September Check-in - September has Arrived!

[Sherry E]

Hello, September travelers!

Thank you to kaci for getting this September Check-In thread going , and also for linking the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread(s) on the first page! I do appreciate it! I still have a bit of tweaking to do in a couple of posts on page 1 of the Superthread, but I will be adding a link to this Check-In/Meet thread, so people can see who else will be in the parks when they are there.


I realize that there are many Halloween Time first-timers (many of whom are WDW vets) headed to DLR this year, and it may be a bit confusing to know which information can be found where, and where the bulk of the discussion is happening. Things are a little different on this side of the board than they are on the WDW side of the board, so everything is kind of set-up a bit differently.

Since September at DLR largely revolves around Halloween Time (well, the second half of that month does, in any case), and there will likely be at least one Mickey's Halloween Party at the end of September (if not two parties), a helpful post to read might be this one, which lists off the Frequently Asked Questions about Mickey's Halloween Party. One of the questions and answers in that FAQ section pertains to how the MHP differs from MNSSHP at WDW.

If you are a Halloween Time visitor who wants to enjoy the season without going to Mickey's Halloween Party, see This Post and This Post for ideas of what you can enjoy outside of the MHP.

Finally, many of these goodies will start appearing in the sweets and bake shops in late August, so they should be available for most or all of September!

Have fun planning!

 

[wynntx]

Hi all! We are planning to go 9/14 - 9/18 staying at GCH. We are going to celebrate my hubby's 50th (9/15) and my birthday later in the month (9/25). We will be traveling from Texas with our 4 year old. This will be my hubby and daughter's first visits to DLR. I can't wait!

 

[mikana876]

Any guesses on crowd levels this September? We're going the 22-26th.

 

[td365]

We chose September for three reasons: 1. low crowd levels 2. reasonable temps and 3. (which is likely the most important for us) HALLOWEENTIME!

We are sooo excited!

 

[cinderbellasmom]

Welcome! Are you arriving early on the 29th?

We're driving down from SW Washington for the first time this year and I'm a little nervous about it. It'll be, by far, the longest road trip we've been on. I've been Pinteresting road trip entertainment, organization, and snack ideas for months

We've driven from Portland to San Diego many times and I've always hated it so when my husband had us drive to DL in 2012 I was dreading it BUT it turned out to be one of the best drives! We drove with our then 6 yo DD and broke it up by stopping in Sacramento for the night. We brought plenty of snacks, activities and DVD's which really broke up the time spent in the car. Time wise I felt like we made great time and stopping for the night really helped the next day because the longest stretch was behind us- Sacramento to Anaheim was a breeze after that! We're making the drive again on 9/27 and dare I say I'm looking forward to it?!

 

[Sherry E]

We chose September for three reasons: 1. low crowd levels 2. reasonable temps and 3. (which is likely the most important for us) HALLOWEENTIME!

We are sooo excited!

September can often be very, very hot! Actually, to be honest, September through December in Southern California is always a bit unpredictable. The weather can go in a variety of directions (I have witnessed all of them) and we never know what we're going to get -- which can be fun or it can be miserable! When I was younger it seemed like September offered substantial relief from summer heat, but as time wore on September began to carry more of that lingering summer heat -- sometimes even being hotter than other summer months!

I was at DLR over one opening weekend of Halloween Time in September when it was literally pouring heavy rain -- to the point where we all got soaked because we weren't prepared for it (this was in 2007). When it stopped raining it was suddenly 80 degrees and hot and we found ourselves peeling off our wet jackets and trying to dry our hair in the sun, while applying sunscreen! Then it started pouring again and we grabbed for the wet jackets. Then it got hot again. It was a very weird weather day at DLR.

Another extreme example of September weather is what happened in 2010 -- it was well over 113 degrees where I am in L.A, and over 115 degrees at Disneyland -- and this was the week that Halloween Time began.

One year later, in 2011, opening day of Halloween Time was reasonable -- gloomy and humid, hovering around 75 degrees or so.

And last year -- 2013 -- it was very hot around the time that Halloween Time started again. Not quite 115 degrees, but it was very hot.

Crowds will pick up closer to and during the week of the first Halloween Party of the year, which we think will probably be 9/26. Last year, on the start day of Halloween Time (9/13), Disneyland was packed in the afternoon and beyond because of the Unleash the Villains event. It was madness!

 

[Pucka1378]

We are going 9/10-9/14 It will be me, DH, DS 13 and DS 11.

We Can't wait.. Have not booked our hotel... but thinking about DLH using the dapper days discount!

 

[kaci]

Is there any chance of our group having a FB group? Our January WDW group created a FB group and it was awesome - we all still keep in touch there (and it was easier to share photos and updates while actually ON our trips).

Your trip sounds wonderful! What a blessing to share it :

I've started a FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/DISSep14/

It's currently a 'closed' group, meaning people can see who is a member, but not any posts made or pictures posted (other than a cover photo.) I'm happy to change the setting and appoint other admins to help it run smoothly - I am far from a FB expert!

