Newbie Questions- Birthday & Time of Year

[LizzyQ]

I think my other post got lost, so I'll post these questions in a new thread:

Is mid-May a good time to go (arriving around May 15th) and going to the parks (DL & DCA) Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday? I figure weekdays will be better than the weekends, and we use less of our timeshare credits that way too. Both DH and I are college students so this will be the week after the spring semester ends for college students, which might make it a little more crowded, but since most school-age children are still in school mid-may, hopefully not too much?

The other Question: We want to have a small birthday celebration for DS1 (4th Bday)... can you give me some inexpensive suggestions? We need to bring our own cake (dietary restrictions), but we don't want to just have it at the condo we are staying... we want something a little more special, KWIM?

TIA!!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Hi LizzyQ,

Welcome to DIS and how exciting for your upcoming trip! I found your original post. (It was on the "Welcome" board. ). Here it is with a few replies.

I think posting it here on the Disneyland section will give you some more specific great suggestions. People on this section have great ideas.

You may want to look into the Patty E. Cake birthday party. I don't know a lot about it, but someone here will post about it (hopefully). It may be worth calling DL to see if you can provide your own cake for this.

If not, bring the cake, have a family lunch at any of the DL restaurants and enjoy!

Be sure to get a birthday button for DS4. He will get wishes throughout the day.

- Dreams

 

[HydroGuy]

I think my other post got lost, so I'll post these questions in a new thread:

Is mid-May a good time to go (arriving around May 15th) and going to the parks (DL & DCA) Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday? I figure weekdays will be better than the weekends, and we use less of our timeshare credits that way too. Both DH and I are college students so this will be the week after the spring semester ends for college students, which might make it a little more crowded, but since most school-age children are still in school mid-may, hopefully not too much?

The other Question: We want to have a small birthday celebration for DS1 (4th Bday)... can you give me some inexpensive suggestions? We need to bring our own cake (dietary restrictions), but we don't want to just have it at the condo we are staying... we want something a little more special, KWIM?

TIA!!

Don't know about birthday cakes, but May can be a good or bad time to go depending on what you want.

Weather - likely to be really good - not too hot, not likely to rain

Crowds - Usually moderate on weekdays but this year hard to say because of the new World of Color show. If they get WOC launched early May then it will be very busy with crowds.

Entertainment - You will miss the excellent Fantasmic show which is down until late May but would likely not play on weekdays anyways. Weekdays in May are off-season which means minimal entertainment - see "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Don't know about birthday cakes, but May can be a good or bad time to go depending on what you want.

Weather - likely to be really good - not too hot, not likely to rain

Crowds - Usually moderate on weekdays but this year hard to say because of the new World of Color show. If they get WOC launched early May then it will be very busy with crowds.

Entertainment - You will miss the excellent Fantasmic show which is down until late May but would likely not play on weekdays anyways. Weekdays in May are off-season which means minimal entertainment - see "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

The regular Disney site does not have the May operating hours up yet. As it is "off season," will hours be reduced? I noticed in April it is 8a-12midnight. I need to use a low-points season through DVC, although in waiting for them to post the hours so I can plan means it may be too late for them to have any availability!

What I did not know when we went for hubby's birthday last September: that the hours would be so short with no early entry for people staying in the park hotels that day, that the crowds to see Fantasmic would be so huge we could barely see it, or that we could have gotten a free birthday beignet at that place in the New Orleans section.

 

[HydroGuy]

The regular Disney site does not have the May operating hours up yet. As it is "off season," will hours be reduced? I noticed in April it is 8a-12midnight. I need to use a low-points season through DVC, although in waiting for them to post the hours so I can plan means it may be too late for them to have any availability!

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

What I did not know when we went for hubby's birthday last September: that the hours would be so short with no early entry for people staying in the park hotels that day, that the crowds to see Fantasmic would be so huge we could barely see it, or that we could have gotten a free birthday beignet at that place in the New Orleans section.

