Go before the 60th celebration kicks off, or wait till way after it has settled down?

[DSNY4ever]

We recently had to cancel a trip that was supposed to be at the holidays because my son was really sick. We can't decide if we should go in the spring (end of April or first week of May) right before the 60th Anniversary stuff will probably kick off, or wait until the hoopla has probably died down a bit and go next holiday season so we can see the new stuff too.

I am thinking it still might be less crowded in the Spring, but I am worried once I see the ads for the new stuff I will wish we waited

What are the other experts thinking?

 

[KalamityJane]

That is when we are considering going too! I'm interested in the answers...

 

[Butterfly123]

I'd wait for the new stuff. I remember how fun it was to see all the new stuff they did for the 50th. I think it would be worth waiting for.

We are going this summer. I know it will be busy, but I'm excited to see all that the 60th will bring!

 

[KalamityJane]

MiceAge did report a possible soft opening beginning of May.

 

[figment_jii]

I would also probably wait until later in the year to go if those are you two choices. While the MiceAge did report that some elements might be in soft opening mode before the official kick-off, the report seemed to indicate it would happen closer to the middle of May (e.g., May 15), which is after your dates. I think it would be tough to be at the parks and see the preliminary elements and not get to enjoy everything, especially because you'll be seeing photos, reviews, and reports here on the Disboards very soon after you get home.

The only drawback I can see to waiting until the holidays is that some of the elements may not be presented due to the holiday events. No one knows at this point if the 60th parade and fireworks will be presented during the holiday when they traditionally present the Christmas parade and Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks.

 

[KalamityJane]

What about the weekend after Memorial Day?

 

[figment_jii]

What about the weekend after Memorial Day?

Meaning May 30-31? There is a grad night scheduled for May 30. At that point in the year, I would expect it to be fairly crowded/busy regardless of which weekend you select. The weekends around July 4th and the actual Anniversary (7/17) will probably be worse than other weekends, but you aren't really going to find a low crowd period once Memorial Day weekend passes.

 

[KalamityJane]

Meaning May 30-31? There is a grad night scheduled for May 30. At that point in the year, I would expect it to be fairly crowded/busy regardless of which weekend you select. The weekends around July 4th and the actual Anniversary (7/17) will probably be worse than other weekends, but you aren't really going to find a low crowd period once Memorial Day weekend passes.

So do you suggest before Memorial Day? I'm assuming Memorial Day weekend is crowded. We will have APs and be coming back for the holidays too, just trying to find a time in May to go.

 

[DahliaRW]

What about waiting until September. Try to get there before Mansion and Space go down or after they open back up but before the halloween party? You do risk refurbs (but probably less than in May), but crowds *should* be lower and all the new stuff will be done.

We did like going during the holiday time (we were there before most schools' official breaks), but it was still quite crowded. We really liked going in January the best out of our previous trips, but to many refurbs this year...

 

[KalamityJane]

Yeah, we are going in February already with all the refurbs... I have a trip planned to go to FL already in May that we were going to tack on a few days at DL before or after which is why I was wondering about then. We will probably be going in Oct and Nov as well.

 

[figment_jii]

So do you suggest before Memorial Day? I'm assuming Memorial Day weekend is crowded. We will have APs and be coming back for the holidays too, just trying to find a time in May to go.

I would be inclined to say the weekend before Memorial Day weekend (May 16/17), might be a little less busy than after Memorial Day weekend, but given the rumored start date to soft opening of the 60th events (mind, these are just rumors and could change at any point), I think you'll see crowds in the park either way. For me, if your goal is to see the 60th stuff in May, I would probably aim for after Memorial Day because you stand the best chance of seeing the most stuff. The earlier in the month you go, the greater risk you take that the soft opening is delayed or does not occur. I think you have to accept crowds as being part of going around the time the 60th stuff is rumored to start.

 

[theworldneedscolor]

I would probably wait if you can; I know I would. We're going May 6-8, but that is only because we are going on a road trip on the way home from my college. Otherwise we wouldn't be going to Disney at all this year. I'm pretty bummed that I won't be able to see all the 60th festivities

 

[MouseEXP]

I would always recommend late August-Early September.
The crowds start to disappear nearest to Labor Day.

 

[Sherry E]

I believe (and it has been rumored) that the 60th anniversary celebration and related events will last all year and carry into the first part of next year, and then stop somewhere before May 2016. The 50th's celebration, if I am not mistaken, lasted into the first part of 2006 so I would imagine that the same thing will happen this time around.

