October calender

[Mickey Buffet]

Hello,
I just wanted to get any comments on this email string I had with disneyland about the October schedule..(That is still not fully available). Please read from the bottom up.. Am real disapointed and am tempted to scrap the whole thing,and go to WDW when my son is older an can handle the Flight & timechange better.
Thanks!
=======================================================

Thank you for your e-mail to the DISNEYLAND® Resort. We appreciate you
taking the time to share your experience with us.

We are sorry for the disappointments you mentioned in your e-mail.
Please be assured that we have shared your comments with our Theme Park
leadership team, as feedback such as yours is taken very seriously.

Again, thank you for contacting us. Comments such as yours are welcomed
in that they assist us in evaluating our operation and our success in
generating happiness for our Guests.

Sincerely,

DISNEYLAND® Resort
Guest Communications


Received date: 7/11/07



Original Message Follows:
-------------------------

Thank you very much for your quick reply,

However I can't be more disappointed...

It seems incredulous to me how things as basic as park hours, parades & fireworks, or refurbishment schedules are not known before 3 months ahead of time. Does Disney World have different criteria for scheduling ? One of my favorite thing about Disney is the attention to detail it has always striven to provide in everything it does. ...so this is kind of a let down. However, I was even more disappointed to find the following upon checking the calendar website again today.

It still did not have the month view of October however if I put a specific date in October there was some information. But I was Dumbo-founded when I saw that the only 2 rides during that time that were on the refurbishment schedule were "Alice in Wonderland" & "Casey Jr".!!! One of the main reasons we thought of going at this time was to take part in the "Magical Beginnings" we heard about on the DVD with our 21/2 year old. Now it seems that 2 rides, geared exclusively for the toddler crowd will be off-line at that time !

Now I know rides need to be maintained.... Practically every time I visited Disneyland or Disney World something was being refurbished that disappointed me but that's just the way it is and I understand that. And am certainly not asking you to change these schedules, and understand why you wouldn't in any case . But this just seems to me like poor planning to have these particular rides down during the Magical Beginnings time. Personally I know my son would have loved the "Casey Jr" ride, as trains are his absolute favorite things.. But to be honest , as long as he doesn't see it he won't miss it.

I don't know maybe I'm being overly picky, but I expect much from Disney, and these 2 issues seem to me to be a down-slide in the quality of your product. I hope to be mistaken, as there is nothing more I'd like to do then show my son not only the fun of a Disney vacation, but like my father did for me point out the details that makes it a cut above the rest. But, it worries me that maybe some chinks in the armor (small as they are) are showing, and I feel compelled to inform you for the next generation of Mousekateers

Very Respectfully Yours ,

----
Thank you for your e-mail to the DISNEYLAND® Resort.

Regretfully, the information you have requested has yet to be
determined. Generally, Park Hours and refurbishment schedules are
determined 2-3 months in advance and entertainment schedules are
determined 1 month in advance. You are invited to contact us again in
the near future.

Again, thank you for taking the time to write. We hope you will have the
opportunity to visit the DISNEYLAND® Resort soon and trust your visit
will be pleasant in all regards.

Sincerely,
----

Hello,

When will the calender for disneyland park get updated. Currently you
only have through the end of September 2007. The Disney world site has
it's parks calander updated through Jan2008.

Have been planning this since trip since April , but have been waiting
to see what events, park hours, & ride closeures will be durring this
time in order to choose specific dates

Any help you can provide would be great.
Thanks

 

[bouncy54]

I agree that it's irritating not to be able to see the park hours, parades, etc. until the month before.

Especially when WDW has it's schedule out months ahead of time. It makes planning so much easier.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

It is frustrating to plan a trip to DLR and not know what rides will be down for refurb. etc. I guess it's not as much of a problem when someone goes real often, but if it is your only trip for a while, then it's nice to know what rides will be closed so you can plan the dates better. I have gone through this also. I wonder why WDW has their schedule out so far ahead of time and DLR doesn't? I've put a link below to the events schedule from this past October so you can get an idea of what will be offered and when. I don't think it will change much if any for this year. I'm sorry that your son won't to get to ride on Casey, Jr. but Heimlich's Chew Chew Train and the Disneyland Railroad will hopefully be running so that he can enjoy those. I hope you have a good trip!

http://www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-DLR2-200610.asp

 

[Misskitty3]

Personally, and I mean this in a very gentle way, I think you are missing the bigger picture. You and your son will have the BEST time ever at DL regardless of Casey Jr or the Alice ride being down.

