Decision to make regarding Columbus Day

[Kilale]

We arrive Sunday Oct 12th at 8 PM in SNA to start our Honeymoon. Right now I have booked the DLR for Monday and Tuesday night with our MHP tickets purchased for the Tuesday, Oct 14th.

There are two different scenarios I could play out here:

A) Use our regular admission ticket on Monday, Oct 13th, when the park has historically been open from 9AM to 10 PM. Then use our MHP the following night from 3-11 PM. This would give us a total of 21 DL hours. I could also get a park hopper on the Monday to try and experience some of DCA since my Tuesday will be all spent in DL. We would then go to the spa Tuesday morning and unwind while we wait for the MHP to start.

Or

B) Use the Monday to relax after travelling from Canada through Denver International and arriving late the previous night, two days removed from our wedding. Do some shopping, visit the spa and experience downtown Disney. Then use both the regular admission (and Early Entry) on the Tuesday which would give us 7 AM to 11 PM. So a total of 16 hours in DL.

I don't expect anyone to tell me to do one or the other, but I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions.

Has anyone ever tried both in one day before?

How are the Columbus Day crowds vs. the MHP day crowds during the day? (From searching the forum it appears as though while not a major holiday, Columbus day can be quite busy)

Is there any glaring holes in this plan that I am not seeing that you vets can point out for me please?

Thanks in advance, such a great forum and resource I really appreciate all the work that is put into it.

 

[figment_jii]

I would expect Columbus Day (Monday) to be fairly crowded in the parks, but not necessarily super busy. Not everyone gets Columbus Day off, so most folks will be working/in school. None of the AP are blocked on that Monday or Tuesday, so that probably won't factor heavily into the crowds. There is no evening entertainment (e.g., fireworks or Fantasmic) at DL on either day.

Monday: I do think the crowds might be higher on Monday (compared to Tuesday). Historically, park hours are longer than the preceding or following Monday, which indicates that DLR expects higher crowds. I still think you can get a fair amount done, even if you take it at a more relaxed pace.

Tuesday: I would expected Tuesday morning to be fairly quiet in the parks. I think you can get a lot done if you arrive at rope drop (or EMH) and make use of that time. DL will probably be on the more crowded side during the 3 pm to 6 pm period when both day guests and MHP guests are in the parks.

I would probably opt for going into the parks on both Monday and Tuesday, just so you have a little more time and don't have to feel as rushed about getting things done.

 

[SMD]

Instead of a hopper, what about a 2 day, 1 park ticket. Do DL on Monday and DCA Tuesday morning, then the Halloween party. Or do DCA Monday (you'd be able to do EMH), Halloween Tuesday and then use the second ticket for a quick trip to DL Wednesday morning to do anything you missed at the party, but it wouldn't have to be a whole day. With using the EMH day on Monday you would have a lot of time for a midday break. And you'd have Tuesday morning in the hotel too.

 

[Kilale]

Both great suggestions, thank you.

This is a toughie.. I imagine the park would be less busy Tuesday than an average October weekday as people won't want to 'waste' a regular admission ticket on a day they have to leave the park early (6 PM). So that would be a real treat.. but an extra 5 hours of DL time is a pretty significant chunk of time.

I am leaning towards spreading it out.. even if we don't park hop, just means more time chasing down Donald for pictures and settling an old score with Monstro.

 

[figment_jii]

In honesty, I don't know how much MHP really impacts day guest crowds at DL. Historically, DL closes around 8:00 pm on weekdays in October, so the day guests are only "losing" two hours. It's not as if DL stayed open until 10:00 pm or midnight on non-party weeknights. I didn't really notice a large difference between the crowds on Wednesday morning compared to a Tuesday morning.

I would look at how much money you want to spend and then decide on which tickets to get. My style of park touring involves park hopping, so I would get the park hopper (an additional $39 per ticket).