First timer needs help with DL shows

[JANEDF]

First trip, 2 adults, 9/10-9/15. Staying at Park Vue. Thinking of 4 day Hopper Tickets. Too much, too little? Do we need to do weekends in order to see F, WOC, fireworks? I can't find park or entertainment hours and am freaking out not having my step by step plans down pat so close in. I am a WDW fanatic so used to the over planning. I really want to see any parades, shows and fireworks. Any idea what and when things will be during my dates? Suggestions for best viewing. Are packages worth it? We will have a major issue with sitting on concrete. My husband has had 4 back surgeries. I wrote DL and they called but were basically like..."sorry for your luck". NOT the WDW help I am used to. The BB cushion will not be enough help. Can we stand someplace? I don't want to block anyone but surely not everyone is able to sit on ground for hours. DL suggested a WC but my husband doesn't need a wheelchair, he can walk with breaks, but sitting on ground is out. Will the parks be totally decorated for Halloween? Will HM be open? TIA

 

[VandVsmama]

HM will be open starting 9/11. For shows like fireworks and Paint the Night and Fantasmic, it sounds like standing will be your best option. They do not have reserved seating with a chair at DL. For Paint The Night and fireworks, you could camp out way ahead of time and maybe snag a spot on one of the benches in the hub or town square. Those tend to be taken first from what I saw when we were there in June.

 

[HydroGuy]

First trip, 2 adults, 9/10-9/15. Staying at Park Vue. Thinking of 4 day Hopper Tickets. Too much, too little?

Probably just right but it depends on what you like to do.

Do we need to do weekends in order to see F, WOC, fireworks? I can't find park or entertainment hours and am freaking out not having my step by step plans down pat so close in. I am a WDW fanatic so used to the over planning. I really want to see any parades, shows and fireworks. Any idea what and when things will be during my dates?

LOL, unfortunately WDW conditions people in ways that the normal person would thing is quite bizarre. And sometimes such WDW conditioning has the odd effect of people being uptight because DLR is so much more relaxed!

It is likely F!, PTN and DF will be weekends only. WOC usually plays nightly.

These threads may help:

"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

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

Suggestions for best viewing.

See

"World of Color Superthread" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37986447

Best current info for F! is Fantasmic! Viewing Area Locations

Best info for PTN and DF: http://disboards.com/threads/paint-...disneyland-forever-fireworks-strategy.3412136

Are packages worth it? We will have a major issue with sitting on concrete. My husband has had 4 back surgeries. I wrote DL and they called but were basically like..."sorry for your luck". NOT the WDW help I am used to. The BB cushion will not be enough help. Can we stand someplace? I don't want to block anyone but surely not everyone is able to sit on ground for hours. DL suggested a WC but my husband doesn't need a wheelchair, he can walk with breaks, but sitting on ground is out.

For WOC probably not. For F! it often is worth it. If you DH cannot sit then there are standing areas. I do not believe these are with dining packages so you will likely just have to get the normal FP for F!

Will the parks be totally decorated for Halloween? Will HM be open? TIA

Yes starting on Sept 11. See http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...he-disneyland-resort-september-11-november-1/

 

[JessieD]

They just announced yesterday in the park blog, that during the Halloween season PTN and Disneyland Forever will be shown on all non party nights including weekdays!!!!

 

[SMD]

They just announced yesterday in the park blog, that during the Halloween season PTN and Disneyland Forever will be shown on all non party nights including weekdays!!!!

Which is odd, because there is potentially more money in offering F! dining packages on additional nights than running shows that don't have a premium reserved option (for now.) But then I guess the additional PTN dates help offset the early closure on weekend party nights. Plus with additional parties it won't be that many extra weekday nights. I do wonder if it will really be every night between 9/11 and the first party on 9/25. I wouldn't be surprised if it's just Thurs-Sun on those weeks.

 

[jammyjam25]

WOC and the Fireworks are both standing only shows, and Fantasmic regular fp sections are typically standing as well. If you do end up in a seated section I'm sure a CM would be happy to move you to a standing area if you explained why to them.

For PtN, only the front row tends to sit so if you and your husband wanted to see the parade and stand, you could in the second row behind those parked on the curb.

Have a great trip!

 

[sgrap]

Your husband might be able to get a disability pass. For WOC, there are 'handicapped' sections and people with the disability pass get to sit on a bench in the front of that section. My daughter with spina bifida gets one. She can walk, but the standing for long periods really hurts her, so that option for WOC has been very helpful. You could also rent an ECV so that he had a seat as needed. I have back problems, and I really can't sit on the ground (or a cushion on the ground) either. Then I hurt my knee, so the long standing/walking is out too. The ECV has made Disneyland bearable and enjoyable for me.

I think 4 day hopper tickets will be perfect. We usually do 5 days, which is 4 full days plus a partial on the day arriving or leaving. We still don't usually feel like we got through everything--but you could upgrade to 5 day hoppers if you had the time and wanted to see more.

Have a blast!

 

[Sherry E]

Just to clarify, so no one gets the wrong idea -- both parks are not totally decorated for Halloween. Halloween basically exists in Disneyland, and you will find very little of it -- if anything -- in California Adventure. Unless there is a new decorations package in store for this year that includes DCA too, I would expect most of the Halloween décor to be in DL again.

Even in Disneyland, Halloween is centered in just a couple of lands. Main Street and Frontierland are generally the two areas that have a lot of decorations or Halloween things happening. New Orleans Square has Haunted Mansion Holiday, so you will see assorted "Nightmare Before Christmas" touches around the area, but those stay up during the holidays too. Tomorrowland has Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, but there are no decorations.

Come join us in the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread for info, photos, details as they come in, etc. - http://www.disboards.com/threads/halloweentime-at-dlr-superthread-4-2015-info-is-finally-in.3270919/. You definitely don't need to read the whole thread -- it's very long -- but I would skim down the posts on page 1 just to get a sense of what last year's season was like, and the kinds of things (decorations, foods, etc.) you can expect this season.