October is a fantastic time to visit with nice weather and low crowds.

Yes, for people like you and me (planners) it is hard to fathom why DLR doesn't make info like this available at the earliest date possible. And in addition to that, I think they have one of the worlds worst websites - very un-userfriendly with very little info but that isn't the point to this post.....

When you walk thru the tunnel at DL and step into Main street you will be sooooooooo happy you didn't shelve this trip for one several years down the road -- I GUARANTEE IT!!!

 

[DisneyloverinWA]

I agree with misskitty3. Don't shelve your trip. We took our daughter when she was 18 months and then last year at 2 1/2 and she talks about Disneyland all the time...almost everyday in fact.

Taking your toddler will be a fantastic experience. I was disappointed when Splash Mountain (one of my favorites) was shut, but I still had a great time.

DisneyloverinWA

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I didn't get to go on the Matterhorn until I was 19 on my first trip back to Disneyland in over 8 years, despite having gone there with an enormous frequency when I was younger, because it was either closed for refurbishment or the lines were impossible and my mom refused to wait in line for that long. Despite having been curious to ride it ever since I was tall enough, I survived without riding it for years and not having ridden it did not tarnish my view of the park at all. I'm sure that despite the closure of
Casey, your son will have a blast. Like you said, as long as he doesn't see it, he won't miss it. He'd probably think that the train that goes around Disney is cooler because it's life-size instead of miniature.

 

[Mickey Buffet]

Thank You all for your replys !!

I just can't understand why they can even post operating hours !!.. Really all I want is the offical word as to the operating hours so I can pick the right days to go. Particulary on Sat & Sun.. I kinda figgured the weekdays would be the same as Septembers of 10am-8pm. BTW- Thanks for that link disneyfan4ever54, that helps a lot!

Having a 2 year old has forced me to be kind of a master scedulaler !
Am not too concerned about closing time , but an earlier opening time would be nice for my early riser. Want to make the most of it, but not rush.

Oh yeah and does any one else think it's crazy to have the only 2 rides in refurbishment durring the "Magical Beginnings" time to be toddler type rides...DOH!

Thanks Again all

 

[Misskitty3]

Thank You all for your replys !!

I just can't understand why they can even post operating hours !!.. Really all I want is the offical word as to the operating hours so I can pick the right days to go. Particulary on Sat & Sun..

Mickey...you are preaching to the choir!!!! and a big ol' AMEN to that!!!! (in otherwords, I couldn't agree more)

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Thank You all for your replys !!

I just can't understand why they can even post operating hours !!.. Really all I want is the offical word as to the operating hours so I can pick the right days to go. Particulary on Sat & Sun.. I kinda figgured the weekdays would be the same as Septembers of 10am-8pm. BTW- Thanks for that link disneyfan4ever54, that helps a lot!

Having a 2 year old has forced me to be kind of a master scedulaler !
Am not too concerned about closing time , but an earlier opening time would be nice for my early riser. Want to make the most of it, but not rush.

Oh yeah and does any one else think it's crazy to have the only 2 rides in refurbishment durring the "Magical Beginnings" time to be toddler type rides...DOH!

Thanks Again all

You're very welcome! My DS's first trip was when he was 3 years old (He is now 12!), and I remember how special it was at that age. I hope you have a wonderful time. Please feel free to ask any more questions.

 

[teacups]

I can relate. Not to the Alice ride exactly... but Id be really sad if I found out that Pirates was down one week before we left. If you are crazy enough (and we are) to plan a trip around one thing (and we have) then that would really be heartbreaking. We'd have fun w/o it anyway (BUT PLEASE DONT TAKE PIRATES DOWN IN OCTOBER!) but Id rather it be functioning... At least with a two year old, he doesnt really know one from the other too much yet. Wait till he's a pre-teen.

Are you going? I think you'll have fun!!!