Part of the festivities will likely include a return of the old, old, old Christmas star on top of the Matterhorn -- and I'm sure that won't be the only 60th-related thing added in for the holidays (especially if A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks are removed from the offerings or severely scaled back this year). Chances are, there will be 60th-related holiday season hoopla too!

So I think... just go whenever you can go. Don't worry! There's not really any point in waiting until the 60th hoopla dies down unless you plan to wait until summer of 2016.

 

[TheChapman6]

We went the first week of May and its was awesome parks were less than half full. We did so much!

 

[DSNY4ever]

Hmm, I hadn't considered September and I hadn't thought about the fact that some of the anniversary stuff, might change or not be happening during the holiday season (I just love the holidays at DLR!). I am most interested in the new "Paint the Night" type parade...which will probably stay for a while (years?), right?

I think our decision might be made by our son who is getting really antsy for us to re-schedule the trip, so it might be in the Spring whether I like it or not

 

[mrsbicewdw]

This gives me a lot to think about. Our choices are summer or first week of December. In terms of savings, the first week of December will be better. And it serves as a birthday trip for our oldest kiddo. So basically, we have to do December when all is said and done.

But I hadn't thought about some of the anniversary stuff being over or shelved for the holidays. I was personally just glad that going at the end of the year meant all those referbs would be done! This will be my first time at DLR too, so seeing it extra special (be it holiday or anniversary stuff) will be special anyway. Interested to keep reading the reports this year as things unveil.

 

[Sherry E]

As I mentioned in my previous post, I believe (and it has been rumored) that the 60th anniversary celebration and related events will last all year and carry into the first part of next year, and then stop somewhere by spring, or before May 2016. The 50th anniversary celebration carried over from 2005 into 2006.

In other words, more than likely, the new events of the 60th will be going on in some capacity throughout the whole year -- which is why it could impact crowds throughout the whole year and into next year.

I doubt that Disney would spend money on a brand new nighttime parade, new fireworks, new whatever else, and probably some random pop-up events here and there, then only run them during the summer and that's it. The schedule might change a bit -- the events could go from running nightly to a more limited schedule in the fall, but I think that they will still be going on all year.

In 2005, the holiday fireworks were shelved so that Disney could run other fireworks in celebration of the 50th anniversary.

So what I am saying is that I suspect something similar will happen this year -- the holiday season entertainment is probably what will be impacted in some way by the events of the 60th, not the other way around. I don't know if both the Christmas parade and holiday fireworks will be removed from the roster completely in 2015, or maybe just one will be removed and not the other one, or if they will be reduced to some sort of hard ticket Christmas party situation, or just scaled back to a limited schedule, but I think that the events of the 60th will take center stage from May on through the end of the year and into next year.

 

[AustinTink]

As I mentioned in my previous post, I believe (and it has been rumored) that the 60th anniversary celebration and related events will last all year and carry into the first part of next year, and then stop somewhere by spring, or before May 2016. The 50th anniversary celebration carried over from 2005 into 2006.

In other words, more than likely, the new events of the 60th will be going on in some capacity throughout the whole year -- which is why it could impact crowds throughout the whole year and into next year.

I doubt that Disney would spend money on a brand new nighttime parade, new fireworks, new whatever else, and probably some random pop-up events here and there, then only run them during the summer and that's it. The schedule might change a bit -- the events could go from running nightly to a more limited schedule in the fall, but I think that they will still be going on all year.

In 2005, the holiday fireworks were shelved so that Disney could run other fireworks in celebration of the 50th anniversary.

So what I am saying is that I suspect something similar will happen this year -- the holiday season entertainment is probably what will be impacted in some way by the events of the 60th, not the other way around. I don't know if both the Christmas parade and holiday fireworks will be removed from the roster completely in 2015, or maybe just one will be removed and not the other one, or if they will be reduced to some sort of hard ticket Christmas party situation, or just scaled back to a limited schedule, but I think that the events of the 60th will take center stage from May on through the end of the year and into next year.

Nighttime parade? As in after dark like Electric Light or Spectro?

 

[Sherry E]

Nighttime parade? As in after dark like Electric Light or Spectro?

There is definitely a new nighttime parade coming to Disneyland -- auditions were announced for it at the end of last year, and I think they're being held soon (if they haven't already taken place).

So that much is confirmed and official -- there will be a new nighttime parade. What is not official or confirmed by Disney just yet is the theme/concept and name of the parade. However, the rumor has been that it will be a version/variation of Paint the Night (from Hong Kong).