Scheduling Shakedown...calling all Disneyfans!

[mAlien13]

Okay. I am planning my first family trip to DL. We have gone to WDW the last three trips, and my DH and DS's have never been to DL. One of the things that is popping up all over is things being closed during off season...this happens at WDW as well, but evidently to a lesser degree. I've never been when shows were really in question unless they are closing one/starting another. One of the reasons we wanted to go this Spring was to catch the tail end of the 50th, but now I'm not sure if that is an advantage? My question is, for those of you with DL experience: we're going 4/23-4/28. What are the odds that we will miss shows? Fireworks, parades, ect. Also, some of you are very informed about when rides are closed...where do I go to find that info?
Thanks so much, everyone. This board is awesome and I'm sorry I never knew about it when planning all the WDW trips.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Go to www.riderefurbs.com They have the latest on closures for Disneyland. Fireworks will be on the weekends (Fri and Sat) at the very least for your visit. They may happen more, we are going for four nights, Fri-Mon, next week and they are showing all four nights for our visit. Hopefully you will luck out too. But as long as your visit includes a Fri/Sat you should be fine unless weather is a factor which is out of Disneyland's control and happens at WDW as well. The Electrical Parade is not running currently but the Parade of Dreams and the Block Party Bash are. The Aladdin show is the best Disney show I have seen at DL or WDW and should be running and is not to be missed. I believe it runs 5 days a week all year, I have never not seen it running when I am there. I do know that Pirates will be closed during your visit, which is a shame since it so superior to WDW's version. And WDW does definitely close things down too, I think Test Track and Buzz Lightyear are going down soon for example. You shouldn't have too much else down for your visit, most things were refurbed and spruced up before the 50th began and are not in need of refurbishment. Disneyland is wonderful, you will have a great time. Go expecting a lot of similarities but a lot of unique factors too. The park area is smaller and more compact but they have more attractions and shows between DCA and DL than all of WDW combined so you won't be bored I promise! Disneyland typically posts their hours and entertainment schedules around 1 to 2 months in advance on their website.

 

[mAlien13]

LOL...I wasn't saying WDW never closes rides, of course they have to maintain and refurb...and of course the weather is a factor. I was surprised tho that they limit the fireworks to the weekends. We won't be there on a Weekend night so will most likely miss them if they haven't added shows during the week. Not a biggie, but it sounds like they are fabulous. The shows and events in WDW are very rarely altered...the weather has to be very extreme. The most likely thing for them to shut down is F! if it is too cloudy, but that is quite rare from everything I have experienced/read. We've landed 2 days after the parks were closed for the hurricane and they had the full entertainment schedule up and running.

I am not in any way insinuating that WDW is in any way better than DL. Only that certain things I had expected as a Disney standard, and I was surprised.

I know we will have an awesome time. The reality is, even if all our fav's were closed, there is no magic so real as Mouse Magic!!

 

[Amy&Dan]

The reason that Disneyland's shows are different is that Disneyland is situated within a large city. There is some noise ordinance I believe Disneyland violates everytime they shoot those fireworks off. I think they may even get fined. There are people who literally live right across the street so I think that makes a big difference. If the wind is blowing for instance its a big concern to those surrounding neighborhoods. Also, Disneyland's biggest base of visitors is locals who come primarily on the weekends. Also, most people visit Disneyland for 3 or 4 days that span a weekend, whereas WDW has people (like me) who go for 10 days and therefore they cater to that. I am hopeful for your sake that they will have them during the week for your visit, that is still somewhat close to spring breaks so you never know! They are wonderful, I thought I had seen the best with Wishes, but Remember is even better. I guess I have just heard about Fantasmic! not being shown in the rain and cancelled and that was what I was referring to as far as nighttime entertainment being cancelled at WDW. And I wasn't saying you personally were saying WDW was better, however there a lot of people who come to this side of disboards, who are WDW regulars , who do say just that! Personally I visit both parks regularly and love them both the same. But I do love the fact that at WDW there is always at least two nighttime performances every night of the week.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Looking at the calendar I would guess you would have fireworks on Sunday night, April 23. Park is open until 11, and its the last day of the "holiday" season. You would have parades at least once day during your visit.

 

[ron808]

fireworks take a lot of work to prepare. it's also expensive.

with that said, why would I (if i'm the business owner) have it everynight knowing that there wouldn't be much customers on weekdays?

 

[mAlien13]

I definately see the logic in not having the fireworks every night, there is no doubt that the points brought up make sense. I feel a little silly, like I came across as whining about nothing when really I am just trying to be prepared so that our vacation can be as smooth as possible.