 

[heatherleigh]

I was disappointed to hear about Casey Jr. too. We went to Disneyland in Jan. 2006, and that was my son's favorite ride (he was 3 at the time.) He talks about it all the time. I even played w/ the dates a little, because we are somewhat flexible. That ride will be shut down for months.

I'm curious as to what the hours are going to be as well. I know they're open until midnight on Friday. We don't go very often either, and have been planning for awhile, so I understand how you feel.

 

[Casey's Mommie]

I just looked at the calendar for October and though the schedule isn't up yet, they took off Casey Jr as being closed for refurbishment. Is this too good to be true? I like that ride because my baby girl's name is Casey!

We are going Oct 14-18th or 19th. Yeah!!!

 

[heatherleigh]

Hey, Disneyland changed the refurbishment schedule for Casey Jr. I think they did, anyway. I went to the calendar for October, and now it only shows Alice in Wonderland as being closed.

 

[angelhair45]

We are going the 1-5 and I was really disappointed about Alice being down. One of my favorites, and they don't have it at DW. Now it looks like it's not on the list, but Casey still is.

 

[Mickey Buffet]

ALL RIGHT!!!...
You're right Casey is back in play.. Tristen, mom & I are keeping our fingers crossed!!!!

Yeah we'll probably go still. Am still working the logistics and tring to work out the best time to go however. Will do 3 days and am driving but can't decide if I should include a weekend day or not..Somewhere between the 6th and the 21st I'm thinking.

Had a busy weekend thanks again for all the posts!
This forum Rocks!!!!

 

[Mickey Buffet]

Just saw you note angelhair45 ...

Yeah Guess they are refining the schedule somewhat Casey Jr is down up to Oct 5 looks like. The Alice in Wonderland starts it's maintenance on the 8th..

Or at least for now anyway

 

[angelhair45]

I hope, I hope, I hope, they keep it that way. My son and I are both huge Alice fans!

 

[CalGal]

I wonder why WDW has their schedule out so far ahead of time and DLR doesn't?

OK, beat me if you want, but I'm going to come to DL's defense here.

It is true that WDW puts out their hours months in advance, while DL usually posts hours one to two months in advance. And while I like to look ahead when I am planning a trip, I do think we should consider that the parks are really quite different. Those of us on this forum are probably in the minority; we are planning our DL vacation months in advance, but most visitors to DL don't plan many months in advance and certainly not as far in advance as the typical WDW visitor. WDW caters to much longer vacations and more visitors from far away. A high percentage of the visitors to WDW are also booking stays at WDW property well in advance. DL, on the other hand, gets a lot of their crowds from within California staying off-site and usually not booking months in advance. A wide mishmash of school districts with varying schedules may impact the crowd levels. For those reasons, I would just think it is much easier to forecast the crowds for WDW. I know that the web sites always say that hours are subject to change, but DL does like to be pretty certain of their hours before posting them. I would think forecasting of crowds is very important to establishing hours. There are other factors such as the higher salaries in CA that may also make planning more of a challenge in CA.

On the refurbishment schedule, it doesn't look to me like the two parks are that different. Only long term down times appear on the WDW schedule past October as far as I can see. DL works hard to plan all scheduled maintenance for off season to have the least impact on the crowds. This means that visitors must expect that a few rides will be down for important maintenance during their visit at these times of year. No ride should be so important to make or break your trip, but if one is, big kudoos to DL for making every effort to post their schedule as early as possible.

That's just my opinion...Hopefully I didn't offend anyone with it. I hope you all enjoy your October trip. It's should be great time to go in spite of refurbishments scheduled.

 

[heatherleigh]

We considered changing our trip by 2 mos because of Casey Jr. It was the boys' favorite ride. I decided to stick w/ our original plan though, and I'm happy it all panned out! The Alice ride was nice (I prefer it over Casey) but the boys' preference is much more important.

 

[minniebeth]

CalGal,
I'm so glad you put this in perspective in a way that makes huge sense. I too was getting frustrated with planning (I'm like the "Plan in a Year Advance Queen") for October. When you look at it from your point of view, it really lends itself that DLR is looking after the visitor's best interest for that particular time period.
I'm still antsy for all the schedules, etc. to be posted, but I'm a little more rational about it!
LOL!