Just checking...june dates

[frazzle]

So now we have to change our dates from the june 23/24/25 to the week before. With grad nights and block outs in mind I am trying to pick the best 3 days of the week. We have 3 kids ages 3,6 and 10.

I'm thinking 16/17/18 June. Am I correct that these days are all blocked out for all annual pass holders so they should be a "bit" quieter? And the 16th and 17th are grad nights and the park will close early. I'm thinking that this is ok since we have 3 days and the fireworks are still on, so we'll just skip the midday break and go till the kids drop.

We'll also miss the early entry morning op as there won't be one on the Thursday. Is this a big loss considering we have 3 days in the park?

I thought this would be the best option as Monday and Tuesday are not blocked out. Any thoughts guys? Hoping I have got my planning right!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Those dates are not blocked for deluxe APs but both Socal APs are blocked and that is the one that makes the most difference. I haven't been during Grad Night days, so can't say much about that.

 

[HydroGuy]

You are right about everything. Could you possibly do June 17-19 which would give you a MM on Saturday and two long days on Fri/Sat?

 

[rentayenta]

I am going in June and am planning on it being a madhouse. A big fun crazy Disney madhouse!

 

[Raindown]

Am I correct that these days are all blocked out for all annual pass holders so they should be a "bit" quieter?

That is not always the case. During busy times (like spring break) all socal passes are blocked April 5-9 and that week was more crowded than the following week (open to socal passes). Sometimes it is just a high crowd time. I just don't want you to get there are go what the heck. Remember they open up the other passes when there are historically lower crowds to fill in attendance gaps. So there are two ways to look at the blockout days.

Generally I think you are better offer going earlier in the summer season than at it's height.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

That is not always the case. During busy times (like spring break) all socal passes are blocked April 5-9 and that week was more crowded than the following week (open to socal passes). Sometimes it is just a high crowd time. I just don't want you to get there are go what the heck. Remember they open up the other passes when there are historically lower crowds to fill in attendance gaps. So there are two ways to look at the blockout days.

Generally I think you are better offer going earlier in the summer season than at it's height.

That's because it was Prime spring break week!

 

[Raindown]

That's because it was Prime spring break week!

True, perhaps spring break is a bad example, it was nuts. I was at DLR 4/23 and only socal select was blocked (probably the one that makes a big difference) and it was a light day. I just don't want people to think all non-blocked days are horrible.

 

[HydroGuy]

True, perhaps spring break is a bad example, it was nuts. I was at DLR 4/23 and only socal select was blocked (probably the one that makes a big difference) and it was a light day. I just don't want people to think all non-blocked days are horrible.

Since the OP asked about specific dates in June it was fair to say that unblocked days should be avoided. In what has become the most referenced thread on this forum regarding AP blockouts - "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983 - nowhere do I say that all unblocked days are crowded. If that is your point - that not all unblocked days are crowded - I do not think anyone around here will disagree with you. In fact I have never seen anyone here suggest otherwise.

If someone like the OP asks about a specific time frame and the effects of AP blockouts that is easier to predict. And if someone like the OP asks about June after June 11 that is easiest of all to predict - unblocked days will be really crowded.

 

[jacobsmommy]

How do you know whether or not there'll be a Magic Morning on that Thursday in June? We will be there the following Thursday and I was planning on doing the early entry. It's a grad night, so does that mean there isn't an early entry? Am I missing something?

 

[HydroGuy]

How do you know whether or not there'll be a Magic Morning on that Thursday in June? We will be there the following Thursday and I was planning on doing the early entry. It's a grad night, so does that mean there isn't an early entry? Am I missing something?

From "The Scoop on Grad Nights at DLR in May and June" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

The current schedule for MM is Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday. The typical Thursday night/Friday morning Grad Nights do not affect MM because there is no MM on Friday morning. However, the occasional Wednesday night/Thursday morning Grad Night will interfere with the normal Thursday morning MM and hence that MM will be re-scheduled or cancelled. Check the DLR website once the May/June calendars are posted to confirm.

 

[jacobsmommy]

Thank you! I had already read that article, but I thought maybe I was missing something. My magic morning will not be affected-yeah!

 

[frazzle]

You are right about everything. Could you possibly do June 17-19 which would give you a MM on Saturday and two long days on Fri/Sat?

Thanks everyone for your advice.

HG, yes we could do 17-19 but I was avoiding the Saturday after reading that crowds are even worse in the weekends. With the "5 day for the price of 3 day" pass available at the moment we might be able to visit the park that the evening of the 15th and the saturday morning anyway (depending on flight times and jetlag).

