Sat or Thurs?? + Monorail for EE?

[LarsoftheJungle]

Hello!
Just my 5yo son and I on our first trip to Disneyland 3rd week of Sept. One day, park hopping. He has a somewhat narrow interest of things there - mainly Start Wars, Pixar stuff, trains, trains (monorail), and automobiles. Since Star Wars is the biggest draw, we want to go to do Disneyland first for early entry (not sure if we'll stay at Pixar Place or Disneyland Hotel yet). If we tried to do DCA first, it would just be whining about when will we get to Star Wars all morning. That means we are either going Thur Sept 19 or Sat Sept 21st. I guess we could make Tues Sept 24th work if there was some reason crowd swill be especially low that day too. LMK!

My son is autistic so, as much as we can get away with at Disneyland parks, avoiding crowds is very important to us. He doesn't stay up late, so starting with Disneyland on a day DCA is closing at 6pm for Oogie Boogie actually isn't terrible for us, we won't have much stamina beyond that anyway. But, I read somewhere Disneyland is more crowded on Ooogie Boogie days - which would be Thur but not Sat. Early to bed also means trying to get end of the night rides isn't an option either though.

I'm reading such conflicting information about weekdays vs weekends out here in the Internet! DL is crowded on Ooogie Boogie Days! DCA is crowded on non Oogie Boogie days! Everyone's at the parks on weekends during Halloween time! Magic Key blackout dates mean the weekends will be very light! Septembers are almost empty! Saturdays are best! Mondays are worst! Summer sale! Weekends have less crowds! Weekdayshave less crowds! Yikes!

So...Disney vets, mousketeers, folks who follow this stuff...what's your take? For folks trying to avoid crowds, but do Disneyland EE first in late Sept: Would Thursday or Sat be better?

Monorail for EE:
Taking the monorail from downtown Disney at early entry is a no brainer for us because my son is low key obsessed with monorails. We won't be out speedwalking anyone anyway and avoiding crowds is more important to us than being first. That said, I find VERY few people talking about taking the monorail in for EE, which makes me nervous there is something really wrong with that plan. Is there? Does everyone skip it because they just love main street & fantasyland so much? I was thinking we would plop down on the ground in line for security at DTD w/ a picnic breakfast at 6:30 and get the first monorail into Tomorrowland. Is it feasible to do Star Tours, Autotopia, and Astro Blasters and still get over to the rope drop for Star Wars?

Thank you for your sage advice!

 

[BriannaRuth]

Monorail for EE:
Taking the monorail from downtown Disney at early entry is a no brainer for us because my son is low key obsessed with monorails. We won't be out speedwalking anyone anyway and avoiding crowds is more important to us than being first. That said, I find VERY few people talking about taking the monorail in for EE, which makes me nervous there is something really wrong with that plan. Is there? Does everyone skip it because they just love main street & fantasyland so much? I was thinking we would plop down on the ground in line for security at DTD w/ a picnic breakfast at 6:30 and get the first monorail into Tomorrowland. Is it feasible to do Star Tours, Autotopia, and Astro Blasters and still get over to the rope drop for Star Wars?

Thank you for your sage advice!

Most people don't do the monorail for EE because it takes too much time. It will get you there later than going to the gate. I'm not sure how much later because I never do it.

Autotopia isn't open for EE.

Disneyland Park Attractions open for EE

• Alice in Wonderland
• Astro Orbitor
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Disneyland Monorail
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• King Arthur Carrousel
• Mad Tea Party
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
• Space Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

I'll let someone else answer the rest of your questions.

 

[LKing]

I'll give my two cents.

As far as OBB and crowds, Halloween is crowded regardless of when you go. Personally, I think you'll probably get more out of a Thursday morning than a Saturday morning, but I'm sure someone will feel the opposite. The first few hours (until around 11 am) shouldn't feel as crowded. After that, it is tough to advise. A lot of people suggest taking a break midday and coming back later, but it doesn't sound like that will work for you.

Is he familiar with Galaxy's Edge at WDW or will this be his fist time?

