Change October plans for After Hours in September?

[Haley R]

DH and I are booked at Pop 3 nights and Beach Club 4 nights in October (23-30). We booked through a travel agent and have 4 day PH with no dining plan. I saw today that there is going to be an After Hours September 20. I'm wondering if I should completely switch our plans to try and make it to that instead.

If we switch, we will need to change our resort reservations. I have been looking all night at our options and it looks like we could mix a free dining deal with a room only deal and still get a good price. I've never been in September or October so I honestly have no idea if one will be better than the other (weather and crowds). We would also need to book all new ADR's.

I will take any and ALL suggestions because I just can't decide what to do. We loved DAH when we did it in March so I am completely fine revolving our trip around it, but want to get other opinions first. Thanks!

 

[summerlvr]

I went to DAH this past January and loved it! As a matter of fact, I just extended my July trip by 4 days so that I can do the July 9 DAH. Keeping my fingers crossed that they don't oversell these summer/fall dates.
September will probably be less crowded, but it will definitely be hotter!

 

[Haley R]

I went to DAH this past January and loved it! As a matter of fact, I just extended my July trip by 4 days so that I can do the July 9 DAH. Keeping my fingers crossed that they don't oversell these summer/fall dates.

See and that would be a problem for me. I wouldn't want to change our entire trip just for them to up the number of tickets sold. I'm also not sure if we want to move to September since it may be hotter and a higher chance of a hurricane. I just can't decide!

 

[summerlvr]

See and that would be a problem for me. I wouldn't want to change our entire trip just for them to up the number of tickets sold. I'm also not sure if we want to move to September since it may be hotter and a higher chance of a hurricane. I just can't decide!

Will definitely be hotter. Can you book September as an additional trip and cancel one after people start reporting their experiences?

 

[Haley R]

Will definitely be hotter. Can you book September as an additional trip and cancel one after people start reporting their experiences?

The only thing with that is I wouldn't want to buy tickets for DAH if we end up going in October. I also wouldn't want it to sell out, though.

 

[summerlvr]

I know none of the winter dates sold out until pretty close to the day, so could probably hold off on the tickets for a while.

 

[Haley R]

I know none of the winter dates sold out until pretty close to the day, so could probably hold off on the tickets for a while.

That’s true. I’m waiting to hear back from my ta. The next thing to worry about is getting free dining or a room only deal.

 

[whiporee]

I think it will depend on what you're expecting. The 2017 crowds are a thing of the past. But the 2018 crowds -- which featured a few sell outs and a lot more publicity -- still reported a very good time. I think that will be more exemplative of where this ends up than where its been.

I'm going in late June and and thrilled to have the chance. I even sort of regret the trip I'm doing July2-4 because I think DAH will be much more fun. But I'm not expecting to walk on 7DMT multiple times, either.

 

[jillt2ph]

If I could change my trip to start Aug 30 instead of the 31st so I could attend the DAH party, I would! Why does work always have to interfere?? LOL! I also went to one in March. MK is my fave park, and I would much rather attend DAH than MNSSHP.

 

[Haley R]

I think it will depend on what you're expecting. The 2017 crowds are a thing of the past. But the 2018 crowds -- which featured a few sell outs and a lot more publicity -- still reported a very good time. I think that will be more exemplative of where this ends up than where its been.

I'm going in late June and and thrilled to have the chance. I even sort of regret the trip I'm doing July2-4 because I think DAH will be much more fun. But I'm not expecting to walk on 7DMT multiple times, either.

Thanks for the input! 7dmt was the longest wait we had at DAH. It’s not our favorite ride anyway so it’s okay.

What are the chances of a hurricane September 18-25?

 

[Haley R]

If I could change my trip to start Aug 30 instead of the 31st so I could attend the DAH party, I would! Why does work always have to interfere?? LOL! I also went to one in March. MK is my fave park, and I would much rather attend DAH than MNSSHP.

Mk is our favorite park too! We would still do two MNSSHP. I’m mostly worried about weather.

 

[sharonabe]

Mk is our favorite park too! We would still do two MNSSHP. I’m mostly worried about weather.

Hurricane season isn't over until Nov, so even your Oct dates are in danger. I wouldn't let that factor into my decision. There is no way of knowing the chances for either date. Your only recourse is to buy vacation insurance to cover everything in case there is a hurricane.

 

[Haley R]

Hurricane season isn't over until Nov, so even your Oct dates are in danger. I wouldn't let that factor into my decision. There is no way of knowing the chances for either date. Your only recourse is to buy vacation insurance to cover everything in case there is a hurricane.

Okay thank you.

