Need help picking a pool day...

[MemoriesintheMaking]

We are excitedly counting down to our first Dapper Day visit. We're arriving at the DLH on Tuesday, 9/9, and that afternoon will be for Goofy's Kitchen, DTD, and some pool time. We have 5-day hoppers. We'll be in the parks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Dapper Day). Then, I was planning on a rest day/pool day (maybe with a cabana rental) on Saturday to refresh our feet, then Sunday back in the parks, and then 3/4 of a day of the parks on Monday before we fly home in the evening.

I just noticed, though, that they are no longer offering blackout tickets to local AP holders (am I right in this?), and Saturday is a blackout day, with Sunday being unblocked. I'm wondering if I should move our pool day to Sunday, to take advantage of possible lower crowds on Saturday. I liked the idea of the pool day more towards the middle of the visit, to give us a good rest and recharge for the rest of the park days, but if Saturday would be that much better in the parks than Sunday, it might be worth it. If we took a day off on Sunday, we would at least be ending up the trip with a nice rest and then do all of our favorite ride repeats on Monday. We also usually take a quick rest/pool break most park days, anyway, so it's not like we're gung-ho nonstop run-run-run people.

What would you recommend? Thanks!!!!

 

[figment_jii]

Personally, I think both Sat and Sun will be busy. Assuming the schedule holds from the last few years, HalloweenTime will start on Friday (9/12). So, the crowds will be there to see HMH, SMGG, and any other Halloween decor and activities. While they have suspended sales of blockout day tickets for AP holders, I don't think that will drastically affect Saturday crowds in September.

If it was me, I would do the pool day on Thursday. Friday, Sat, and Sun will probably be only days when fireworks, Fantasmic, and Mad T Party will be presented. WoC will probably be presented nightly.

 

[MemoriesintheMaking]

Personally, I think both Sat and Sun will be busy. Assuming the schedule holds from the last few years, HalloweenTime will start on Friday (9/12). So, the crowds will be there to see HMH, SMGG, and any other Halloween decor and activities. While they have suspended sales of blockout day tickets for AP holders, I don't think that will drastically affect Saturday crowds in September.

If it was me, I would do the pool day on Thursday. Friday, Sat, and Sun will probably be only days when fireworks, Fantasmic, and Mad T Party will be presented. WoC will probably be presented nightly.

Thank you ~ We are preparing our expectations for high crowds, so any part of the trip with lower crowds will be a happy surprise, but won't make or break our vacation.

I hadn't thought of doing our pool day on Thursday, but that is a really good option. I'm trying to weigh the benefits now between having a possibly lower crowd day on Thursday, but shorter hours, or a higher crowd day on Sunday, but longer hours and fireworks/F!. Hmmm...

 

[figment_jii]

If yo do decide to go to the parks on the weekend, I would try to see fireworks on Friday. That way, if they are cancelled due to weather (usually winds at higher elevations), you still have Saturday and Sunday as fall backs. I've been there when fireworks were cancelled multiple nights in a row (although this happened more commonly in December than in September). Still it's something to keep in mind.

 

[MemoriesintheMaking]

If yo do decide to go to the parks on the weekend, I would try to see fireworks on Friday. That way, if they are cancelled due to weather (usually winds at higher elevations), you still have Saturday and Sunday as fall backs. I've been there when fireworks were cancelled multiple nights in a row (although this happened more commonly in December than in September). Still it's something to keep in mind.

Thanks for the reminder - We will definitely do that.

 

[DarthMole]

Doing a pool day so close to the start of the trip is not appealing, but I think Thursday is the best day. The hours are just so short, probably 10-8. DD rates will bring out extra people both before and after the event, so Thursday could actually be a busy day in the park.

If you're doing EMH, Saturday could be a really good park day. The combination of Friday being DD and the park open to midnight most likely will result in low EMH crowds on Saturday. Even without taking advantage of EMH, the morning hours could be pretty light until about 10-11.

I may be tempted to wing it a bit, but cabana rental makes it difficult as you need to plan for that. If Wed seems crowded, then make Thursday the pool day. If Wed is light, make Sunday the pool day.

 

[MemoriesintheMaking]

Doing a pool day so close to the start of the trip is not appealing, but I think Thursday is the best day. The hours are just so short, probably 10-8. DD rates will bring out extra people both before and after the event, so Thursday could actually be a busy day in the park.

If you're doing EMH, Saturday could be a really good park day. The combination of Friday being DD and the park open to midnight most likely will result in low EMH crowds on Saturday. Even without taking advantage of EMH, the morning hours could be pretty light until about 10-11.

I may be tempted to wing it a bit, but cabana rental makes it difficult as you need to plan for that. If Wed seems crowded, then make Thursday the pool day. If Wed is light, make Sunday the pool day.

I was thinking the same thing...Thursday is just so close to the start of the trip. Though, I suppose I could look at it as a great way to start off and really decompress from work, etc.

I think my hesitancy to skip Thursday and choose Saturday comes partly from the fact that in the past, we have generally chosen weekdays for the bulk of our park days, and avoided weekends. Weekends just make me a little nervous. However, the pros for choosing Thursday as a pool day and Saturday in the parks are edging out the cons, I think. Plus, no matter what, it will be amazing because we will be on vacation at Disneyland!! The little planning details that I pore over now won't matter so much once we are there and inside the fun.

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it!