The monorail drops you off on the complete opposite side of the park from Galaxy's Edge. If you want him to get Galaxy's Edge out of his system, I would enter via the main gate, walk through Frontierland and turn right just after Big Thunder Mountain. Millennium Falcon will be straight ahead. Rise of the Resistance is all the way to your left.

Other Star Wars:

• There is a Star Wars Trading Post (store) between the DL & PP hotels and the DTD monorail station.
• If he can maybe nap and stay awake for fireworks (9:30 pm), I've heard great things about the Galaxy's Edge Fire of the Rising Moons fireworks show. @katyringo might be able to share details.
• Rise of the Resistance is often not open at rope drop. If you are hanging out and exploring Galaxy's Edge, you might be able to get in line for Rise when it opens. If you want to go on it again, or later in the day, you might consider purchasing an ILL as the line is rarely less than an hour.
• Will he have a Magic Band +? There is a Bounty Hunter game that he might enjoy You can watch what is involved in this video to see if it is something you think he will like.
• There are multiple versions of Star Tours.

The train station at New Orleans Square is currently closed. The train around the park stops at Main Street, ToonTown Station and Tomorrowland. There is also Casey Junior.

Adventureland walkway is always crowded, but you'll want to do Jungle Cruise and Pirates so will need to go in that area. ToonTown can also get very crowded.

You didn't mention DCA, but I'm sure he will have a good time in CarsLand.

 

[twodogs]

The reason that the monorail is not typically recommended for RD is because the first monorail doesn’t leave the station until park open (I think it operates and opens at 7:30am for EE days, but I not sure). If you make the first monorail and it leaves on time, you will end up in Tomorrowland at 7:35-40. You might be able to do Buzz and Star Tours before 8am, but you won’t make it in the first wave getting to ROTR at 8am after doing those 2 rides. Many people use EE simply to line up in Fantasyland and head straight to ROTR at 8 am, ahead of the regular guests. So if you want to prioritize ROTR, you need to be lining up in FL by 7:45am and the line will be long at that point already (getting back by the carousel); therefore you would have to skip any rides in EE to make it from the monorail drop off to FL to line up for ROTR. Then you have to be ready to speed walk in the thick crowd to get to ROTR at 8am. And then it often isn’t open!!

If you can afford the ILL$ for ROTR, it will be a much less pressured morning. You can monorail or go to the gates for EE (you will be a little behind if you choose monorail), do his top rides with little wait, and then do ROTR when you choose to book it, and enjoy the rest of SWGE at your own pace.

PS Someone correct me if the monorail does not open for EE!!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Please forgive my very disorganized train of thoughts but some things that came to me:

If your son doesn’t like crowds, you really want to avoid rope drop. It’s suffocating crowded, people pressed in on all sides. I’d wait five to 10 minutes after the announce the park is open and then walk over to Galaxy’s Edge.

Third week is September will be very crowded. There is simply no avoiding the crowds at Halloween time. The morning hours will be the best though.
The old days of “the parks are less crowded during the week” are really over. I visit frequently and the parks used to me quiet midweek during the school year but now they are filled with school-age kids no matter what time of year or what day of the week.

The two lowest Magic Keys are blocked out on Saturday 9/21. That day is also more expensive for single day tickets ($184 for a one park ticket versus $134 for 9/19). A family of four would be motivated to go on Thursday versus Saturday if they could swing it and save $200 on their tickets. This is part of what drives those weekday visits.

Your dates occur during the last two weeks to use the summer three-day tickets. It will bring more crowds. The closer you get to 9/26 (the last day) the more crowded it will become as people come to use their last days. I would not go 9/24 for this reason.

If your son is autistic he would likely qualify for Disneyland’s DAS (Disability Access Service). This could be extremely helpful for your visit especially if he has trouble with crowds. Here is some information about this:

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/disability-access-service/register/

The monorail can occasionally be delayed first thing in the morning so if you go that route and it happens be mentally prepared to be late to EE. There is sometimes also a very long line and you might not make the first monorail, which again, can delay or cause you to miss the EE.

