Experts - help me early pick Nov. dates.

[Rhonna]

We plan to go in early Nov. - After Halloween parties are over and we want to leave before Veteran's Day crowds come in.

We don't need a weekend for shows, etc. but if crowds are better because of AP blockouts, we can do a weekend. (We visited in May, before Carsland opened.)

Originally I was thinking 4th - 9th. Fly in Sun. Tour Mon - Thurs and leave Fri. But another thread was talking about how weekends have been slower due to AP blockouts.

On Sat, Nov. 3rd, both CA AP's are blocked out.

On Sun, Nov. 4th, the SoCal Select is blocked.

I hope we can get some kind of discount for DLH. We aren't booked yet. No pin code yet either. We can get AP rate if one comes out.

One person reported a pin code for Nov. 4-8 - maybe that indicates lower bookings then and perhaps we could get a discount eventually?

What days would you pick in that time frame and why?

Thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

Originally I was thinking 4th - 9th. Fly in Sun. Tour Mon - Thurs and leave Fri. But another thread was talking about how weekends have been slower due to AP blockouts.

That is exactly when you should go to avoid crowds. Going on the weekend instead and it will be twice as busy.

 

[Rhonna]

That is exactly when you should go to avoid crowds. Going on the weekend instead and it will be twice as busy.

Even with the SoCal AP's being blacked out on the weekend?

 

[skiingfast]

Even with the SoCal AP's being blacked out on the weekend?

Yes, ignore what you read elsewhere. It doesn't apply.

 

[Rhonna]

Should I book DLH now (with no good discounts out yet for our dates) or wait for a good discount since our trip is in slow season? Someone said some PIN codes cannot be applied to an already existing reservation. (Not that I'll receive one.)

For our May trip I booked early and applied new discounts twice as they came available. Not sure if I need to do that for such a slow time frame as early Nov? Can I afford to wait or will they be booked?

 

[skiingfast]

If you can afford the prevailing rate then go ahead like you did last time and if a better rate comes out change to it.


It's a slow time so deals are likely. You just don't know until they come out.

 

[rtfelt]

Saturday, November 3 is the day they are scheduled to film the Christmas parade, so it might be busier than normal. On the other hand, if you like star gazing, I understand movie/tv stars will be there, you might want to go. That's not something I'm interested in, but other people can be.

 

[Rhonna]

I think I will stick to the original weekday plan. Thanks for the info. about the parade being filmed, we definitely don't want to try to tour around it. I thought it took a little time to take down the Halloween decor and put up all the X-mas decor - isn't Nov. 3rd a bit early for all the X-mas decor to be done for the parade? Or do they film it even if all the decor isn't up yet?

 

[jojomojo]

I'm no expert, but I'd say those are pretty good dates! We are going to be there Nov 4th - 9th as well. My exact dates were mainly based on HOJO ent. rates (any Fall non-peak time would have worked for me). A little part of me is still watching for good rates at DLH though

 

[LizzyS]

Do remember that the Christmas parade is taped the first weekend in November usually (I believe). Our first trip ever was last November 5th, which was the Saturday they were filming the Christmas Parade, and the day's events also included some live performances in the evening, which seemed to close off part of Fantasyland. We also didn't get to walk through the castle, either. I wouldn't recommend it again, tbh, but we still had an absolute blast.

We'll be returning next February on a Monday and Tuesday, which I'm told is an excellent time to visit.

 

[skiingfast]

I think I will stick to the original weekday plan. Thanks for the info. about the parade being filmed, we definitely don't want to try to tour around it. I thought it took a little time to take down the Halloween decor and put up all the X-mas decor - isn't Nov. 3rd a bit early for all the X-mas decor to be done for the parade? Or do they film it even if all the decor isn't up yet?

The parade filming doesn't require the whole park to be decorated. They pretty much get a shot of the Castle behind it, which will have its snow installed, then a bunch of takes of dancers and crowds in one or two 75 foot sections on Main Street. In these spots they can do many retakes. It's the only area of the parks that get crowded because of the parade.