That said, let me try one more time to clarify. In WDW, you generally have fireworks in 2 of the parks every night to choose from. This is an exciting way to end the evening. I've been in September, October, November, and in April and never noticed that these shows were unavailable nor has it come up in the research I did to prepare that they might be. That was really my only point. I haven't been to DL since I was a child and my mother planned it. I myself only have experience planning WDW, so I had made some assumptions that certain things would be the same. They aren't, that's completely fine with me and I am just as excited to see DL after 20 years as ever!!

My next question would be: Is there really a tremendous difference in crowd volume during the week vs. the weekend during the dates we are traveling?

 

[hlbtimes2]

Its going to be busy while you are there. There is a couple promo's going on right now, and they end April 27th (thursday). The kids fly free special and the S. CA 2'fer deal both end that day. Everyone that waited until the last minute will be there.

As your trip gets closer you'll be able to check for shows, fireworks, F!, etc on the disney web site. They are usually up a couple months in advance.

If you have fireworks and F! available on more then one night, I recomend you try to watch it the first time its offered. That way if it is canceled due to weather, you have another chance.

As hard as it is, you have to get WDW out of your head. You'll go crazy expecting things to be the same. You'll laugh when you see how tiny the castle is, compared to what you are used to.

 

[kuusimo]

We went last year the same time you are planning on this year. We were very lucky that they were "practicing" the fireworks for the 50th. The parks closed early and so we watched the fireworks from the center court area two nights. Over the weekend they were playing Fastasmic.

This year I am not sure. Hours are one way to tell if they will be doing the night shows, but the other way is to go to Disneyland's website and check there as it gets closer.

 

[mAlien13]

I'm beginning to wonder if I should shift our plans one day forward or one day back to include a weekend day. Normally I avoid weekends, but if it is going to be just as busy anyway, maybe I should just bite the bullet and go for it.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I saw what you were saying! To me the nighttime fireworks/shows are the highlight of the trip. When we spend 10 nights at WDW we see something each night. Heck, I was bummed the night we saw Cirque because I was missing Wishes/Fantasmic/Illuminations, all of which I had seen at least twice each the previous nights! That is one of the things WDW does have an edge on. So no, you aren't whining, you are justified as far as I am concerned! I would maybe consider shifting your dates if you can, just to insure you see Remember which is incredible. Also, Disneyland seems much more crowded on weekends than the WDW parks do, partly because of the huge local base who attend on weekends and partly because at WDW there are four theme parks, plus the water parks to spread people out in. But the good news is that Disneyland seems to fill up slower than MK does, meaning if you get there at opening on a Saturday or Sunday you can get a lot done in the first few hours before the hordes arrive. Whereas my experience at MK in particular is that by one hour after park opening it is already feeling crowded. I hope it all works out for you and that you get to see Remember. Have a great trip!

 

[Judy from Boise]

Amy&Dan is (are?) completly correct in that I believe the main reason DL doesen't have fireworks every nights is that each time they shoot off a shell the earn "points" for noise and air pollution.....they go over their allotted points and the fines begin!

I know you are not whining but I am right there with you in "wishing". I am another person that ends every WDW night with either fireworks or Illuminations.

I would adjust to have 1 weekend day.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Its going to be busy while you are there. There is a couple promo's going on right now, and they end April 27th (thursday). The kids fly free special and the S. CA 2'fer deal both end that day.

dont forget everyone plays for the kids price/or kid gets in free with one paying adult....

 

[mAlien13]

We decided this afternoon to extend through Friday night, but we may not have a choice now...none of the hotels we settled on have room for our crew that night! (7 of us coming) We may switch hotels for a night...the extra day on the passes is so cheap that it makes sense to add it. That way even if it is crowded, we won't care, we can take breaks in the mid-day. Hopefully we find some good digs.

 

[Chicago526]

I was under the impresion that Disney tries to have the night shows run at least 1 night during the week, so those that aren't staying for the weekend get a chance to see them. Is that incorrect? Are there weeks where they don't have the night shows Monday through Thursday?

 

[Chicago526]

Ooooooooooh! I just checked the Disneyland Calendar....

There are fireworks scheduled for April 24, 25, 26, 27 (twice!) and 28.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Just checked the calendar for our trip. We've got fireworks every night as well, YEAH! (March 28-April3) I'm hoping that they just haven't pluuged in times yet for the parades since the calendar' showing none scehduled for our dates in April.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Parade of dreams runs at least once a day. I'm sure they'll add it to the schedule. Block party blast runs 5 days a week (sorry, dont remember which days its down), so they'll add it as well.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Yes, during off times Disney may only schedule night shows on Weekends. Luckily I think these dates count as "spring break"

 

[mAlien13]

Ooooooooooh! I just checked the Disneyland Calendar....

There are fireworks scheduled for April 24, 25, 26, 27 (twice!) and 28.

This is great news...I hope the calanders a final.