IASW Holiday Q

[SplashMo]

For IASW holiday. Is it better to ride at night?

 

[Disney Dreams]

Well, the ride is 99.9% inside. So, for riding it, there isn't really a difference. HOWEVER, for viewing the outside - nighttime during the holidays is AMAZING. It's absolutely gorgeous. I could post a photo, but never sure if people want a spoiler or want to see it for the first time in person.

- Dreams

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

I agree with Dreams. The outside is stunning at night. And they do Christmas projections on the exterior......maybe every 15 min or 1/2 hour. Fun to watch. Riding the railroad past the IASW exterior at night is fun too because you are close to the lights. Sigh.

Even if you don't ride at night, wander by for a look. Or wait for the parade there, so you can look at the lights and see the projection show. Have a great trip!

 

[Sherry E]

I'm sure you've seen all the lovely IASW Holiday photos in the Christmas thread, correct? So you know how wonderful it is. And remember - you can always post holiday-related questions in that thread!

No, it's not better to ride at night. I've always advised people to ride it in the daytime - in fact, head back to Fantasyland as soon as you get in the park and ride it before the line gets hideous. At night, just go by and look at it and take photos of the wonderful colors or projections.

Be forewarned that last year, when my group and I strolled back to IASWH at night so that one of my friends could see what it looked like (she had never seen it before), the wall of people in front of the ride was so massive and impenetrable that it would have been tough to get through to take photos. I couldn't even really tell if there was a PhotoPass person set up there like there had been in 2008. There were just too many people congregated back there. We didn't even try to get through to take photos, let alone attempt to ride it. We turned and walked away.

Of course, you may have a different experience. Perhaps the night you go would not be as crowded as the night I went in 2009 and, thus, the wall of people may not be so bad. When exactly are you going?

 

[goldies 5]

YES!!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

No, it's not better to ride at night. I've always advised people to ride it in the daytime - in fact, head back to Fantasyland as soon as you get in the park and ride it before the line gets hideous. At night, just go by and look at it and take photos of the wonderful colors or projections.

I agree with Sherry comments. During the morning to the afternoon, it is the best time to ride IASWH. At night it is just a nightmare with lines go long as 30+ min wait time. At night it is great to take pictures of IASWH.

 

[SplashMo]

We wil be there on the Friday the 12th. Opening day...

 

[Sherry E]

We wil be there on the Friday the 12th. Opening day...

Ooooh! Lucky you! I've always wanted to be there on the actual start day of the season. Not that I would give up my December trips, but just once I'd like to be there on opening day to see if it feels any different than December - more or less magical, more or less crowded, etc.

Anyway, now that you've mentioned your dates - I thnk IASWH will be a madhouse at night on 11/12 because it will be newly opened and a lot of local AP holders (maybe not the SoCal level AP's, but the Deluxe, Premium and Premier) who live close by will surely head over after work and take in the sights. Also, isn't Veterans Day the day before? A lot of people will be on vacation over Veterans Day and through the weekend.

So if you can swing it, try to ride IASWH in the early morning and then go back and look at it or take photos at night. I've always suspected that a lot of folks don't even realize there's an overlay on that ride until nighttime, when the colored lights turn on. I have seen it when the line was almost empty in the daytime, but at night it was like those lights attracted people from all corners of both parks like moths to a flame. And they all just stand there and stare at it because it's so beautiful!!

 

[spacemermaid]

I'll never forget the time last year when it was still light outside when the boat I was in sailed into the show building, and by the time it came out, it was dark out & all the lights were on.

 

[camouseketeer]

I'm sure you've seen all the lovely IASW Holiday photos in the Christmas thread, correct? So you know how wonderful it is. And remember - you can always post holiday-related questions in that thread!

No, it's not better to ride at night. I've always advised people to ride it in the daytime - in fact, head back to Fantasyland as soon as you get in the park and ride it before the line gets hideous. At night, just go by and look at it and take photos of the wonderful colors or projections.

Be forewarned that last year, when my group and I strolled back to IASWH at night so that one of my friends could see what it looked like (she had never seen it before), the wall of people in front of the ride was so massive and impenetrable that it would have been tough to get through to take photos. I couldn't even really tell if there was a PhotoPass person set up there like there had been in 2008. There were just too many people congregated back there. We didn't even try to get through to take photos, let alone attempt to ride it. We turned and walked away.

Of course, you may have a different experience. Perhaps the night you go would not be as crowded as the night I went in 2009 and, thus, the wall of people may not be so bad. When exactly are you going?

Totally agree with this. We were there during Thanksgiving week last year. The line during the day time looked too long to me, so I figured I would wait until late. WRONG MOVE!

When we went back at night time, IASW was gorgeous, but the line was equally hideous! I had no idea how long that line could get! We waited 30 min in line. It moved quickly and the holiday projections were fun to watch, but, I learned my lesson.

Ride in the day time!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We will be there on the 12th too! I expect it to be crowded but will do IASW and HMH first thing in the morning.