Park Reservations/Night Show Advice

[TikiRob]

We are making our first trip to Disneyland this July after a cancelled trip in March 2020. This trip has been in the plans for almost 5 years! We are staying four nights (after 3 in LA/Hollywood). Trying to understand benefits and best days to go to each park. Does it matter with park hopping available after 1pm? This is our current plan for reservations and shows:

Friday 7/8 (afternoon arrival): Disneyland Reservation (Disneyland Forever)
Saturday 7/9: Disneyland Reservation (World of Color)
Sunday 7/10: California Adventure Reservation (Fantasmic)
Monday 7/11: California Adventure Reservation (Main Street Electrical Parade)
Tuesday 7/12 (late afternoon departure): Disneyland Reservation

We are staying the first night at DLH and then moving to GCH. Trying to fit in one show each night. My WDW planning instincts may be kicking in. Am I overthinking this? Thanks in advance!

 

[katyringo]

Do you have park hoppers? Because you have the shows here in the wrong parks.

Main streets electrical parade and Fantasmic are in Disneyland and world of color is in DCA.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

With hoppers and all the shows running all nights, and most having two shows a night (fireworks is the only one that is a single time daily), your schedule makes sense. You probably want to pencil in possibility to do fireworks again on your MSEP night, since they are the most prone to cancellation, so as many opportunities to see them as possible gives you the best chance of seeing the complete show.

 

[TikiRob]

Do you have park hoppers? Because you have the shows here in the wrong parks.

Main streets electrical parade and Fantasmic are in Disneyland and world of color is in DCA.

Yes! That is why I was wondering if it mattered where we start. I was figured we would probably hop back and forth.

With hoppers and all the shows running all nights, and most having two shows a night (fireworks is the only one that is a single time daily), your schedule makes sense. You probably want to pencil in possibility to do fireworks again on your MSEP night, since they are the most prone to cancellation, so as many opportunities to see them as possible gives you the best chance of seeing the complete show.

Good point on fireworks. Not having the schedules, it seems a bit up in the air (pun intended). I'm also trying to balance the crowds brought in on the weekends, but maybe during the summer it isn't as bad with blackouts and reservations.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

If they are still doing the 2 times a night showings, you can beat the crowds by doing the 2nd showing many times. The only one you really can't avoid crowds is the fireworks, since it is only ever once a night.

I think historically you are right - the weekends having blackout dates does mean crowds are spread out more evenly through the week, so while it is likely to be crowded, it shouldn't be significantly more crowded on the weekends versus the week nights.

 

[katyringo]

Yes! That is why I was wondering if it mattered where we start. I was figured we would probably hop back and forth.

Good point on fireworks. Not having the schedules, it seems a bit up in the air (pun intended). I'm also trying to balance the crowds brought in on the weekends, but maybe during the summer it isn't as bad with blackouts and reservations.

If you have hoppers it doesn't matter! Your plan would be fine. It's all over a weekend so all the shows should play. The *only thing to be prepared about it fireworks sometimes get canceled due to wind. But they still do the projections. Also- after Fantasmic you can stay in your spot and watch fireworks from there with projections on the water.. at least they did in the "before times"

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We are making our first trip to Disneyland this July after a cancelled trip in March 2020. This trip has been in the plans for almost 5 years!...

So excited for you and your family that this trip is finally happening!

 

[chezcurrie]

Agree on front-loading the fireworks as they can be cancelled so give yourself multiple opportunities if you can. Also remember you can view them and the projections from outside Small World - as a WDW veteran it can be a fun unique way to see them! (Also can view from Galaxy’s Edge, but no projections obviously)

 

[harmon54]

Just wanted to say hi - we were in the thread to go March 2020 also! We are finally making it out to Disneyland the first week of August! So glad these shows and stuff are coming back - I am probably planning too much also! Hope you have a great trip!