June hours/grad nights/pass block out dates

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Good to know, thank you. We are hoping to catch F! once during our trip. And I hope they show the fireworks on grad nights. Having only 3 chances to see them makes me nervous.

They showed fireworks on the grad night I was there. That was what closed the park down. After that everyone turns around and heads toward the exit. There were so many people on the grad night when we were there that we didn't actually get out of the park until after 10. All the stores on Main Street closed either immediately before or after fireworks.
So I went around and took some photos of the area as the CMs started asking people to leave. Nobody asked us to leave though. About 15 minutes later, it was all cleared out and we left.

 

[liesel]

Hmmm...We were there last June 11-17. There was one grad night during our stay. They actually showed Fantasmic that night after the park closed. We happened to drive down Ball road around 10pm and saw the lights, fireworks/lasers, etc. We were surprised that it went on. So I'm just wondering if they actually will not show WOC during a Grad night this year. Ya never know...they may. At any rate, it didn't get crazy busy until the Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the So Cal APs were due to be blocked out. The 17th was an absolute nut house! That was the day I saw grown men leaping over babies in strollers! Crazy!

That Fantasmic showing might have been the private media preview they had the night before it premiered (I believe it was on a grad night). Last year we were at the park on Wednesday June 10 (a grad night) and the crowds were very manageable.

 

[rentayenta]

They showed fireworks on the grad night I was there. That was what closed the park down. After that everyone turns around and heads toward the exit. There were so many people on the grad night when we were there that we didn't actually get out of the park until after 10. All the stores on Main Street closed either immediately before or after fireworks.
So I went around and took some photos of the area as the CMs started asking people to leave. Nobody asked us to leave though. About 15 minutes later, it was all cleared out and we left.

Thanks for the tips- like the photo idea vs fighting the crowds out!


I just cannot wait for this trip.

 

[rentayenta]

That Fantasmic showing might have been the private media preview they had the night before it premiered (I believe it was on a grad night). Last year we were at the park on Wednesday June 10 (a grad night) and the crowds were very manageable.

Managable crowds are a good thing! I was a little skeptical when I found out there were grad nights but I think it will work out great.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

That Fantasmic showing might have been the private media preview they had the night before it premiered (I believe it was on a grad night). Last year we were at the park on Wednesday June 10 (a grad night) and the crowds were very manageable.

You know what, you are right. That's what it was. All the hype for the Dragon and he wasn't there! I remember some people on Mouseplanet had bought tix for F! and I wondered if they got to stay or were given the boot. The 11th was also a Grad night.

 

[drag n' fly]

I searched and the official Disneyland site doesn't have the hours up for June. Does anyone else know where else they might be? We'll be there June 13-18 and I am trying to plan PS based on the park hours. I think we have a couple grad nights in the there so I am thinking a late dinner in DTD might be good. Any help on park hours would be appreciated. Also on that week's AP blocked dates.

We will be there on the exact same days at the same hotel! Thanks for bringing this up. I had no idea about the grad nights.

 

[liesel]

You know what, you are right. That's what it was. All the hype for the Dragon and he wasn't there! I remember some people on Mouseplanet had bought tix for F! and I wondered if they got to stay or were given the boot. The 11th was also a Grad night.

They didn't make people leave DCA quite as urgently as DL (6 PM closing on grad night) and we were able to walk slowly through the park leisurely taking pictures instead of crossing over to DL right away with the crowds. At DL, one more train makes a loop around (pick ups only no drop offs) at closing (9PM). We had to be in the waiting area, which closed promptly at 9. We had a nice loop around DL (I would have loved to gotten off at NOS and taken some pictures, it was so peaceful) and when we arrived back at main st, the crowds were gone. It was so much nicer than fighting crowds as they left the park. We arrived back at HoJos around 9:45. As for daytime crowds, there were a few school groups, but fortunately they don't seem to know how to use fastpass. It was about a medium crowd level day, which was great compared to our last day, Tuesday June 16, which was almost at capacity. That was just a half day before leaving for the airport. I wouldn't recommend those days right before APs are blocked out.

 

[rentayenta]

We will be there on the exact same days at the same hotel! Thanks for bringing this up. I had no idea about the grad nights.

Awesome! I cannot wait. This will be our first time using our DVC for a Disney property!

They didn't make people leave DCA quite as urgently as DL (6 PM closing on grad night) and we were able to walk slowly through the park leisurely taking pictures instead of crossing over to DL right away with the crowds. At DL, one more train makes a loop around (pick ups only no drop offs) at closing (9PM). We had to be in the waiting area, which closed promptly at 9. We had a nice loop around DL (I would have loved to gotten off at NOS and taken some pictures, it was so peaceful) and when we arrived back at main st, the crowds were gone. It was so much nicer than fighting crowds as they left the park. We arrived back at HoJos around 9:45. As for daytime crowds, there were a few school groups, but fortunately they don't seem to know how to use fastpass. It was about a medium crowd level day, which was great compared to our last day, Tuesday June 16, which was almost at capacity. That was just a half day before leaving for the airport. I wouldn't recommend those days right before APs are blocked out.

Loving the train idea.



The only non-blocked AP days during our visit are 6/14 and 6/15. This makes me very happy and these won't be our WoC nights.