Closing at 7pm on October Fridays is a Joke!

[specialks]

My frustration are all the private parties. We planned our dates before the hours were released (as most others do too) and then discovered that on Monday, the parks are closing early for a CM party. It happened to us last year (Dec) when they moved the CM party a week later. Arggg! Another trip the parks closed early for a private company party. So, I don't mind the published programs where you can kind of plan in advance, but it frustrates me when there are these private things that you have no advance warning on...you just discover it when the hours are finally released. However, I keep buying my tickets and dealing with it, so little chance of change.

 

[Malcon10t]

Why not go on Saturday's well I'll tell u.... I work 16-18 hour days on both sat and Sunday's! But I guess what I'm saying is with a premium pass it would be nice to go after work friday for more then an hour! Is my pass useless no, am I a little frustrated yes!

So, what if you had this pass back in the early 1980s, when the park closed on Mon and Tues? Would you complain if you went on Thursday and the park closed at 8 like it normally does? The pass agreement simply states you can enter the park any hours it is generally open to the public. It doesn't guarantee any specific hours. The Halloween parties and their dates have been widely known since at least last June.

I can just imagine your horror if you had wanted to go to Disneyland May 4th, 2005...

 

[Malcon10t]

Why not go on Saturday's well I'll tell u.... I work 16-18 hour days on both sat and Sunday's! But I guess what I'm saying is with a premium pass it would be nice to go after work friday for more then an hour! Is my pass useless no, am I a little frustrated yes!

BTW - DCA is open late for you.

 

[Malcon10t]

My frustration are all the private parties. We planned our dates before the hours were released (as most others do too) and then discovered that on Monday, the parks are closing early for a CM party. It happened to us last year (Dec) when they moved the CM party a week later. Arggg! Another trip the parks closed early for a private company party. So, I don't mind the published programs where you can kind of plan in advance, but it frustrates me when there are these private things that you have no advance warning on...you just discover it when the hours are finally released. However, I keep buying my tickets and dealing with it, so little chance of change.

Very very rarely will there be a special event on a Friday. They will generally be during the week, when the park normally closes at 8pm. They will then back the close up to 6 or 7pm. However, they normally also leave DCA open later AND they open Disneyland earlier than the normal 10am open. On most party days, they will open Disneyland at 8 or 9 am, and I have seen them open as early as 7am to help compensate.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

So, what if you had this pass back in the early 1980s, when the park closed on Mon and Tues? Would you complain if you went on Thursday and the park closed at 8 like it normally does? The pass agreement simply states you can enter the park any hours it is generally open to the public. It doesn't guarantee any specific hours. The Halloween parties and their dates have been widely known since at least last June.

I can just imagine your horror if you had wanted to go to Disneyland May 4th, 2005...

I wanted to go, but alas, I did not win the AP contest.
First time I had seen DCA so busy.

 

[lilpooh108]

You probably wouldn't want to be there on Fridays in October anyway due to the party. We accidentally went last year at 3pm on Friday, on a party day. OMG. Took us 1 hour to walk from Riverbelle Terrace to the exit at 6pm. It was fun to look at everyone's costumes though

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Back when I was a wee pup, we used to go in October and they'd close the park early to all but those there from a special gathering of the union my father was in. So special events of one sort or another are nothing new for Disneyland.

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

BTW - DCA is open late for you.

How crazy crowded will it be at DCA on a Halloween party night for us regular guests? Can the party goers cross over?

We're coming down from Nor Cal on a Friday and staying as late as I can talk DH into on Sunday.

 

[NeutralNovice]

I would agree with the early closing hours and how irritating they can be... I'll be going on a Thursday this month and the park closes at 8! And I can NEVER miss WoC, which is, oddly enough, at 7pm. Isn't it still going to be a little light out?

Anyway, I think 10pm would've been good, but I guess they researched and found out that this would be the best for Disney money-wise.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

How crazy crowded will it be at DCA on a Halloween party night for us regular guests? Can the party goers cross over?

We're coming down from Nor Cal on a Friday and staying as late as I can talk DH into on Sunday.

Party tickets are only good for DL.

 

[disneychrista]

How crazy crowded will it be at DCA on a Halloween party night for us regular guests? Can the party goers cross over?

You can enter DCA only if you have a valid regular park ticket. IMO, if you are spending the extra money for the Halloween Party then I would take in all the specialness of the party. The fireworks, the parade, ToT, special decorations that are only up for the party, etc. I would not waste my time at DCA, you have Saturday & Sunday for that.

