Disneyland in September

[~ButterflyKisses~]

My DF has won a trip to New York & Las Vegas and we thought that while we are over in the US we would make a trip to Disneyland also!!

We are planning to go in September and I was wondering if you could tell me what Disneyland is like during this time? Will it be during peak season? I am assuming it will be less busy as the kids would have gone back to school by then? How long is Summer break?

Also what hours is the park open in September? Will we be able to see all of the parades and fireworks show?

 

[Sarah84]

What a great prize, congrats to your DF

When in September? im going for the first time this seep (from the UK) and from what i've read after Labor Day weekend (the first monday in Sep) its then off peak season and from what ive read fireworks are only at weekends as is Fantasmic.

Heres a link for last septembers hours http://www.disneymouselinks.com/Calendar.aspx?Disney_Calendar=08-28-2008

 

[disneylandhunni]

school break is usually until the very end of august or the very beginning of september depending on where you live. this time is probably not very crowded.

have fun

 

[amyamya]

When we were there in October and it was really crowded, a CM told us to come back in September, when it was empty. I don't think a lot of people pull their kids out of school right after it starts so the crowds are pretty light, and the weather will be really nice. Enjoy your trip!

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

We went at the end of Labor Day week through the next week and it was great! We arrived on Fri. evening and practically walked on most of the attractions. The longest wait we had that evening was 10 mins. We loved going at that time of the year. It was the least crowded trip that we've ever had.

 

[mariezp]

September is a pretty good time to go for less crowds but it can still be pretty warm. You might want to avoid Labor Day weekend. Also, if you can possibly go later in the month the weather might cool down some. Just to let you know, Haunted Mansion goes down most of the month to install the overlay but generally opens towards the end of the month as well.

I believe the park goes to the off season hours of closing at 8:00 on weekdays and later on weekends. Also, pretty sure that the fireworks are only on weekends.

 

[~ButterflyKisses~]

Thanks for your replies. We're not sure on the exact dates we will be in Disneyland but it will either be middle or end of September, or possibly the first week of October.

So if we want to see the fantasmic show and the fireworks we should plan to go on a weekend? We are going to be at DLR for 3 days so does Saturday, Sunday, Monday seem ok or Friday, Saturday, Sunday?

Would a Friday or a Monday be less busy?

Is there somewhere I can look that has an overview of all the rides? I've never been to DLR so I'm not sure what's even there. What's the haunted mansion like? Will we be disappointed if we miss out on it?

When do they put up all the Halloween decorations? Halloween is the 31st October right?

 

[Brady's Mom]

Definitely go Sat., Sun and Monday. Saturday and Sunday will be crowded, but Monday should be very nice. WE love going in Sept. Lines are short and the weather is warm. When we went Haunted Mansion was closed, but I don't like the ride so it doesn't matter to me and so was Small World. They put up the Holiday overlays on both of those rides in Sept.

 

[ter-moo]

I would go on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or a Thursday, Friday, Saturday. That way you only have one crowded day, and you get to be there for all the stuff that only happens on weekends.

 

[bonita_babe232]

When we went Haunted Mansion was closed, but I don't like the ride so it doesn't matter to me and so was Small World. They put up the Holiday overlays on both of those rides in Sept.

i just wanted to add that its a small world doesnt close in sept for the holiday over lay it close in november..... if u went in 2008 it was closed for the major referb all year!!!

 

[~ButterflyKisses~]

In September would they usually only have one fantasmic show on the weekends due to the early closing times? The fireworks and fantasmic show are usually around the same time aren't they so we would have to choose one or the other if we one went one day of the weekend?

I'm thinking we'd have to go on a saturday and a sunday so we'd be able to see the fireworks one night and the fantasmic show on the other night.

Do they always have the night time shows on the weekends in September? Is there a chance that they might not run the shows on weekends at all?

I would hate to go in September and miss out altogether!

 

[S. S. Columbia]

... When we went Haunted Mansion was closed, but I don't like the ride so it doesn't matter to me and so was Small World. They put up the Holiday overlays on both of those rides in Sept.

... its a small world doesnt close in sept for the holiday over lay it close in november..... if u went in 2008 it was closed for the major referb all year!!!

FWIW

Based on previous years, IASW will close on Oct 26, 2009 (Monday), to install the "It's A Small World Holiday" overlay; and IASWH should open on Thursday, Nov 12, 2009.

