Need Help Choosing September Dates

[chabelita545]

Not getting park hoppers is fine and avoiding DCA on OBB days is a good idea. Just be aware that when DCA closes early for the event, the crowd moves over to Disneyland. On normal days, rides like Big Thunder Mountain sometimes have negligible wait in the hour before closing but don't expect that to happen on OBB nights.

Thanks. Can I ask you which week looks best to you?

Week 1 - 9/6-9/10 Tues. after Labor Day to Sat. of D23 Expo

(Not sure if OBB happens this week, but D23 is Fri and Sat. and Tuesday could be extra busy with Labor Day weekend guests. On the plus side, we can alternate parks every day and do 3 in DL and 2 in DCA, which is how much time we'd want to spend in each park.)​

Week 2 - 9/12-9/16, Mon.-Fri.

(Sandwiched between D23 and Gay Days, and Gay Days starts on Friday, but maybe it doesn't attract as large of crowds as we think. DCA closes early two of those nights for OBB.)​

Week 3 - 9/18-9/23 Mon-Fri.

(DCA closes early 2 nights for OBB, but there are no other events I know of. However, it is closer to October, which I understand is more popular than September.)​

Or Week 3 but move up one day to 9/17-9/22 Sun.-Thurs.

(We can keep the same park pattern as week 1, DL-DCA-DL-DCA-DL, but the downside is we are there for 3 OBB nights.)​

 

[gelatoni fan]

Thanks. Can I ask you which week looks best to you?

Week 1 - 9/6-9/10 Tues. after Labor Day to Sat. of D23 Expo

(Not sure if OBB happens this week, but D23 is Fri and Sat. and Tuesday could be extra busy with Labor Day weekend guests. On the plus side, we can alternate parks every day and do 3 in DL and 2 in DCA, which is how much time we'd want to spend in each park.)​

Week 2 - 9/12-9/16, Mon.-Fri.

(Sandwiched between D23 and Gay Days, and Gay Days starts on Friday, but maybe it doesn't attract as large of crowds as we think. DCA closes early two of those nights for OBB.)​

Week 3 - 9/18-9/23 Mon-Fri.

(DCA closes early 2 nights for OBB, but there are no other events I know of. However, it is closer to October, which I understand is more popular than September.)​

Or Week 3 but move up one day to 9/17-9/22 Sun.-Thurs.

(We can keep the same park pattern as week 1, DL-DCA-DL-DCA-DL, but the downside is we are there for 3 OBB nights.)​

I personally would do the Tuesday to Saturday. I prefer to go on weekends because of the night entertainment. If you aren't park hopping, you'll have to choose between World of Color and Fireworks/Fantasmic if you go only one day. Even if you are park hopping, there's a chance that fireworks could get cancelled due to wind on the first day so having a second day could help. With the longer hours, you have a chance to go on a lot of rides after crowds leave for the day. Of course, Disney could pleasantly surprise everyone by having long hours and night shows every night but I don't think that's likely. There is a chance that the Halloween event starts on 9/9 which means the parks would have light crowds from the 6th to the 8th and crazy busy crowds for the 9th and 10th. I think it's more likely that Halloween will start on 9/2 so Disney can milk the event for more money.

I'm not a fan of the 2nd week because D23 attendees may stay later and make the Monday particularly bad. If the first week seems a bit risky to you, then go with the 3rd week. For that week, just pick if you prefer the night entertainment on the first day or the last day. Having it at the end means that you are more likely to be patient enough to save a good spot since you won't feel the urge to rush to the next ride. Disadvantage is that you may be more tired and enjoy it less.

 

[chabelita545]

I personally would do the Tuesday to Saturday. I prefer to go on weekends because of the night entertainment. If you aren't park hopping, you'll have to choose between World of Color and Fireworks/Fantasmic if you go only one day. Even if you are park hopping, there's a chance that fireworks could get cancelled due to wind on the first day so having a second day could help. With the longer hours, you have a chance to go on a lot of rides after crowds leave for the day. Of course, Disney could pleasantly surprise everyone by having long hours and night shows every night but I don't think that's likely. There is a chance that the Halloween event starts on 9/9 which means the parks would have light crowds from the 6th to the 8th and crazy busy crowds for the 9th and 10th. I think it's more likely that Halloween will start on 9/2 so Disney can milk the event for more money.

I'm not a fan of the 2nd week because D23 attendees may stay later and make the Monday particularly bad. If the first week seems a bit risky to you, then go with the 3rd week. For that week, just pick if you prefer the night entertainment on the first day or the last day. Having it at the end means that you are more likely to be patient enough to save a good spot since you won't feel the urge to rush to the next ride. Disadvantage is that you may be more tired and enjoy it less.

Thanks so much for weighing in. I’m thinking we will shoot for week 3, but do Tues-Sat. No major events, we get to start and end at DL (our favorite park) and only have to deal with OBB crowds 2 nights. Now I just need to get lucky with flights and hotel (and park reservations)!