mid Feb mid week - ok for 1st DLR trip?

[abminer]

Hi there,

DBF and I are WDW vets, but neither of us has ever been to DLR. We've decided to change that for our next Dis trip, which we'd be up for in 2013. He's in LA right now for an annual conference and they've announced next year's dates - Feb. 15 - 17th. He's just suggested spending next Valentine's day at DLR. This would leave us with a Sun-Thur trip. I'm wondering:

-how much would we miss out on due to refurbs?
-how much would we miss out on with shows since it'd be mid-week?

We're east coasters so this may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip so I really want to do it all (esp. anything that doesn't exist at WDW), but price is an issue. I'm only interested in staying at GC or DLH, so I'll be looking for promotions there.

I've read the thread about DLR and low season vs. high, but I'd love to hear opinions from folks who've just been or did a Feb. trip last year.

 

[skiingfast]

-how much would we miss out on due to refurbs?
-how much would we miss out on with shows since it'd be mid-week?

Lots, and Lots.
You would miss probably a couple big attractions and a couple small attractions. See lots of small rehabs and probably a big rehab on non attractions. Not the park in its best shape. All because it's February, this is part of the period with the most rehabs in DLR and WDW.
If you want to get a full visit of DLR in, include the midweek in February for low crowds, and a Weekend day or two(Fri, Sat or Sun) to get the night hours, long hours and entertaiment.

If it's likely your only chance to visit DLR, either go to the parks on the weekend evenings Or go at a different time altogether. If possible you may want to wait until post Christmas to extend the trip and book airfare, let DH get a changeable ticket once you know the refurb schedle.

 

[abminer]

Lots, and Lots.
You would miss probably a couple big attractions and a couple small attractions. See lots of small rehabs and probably a big rehab on non attractions. Not the park in its best shape. All because it's February, this is part of the period with the most rehabs in DLR and WDW.
If you want to get a full visit of DLR in, include the midweek in February for low crowds, and a Weekend day or two(Fri, Sat or Sun) to get the night hours, long hours and entertaiment.

If it's likely your only chance to visit DLR, either go to the parks on the weekend evenings Or go at a different time altogether. If possible you may want to wait until post Christmas to extend the trip and book airfare, let DH get a changeable ticket once you know the refurb schedle.

Thanks so much, this is what I feared. Even if we extend to a weekend, the big refurbs will still be a major disappointment. I think we'll have to plan doing a separate trip altogether. Would an Oct. weekend be any better?

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks so much, this is what I feared. Even if we extend to a weekend, the big refurbs will still be a major disappointment. I think we'll have to plan doing a separate trip altogether. Would an Oct. weekend be any better?

Yes better than February as far as refurbs - but you will still miss some things. If you have flexibility then go in summer as refurbs will be zero or nearly so. If that does not work then May is the best off-season month at DLR.

Check out recent years refurb here:

"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

 

[jdb in AZ]

Refurbs are a disappointment but I'd rather deal with that than the crowds. But you'd also have crowds mid-February with Presidents' Day. In October, the weekends are crowded with the Mickey's not so scary halloween parties.

 

[saysay]

We just went this past week Feb 14 - 17th - tues through thurs. We had a blast.

They did not have Fantasmic during the week or the Aladdin show. They also did not have fireworks at DL, but they did have the magic memories and you show.

We stayed at the Grand Cali with a great rate and it was fantastic!

The only rides that were closed for refurb were the Matterhorn and I believe the Columbia Ship. I do not feel like we missed a thing and the lines were GREAT, short. We actually left the park with a fast pass good for any ride we did not use. The weather was chilly - though the week before it was in the 80's and its rainy season officially in Cali per my husband so there is a risk there....we did have one rainy day, but we just wore Pancho's got to the DCA early and rode rides - so we got done all the rides we wanted to then just did shows. That night it had stopped raining we went to DL 45 minutes before close and walked on INdiana Jones, Star Tours and closed the night with the jungle cruise. It was awesome!

We hate crowds and because my in laws live out there we have been the past 3 years, this year was the first we did more than one day and our first time to DCA. I think it was a GREAT time to go.

Yes you will miss something, but by Feb the conversion of IASM and HM are complete from the Christmas decor.

