mid September questions...and other questions for the Disney Pros! :)

[jory29]

I'm thinking the crowds are about as low as they can get in mid-Sept. Do you guys think this is true? We have been there before in early November, (1st week) and just wondered what the difference in crowds might be, between early Nov. and mid-September. Thanks!

Also - if a person goes mid-September, would you expect that the Haunted Mansion would be closed for the October Halloween overhaul? Or, would it be open with the Halloween theme by then?

Will they still have the Parade of Dreams at that point, or will it be the Main Street Electrical Parade?

With an 11 year old and a 6 year old, would Knott's Berry Farm for one day be a good thing to see, or would Universal Studios be far better? It seems to me the Universal Studios might be geared a little bit to thrills that might seem a bit scary for the 6 year old. I also don't like the long bus ride! Does anyone know which bus tour company is the best to take them to Universal?

At Mimi's cafe, do they let 2 adults share an adult meal if dining in? Can you request the full meal to be take out?

Thanks!

One more thing... is mid Sept. far warmer than early Nov.? In 2006, Nov. was HOT and wonderful. Last Nov., it was quite cool, cool enough to have to wear a jacket even during the day.

 

[RaeRae's Mommy]

I'll be at DL Sept 8-12 2008. I have also would like to know if Haunted Mansion would be closed for Halloween overhaul?

 

[ScooterL]

Yes, I think crowds in mid-September are about as low as you will find these days.

I would expect Haunted Mansion to close right after Labor Day and not re-open until the last weekend of September, so it would not be open in mid-September.

Disney's Electrical Parade is at DCA and not DL - if they follow their usual pattern, then the DEP will stop running after Labor Day, but the Parade of Dreams at DL will still run daily.

I think Knott's Berry Farm has more thrill rides (roller coasters) than Universal does. But it also has the ghost town section with much tamer stuff. It all depends on what you and your kids enjoy doing.

Yes, mid-September should be warmer than November. But the nights will probably still be cool to where you will want a light jacket. It CAN be hot (high 90s) in September if we get a Santa Ana. But an average September day will still be in the 70s or even low 80s.

 

[Leofoenget]

I'll be at DL Sept 8-12 2008. I have also would like to know if Haunted Mansion would be closed for Halloween overhaul?

I think the HMH opens up about the 19th.

 

[nikki&petey]

All good questions. We are going Sept 21 through the 26th. Hopefully the Haunted Mansion is open. I am bummed if we miss the ELP.

 

[NWPrincess]

I'll be at DL Sept 8-12 2008. I have also would like to know if Haunted Mansion would be closed for Halloween overhaul?

RaeRae's Mommy: We're visiting DL September 8-12 too! And I see you are from Everett!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I've heard that is an excellent time to go, as far as crowds go anyway. HM will be closed as others said. Unfortunately sometimes in order to go when there are low crowds you have to deal with a closure or two. As well as not having the full parade schedule. I'm sure you'll still have a blast though, there is just so much to do!

 

[RaeRae's Mommy]

RaeRae's Mommy: We're visiting DL September 8-12 too! And I see you are from Everett!

What's the odd's. Where are you staying? where staying at GCH.

 

[Dizneydaz]

With an 11 year old and a 6 year old, would Knott's Berry Farm for one day be a good thing to see, or would Universal Studios be far better? It seems to me the Universal Studios might be geared a little bit to thrills that might seem a bit scary for the 6 year old. I also don't like the long bus ride! Does anyone know which bus tour company is the best to take them to Universal?

I would pick Knott's over Universal. But then I think I'm one of the minority on these boards who actually enjoy Knotts. DD8 loves it too. We go in September alot since she's offtrack then and the park is basically dead after Labor Day. They are usually only open until 6 on the weekdays. As you get closer to the middle-end of the month, you will find that they have started to decorate for the Halloween Haunt but that really doesn't take away from the enjoyment of it. Except that the stage coach ride will be down once they decorate the area where it runs. As far as Universal goes, we went about 4 years ago and there wasn't enough to keep DD (then 4) interested. Even now, I would be hard pressed to take her back there. The next far away park I'll take her to is Magic Mountain. Once she's tall enough to ride more coasters-she loves them but she's still only 48" tall.

If I had to take the bus, I would definitely skip Universal.

The kids' play area at KBF is Camp Snoopy. One day in Sept. DD rode 26 rides there. And that was in addition to me riding a few coasters, as well. They have a few great ones! Silver Bullet, Xcelerator, Sierra Sidewinder are all great. To me, Ghost Rider is very painful to ride-very rough!

And of course, they have delicious fried chicken. We get it from the To Go Chicken shop located next the the restaurant. If you go, make sure to ask for chicken hot from the kitchen. They'll get it without a problem.

At Mimi's cafe, do they let 2 adults share an adult meal if dining in? Can you request the full meal to be take out?

You can definitely share at Mimi's as well as take out. Some of their servings are definitely large enough to split. My DM and I do it quite often at our local one.

One more thing... is mid Sept. far warmer than early Nov.? In 2006, Nov. was HOT and wonderful. Last Nov., it was quite cool, cool enough to have to wear a jacket even during the day.