 

[LarsoftheJungle]

Please forgive my very disorganized train of thoughts but some things that came to me:

If your son doesn’t like crowds, you really want to avoid rope drop. It’s suffocating crowded, people pressed in on all sides. I’d wait five to 10 minutes after the announce the park is open and then walk over to Galaxy’s Edge.

Third week is September will be very crowded. There is simply no avoiding the crowds at Halloween time. The morning hours will be the best though.
The old days of “the parks are less crowded during the week” are really over. I visit frequently and the parks used to me quiet midweek during the school year but now they are filled with school-age kids no matter what time of year or what day of the week.

The two lowest Magic Keys are blocked out on Saturday 9/21. That day is also more expensive for single day tickets ($184 for a one park ticket versus $134 for 9/19). A family of four would be motivated to go on Thursday versus Saturday if they could swing it and save $200 on their tickets. This is part of what drives those weekday visits.

Your dates occur during the last two weeks to use the summer three-day tickets. It will bring more crowds. The closer you get to 9/26 (the last day) the more crowded it will become as people come to use their last days. I would not go 9/24 for this reason.

Thank you! Your train of thoughts is totally clear!

I did see that only 2 of the 5 magic key tiers were blocked out for that Sat...which led me to think maybe the block outs wouldn't have such a big effect, but I didn't know Enchant & Imagine were the cheapest tiers. So you think a high enough percentage of magic key holders are Enchant & Imagine, that significantly less locals will be there Sat? I also wondered about how the summer sale would effect it. While the prices during the week of that sale are less than weekends, only by $17/ticket. That family of 4 could keep their kids in school/maybe not miss work and get better than weekday prices if they'd bought the 3 day sale tickets Fri-Sun tickets.

I really appreciate your insight! I'm just...musing. As I understand it, crowds in Sept are going to be driven by locals, yes? Maybe locals just aren't as likely to spring for 3 tickets at a time. Or, I guess since the sale also encompasses that summer when kids are out of school, that makes the weekdays even more attractive. Darn it. I'm just frozen at this decision. We'd be doing DCA in the afternoon, do you think closing for the Oogie Boogie bash at 6pm would significantly slow crowds at DCA in the afternoon?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Thank you! Your train of thoughts is totally clear!

I did see that only 2 of the 5 magic key tiers were blocked out for that Sat...which led me to think maybe the block outs wouldn't have such a big effect, but I didn't know Enchant & Imagine were the cheapest tiers. So you think a high enough percentage of magic key holders are Enchant & Imagine, that significantly less locals will be there Sat? I also wondered about how the summer sale would effect it. While the prices during the week of that sale are less than weekends, only by $17/ticket. That family of 4 could keep their kids in school/maybe not miss work and get better than weekday prices if they'd bought the 3 day sale tickets Fri-Sun tickets.

I really appreciate your insight! I'm just...musing. As I understand it, crowds in Sept are going to be driven by locals, yes? Maybe locals just aren't as likely to spring for 3 tickets at a time. Or, I guess since the sale also encompasses that summer when kids are out of school, that makes the weekdays even more attractive. Darn it. I'm just frozen at this decision. We'd be doing DCA in the afternoon, do you think closing for the Oogie Boogie bash at 6pm would significantly slow crowds at DCA in the afternoon?

So the first thing to remember is that any of those days is going to be very crowded. You will not find a low-crowd day late September. The usual advice is to pick the day that works best for you as long as there isn’t a special event or it’s like The Last Day to use up a ticket deal.

On the day of an Oogie Boogie event, DAC will probably be less crowded in the morning, but from 3 to 6pm it will be jam packed, almost unbearable because 3pm is when ticket holders can enter. This is called the mix-in period.

September will be a mix of locals and out-of-town guests, especially for Halloweentime and Oogie Boogie. Do not underestimate the popularity of this time of year. To me, it’s more crowded than the Christmas holidays.

If I were making the choice for myself, I’d lean toward Saturday, a non-Oogie Boogie night.