But that's only based on what DL has done in the past.

In the last few years they have started to install the IASWH overlay on the last Monday in October, and the overlay has been taking 17 days to install.

As always, check the DL calendar for the official information:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/calendar/monthly/monthly?name=CalendarMonthlyPage

HTH

 

[S. S. Columbia]

In September would they usually only have one fantasmic show on the weekends due to the early closing times? The fireworks and fantasmic show are usually around the same time aren't they so we would have to choose one or the other if we one went one day of the weekend?

I'm thinking we'd have to go on a saturday and a sunday so we'd be able to see the fireworks one night and the fantasmic show on the other night.

Do they always have the night time shows on the weekends in September? Is there a chance that they might not run the shows on weekends at all?

I would hate to go in September and miss out altogether!

Based on Sept 2007, the fireworks were being shown on Fri and Sat, and Fantasmic was being shown on Sat and Sun. (Fantasmic had 2 shows on Sat, and 1 show on Sun.)

Here's a link to the entertainment calendar for Sept 2007 (in Sept 2008, Fantasmic was being refurbed):
http://www.laughingplace.com/guide-cal-DLR2-200709.asp

HTH

 

[mariezp]

We used to love going in October but each year it has progressively gotten to be a much busier time of year with the addition of Halloween celebrations every weekend and the Gay Days event on the first weekend. I am pretty sure you will find it much less crowded if you can swing going in September. Last year the official Disney's HalloweenTime ran Friday, September 26 through Sunday, November 2, 2008 so decorations had to go up prior to that.

I merely mentioned Haunted Mansion just in case it might be something you would miss. Prior to last year we usually went on it once per trip. However, last year it was one of my DD's absolute favorites and we ended up riding it 10 times! It is housed in an old mansion with ghosts all around as you ride through in a "doom buggy" vehicle. It goes up and down and twists and turns driving you through the entire house. Since it's Disney it's not really scary just all in good fun. If you end up going towards the end of the month you might not miss it. Last year it reopened on the 25th and the year before that on the 20th so who knows!

We went in September in 2007. We saw Fantasmic on a Saturday night. S. S. Columbia was posting the info for times at the same time I was typing and suggested the Laughing Place link I was going to offer. (Great minds!) If you especially want to see both Fantasmic and the Fireworks I would suggest going on Friday, Saturday and Sunday so you will have more than one chance to see both shows as there is always a chance that they can get canceled due to high winds. However, if both shows are not at the top of your list I would probably go on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and hope for lighter crowds. Mondays are generally less crowded than Fridays. Better yet is ter-moo's suggestion of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday if seeing the shows is not your top priority.

The best place to start for an overview of all the rides is on the Disneyland Resort page.
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage

Also, our very own Disboard has plenty of info.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/disneyland-theme-parks.htm

And another favorite of mine is Visions Fantastic which has a bunch of ride videos you can watch.
http://www.visionsfantastic.com/main.php

 

[erinbev]

I went last September, and fireworks were on the weekends (no Fantasmic because it was down for refurb) and the Haunted Mansion was closed as well. It was hot mid-day and nice in the morning and evening, and we never waited more than 20 minutes for anything! (That doesn't mean that the lines didn't go that long, we just decided to abstain during those times, haha) For the most part, it wasn't that crowded. Saturday was the only day I felt (slightly) overwhelmed by crowds, and even then we got some good rides in and had a good time.

 

[ncbyrne]

Keeping this thread bumped...
DH and I will be there Wed. Sept 30, Thur Oct 1, Fri Oct 2, trying to avoid the crowds of the weekend. And, avoiding the crowds of Gay Days the first weekend in Oct. as well.

 

[~ButterflyKisses~]

We are thinking of going Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

This will be our first time to Disneyland and we want to be able to enjoy everything at a leisurely pace and not feel rushed. We will be going with adults only, no kids. Would a 4 day pass be better than a 3 day pass? I'd like to be able to go on the rides more than once if I can and have a look in all the shops, see the parades and entertainment and also watch the fireworks and fantasmic show.

 

[mariezp]

It has always been my opinion that more days are better! Of course, you are getting this suggestion from someone who goes to the park for 2 weeks at a time! Seriously, since you mention that YOU want be able to tour the park LEISURELY then I would certainly recommend the 4 day option.