Is it too early to trust May 2012 entertainment?

[estherhead]

We just bought out airplane tickets from Ohio to Ca for our long awaited Disneyland trip. We are ok with missing Carsland (3 girls) and Matterhorn being closed. But World of Color seems to only be on Sunday nights and no Fantasmic at all? Really? I know it's low season but I was expecting to have the evening shows on the weekends.

I am at the very beginning of this. Any help? I'm a serious WDW vet and have read Hydro guys guide. But it is rather confusing with the time we are going (May 27-June 2) with Grad nights and all the other things I'm unfamiliar with.

Also, my dh and I have been one day to both parks (it was a pouring, weekday in October so no lines at all) and we kept collecting FP from both parks. Are they enforcing the FP closing window at DL like they are at WDW? I can't find a thread on it so I'm assuming not.

Thanks in advance!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

The entertainment schedule for DL often is only updated for 6 weeks out. It is likely that Fantasmic, fireworks, and WoC will all show on weekends, not guaranteed, but likely.

There has been a lot of rumor and discussion regarding fastpass enforcement lately. The only thing I have been able to pick up from all the discussion so far is that Disney has not made any sort of official policy statement lately regarding fastpass and Disneyland. While it's certainly possible that time window enforcement could be coming even to Disneyland, there seem to be nothing but rumors about this topic so far.

 

[DLR29]

It's too far out for entertainment. I don't know where you're getting your info from, but the official website only goes through late March. You'll get a better sense of park hours and entertainment schedule around early April. But in general, Fantasmic and fireworks don't show during the week (except Spring Break, Summer, and Christmastime). But they should be showing on Memorial Day (which is the Monday of your trip).

What still confuses you about the differences between WDW and DLR? As for Grad Nights, Disney is doing it a different way this year and so we don't exactly know how it will affect crowds. My guess is that it may increase crowds during the day a little bit, but the majority of the students will show up towards the evening and then it'll get crowded when they have the park to themselves.

As for the FP rumor, DLR has no intentions, as of yet, to enforce the FP return time window.

 

[sonnyjane]

Where are you getting your schedule information? Disney has not posted anything for that timeframe, and as the PP mentioned they usually don't fill out the entertainment schedule until 4-6 weeks out so I'm not sure what you're using to plan, but it's nothing that was officially released by Disney.

 

[bitohoney]

I haven't seen any hours or schedule yet either. We will be there May 30-June 6. I do wish they would post that information earlier than they do. Some of us are coming all the way across the country!

 

[estherhead]

I haven't seen any hours or schedule yet either. We will be there May 30-June 6. I do wish they would post that information earlier than they do. Some of us are coming all the way across the country!

Yes, some of us are! But WDW does the same thing, driving me crazy.

Here's where I got the unofficial schedule:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm

I think what confuses me most was not understanding the grad nights. Is there a thread on how they are doing it this year? And also the nighttime shows in general. We did WOC when we were there last time and got the FP for it and wished we hadn't. Should have just gotten there early.

Finally, and this is not DL fault, because Sequoia & Yosemite book up solid on weekends, I've had to set my dates and book my hotels before DL is really ready for me to be planning.

Just trying to make sure I'm doing our CA trip in the right order and WOC and Fantasmic are kind of critical to us. But if we could do WOC on Sunday and Fantasmic Memorial Day, that'd be great. Then we could just relax and tour southern CA leisurely the rest of the week.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

And also the nighttime shows in general. We did WOC when we were there last time and got the FP for it and wished we hadn't. Should have just gotten there early.

If you want to be allowed into the proper viewing area, you need to have a FP. It doesn't matter how early you show up for the show, without the fastpass you will not be allowed into the viewing area. If you are not as concerned about viewing the show as the creators meant for it to be viewed, you can watch the show from behind (everything looks like it has been reversed like you're watching in a mirror, which really only matters when there is text displayed) or from a side vantage (not sure exactly where these are). These areas you can just walk up to and stand in without a fastpass.

 

[KCmike]

You will definitely have fireworks, Fantasmic!, and WOC for Fri/Sat/Sun. The calendar never firms up until really 30 days out. Have a great time. It's definitely the best park in the U.S..

 

[estherhead]

If you want to be allowed into the proper viewing area, you need to have a FP. It doesn't matter how early you show up for the show, without the fastpass you will not be allowed into the viewing area. If you are not as concerned about viewing the show as the creators meant for it to be viewed, you can watch the show from behind (everything looks like it has been reversed like you're watching in a mirror, which really only matters when there is text displayed) or from a side vantage (not sure exactly where these are). These areas you can just walk up to and stand in without a fastpass.

I see. See? I need to read a LOT before May.

We just popped into DL for a last minute day (we were in CA for a wedding) and WOC had just opened 4 months earlier and our day was the first day there had been a lightening storm and they thought WOC would cancel, right up until it was starting. So everyone (incl us) started heading over there only 10 minutes before the show as the lightening was moving away and they announced it might show.

Because there were such light crowds (really, would you go to DL on the ONE day in 4 months it was a entire day of thunderstorms?) everyone watching WOC had an FP. So only the areas we all were standing in were full. And we had all arrived at the exact same time so it was kind of chaotic. I didn't realize that only FP were at the front.

The good thing about that day, other than just being my first day ever at DL, was because there was no one there we toured DL and CA in their entirety in one day. Other than Screamin' which was closed due to lightening.

 

[DLR29]

Yes, some of us are! But WDW does the same thing, driving me crazy.

Here's where I got the unofficial schedule:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm

I think what confuses me most was not understanding the grad nights. Is there a thread on how they are doing it this year? And also the nighttime shows in general. We did WOC when we were there last time and got the FP for it and wished we hadn't. Should have just gotten there early.

Finally, and this is not DL fault, because Sequoia & Yosemite book up solid on weekends, I've had to set my dates and book my hotels before DL is really ready for me to be planning.

Just trying to make sure I'm doing our CA trip in the right order and WOC and Fantasmic are kind of critical to us. But if we could do WOC on Sunday and Fantasmic Memorial Day, that'd be great. Then we could just relax and tour southern CA leisurely the rest of the week.

Grad night info: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

And yeah, you have to get a FP to be in the viewing section. AND you still have to show up early.