Help please...planning Halloween Time

[TamaraH]

Please help...even though I am very familiar with DL, I'm a little overwhelmed right now. Okay so we are originally from OC and grew up going to DL all the time (now live in AZ). Things have changed so much since we were there and there seems to me so many things to think of now, where before we used to just show up and go. Now that we have family in tow (2 kids under 12) and we will be staying at GCH we want to make the most of our time and $. Our trip is the first week of October and are planning on going to one MHP, utilizing our early entries, using either RM or TP for our daily schedule, and with the PTN ending and uncertain about firework shows what else do I need to know?

• Which program do you think is better and why: Touring Plans or RideMax
• If there is no PTN or no fireworks midweek am I correct in assuming that there won't be a Blue Bayou dining package? Would it even be necessary at that point?
• How soon do we need to make dining reservations?
• Is the dessert party for WOC at DCA worth it?
• Any other tips or thoughts you would be willing to share?

Thanks so much!!

 

[Mysteryincorp]

Please help...even though I am very familiar with DL, I'm a little overwhelmed right now. Okay so we are originally from OC and grew up going to DL all the time (now live in AZ). Things have changed so much since we were there and there seems to me so many things to think of now, where before we used to just show up and go. Now that we have family in tow (2 kids under 12) and we will be staying at GCH we want to make the most of our time and $. Our trip is the first week of October and are planning on going to one MHP, utilizing our early entries, using either RM or TP for our daily schedule, and with the PTN ending and uncertain about firework shows what else do I need to know?

• Which program do you think is better and why: Touring Plans or RideMax--- I think these are a waste of money. Pick which rides are important to you, do those first, and utilize fast passes. No need to be tied to a schedule on your vacation !
• If there is no PTN or no fireworks midweek am I correct in assuming that there won't be a Blue Bayou dining package? Would it even be necessary at that point? Correct, the dinning package is for priority seating at the parade, you could still eat at BB though! It's so fun!
• How soon do we need to make dining reservations? I would think early September is plenty of time, but I'm. Not sure. I make my reservations sometimes the day before we go and haven't had a problem
• Is the dessert party for WOC at DCA worth it?yes yes yes yes. One of the best experiences I've had at DCA. Way better than the WOC dining packages.....you get to sit!!!
• Any other tips or thoughts you would be willing to share. Halloween is a very busy time. But you can get all the big ticket rides done before noon without any significant waiting. The early hours are very important!! It can be daunting at first because it seems like everyone is there early but the crowds disperse quickly. I've done all the "mountain" rides in about an hour and half before one morning.

Thanks so much!!

 

[TamaraH]

Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

Which program do you think is better and why: Touring Plans or RideMax

I've not used either, but neither has gotten glowing reviews from other Dis'ers. Personally, I wouldn't spend the money on either. There are other free crowd calendar sites (that are no better or worse than TP) and I don't really think a minute-by-minute plan is needed for DL.

If there is no PTN or no fireworks midweek am I correct in assuming that there won't be a Blue Bayou dining package? Would it even be necessary at that point?

If PtN is not offered, then there won't be any dining packages offered for it. If they do offer PtN, it's still a pretty popular parade and if it goes down to only a few times a week, then the crowds are likely to be more concentrated when it is showing (i.e., everyone who wants to see it will have to see it on one of those few nights when it's showing). If you're willing to invest in the time to wait for a spot or willing to see the second show, I think you can see PtN without a package, but it depends on your plans and how much time you want to wait.

How soon do we need to make dining reservations?

Dining reservations open up 60-days in advance (although, sometimes, not all things are loaded into the system on the 60-day mark). In general, reservations aren't that hard to come by, so you don't need to be on line right on the 60-day mark. You can often find pretty good dining reservations a week or so in advance. Dining packages and special events fill up faster, so those you want to book on the early side (still it generally not needed to be online right on the 60-day mark).

Is the dessert party for WOC at DCA worth it?

I haven't done the dessert party, but I generally feel that WoC is not really worth seeing if you can't see the water surface. So you either have to be tall or be in the first row of the viewing areas (there are multiple tiered areas). If you do the dessert party, you're pretty much guaranteed a good view, so it's one way to see the show without having to devote a lot of time waiting (1-2 hours, is my guess).

Any other tips or thoughts you would be willing to share?

Make use of FPs! They don't start to distribute them until regular park hours (so no FPs during EMH/MM). The show FPs (WoC and Frozen) are currently disconnected from the rest of the FP system, so having one of those does not impact your ability to get an attraction FP. Buzz Lightyear Astro-Blaster is also disconnected (the only disconnected attraction FP).

 

[Nevada Jen]

You don't need TP or RM for sure if you are staying on site. Just use your extra magic hours and fastpasses at both parks (but especially DCA) and you will get every ride you are wanting multiple times if you are there at least 3 days.
I do think the dinner packages at DL make a huge difference in what you can do. Mostly because you aren't sitting around waiting to get prime curbside seating for hours. That said, if you only sort of care about the parades and fireworks, its basically walk up over by its a small world. You won't have curb side but you will be a few rows back and even little kids will be able to see. I honestly have always determined that WOC isn't worth it and have not seen it out of 10 plus trips there. But we have a visually impaired kid in a wheelchair. Absent getting front row, she is not going to be able to see. My only other tip is that if you can't all drag yourselves out of bed for EMH, whoever is up should go. Oh and don't use the GCH entrance to DCA in the morning. No matter how great they make it sound. Its not great.