It sounds like you have discovered that online forums like this are a great place to get that kind of information before you go. Good to know you will be better prepared this time.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

What I did not know when we went for hubby's birthday last September: that the hours would be so short with no early entry for people staying in the park hotels that day, that the crowds to see Fantasmic would be so huge we could barely see it, or that we could have gotten a free birthday beignet at that place in the New Orleans section.

Magic Mornings are available to anyone staying onsite on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

 

[LizzyQ]

I think posting it here on the Disneyland section will give you some more specific great suggestions. People on this section have great ideas.

You may want to look into the Patty E. Cake birthday party. I don't know a lot about it, but someone here will post about it (hopefully). It may be worth calling DL to see if you can provide your own cake for this.

If not, bring the cake, have a family lunch at any of the DL restaurants and enjoy!

Be sure to get a birthday button for DS4. He will get wishes throughout the day.

- Dreams

THanks! OK, silly question- how do I get the birthday button for DS?

 

[LizzyQ]

Don't know about birthday cakes, but May can be a good or bad time to go depending on what you want.

Weather - likely to be really good - not too hot, not likely to rain

Crowds - Usually moderate on weekdays but this year hard to say because of the new World of Color show. If they get WOC launched early May then it will be very busy with crowds.

Entertainment - You will miss the excellent Fantasmic show which is down until late May but would likely not play on weekdays anyways. Weekdays in May are off-season which means minimal entertainment - see "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR"

Is it worth it to try to go on a weekend (like Sat) for the other entertainment? I am trying to plan around his birthday, which will be on a Monday, and would like the beginning of our days there to start on his Bday, which would mean only weekdays, unless we stayed for a week (which we don't want to do because we have to stop for a night both there and back as well).

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

THanks! OK, silly question- how do I get the birthday button for DS?

Birthday Buttons are available at the hotels, the ticket booths, city hall...if you are staying DVC, then you can definitely get one at the hotel. I'd even let them know ahead of time (when you book) that you are celebrating a birthday. You never know what surprise may be waiting!

Is it worth it to try to go on a weekend (like Sat) for the other entertainment? I am trying to plan around his birthday, which will be on a Monday, and would like the beginning of our days there to start on his Bday, which would mean only weekdays, unless we stayed for a week (which we don't want to do because we have to stop for a night both there and back as well).

This May? I'd say no. If WOC is open, it'll just have opened and be completely crazy busy. Fantasmic won't be open until Memorial Day. So really you are missing fireworks. So even though I love DL fireworks, lower crowds are better than only one nighttime entertainment. However, if you arrive Sunday you can see them Sunday night...

 

[HydroGuy]

Is it worth it to try to go on a weekend (like Sat) for the other entertainment? I am trying to plan around his birthday, which will be on a Monday, and would like the beginning of our days there to start on his Bday, which would mean only weekdays, unless we stayed for a week (which we don't want to do because we have to stop for a night both there and back as well).

Did you read the link I gave?

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

If off-season visitors want to be able to see some of these excellent shows, they will need to overlap some of their days over a weekend.

 

[LizzyQ]

Birthday Buttons are available at the hotels, the ticket booths, city hall...if you are staying DVC, then you can definitely get one at the hotel. I'd even let them know ahead of time (when you book) that you are celebrating a birthday. You never know what surprise may be waiting!



This May? I'd say no. If WOC is open, it'll just have opened and be completely crazy busy. Fantasmic won't be open until Memorial Day. So really you are missing fireworks. So even though I love DL fireworks, lower crowds are better than only one nighttime entertainment. However, if you arrive Sunday you can see them Sunday night...

Thanks!

It will be May 2011 (I am planning waaay in advance!).. So maybe we could arrive Sat night and go to DL Sunday to get the weekend entertainment, and then have less line rides for the other 2 weekdays at DLR & DCA?

 

[LizzyQ]

Did you read the link I gave?

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

THANKS for this link it is very helpful!