DL Sept 16-21 -- what should we know?

[quick2blush]

I just read in the Space Mountain thread that it will be down while we are there. I'm so disappointed, this is my first trip to DL, and I was *really* looking forward to riding it.

I've also read that the park hours will be reduced, and some of the special events (like fireworks) will only happen on the weekend.

Any other advice? How do we find out what will be open?

ETA: Any idea what the crowds will be like? I know most kids are back in school...

TIA!

 

[teatime]

as of the 24th of August the disneyland site says these will go down for refurbs.,

Closed for Refurbishments:
Casey Jr. Circus Trains
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

DL calendar is only out 6 weeks so you'll have to wait a couple more weeks to get the entertainment schedule.

Closures: Casey Jr. Trains
Storybook Canal boats
Space Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Gadget's Go Coaster (closes 9/18)

Hours for Sept from previous years:
DL: M-Th 10-8, Fri. 9-11, Sat. 8-12, Sun. 9-10
DCA: M-Th 10-6, Fri-Sat. 10-9, Sun. 10-8

Fireworks: Fri-Sun (9:25)
Fantasmic: Fri-Sat (usually 2 shows Sat.)

 

[4evrdisney]

We were there about the same time last year. And, we had so much fun we are going back this year at the same time!! Last year was wonderful - decent weather, NO lines for anything except Nemo and TSMM. And the line for TSMM was only about 15-20 minutes. The early closures were a little tough but we ate later dinners and DTD stayed open later so there was always something to do. You will have a great time!! You will feel like you have the park to yourself!!

 

[Novinha]

I'll be there at that exact time for my first ever trip to Disneyland too (I've been to WDW so many times, it's like a second home to me). I am also VERY disappointed in Space Mountain. We knew we'd miss HM as that happens every year, but we were not as prepared to miss Space Mountain as well. If we hadn't already bought plane tickets, we'd likely try to switch it around, but oh well. I'm hoping it will be a near ghost town to make up for it. I'm really looking forward to everything else though. We'll just have to go back to ride what we can't this time.

 

[krash2501]

where did you find that HM and SM would be closed? The website only shows Casey Jr. Circus Trains
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years
being closed during that time.

I also will be there during that time Sept. 16-23 and staying at the pph. This will be our 2nd trip to DL.
I really hope the park is dead, but all the hotel's seem to be booked so am I wrong in thinking it might be busy???

I got a sweet deal from southwest on plane tickets from Sacramento to OC $30 per person each way. can't beet that.

See you all there

 

[Gisele]

Most unfortunately the Haunted Mansion will close on Sept. 10th, for the hmh installation. The traditional Haunted Mansion will not reopen until after Jan. 01, 2010.
________________





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[krash2501]

why wouldn't they put that on there site???

 

[Gisele]

That information is most likely somewhere on the site. I know for sure about HM, because I called last week or so, and asked. If I can find the link for the site information I will post it.
__________________





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[quick2blush]

I found out about SM here ("Space Mountain Halloween Overlay, and Halloween Fireworks!!" thread)

I actually emailed Disney to ask, because I didn't see it on their calendar. This was their response:

Regretfully, the information you have requested has yet to be
determined. Park Hours and refurbishment schedules are determined
approximately 6 weeks in advance and entertainment schedules are
determined approximately 1 month in advance. You are invited to contact
us again in the near future.

I think I'd trust the information here more than that generic response. I can't tell you how disappointed I am. This is my first time to DL, and Space Mountain is one of the rides I was really looking forward to riding. If they close the teacups, I'm not going!

 

[Canyon girl]

I really hope the park is dead, but all the hotel's seem to be booked so am I wrong in thinking it might be busy???

As far as the hotels being booked, there are a few reasons for that. The DLH is starting its refurb the end of Aug. That will take down about 1/6 of the hotel according to LA Times. Sept. is convention season. As far as your dates (16th-23rd), there are probably going to be some families left over from the homeschool convention (14th-17th) at the GCH, and there is some convention at the DLH that week as well according to the convention sales office. Starting Sept. 21 is a security convention that has booked the entire convention center. I think that these are the reasons that hotels are full (in some cases). Not all of them are full the entire time that you are there. You may have run into issues with your dates due to overlapping with the security convention. Will this fill the parks? Unknown. I think that there will be lots of kids (mine included) in the parks during the homeschool convention dates. I don't know if most families are staying the entire week or not. As far as the weekend through the end of your trip, it depends on how many security convention attendees bring their spouses and kids. When we went in Sept. 2007, there appeared to be lots of convention people at DLH, but it didn't seem to affect the parks. There also is the 5 for 3 special going until the end of Sept. that may also boost the numbers there. We will just have to wait and see.