So the question is whether I should shift the days to 17-19. I was thinking the short grad hours wouldn't really be such a loss for us since we have small kids and wouldn't have made it to midnight anyway (even with a break) Does anyone have a view on how much quieter are the grad days are likely to be compared to the Saturday?

There will be no early entry on the 17th because of the grad night on the 16th. Is that correct?

 

[HydroGuy]

HG, yes we could do 17-19 but I was avoiding the Saturday after reading that crowds are even worse in the weekends. With the "5 day for the price of 3 day" pass available at the moment we might be able to visit the park that the evening of the 15th and the saturday morning anyway (depending on flight times and jetlag).

Yes Saturday will be more crowded than Thursday especially because of the grad night. But it will also have maximum entertainment options. Wednesday and Thursday are unknowns what will happen for entertainment. Will there be fireworks? Fantasmic? World of Color? We do not know yet. If you care about any of those then the only time we know they will be scheduled will be Fri-Sat. If you do not care about those or are fine with only having Fri night available for these, then I would say do June 16-18. The grad nights would be a plus for you because the crowds will be less - unlike some others who care about evening entertainment and grad nights may be a negative.

So the question is whether I should shift the days to 17-19. I was thinking the short grad hours wouldn't really be such a loss for us since we have small kids and wouldn't have made it to midnight anyway (even with a break) Does anyone have a view on how much quieter are the grad days are likely to be compared to the Saturday?

It is not so much "making it til midnight" as it is having more options and longer park hours. If you take hotel breaks your kids will have a more enjoyable evening on longer park days.

There will be no early entry on the 17th because of the grad night on the 16th. Is that correct?

Pretty likely the MM on Thursday June 17 will be canceled or moved to Friday June 18. Disney gets to decide but based on the past that is most likely.

 

[frazzle]

Thanks lots to think about.

Our flight in from NZ on the 15th will arrive about 2.30pm so we could go to the park that night too. Then we'd have the Tues and Fri evenings. We are staying at the Camelot Inn. Close enough to walk supposedly. We'll have to play it by ear as it will depend on how much the kids sleep on the 12 hour flight and on the jet lag as your 2.30pm Tuesday is 9.30am Wednesday NZ time!

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Wednesday and Thursday are unknowns what will happen for entertainment. Will there be fireworks? Fantasmic? World of Color? We do not know yet.

FWIW, those dates should be updated on the official calendar in about a week from now, so we should know soon enough.

I think those Grad Nights (Wed. & Thurs.) will have fireworks scheduled (8:40pm), but no Fantasmic and no WoC.

Deluxe APs are blocked out on Saturday (June 19), so that might make Saturday a slightly better night to see WoC.

We are staying at the Camelot Inn. Close enough to walk supposedly.

The Camelot Inn is a 6 or 7 minute walk to the main entrance.

HTH

 

[Eeee-va]

If nighttime entertainment is NOT a big priority, and if you'll need to leave around 9 or so anyway due to your little ones, then I think I personally would go for the double grad night days. Historically I hear grad nights haven't really affected daytime park attendance, but with hundreds of thousands of people hoping to see WoC, I think there's a fair chance that a lot of people will be avoiding days when Disneyland won't be showing it.

If you want to see WoC and Fantasmic! then you'd most likely need two late nights at the park, though. Fireworks, we'll know once the grad night schedules get posted.

Have a great trip!

 

[frazzle]

Thank you We have our flights now and we'll get an extra half day on the Tuesday as we arrive in on the Tuesday at midday. So we can see WOC that night (if the kids are coping with the jetlag) and Fantasmic on the Friday. If the fireworks are on the grad night then we can catch that too. The flight out of LA isn't till 4.30pm on the Saturday so we can use the early entry that day and stay till about midday.

My kids are so excited!!! Well we all are Off to research the best of Disney. Just wish the kiwi dollar went a bit further in the States guessing there will be lots of threads here about eating "cheaply" at DLR.

 

[Eeee-va]

Have a great time!

And I'd suggest you keep an eye on the DISboards or other Disney news sites. World of Color access MAY be determined by Showpass (which you'd have to get in the early morning)--if that is the case, you'd have to do WoC on Friday (or hopefully it's possible to see it from a less optimal location without a Showpass).

 

[frazzle]

ha, just when I think I have my head around it....off to search up Show Pass

 

[HydroGuy]

ha, just when I think I have my head around it....off to search up Show Pass

See World of Color Superthread