 

[nkereina]

Isn't it possible they could still release After Hours dates for October? The recent announcement said they brought it back for summer, so I would think October and beyond would encompass "Fall". The After Hours are available during peak times like June and July, so I don't think it's in relation to crowds.

IMO, I would not re-work my whole trip just for After Hours. Especially if it meant re-booking all ADRs, which may prove difficult now that the September window is open and free dining has been out for a bit. Also, personal preference, but we don't care much for September. After a few trips with some significant rain that time of year, we opt for late October/November now.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

I probably wouldn’t change my trip for after hours this year. We attended last year and this year and left disappointed this year. Last year, I raved about the event after we left. This year, I left thinking it was fun but not a great value. Last year we were able to ride BTMRR as many times as we wanted pretty much without getting off. This year there was a consistent line.

Free dining in September may make it difficult for you to change your ADRs. If you’re still throwing the idea around, i would try and see what ADRs are available and start booking them now. You can easily cancel them if you change your mind.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Honestly, i'd keep October. Its a cooler during that time, and I find that it rains less. Im sure there are some who will tell me thats not true....but i've been in Sept and Oct a few times and those were my experiences. Based on the cooler weather and less rain, id keep Oct. Regarding hurricanes, it can happen in both Sept or Oct, neither month is safe. So dont let that influence your decision.

 

[Haley R]

Isn't it possible they could still release After Hours dates for October? The recent announcement said they brought it back for summer, so I would think October and beyond would encompass "Fall". The After Hours are available during peak times like June and July, so I don't think it's in relation to crowds.

IMO, I would not re-work my whole trip just for After Hours. Especially if it meant re-booking all ADRs, which may prove difficult now that the September window is open and free dining has been out for a bit. Also, personal preference, but we don't care much for September. After a few trips with some significant rain that time of year, we opt for late October/November now.

I probably wouldn’t change my trip for after hours this year. We attended last year and this year and left disappointed this year. Last year, I raved about the event after we left. This year, I left thinking it was fun but not a great value. Last year we were able to ride BTMRR as many times as we wanted pretty much without getting off. This year there was a consistent line.

Free dining in September may make it difficult for you to change your ADRs. If you’re still throwing the idea around, i would try and see what ADRs are available and start booking them now. You can easily cancel them if you change your mind.

Honestly, i'd keep October. Its a cooler during that time, and I find that it rains less. Im sure there are some who will tell me thats not true....but i've been in Sept and Oct a few times and those were my experiences. Based on the cooler weather and less rain, id keep Oct. Regarding hurricanes, it can happen in both Sept or Oct, neither month is safe. So dont let that influence your decision.

Thanks to all three of you! I think we will just keep our October dates. I was excited about the chance to maybe snag free dining and do After Hours, but the rain and heat don't sound super fun to me. We LOVED our After Hours in March so we might just have to make a special trip for it next year, maybe over a long weekend.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Thanks to all three of you! I think we will just keep our October dates. I was excited about the chance to maybe snag free dining and do After Hours, but the rain and heat don't sound super fun to me. We LOVED our After Hours in March so we might just have to make a special trip for it next year, maybe over a long weekend.

Good choice. To have to rebook all of your ADRs as well, thats a lot of work just for an after hours event.

 

[focusondisney]

Thanks to all three of you! I think we will just keep our October dates. I was excited about the chance to maybe snag free dining and do After Hours, but the rain and heat don't sound super fun to me. We LOVED our After Hours in March so we might just have to make a special trip for it next year, maybe over a long weekend.

We're going Sept 8-15, so we're missing after hours too. I briefly thought about seeing if we could change our dates too. But we've got great airfare, bounceback rates at YC & GF club levels, lunch with an imagineer & BOG dinner already booked. Too much to try & redo just for 3 hours, lol! Plus, I want to see the reports on what the events are like in busier times. I'm afraid Disney will up the number of tickets sold & it won't be as worth it.

Plus, I'm already looking at which weeks they might have it in January or February & starting to make plans to go then. Have to remind myself I can't go to everything!

 

[Haley R]

We're going Sept 8-15, so we're missing after hours too. I briefly thought about seeing if we could change our dates too. But we've got great airfare, bounceback rates at YC & GF club levels, lunch with an imagineer & BOG dinner already booked. Too much to try & redo just for 3 hours, lol! Plus, I want to see the reports on what the events are like in busier times. I'm afraid Disney will up the number of tickets sold & it won't be as worth it.

Plus, I'm already looking at which weeks they might have it in January or February & starting to make plans to go then. Have to remind myself I can't go to everything!

We aren't planning a trip for the spring because we want to do Japan in May, but if I see After Hours for next year I might beg DH to go for a long weekend lol!

I definitely agree about seeing how these "busy season" DAH go. If they up the number of tickets it won't even be worth it IMO.