Reporting live from DL...max pass pass and other animals!

[Westcoastwild]

Hadn't planned to write a trip report for this jaunt, but hey, plenty of time in the lines. So follow along if you like and ask questions if you have any!

First thing: Disney Vault in DT has some of the Cherry Lane dresses! I may need to splurge. Also, if you are a Tiana fan, Dooney and Burke have a Tiana purse now.

Second: Disney changed the hours at the last moment; the parks opened at 9, not 8 today. I had checked last night so I wasn't surprised, but lots of people were, so the line for security is super backed up today. Shorter hours during the week for the rest of the summer probably. 9am-11 pm instead of 8-midnight.

 

[Davin_Felth]

I don't think the hours got changed at the last moment. I was checking on the hours for this week when they were released about 60 days ago. I'm pretty sure it was always scheduled to open at 9AM, until the weekend when it's 8AM.

 

[ellamama]

I don't think the hours got changed at the last moment. I was checking on the hours for this week when they were released about 60 days ago. I'm pretty sure it was always scheduled to open at 9AM, until the weekend when it's 8AM.

Agree it wasn't a last-minute change. I was also watching times 60 days out since we were considering a trip this week, and opening has been set at 9am all along.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Possibly. I don't usually check because I rarely rope drop anyway. Just going on what the CMs at security said.

But I also don't go on weekends either so the 11 pm closing was a surprise to me- it's always been midnight on previous visits. Not a big deal though, especially on this trip. I'm just here to hang out and not use LA metro anyway.

 

[wowsmom]

This week has had shortened hours for at least a few years. I have family that comes over from Italy and we usually end up going to DL around this time. The first year, it surprised me that the park was closing at 11:00 - I was sure they were open until midnight all summer long - but now I know it always happens.

 

[Westcoastwild]

This week has had shortened hours for at least a few years. I have family that comes over from Italy and we usually end up going to DL around this time. The first year, it surprised me that the park was closing at 11:00 - I was sure they were open until midnight all summer long - but now I know it always happens.

Ah, that would explain it. I think this is the latest I've been here in the summer for years- usually can't get time off in August.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I think it really goes back-and-forth on this week. We were here last year at the same time and park hours were longer. But we have also done this week in earlier years and they have been the same as they are now.

We have been here for the past two days in the parks have not been bad at all. We did Disneyland yesterday (Sunday) without early entry .... early entry was at CA ... and it was not busy at all until maybe mid afternoon. We did not have Max pass but got a ton of stuff done including Peter Pan, Matterhorn, Alice, Snow White, Toad, Pinocchio, buzz, star tours, BTMRR, jungle Cruise, splash, pooh, pirates all before 1 with a 9 AM opening. Plus we had a leisurely lunch. We had space fast passes for the morning but it was closed so often that we did not use them until later that evening. Plus we were able to pull Indy fast passes that were used around three.

Today we had max pass and did early entry at CA. 9 am EE. We did Soarin, RSR, TSMM, gss, CS twice, GotG, Ariel, GRR all before noon.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I think it really goes back-and-forth on this week. We were here last year at the same time and park hours were longer. But we have also done this week in earlier years and they have been the same as they are now.

We have been here for the past two days in the parks have not been bad at all. We did Disneyland yesterday (Sunday) without early entry .... early entry was at CA ... and it was not busy at all until maybe mid afternoon. We did not have Max pass but got a ton of stuff done including Peter Pan, Matterhorn, Alice, Snow White, Toad, Pinocchio, buzz, star tours, BTMRR, jungle Cruise, splash, pooh, pirates all before 1 with a 9 AM opening. Plus we had a leisurely lunch. We had space fast passes for the morning but it was closed so often that we did not use them until later that evening. Plus we were able to pull Indy fast passes that were used around three.

Today we had max pass and did early entry at CA. 9 am EE. We did Soarin, RSR, TSMM, gss, CS twice, GotG, Ariel, GRR all before noon.

I am SO jealous you got to ride big thunder. That must make the refurb a week long. Weird.

I agree, crowds aren't bad. I do have max pass, and I've liked it because I'm so jetlagged, but could have easily done without it.