As PP have said, September can be hot. We are still in our summer temps then. And yes, we do get some of our nicest weather in Oct. and Nov. But the evenings will be cool-they always are here. It's not unusual to be in the 90's during the day and the 60's at night. And it gets damp too! I love going to DLR in Sept. The weather is great and the crowds are definitely more manageable.

Have a great time! Hope this helps!

 

[NWPrincess]

What's the odd's. Where are you staying? where staying at GCH.

We are staying at the HoJo.

 

[RaeRae's Mommy]

We are staying at the HoJo.

Do you have any kids going? We have a DD3.

 

[NWPrincess]

Do you have any kids going? We have a DD3.

Nope...it's just me (25), BF (26), and parents. That's if I can convince my boyfriend to come with us. Right now it's "I'll consider it." He thinks grown adults going to DL is ridiculous. Needless to say, I haven't shown him the DIS

 

[RaeRae's Mommy]

Nope...it's just me (25), BF (26), and parents. That's if I can convince my boyfriend to come with us. Right now it's "I'll consider it." He thinks grown adults going to DL is ridiculous. Needless to say, I haven't shown him the DIS

Where going with parents too! ME DH Mom Dad and one kid DD3.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm thinking the crowds are about as low as they can get in mid-Sept. Do you guys think this is true? We have been there before in early November, (1st week) and just wondered what the difference in crowds might be, between early Nov. and mid-September. Thanks!

Also - if a person goes mid-September, would you expect that the Haunted Mansion would be closed for the October Halloween overhaul? Or, would it be open with the Halloween theme by then?

Will they still have the Parade of Dreams at that point, or will it be the Main Street Electrical Parade?

With an 11 year old and a 6 year old, would Knott's Berry Farm for one day be a good thing to see, or would Universal Studios be far better? It seems to me the Universal Studios might be geared a little bit to thrills that might seem a bit scary for the 6 year old. I also don't like the long bus ride! Does anyone know which bus tour company is the best to take them to Universal?

At Mimi's cafe, do they let 2 adults share an adult meal if dining in? Can you request the full meal to be take out?

Thanks!

One more thing... is mid Sept. far warmer than early Nov.? In 2006, Nov. was HOT and wonderful. Last Nov., it was quite cool, cool enough to have to wear a jacket even during the day.

We had a very nice crowd level Sept 17-21 last year.

Last year Thanksgiving was "early" and those in the know said that HMH opened earlier because of that. It opened our last day, the 21st.

2 years before that, though, we were there on the 22nd (I think) and HMH was still closed.

This year Thanksgiving is "late" so if they follow what they did in '07, I do wonder if HMH will open later.

Whatever you do, don't go by wdwinfo.com's page on Halloweentime...right now it says it's the 21st, BUT BUT BUT the dates on that page are clearly 2007, and therefore the page cannot be trusted right now. Sorry Dis, but you gotta get that page down!

Regardless, MID September HM would probably still be closed.

In December we were at HoJos, and hubby walked over to Mimi's and ordered a bunch of food to go. Very easy. Big portions.

I do recall our Sept trips as being warmer than December...don't know about November though.

 

[jory29]

Thank you very much, everyone, for all of your thoughtful and very helpful replies!! I love these boards!!

DizneyDaz, thanks also for your informative reply! If we go to Knott's, we'll have to try their chicken, hot from the kitchen.

Do you think that Ghostrider is far worse (more wild, say) than California Screamin'? We love that one. I warned our 11 year old that the wooden coasters are known to be more rough, but now I'm wondering if I'll like it, LOL!

I'm pleased to know Mimi's can split entrees, etc., and also, that they have take out food.

Thank you again, to all of you who posted a reply, as it is excellent information!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Thank you very much, everyone, for all of your thoughtful and very helpful replies!! I love these boards!!

DizneyDaz, thanks also for your informative reply! If we go to Knott's, we'll have to try their chicken, hot from the kitchen.

Do you think that Ghostrider is far worse (more wild, say) than California Screamin'? We love that one. I warned our 11 year old that the wooden

Oh totally-Screamin' is a walk in the park compared to GR. DD8 rode it for the first time in January and I forgot how rough it was. It's the kind of coaster that after you come off your back and legs are hot from all the bouncing. Alot of the riders come off said "never again". Also another one there I don't care for is Boomerang. It's a steel coaster but your head goes one way while your body goes another-it's hard to keep your head still enough to not bang your ears. But those are the only 2 I don't like. Also good is Montezoomas Revenge. Very smooth and you go upside twice-once forward and once backwards. One of the rides that looks tame, but isn't, is La Revolucion. Very intense ride. Another coaster my DD was finally able to ride last time was Jaguar. She really liked this-we rode several times in a row. If you go when it's not busy, alot of times you can go on the rides again without getting off. Pretty cool!

I grew up near KBF and when we first went there as little kids, it didn't even have many rides. They still have some of the original rides that made them famous. Calico Mine Train, Ghost Town Calico Train, and the Log Ride are 3 of them.

Also, if it's hot, Bigfoot Rapids is very cool (pun intended!) Great way to cool off!

I got the tip of asking for fresh chicken from one of the employees there. We usually get our chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits and boysenberry jam, and eat it outside on one of the nearby tables.

Have fun!

 

[NWPrincess]

RaeRae's Mommy: I admit it--I've been resisting the LGMMH, but maybe I'll have to get one after all so if DIS members happen to be waiting in line we can strike up a conversation.