We've driven from Portland to San Diego many times and I've always hated it so when my husband had us drive to DL in 2012 I was dreading it BUT it turned out to be one of the best drives! We drove with our then 6 yo DD and broke it up by stopping in Sacramento for the night. We brought plenty of snacks, activities and DVD's which really broke up the time spent in the car. Time wise I felt like we made great time and stopping for the night really helped the next day because the longest stretch was behind us- Sacramento to Anaheim was a breeze after that! We're making the drive again on 9/27 and dare I say I'm looking forward to it?!

That's great that you guys had a good time! I hope it goes just as smoothly this time around. I think we're also going to stop for the night somewhere around Sacramento. I vacillate back and forth between thinking: "This is going to be great! We'll have so much fun, maybe we'll even want to do a cross country trip next summer..." to "WHAT am I thinking?? What if the kids cry the whole way, the car beaks down and we're stranded with no cell service on the side of a desolate highway, and, and, and..." My imagination gets the better of me sometimes

I think I put all the new info on page one, as always feel free to correct any mistakes or give updated information :

Sherry E Thanks for popping in to share some of your wonderful resources and weather info! Much appreciated

 

[lovemainstreet]

we are going setember 11th through the 17th for our four year anniversary! we will be joining in on dapper day as well

 

[Gypsybear]

September 6th - 11th......Grand Californian....

 

[kaci]

we are going setember 11th through the 17th for our four year anniversary! we will be joining in on dapper day as well

September 6th - 11th......Grand Californian....

Gotcha

 

[Gypsybear]

That was quick.... Thank you!!

 

[Pucka1378]

Got our reservations for DLH!!! Can't wait!

 

[Dlikester]

Kaci would you be so kind as to add me to your list of September people. My family and I will be there the 14-19 and I'm super excited. I will be bringing my wife32, DD8, DS4, my mom and step dad. The reason I'm so excited is that my wife, children and step dad have never stepped foot inside a Disney park. My wife and kids have seen just about every Disney movie, but know nothing about the experience of being in the house that Walt built. On the other hand I haven't been to DL since I was 12 I'm now 32. I also got the privilege of being a CM at WDW, but that was 11 years ago. So I'm due for a nice Disney vacation. Can't wait to read about September happenings. Thanks and be well.

 

[kaci]

Kaci would you be so kind as to add me to your list of September people. My family and I will be there the 14-19 and I'm super excited. I will be bringing my wife32, DD8, DS4, my mom and step dad. The reason I'm so excited is that my wife, children and step dad have never stepped foot inside a Disney park. My wife and kids have seen just about every Disney movie, but know nothing about the experience of being in the house that Walt built. On the other hand I haven't been to DL since I was 12 I'm now 32. I also got the privilege of being a CM at WDW, but that was 11 years ago. So I'm due for a nice Disney vacation. Can't wait to read about September happenings. Thanks and be well.

You're added

That sounds like a great multiple generation trip! How wonderful to get to introduce all of your closest family to DLR together at the same time




We're going to check out the new dinosaur exhibit at the local(ish) science museum today. So if anybody new pops in, I'll try to get you added this evening

 

[sharonabe]

We are also looking at September.

QUESTION: I don't see the Matterhorn Bobsleds on any official refurb list, but you have it as being down in September. Where did you get your information?

 

[kaci]

We are also looking at September.

QUESTION: I don't see the Matterhorn Bobsleds on any official refurb list, but you have it as being down in September. Where did you get your information?

Hello sharonabe! Someone upthread mentioned that Matterhorn would be closed and when I googled it I found multiple websites listing it as down from Aug-Nov. As you saw, it's not on the official list, but it's on enough sites I thought it was worth giving people a heads up on the possibility. But I think we've all seen no refurb is definite until they actually take the ride offline and put a sign out front!

 

[sharonabe]

Hello sharonabe! Someone upthread mentioned that Matterhorn would be closed and when I googled it I found multiple websites listing it as down from Aug-Nov. As you saw, it's not on the official list, but it's on enough sites I thought it was worth giving people a heads up on the possibility. But I think we've all seen no refurb is definite until they actually take the ride offline and put a sign out front!

I sure hope that info is incorrect. I grew up in SoCal back in the time you had to have tickets to ride. There were never enough E-tickets to ride everything, and I never got to do the Matterhorn. Due to DH's work schedule, we're stuck with early September. We will have a blast no matter what, but it will make me a little sad.

 

[kaci]

I sure hope that info is incorrect. I grew up in SoCal back in the time you had to have tickets to ride. There were never enough E-tickets to ride everything, and I never got to do the Matterhorn. Due to DH's work schedule, we're stuck with early September. We will have a blast no matter what, but it will make me a little sad.

I did a little more looking around and it seems that Matterhorn was on the "Official" list to go down for a refurb May-Aug., but because of the delays with BTMR and the massive amounts of other refurbs they pulled it off the list. Here's Touring Plans list.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that they push it back a little and you get a chance to ride it, sharonabe!

 

[Cyndibear]

So sad to hear that the Matterhorn will be down for refurb when we are there in September!

It will be our first time at DL and I was so looking forward to this ride.

Guess that means another trip to DL may be planned for next year!!!

Cyndi