GRAD PMS AND REDUCED HOURS

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

Just wanted to share with y'all an observation and action taken with regards to Grad PMs and reduced DLR operating hours.

My family and I will be at DLR 03-09 June spending six days in the parks (04-09). Four of the six days will feature Grad PMs. Except for Saturday, 04 June, normal hours for DL are 8 AM to 11 PM and DCA from 8 AM to 9 PM. DCA is open for the Grads from 10 PM to 2 AM. Originally it was three Grad PMs, now it's four.

The challenge is that most (not all) of the Grads will be in DL through the first PTN parade and the FW and then travel in mass to DCA for their private party resulting in about one hour (10 to 11 PM) for the regular guests to enjoy DL.

To make matters worse, if we spend the PM at DCA while the Grads are at DL, DCA closes at 9 PM. And for the nights (two of six) when there is no Grad PM, DCA still closes early at 9 PM. And DL closes at 11 PM.

IMHO, for the summer months with Grad PMs, DLR should limit the Grad PMs to no more than three a week and should keep DL open to midnight and DCA open until at least 10 to 11 PM during non-Grad PMs.

I emailed and called the DLR Customer Service. They were polite but powerless to do do anything other than to notify "management" of my concerns of the additional Grad PMs and reduced hours.

And unfortunately, due to all of the schedules within our family, this is the only time frame we can visit DLR from Hawaii.

 

[disneychrista]

I know I changed my plans, so I would NOT be there for a Grad Night. Just didn't sound like how I wanted to spend my Birthday Trip.

 

[gottalovepluto]

When I was there end of May last year Grad Nite hours were the same but the grads did NOT leave DL at 10pm, some did but there were still a lot in DL.

Park hoppers were key to us enjoying the parks on Grad Nites. We started at DL first thing in the morning & did DCA afternoon & evening. We saw a late PTN on a Grad Nite and that wasn't really crowded but early PTN & fireworks were insanely busy so see those on your non grad nite. You can still have a wonderful trip despite the grad nites & slightly shorter hours!

 

[Butterfly123]

When I was there end of May last year Grad Nite hours were the same but the grads did NOT leave DL at 10pm, some did but there were still a lot in DL.

Park hoppers were key to us enjoying the parks on Grad Nites. We started at DL first thing in the morning & did DCA afternoon & evening. We saw a late PTN on a Grad Nite and that wasn't really crowded but early PTN & fireworks were insanely busy so see those on your non grad nite. You can still have a wonderful trip despite the grad nites & slightly shorter hours!

I agree with hoppers 100%. We once had a four day trip with three grad nights. Being able to start at DL, then hop as it got busier made it feel much less like grad nights negatively impacted our trip. We would hop to whatever park was less busy, usually DCA, but starting our days at DL allowed us to get everything done there without big crowds. I was worried about the grad nights going in to the trip, but it turned out just fine.

 

[Iceman93]

And that park-hopping strategy sounds like a good approach on *any* day. Grad nights don't significantly impact things in any discernable way; I don't know why people freak out about them sometimes.

 

[disneychrista]

And that park-hopping strategy sounds like a good approach on *any* day. Grad nights don't significantly impact things in any discernable way; I don't know why people freak out about them sometimes.

For me the fact that the park is so overly crowded these days, the addition of thousands of High School students doesn't sound fun to me. Guess I have become an old fuddy-duddy.

 

[gottalovepluto]

And that park-hopping strategy sounds like a good approach on *any* day. Grad nights don't significantly impact things in any discernable way; I don't know why people freak out about them sometimes.

I do love park hopping always!

It depends on the specific grad nite, from many reports here on the DIS the one thing we know for certain is: you never know how a grad nite crowd will be. Some people have a perfectly fine night (you) while others have their worst night in DL ever (me). Now we use the above avoidance method in our family and it has successfully prevented a repeat of our awful night.

 

[Malcon10t]

Part of the issue is Disneyland doesn't really consider summer hours til the second week of June. Most la area schools aren't out til the 10th.

 

[HydroGuy]

A few months back I read that DLR (and WDW if memory serves) was asked to reduce expenses because of cost and schedule overruns at Shanghai Disneyland. Part of the solution was to reduce park hours until late June, if memory serves. July is a new quarter and things were supposed to get back to normal then.

This does not really help the OP but maybe provides some context. We will be there the week after you but are cherry picking our days to avoid grad nights and the uncertainty that comes with that.

 

[AZMermaid]

Last year the hours were 8-12 at DL and 8-10 at DCA every day as early as May 31. I also noticed Mickeys Soundsational is only on the weekends in early June.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Definitely Grad night PMS.

 

[WillowRain]

I am going the 31st to the 4th and every night is grad now. Oh well. It is what it is. Hope for the best but expect the worst. I can tell you one thing, I won't take any crap from any teens, that's for sure.

 

[auteur55]

Everyone is saying lower hours are due to grad night but today the times for Monday the 12th are the same. And there is no Grad Night that night. Disappointing about soundsational parade. This is my wife's first time and we won't be able to see it. It really helped with crowds during the day.

 

[HydroGuy]

Everyone is saying lower hours are due to grad night but today the times for Monday the 12th are the same. And there is no Grad Night that night. Disappointing about soundsational parade. This is my wife's first time and we won't be able to see it. It really helped with crowds during the day.

Well, not everyone...

A few months back I read that DLR (and WDW if memory serves) was asked to reduce expenses because of cost and schedule overruns at Shanghai Disneyland. Part of the solution was to reduce park hours until late June, if memory serves. July is a new quarter and things were supposed to get back to normal then.