September Check-in - September has Arrived!

[briggscreek]

We are planning a late Sept trip. Driving down from Oregon. Planning on leaving Sun afternoon from the Grants Pass area, hope to arrive about 2am.
Does this sound right, to anyone who's driven that before? We are hoping to avoid traffic. Hopefully won't have any trouble checking in at that hour. We are staying DI&S. Me, Husband, 3 Kids and Sister. This will be our first all day trip as a family, hope the travel part goes well. So excited for the Disney part!

We're driving from Grants Pass in late September too! We've driven down several times, the only time we encountered really bad traffic was the weekend after Thanksgiving. Otherwise, we've hit a bit of traffic while driving through LA, but we always leave in the morning and arrive in Anaheim in the evening. I wouldn't think you'd have any issues.

 

[dcraythorn]

86 days till I am in the parks again. I can't wait....

 

[kaci]

BUMP for some new closure info (also on the first page).

I called the DLR info line (1(714)781-4636) last night to check up on some closures. Here's the latest info for Sep. in case you haven't checked lately. (Info only runs through 9/16, those of us going later in the month will have to keep checking.)

Finding Nemo - through 9/26
Haunted Mansion - 8/25 - 9/11
Matterhorn - 8/25 - 11/13
BTR Petting Farm - 9/1 - 9/11
Jungle Cruise - 9/2 - 9-4
Mark Twain - 9/8 - 9/11
Mickey's House - 9/15
Indiana Jones - 9/16 - 9/18
Sailing Ship Columbia - 9/16 - 9/18
California Screamin' - 9/9 - 9/11

These are official, straight from Disney - but still subject to change. The opening dates on several rides point strongly to a 9/12 Halloweentime start. Also, the Space Mountain closure for Ghost Galaxy overlay wasn't listed but I'd still count on it being closed for a few days and re-opening 9/12.

 

[kaci]

How's everybody's planning and prep going?

I'm starting to feel the pressure of being less than 90 days out. Need to get more serious about getting the kiddos (and DH!) prepped for all that walking. Need to work on our road trip route and timing. Need to get my list of stuff to buy organized so I can start picking stuff up as I see deals and avoid most of the frazzled last minute pre-vacation shopping. Touring plans need made, halloween costumes planned and made if necessary, everybody's lists of must see/do/eats complied, road trip activities and baskets made and put together, kids' travel journals need finished, need to put together a 'road school' unit for DS... Not to mention all of the planning that needs to happen for the San Diego portion of our trip. Ugh, how can it simultaneously feel like I don't have enough time to get everything done and yet so. far. away.

 

[Sherry E]

BUMP for some new closure info (also on the first page).

I called the DLR info line (1(714)781-4636) last night to check up on some closures. Here's the latest info for Sep. in case you haven't checked lately. (Info only runs through 9/16, those of us going later in the month will have to keep checking.)

Finding Nemo - through 9/26
Haunted Mansion - 8/25 - 9/11
Matterhorn - 8/25 - 11/13
BTR Petting Farm - 9/1 - 9/11
Jungle Cruise - 9/2 - 9-4
Mark Twain - 9/8 - 9/11
Mickey's House - 9/15
Indiana Jones - 9/16 - 9/18
Sailing Ship Columbia - 9/16 - 9/18
California Screamin' - 9/9 - 9/11

These are official, straight from Disney - but still subject to change. The opening dates on several rides point strongly to a 9/12 Halloweentime start. Also, the Space Mountain closure for Ghost Galaxy overlay wasn't listed but I'd still count on it being closed for a few days and re-opening 9/12.

Did you see that figment_jii called and posted about the call in the Halloween Time Superthread, or did you guys just happen to both call the hotline at the same time?

September 12th has been the expected Halloween Time start date for a while!

 

[kaci]

Did you see that figment_jii called and posted about the call in the Halloween Time Superthread, or did you guys just happen to both call the hotline at the same time?

September 12th has been the expected Halloween Time start date for a while!

LOL! Great minds I called last night before I replied to a thread asking about when HM went down for its holiday overlay... but I was posting from my phone and I don't have the iphone skillz to post a big list so that had to wait until this morning and a real computer.

 

[zanzibar138]

Wow thanks Kaci!

Pretty pleased that the main rides are only down for a couple of days at a time. If that schedule sticks, the only one we will miss out on altogether is Nemo (which is still a little sad for me, but could definitely be worse ).

I am starting to feel pretty darn disorganised We actually leave the last weekend in August, so it's coming up real quick! I still need to cancel/re-book a couple of hotels, book hire cars, book activities, make a tentative dining schedule for DLR and book that in, not to mention the boring stuff like applying for ESTAs and getting organised at home.

