Off-Peak: What will I miss?

[RedHotMama]

We're planning a trip either mid-Sept '17 or early-May '18. If we are only in the parks Monday-Friday, what should we expect to not be available? Fireworks? Night-time shows? Parades? Any attractions, restaurants, etc, big or small?
Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

Predicting closures and refurbishments is a little like predicting the weather...it's hard to say and it can change with very little notice. Typically (although this can also change), during the non-peak periods, fireworks and select other nighttime entertainment (e.g., F!, but assume the new show had debut, it's not yet known what kind of schedule it will have) is only offered on Fri through Sun nights (WoC is usually nightly, unless it's down which isn't that common). There will probably be some attraction closures (it's seems fairly rare to have a period when nothing is closed during the non-peak periods), but they probably won't announce an initially planned closures until much closer to the date (~45-days in advance, when the calendar is posted).

Just in case...by mid-September, Haunted Mansion and Space Mtn may both have their HalloweenTime overlays in place; it all depends on when HalloweenTime starts (assuming both return this year). They haven't made any HalloweenTime announcements (yet); that will probably come in mid-summer. It's something to keep in mind if you wanted to see the "classic" versions of both attractions.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Off peak also means shorter park hours.

 

[RedHotMama]

I actually like the shorter hours. I'm at the gate an hour before opening even though I'm not a morning person. 9am for a 10am opening is nice. And with little kids, we can't last past 9pm anyway.

 

[lcp9]

We have gone at both of those times in the last couple of years and there were no major refurbs being done that I can remember. Just like PP have said though, it's hit or miss and you might not know for sure until 6-8 weeks out.

 

[RedHotMama]

I'm thinking more of things in the park that are regularly planned on being closed on off-peak days. Such as Fantasmic not being nightly when it's slower, or the Sailing Ship Columbia only running when it's busy. Those are the ones I know of. I'm wondering what else is typically closed when it's slower.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Lines may be longer for things like the monorail, because there won't be as many vehicles in use. There may not be as many boats in use for POTC and IASW, so even though there are fewer people in line, you might still have to wait a bit to load.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I'm thinking more of things in the park that are regularly planned on being closed on off-peak days. Such as Fantasmic not being nightly when it's slower, or the Sailing Ship Columbia only running when it's busy. Those are the ones I know of. I'm wondering what else is typically closed when it's slower.

The canoes are something that I've never been able to figure out- do they shut down due to busyness or due to lack of crowds. But they always shut down when I'm there.

Really, the only differences are holiday overlay closures, fireworks only on weekends, and shorter park hours. The last one is the only one that impacts me because I'm a night owl.

 

[figment_jii]

Those are the ones I know of. I'm wondering what else is typically closed when it's slower.

I think the soft serve ice cream stand by the Cove Bar isn't always open either (but I don't know if it's crowd or weather dependent, or both). Some of the food kiosks (e.g., the popcorn stand by IaSW) may not open if the crowds are low or they may have reduced hours.