sun is a grad nite, so we plan to do EE at DCA Sunday and either hop to DL or bail as the day progresses. There are a few things I’d like to do that my niece will not, mostly at DCA. So I bought an extra day on my pass but am torn on what day to use it… I prefer to drive up at the crack of dawn on Friday - also a grad nite (and also despite the fact that traffic may suck), do stuff at DCA, then head back to the hotel to relax when it gets nuts. I’d head home at about 9:30/10 Monday after the traffic calms a bit and still get in 1/2 day at the office. I could take Monday fully off instead and drive back later - it’s just not my preference, and I’m seeing reports that Mondays are nuts. Thoughts on what day might be less ridiculous? Many thanks!

 

[Mathmagicland]

I tend to avoid Grad night days in either park, because Disney offers the students a park hopper option. Disneyland seems more busy than usual during the day before they hop over to DCA for grad night activities.

 

[karenc15]

Having just been Friday-Monday this last weekend, I would say Friday hands down! Yesterday most of the APs were unblocked and the crowds were insane!!! We didn’t have Genie+ for that day though so maybe it wouldn’t have been as bad with G+ since I’m assuming APs wouldn’t but G+ as much?

 

[2vets]

I hear ya! To be clear, I’d have preferred a different weekend, but the dates were limited by my sister’s vacation plans, which could only take place during a narrow timeframe. We were stuck w/grad nites no matter what, so we just have to pick the best of our less-than-ideal options. I had read that arriving early and getting out when things get stupid is the best way, but just…zero experience. And anyone who lives here knows that my arrival will depend on traffic factors .

 

[2vets]

Having just been Friday-Monday this last weekend, I would say Friday hands down! Yesterday most of the APs were unblocked and the crowds were insane!!! We didn’t have Genie+ for that day though so maybe it wouldn’t have been as bad with G+ since I’m assuming APs wouldn’t but G+ as much?

The crowd calendars (yeah, I know) certainly indicate this. It’s just the grad nite factor…

 

[tlovesdis]

Friday! Mondays are the new Saturday! Mondays have been crazy busy.

 

[crystal1313]

We went last year on a grad night, expecting the worst. And, it was actually awesome and we got the most done that day! Especially in the evening. We walked on Rise of the Resistance. We try to avoid Mondays if at all possible. Hope that helps!!

 

[Pluto468]

I would do Friday. I think the crowds will be better, and you can avoid Grad nite by hanging out at the Grand or hopping. It will also be nice to have the whole evening with no pressure to pack up and leave town like you would if you went to the park on Monday.

Have a great trip!

 

[2vets]

Thanks so much, all! I'm so grateful for your insight here and booked that Friday at DCA - and off from work . Looking forward to getting to explore, there are definitely some aspects to DL vs WDW that are very appealing to me!

 

[crystal1313]

Thanks so much, all! I'm so grateful for your insight here and booked that Friday at DCA - and off from work . Looking forward to getting to explore, there are definitely some aspects to DL vs WDW that are very appealing to me!

You will have a blast! We love comparing the rides to WDW and then deciding which one we like better. Lol. Have a fun trip!!!

 

[2vets]

You will have a blast! We love comparing the rides to WDW and then deciding which one we like better. Lol. Have a fun trip!!!

Can't wait! Although I *really* do not need a local Disney addiction. The WDW one is bad enough, but at least I'm limited by distance.

 

[lalasmama]

Totally grad night vs first day after passes are unblocked. Thar first day after passes are opened back up tends to be extra busy!

 

[dkr7166]

I'm in a similar boat! I have a 4 day hopper ticket and going the second week of June. Sunday (grad night), Tuesday, and Thursday are Disney days. Wednesday is also grad night I'm undecided on whether to make Monday or Wednesday my fourth day! The blackout dates are the same for my entire trip with the bottom 2 tiers blocked and top 2 open.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Can't wait! Although I *really* do not need a local Disney addiction. The WDW one is bad enough, but at least I'm limited by distance.

Good luck! I grew up a WDW person. Then when I was 23, I made my first visit to Disneyland. I'm 42 years old now and have been to Disneyland hundreds of times (it helps that for part of that I lived 10 minutes away and would go all the time.) There's just something so great about the smallness of Disneyland compared to WDW. It just feels less 'sterile', if that makes sense. I still love WDW too (headed there in a few days, actually) but now, Disneyland is definitely my park!

Oh, and I think you made the right choice by doing Friday vs. Monday.