I say go for it! I was bummed about the aladdin show, but we decided rather than fight crowds it was ok to miss. We thought if we REALLY Wanted to see it we would stay for Friday, but were ok with missing.

 

[abminer]

We just went this past week Feb 14 - 17th - tues through thurs. We had a blast.

They did not have Fantasmic during the week or the Aladdin show. They also did not have fireworks at DL, but they did have the magic memories and you show.

We stayed at the Grand Cali with a great rate and it was fantastic!

The only rides that were closed for refurb were the Matterhorn and I believe the Columbia Ship. I do not feel like we missed a thing and the lines were GREAT, short. We actually left the park with a fast pass good for any ride we did not use. The weather was chilly - though the week before it was in the 80's and its rainy season officially in Cali per my husband so there is a risk there....we did have one rainy day, but we just wore Pancho's got to the DCA early and rode rides - so we got done all the rides we wanted to then just did shows. That night it had stopped raining we went to DL 45 minutes before close and walked on INdiana Jones, Star Tours and closed the night with the jungle cruise. It was awesome!

We hate crowds and because my in laws live out there we have been the past 3 years, this year was the first we did more than one day and our first time to DCA. I think it was a GREAT time to go.

Yes you will miss something, but by Feb the conversion of IASM and HM are complete from the Christmas decor.

I say go for it! I was bummed about the aladdin show, but we decided rather than fight crowds it was ok to miss. We thought if we REALLY Wanted to see it we would stay for Friday, but were ok with missing.

As someone with 8 WDW trips under my belt, missing the Matterhorn, Aladdin Show, & fireworks would be a huge disappointment. Those are the things that are unique to DLR so they mean the most to us. World of Color is highest on my list, but the Matterhorn is 2nd. I also want to be able to use the pools (we'd do DLH or GC).

Our anniversary is Oct. 29 so even though we'd hit crowds, it seems more would be open for us. I haven't ever done MNSSHP at WDW, so we'd be interested in trying it at DLR.

I guess we'll have to play it by ear. If there's no way we can afford two flights and hotel rates are super high at other times, Feb. might be our only opportunity and I'd rather go then not go at all. But, it sure seems like another time of year would better fit our needs.

If we rent DVC points for VGC, will it be impossible to get during summer time?

 

[Huff]

As someone with 8 WDW trips under my belt, missing the Matterhorn, Aladdin Show, & fireworks would be a huge disappointment.

Matterhorn certain has its nostalgic qualities. Its a Disneyland original and the worlds first steel coaster. That said, its not one of my must do's. Its incredibly rough (rougher than MK's Space Mountain) but for some reason my kids love it!

Aladdin is excellent, one of the best shows Disney does. Really need to check rehab schedules as it changes from year to year. We love going in February as the weather is nice, crowds are low and for us the number of rehabs have been few. Fantasmic is often dark and is rivers of America but not always. Fireworks often is weekends only except for holiday periods, spring break or summer. But those time periods are very crowded. Dates for rehabs does change from year to year but we love the low crowd winter time at DLR.

 

[TravelNicholas]

My family and I were at DL from Friday February 10-Sunday February 12. The weather was incredible and I didn't find the closures to be problematic. (Granted - we live in Southern California and are able to go fairly frequently.) At DL, the only closures I recall were the Matterhorn Bobsleds and the Sailing Ship Columbia. I have no firsthand info, of course, but wouldn't think that the Matterhorn would be closed again next February - especially after the size of the rennovation it's undergoing right now. We saw fireworks both Friday and Saturday at DL and World of Color at DCA on Saturday. Crowds were great - maybe 4/5 out of 10.

OTOH - I love going in the Fall - weather, again, is great and the parks decorated for Halloween are just amazing!

 

[saysay]

Oh Aladdin was only closed during the week...you could see it on weekends, we chose not to. I THINK the Matterhorn closing is just this year, kind of like how BTM is closing for refurb at WDW. Also if you are a parade person, they didn't have the daytime parade, but the nighttime one was super!

Just wanted to clarify that.....I was disappointed by Matterhorn, but we rode it last year and yeah, it was a little jerky so honestly didn't miss it LOL. It was nice seeing WOC during non peak hours I must say.

Can't say enough great things about DGC! if you stay there, try the power walk through DCA before the park opens....totally fun!