Help with dates (x posted)

CdnCarrie

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
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I accidently posted this in the DL Community forum so reposting it here. Hope it makes sense!

We are flying in to San Fran on Wednesday, January 28th. On the Saturday, January 31st we are planning on driving south.

Scenerio A - drive to Hollywood area. Stay for 3 nights - one day visiting Hollywood attractions, one day at US (Sunday and Monday). Drive to Anaheim Monday evening.

Have Monday evening - Saturday morning at DL. So probably 4 full days.

Scenario B - drive directly from San Fran to Anaheim. Be able to go to DL for a few hours in the evening after arrival as open to midnight. Have 4 full days (Sunday - Wednesday) in the DL parks. Thursday and Friday spend in Hollywood area.

I'm thinking being in DL from Saturday evening - Wednesday rather than Monday night - Friday we may be able to take advantage of longer hours on the Saturday night and Sunday. Also according to the historical hours we may have choices of when to see the nighttime entertainment. Plus we may be able to have the extra time there on Saturday evening to see the fireworks and do a handful of rides.

However Sunday is the Superbowl and TP has the crowds rather high which I find odd. Last year at WDW Superbowl Sunday was listed as being super low crowds.
 
Touring Plans is pretty much worthless as a DL crowd predictor so don't put much stock in what they say. I can't speak on super bowl crowds as
I usually watch the game but I have to say driving around LA is not fun. LA has some great places to visit but the traffic ruins the experience. I would spend less time in LA and more time at DL. But some people don't mind the traffic and lack of parking so YMMV.
 
Thanks. I'm not a big fan of TP but since Josh at EasyWDW doesn't do the west coast I settled for TP.
 
From everything I've read, Super Bowl crowds can be hit and miss at Disneyland. I'd really just think of it as, Sundays are busier than weekdays, and leave it at that, without worrying about the Super Bowl. (But if you're going to stay until close anyway, I imagine Sunday night will probably be pretty decent, as many locals will have work on Monday and can't stay out too late.)

As to which itinerary is better for you, I think it depends on how high a priority nighttime shows are and your touring style. I kind of prefer shorter hours because then I can be in the parks from open 'til close and not need an afternoon break. (Plus, shorter hours usually reflect that Disney is anticipating lower crowds, which means in theory you can get more done than on crowded day, even with fewer hours. In reality, sometimes they plan poorly or have fewer Cast Members to help, so lines might not be as short as you'd hope. But I've personally had good luck visiting during days with shorter hours.)

There were RUMORS that the firework show for early 2015 will not be the popular Remember...Dreams Come True but that they'll be a scaled back show not involving the castle. It's absolutely not announced and for all I know Disney isn't even considering it. But IF those rumors pan out, it might not be worth scheduling your days around fireworks. Or again, IF the fireworks show doesn't involve the castle, you might get a very good view from the Rivers of America, making it less necessary to devote 2 separate nights to nighttime shows at Disneyland.

That said, if nighttime shows are a big priority, I'd strongly consider the option that gives you 2 weekend nights.

All things being equal, I would personally choose to visit Disneyland (my biggest priority) earlier in the trip rather than later. I see the appeal of saving the most exciting part of the trip for last, but I've had a trip unexpectedly cut off or hindered due to illness (in January 2014 at WDW!) and once, an earthquake! So I'm a bit biased in the "do it now" direction.

Have a great trip!
 

Good point about Sunday being a work night.

Thanks! I think we will go directly from San Fran to Anaheim. Just makes more sense to me plus we will be excited and not wanting to wait.
 
I agree with a previous post that says 'if nighttime shows are a big priority, I'd strongly consider the option that gives you 2 weekend nights.' The nighttime shows are ESSENTIAL for us, so we always go over a weekend, even though the crowds are almost certain to be larger on the weekends.
 


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