On the plus side, I booked the last of my flights last night, so feeling pretty good about that

 

[buska]

I am down to 81 days! I am looking forward to booking dining soon! I have even completed our family shirts!

 

[TulipsNZ]

Oh my, I just booked our accommodation, it looks like we really are going to do this! From looking at the closure schedule if we are at the parks from the 22nd-28th we should only miss the matterhorn bobsleds? Does anyone know the fantasmic WOC schedule at this time? Also I've heard rumours of the MHP being on the 26th, is there anymore info on this?

 

[zanzibar138]

Oh my, I just booked our accommodation, it looks like we really are going to do this! From looking at the closure schedule if we are at the parks from the 22nd-28th we should only miss the matterhorn bobsleds? Does anyone know the fantasmic WOC schedule at this time? Also I've heard rumours of the MHP being on the 26th, is there anymore info on this?

Fantasmic! and the fireworks will only be shown Fri-Sun nights in September. WOC has always shown every night, with additional shows on weekends. However, some changes have been made to the summer schedule (only one show per night instead of 2), so I would wait for the official schedule before making any definite plans.

It is very likely that the first party will be on the 26th, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Join us on the Halloween superthread if you like to keep an eye on party dates etc.

FWIW, going from previous experience, F! will not be shown on party nights, so Saturday 27th may well be your only chance to see it.

 

[TulipsNZ]

I wish we could wait to make our booking but we are booking on a midwinter sale and need to confirm bookings asap so at this stage I guess we just hope we can fit everything in before we fly out.

 

[dcraythorn]

Well, we have changed our hotel from Best Western Stovall's to Ayres Orange, I hope this change is worth the extra time on the ART...

 

[kaci]

Oh my, I just booked our accommodation, it looks like we really are going to do this! From looking at the closure schedule if we are at the parks from the 22nd-28th we should only miss the matterhorn bobsleds? Does anyone know the fantasmic WOC schedule at this time? Also I've heard rumours of the MHP being on the 26th, is there anymore info on this?

Welcome! Currently it does look like the only attraction you'll miss out on is the Matterhorn. But, I don't think DLR has finished putting out their refurb schedule for September yet *and* everything is still always subject to change.

Well, we have changed our hotel from Best Western Stovall's to Ayres Orange, I hope this change is worth the extra time on the ART...

Made the update

 

[lovemainstreet]

my first day will be on the 12th for dapper day do you know if it will be crowded that day? last year they had a unleash the villans, are they doing that again? what are the plans for the 12th

 

[kaci]

my first day will be on the 12th for dapper day do you know if it will be crowded that day? last year they had a unleash the villans, are they doing that again? what are the plans for the 12th

I haven't heard anything about another Unleash the Villains event at DLR. My (completely uneducated) guess about the 12th is that a Friday + Dapper Day + what is likely to be the first day of Halloweentime = a relatively busy day progressing towards a very busy evening. But that's just my personal gut feeling

ETA - FWIW Touring Plans is predicting 5/10 and Is It Packed says 'Hey It's Alright'.

 

[lovemainstreet]

I haven't heard anything about another Unleash the Villains event at DLR. My (completely uneducated) guess about the 12th is that a Friday + Dapper Day + what is likely to be the first day of Halloweentime = a relatively busy day progressing towards a very busy evening. But that's just my personal gut feeling

ETA - FWIW Touring Plans is predicting 5/10 and Is It Packed says 'Hey It's Alright'.

thanks so much i might hang out in dca for the evening then i never go on fridays or the weekends but this time we made the exception so we could attend the dapper day the first year i went i came on a friday and it was so packed that i wanted to leave early which is not like me at all so i dont want to be miserable

 

[auteur55]

Yes I am so close to pulling the trigger for sept 15-19th but I just want to be absolutely sure about closures and refurbishments. Right now it looks like a great time for us but honestly if many more of the big rides close I'll do what I can to move the dates to dodge them. I've missed Splash Mountain twice now and since there hasn't been a refurbishment announced this year I'm a little nervous they are going to spring it on us. I'm spending a ton of money on this trip and probably won't be able to come back for some time so I don't want to miss more then a few of the rides.

 

[kaci]

Bumping for Halloween Time update. Disney officially announced that the Halloween Time season will begin on Sep. 12th! There will be two September MHPs: the 26th and 30th. Tickets go on sale to APs, DVC members and Disney Visa holders on July 16th. To the general public on July 30th.

 

[zanzibar138]

Bumping for Halloween Time update. Disney officially announced that the Halloween Time season will begin on Sep. 12th! There will be two September MHPs: the 26th and 30th. Tickets go on sale to APs, DVC members and Disney Visa holders on July 16th. To the general public on July 30th.

Great! Thanks Kaci

 

[Disneycanuk]

Yea awesome kids will love to see the Halloween set up and get to see villains