Also if you are in costume, you can not wear it at DCA, only at DL during the party hours (including the pre-party)

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

I would agree with the early closing hours and how irritating they can be... I'll be going on a Thursday this month and the park closes at 8! And I can NEVER miss WoC, which is, oddly enough, at 7pm. Isn't it still going to be a little light out?

Anyway, I think 10pm would've been good, but I guess they researched and found out that this would be the best for Disney money-wise.

Since this period of time is off-season, the park usually closes at 8 P.M. on weekdays, as it does during other off-season times.

 

[TLuvsD]

We went on Friday (mostly because I forgot about the Halloween Party)...it was fun to see the special photo sets, the Mickey ghost balloons and everyone entering the Park in costume. We left, went to DCA for dinner, stopped at World of Disney for a Mickey Ghost Lantern and went home. The special events aren't my favorite things, I like a nice Friday evening in the park, but it's still fun.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I can't believe this

 

[carebee21]

I agree with the basic point the OP is trying to make. It's ridiculous to close DL at 7pm on a Friday night, when the parks are so full.

And yes, I know DCA is open late, but that's no consolation. That park is a mess, and once you add in the fact that a lot of the pier closes down for WOC, what exactly are you supposed to do? Head to the mob of people at TOT, wait in an insanely long line, and then walk halfway across the park and go to Little Mermaid and Soarin?

Disneyland is not Disneyworld and can not absorb the amount of people if they close one park early for private parties or hard ticket events. It doesn't work.

However, with all of that said, it's a smart marketing plan. The only time we could come in Oct happens to be over a Thursday-Sun period, so to avoid the mob of people and the mess at DCA on Friday night, we bought tickets to the Halloween party....

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I agree with the basic point the OP is trying to make. It's ridiculous to close DL at 7pm on a Friday night, when the parks are so full.

And yes, I know DCA is open late, but that's no consolation. That park is a mess, and once you add in the fact that a lot of the pier closes down for WOC, what exactly are you supposed to do? Head to the mob of people at TOT, wait in an insanely long line, and then walk halfway across the park and go to Little Mermaid and Soarin?

Disneyland is not Disneyworld and can not absorb the amount of people if they close one park early for private parties or hard ticket events. It doesn't work.

We were talking about this last night. I haven't been to DCA since WOC opened (we'll be going in December), but I've heard it's a complete mess. Paradise Pier at night was the best thing DCA had going for it, if you ask me.

So California Screamin', Toy Story Mania, and Mickey's Fun Wheel all close by 8? What about Goofy's Sky School and Silly Symphony Swings?

 

[ArchOwl]

We were talking about this last night. I haven't been to DCA since WOC opened (we'll be going in December), but I've heard it's a complete mess. Paradise Pier at night was the best thing DCA had going for it, if you ask me.

So California Screamin', Toy Story Mania, and Mickey's Fun Wheel all close by 8? What about Goofy's Sky School and Silly Symphony Swings?

TSMM stays open throughout WOC as does GSS. WOC is pretty amazing and gives a whole new dimension to DCA as a nighttime destination that having all those rides open never did. It was probably a tough decision, but ultimately the right one I think.

And yes, DCA is not looking very good right now. But hopefully all this will be worth it.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

TSMM stays open throughout WOC as does GSS. WOC is pretty amazing and gives a whole new dimension to DCA as a nighttime destination that having all those rides open never did. It was probably a tough decision, but ultimately the right one I think.

And yes, DCA is not looking very good right now. But hopefully all this will be worth it.

I really wish they will get to a point where they can let CA Screamin' run for a short time at night. It was amazing at night, and I think the swings at night would be fun too.

 

[skiingfast]

I really wish they will get to a point where they can let CA Screamin' run for a short time at night. It was amazing at night, and I think the swings at night would be fun too.

I agree they are, and would be great attractions at night.

TSMM stays open throughout WOC as does GSS. WOC is pretty amazing and gives a whole new dimension to DCA as a nighttime destination that having all those rides open never did. It was probably a tough decision, but ultimately the right one I think.

They had to do something to cut down on the background light, and noise. But the Pier at night is visually stunning and it still is with WoC.

 

[ArchOwl]

I really wish they will get to a point where they can let CA Screamin' run for a short time at night. It was amazing at night, and I think the swings at night would be fun too.

They do re-open Screamin on nights when the last WOC ends before the park closes. We rode in February after WOC when they opened it back up for something like 15 minutes before they closed. It was a little odd, but it was sure fun!