 

[Sparkleshine]

We are going around the same time and I found this pretty helpful although UNOFFICIAL: Fall Refurbs

Pinocchio's Daring Journey – closed July 20 – August 14 for refurbishment.
The Enchanted Cottage – closed July 29 – November 17 for refurbishment.
Casey Jr. Circus Trains – closed August 31 – November 20 for refurbishment.
Storybook Land Canal Boats – closed August 31 – November 20 for refurbishment.
Mark Twain Riverboat – closed September 8 – 10 for refurbishment.
Space Mountain – closed September 8 – 24 for refurbishment.
Minnie's House – closed September 9 for refurbishment.
Haunted Mansion closed – September 10 – 24 for refurbishment.
Gadget's Go Coaster – September 19 – October 26 for refurbishment.
Pirates of the Caribbean – September 28 – October 2 for refurbishment.

 

[tripletlyblessed]

There is also a homeschooling conference 9/14-9/17.

 

[bumbershoot]

why wouldn't they put that on there site???

They haven't put everything on there, and who knows why? They never once mentioned that Astro Orbiter was closed, even though they took that thing apart to the ground, painted and made it nice, then put it back together. Crazy!

Plus they don't put info on their site very far in advance anymore.



OP, we went around that time in '07, and it was relatively quiet. Once the people showed up for Haunted Mansion Holiday (that year, Halloweentime started 9/21) things got more crowded, but they showed up for that ride and went immediately to it, LOL. This year it opens 9/25 so you'll have some time before those crowds come.

Conventioneers will be at their conventions for at least part of the day, and with the D23 members, they aren't casual Disneyland fans so should know their way around the parks and probably won't stop in the walkways LOL to check out maps.

It is a bummer about Space, and it's too bad they didn't give more notice.

 

[HydroGuy]

DL Sept 16-21 -- what should we know?

I just read in the Space Mountain thread that it will be down while we are there. I'm so disappointed, this is my first trip to DL, and I was *really* looking forward to riding it.

I've also read that the park hours will be reduced, and some of the special events (like fireworks) will only happen on the weekend.

Any other advice? How do we find out what will be open?

ETA: Any idea what the crowds will be like? I know most kids are back in school...

TIA!

Bummer. A question like "what should we know" should and does have a corresponding answer like this:

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

 

[4evrdisney]

I called DLR yesterday in regards to our hotel - we wanted to upgrade to a concierge room and the CM I talked with said that they are sold out. He also said not to worry about park attendance being high though - he said the hotels are truly booked because of conventions. And, from what I've read on here, aside from the homeschool convention - most other convention-goers do not bring their children because school will have just started again. Most people won't pull their kids out for vacation that close to the start of the year.

 

[maelstrom]

Storybookland Canal Boats, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion will all be down during my visit. Great. Well I guess now we can cut out that third day that we were planning on spending at Disneyland since they can't manage to have things up and running in September.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Storybookland Canal Boats, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion will all be down during my visit. Great. Well I guess now we can cut out that third day that we were planning on spending at Disneyland since they can't manage to have things up and running in September.

Ahh...the joys of going "off season"!

 

[HydroGuy]

Storybookland Canal Boats, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion will all be down during my visit. Great. Well I guess now we can cut out that third day that we were planning on spending at Disneyland since they can't manage to have things up and running in September.

HM is always down in September and January. The others are down because after Labor Day it is off-season and that is when refurbs happen. Often Matterhorn is down in September too so you may have lucked out there.

Hope your trip is otherwise magical!

 

[maelstrom]

HM is always down in September and January. The others are down because after Labor Day it is off-season and that is when refurbs happen. Often Matterhorn is down in September too so you may have lucked out there.

Hope your trip is otherwise magical!

They better not decide to close the Matterhorn while I'm there!!