DL Hours are 9-6 - what to expect???

[dancer_mom]

If DL hours are 9-6 does that mean there is a private event or something that night? This doesn't change our plans - it actually improves them because they are giving us an extra hour in the morning and we leave the park at 6 anyway for our kids to get to bed!

However does this change anything else? Will shops on mainstreet still be open an hour after close? Anyone know? THANKS

 

[sonnyjane]

What day is it specifically? There can be a few explanations.

 

[Sherry E]

What month are we talking about, with the 9-6 hours for DL? October? December? Or some other month? I'm trying to figure out which event it is that's happening.

If you're talking about an October evening, then that's most likely a Halloween party night, like a Monday or Tuesday. Everyone who does not have a ticket to the party on Mon/Tues has to leave the park at 6 p.m.

If we're talking about an early December evening, then it would most likely be a Cast Member party night.

If the park has to close for a private event or a separate ticketed event at a designated early time like that, then no. Main Street will not remain open for shopping.

I was there at DLR on Cast Member party nights last December and DL closed at 6 p.m. It was not like a usual closure of the park in which Main Street's shops stay open. This was a 'we have to get everyone out of the park so the CM's can have their party' type of thing.

 

[tykayausjake]

Not sure if this is the date the OP is referring to but on Sept 8 the hours for DL are listed as 9-6. I thought it was kinda odd. Maybe just a mistake?

 

[dancer_mom]

Yes - Sep 8th just posted

 

[dancer_mom]

I was there at DLR on Cast Member party nights last December and DL closed at 6 p.m. It was not like a usual closure of the park in which Main Street's shops stay open.

This was a 'we have to get everyone out of the park so the CM's can have their party' type of thing.

[/QUOTE]


Thanks - that what I was wondering - if we would be hurried out of the park by 6 or if we could meander.

So what are crowds like on a day like this? Same, more, less?

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks - that what I was wondering - if we would be hurried out of the park by 6 or if we could meander.

So what are crowds like on a day like this? Same, more, less?

You're welcome!

So it's September 8, huh? Hmmmm..... I am mystified as to why DL would be closing that early on 9/8. What's happening on that day that I am forgetting? It's got to be a private event of some kind. It's certainly not Halloween-related, that's for sure.

I'm guessing this private event would probably start at 7 p.m. or so - maybe even later - but by closing the park to the public at 6 p.m., it gives DL time to get everyone cleared out. You may or may not have time to pop into a shop on Main Street and buy something. Meandering for too long won't be allowed if they have a private event to conduct soon after the 6 p.m. closing. Obviously it will take some time for all the guests to leave the park but they probably wouldn't give you an extra hour to shop or anything.

If I recall, on the CM party nights last December there was an announcement on the loud speaker, alerting the guests that Disneyland would be closing at 6 p.m. I left just before or right at closing so I didn't see what happened after that and if the CM's working in DL had to shoo everyone out who wasn't leaving! All I know is that it's not the same as a regular night at closing, where you can meander a bit. They are closing early because they need to have the guests out by a certain time.

As for crowds - I had heard reports before my trip that Disneyland was kind of non-crowded on CM party days, but I didn't find that to be the case. It was pretty darn crowded on both of the CM party days, in my opinion. Then again, it was the holiday season so that naturally attracts more folks to DL anyway.

However, the kinds of crowds in the park on September 8 might not be as bad as the December crowds were because September 8 is after Labor Day, it's off-peak season and most kids will be back at school. Plus, so many rides are going to be closed for refurb in September. Just going out on a limb I'd say that it probably will not be terribly crowded in the daytime on 9/8.

 

[dancer_mom]

Thanks again - we will just plan on a fun day no matter what. With such little ones we aren't even planning on the major headliners anyways so we should be fine however it turns out. We will have to report back afterwards.

I was just very surprised when I saw the schedule... maybe some celebrity is having a party that night - didn't they do that for Miley Cyrus??

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks again - we will just plan on a fun day no matter what. With such little ones we aren't even planning on the major headliners anyways so we should be fine however it turns out. We will have to report back afterwards.

I was just very surprised when I saw the schedule... maybe some celebrity is having a party that night - didn't they do that for Miley Cyrus??

They sure did! I was there on that weekend too! (I seem to luck out and get all the days with the private events!) The Sweet 16 birthday party for Miley was in October 2008, right in the middle of Halloween Time and Gay Days. They closed off Pirate's Lair to set up stages and equipment for her. Her party happened on a Sunday, but people started to pile in on Saturday night, and then opened Disneyland extra early Sunday morning (even earlier for the people with Magic Morning access) to compensate for having to close the park early.

I'll be curious to know what it is that's happening on 9/8 - definitely report back to us!

 

[RedRosie]

Any new info on what is happening September 8 that makes DL close so early?

 

[starshine514]

It may just be a run-of-the-mill private event. I went to a conference in Orlando last November and they rented out the MK (the whole park was closed, but we were only allowed in Tomorrowland w/ 3 rides open - so not as glamourous as it sounds). I doubt the public knew why it was closing early, just a 'private event'.

 

[dizneekrazee]

We were at Disneyland once during some private event. Never heard what it was for, but they closed of Adventureland, Frontierland, NOS, and Critter Country to the rest of the guests. The event was for a lot of Asian men in business suits.