September rehab closures and trip planning

[Vexorg]

I've got several friends that are currently in the early stages of planning a trip to DLR sometime in August or September (they would have access to a condo about 10-15 miles away from the park,) and barring some unforseen circumstance there's a good chance I'll be joining them for the trip. I've never exactly been known to be much of a planner when it comes to these things. I tend to plan and book my Disney vacations weeks in advance instead of months, so I'm not quite used to having actual planning time. I'm trying to steer them toward early September (after Labor Day of course) but I'm not sure what the rehab closure situation generally looks like at that time. In general, how far in advance are rehabs posted? In particular, when does installation of the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay generally take place? (I'd hate to miss the Haunted Mansion if I can help it.)

 

[skiingfast]

HMH will be the biggest problem. It takes a while to get decorated. While most rehabs wait until after Labor day weekend to begin(better chance of things being open in August). HM closes in late August and the Halloween season starts in mid September.

You really don't need a lot of info on how long DCA's mrjor projects are going to take. Just the occasional rehabs, and if HM is key to you I would follow what I wrote above.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Haunted Mansion closed really early this year, either right after Labor Day or Labor Day weekend itself. It's because they keep pushing Halloweentime up. That started on Sept. 17.

 

[HydroGuy]

I've got several friends that are currently in the early stages of planning a trip to DLR sometime in August or September (they would have access to a condo about 10-15 miles away from the park,) and barring some unforseen circumstance there's a good chance I'll be joining them for the trip. I've never exactly been known to be much of a planner when it comes to these things. I tend to plan and book my Disney vacations weeks in advance instead of months, so I'm not quite used to having actual planning time. I'm trying to steer them toward early September (after Labor Day of course) but I'm not sure what the rehab closure situation generally looks like at that time. In general, how far in advance are rehabs posted? In particular, when does installation of the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay generally take place? (I'd hate to miss the Haunted Mansion if I can help it.)

If you go after Labor Day you will miss the HM unless you go in late September. Refurbs are posted 4-8 weeks in advance, but some sites get wind of what is closing earlier. Really, if you are at all worried abour refurbs you should not be thinking about Sept. If you are OK with refurbs then Sept is known to be a time of low crowds.

"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

 

[Vexorg]

Looking at the 2010 schedules, it looks like they finished the HMH install around September 17th. It looks like Space Mountain was down for its Halloween overlay as well, which is one I hadn't even thought of.) I suspect what will happen is that they'll just pick August and we'll spend all sorts of time in lines, but I'll have to make sure to keep the rehab schedules in mind when planning. Having two favorite rides (Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain) down at once would be disappointing.

 

[HydroGuy]

Looking at the 2010 schedules, it looks like they finished the HMH install around September 17th. It looks like Space Mountain was down for its Halloween overlay as well, which is one I hadn't even thought of.) I suspect what will happen is that they'll just pick August and we'll spend all sorts of time in lines, but I'll have to make sure to keep the rehab schedules in mind when planning. Having two favorite rides (Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain) down at once would be disappointing.

Be aware of AP blockouts

"Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

and the D23 Expo Aug 19-21

http://d23.disney.go.com/expo/index.html

 

[GrandBob]

If you choose August, I'd go no later than the week of Aug 14-20.
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...ame=AnnualPassholderSoCalBlockoutCalendarPage

When the SoCal AP blockouts lift, it will be crazy busy for a couple of weeks.

-Bob

 

[Vexorg]

I guess I'll have to pass this info on to some of the other people I'll be going with and see what they think. I think I'd be inclined more toward late September myself, but I'll see what they think. I'm pretty sure they'll want to do some non-Disney activities as well (they were talking about trying to get into a taping of Conan.) Either way, it's a long way off at this point, so it's no big rush (never thought I'd say that...)

 

[Vexorg]

(digging this back up)

I spent some time talking with my friends about this today, and it looks like we will be tentatively scheduling this for 9/23-26. I figure that should be late enough for HMH and SMGG to be open. Looks like flights should be relatively cheap at that point too.

 

[Sherry E]

(digging this back up)

I spent some time talking with my friends about this today, and it looks like we will be tentatively scheduling this for 9/23-26. I figure that should be late enough for HMH and SMGG to be open. Looks like flights should be relatively cheap at that point too.

Yep! Halloween Time begins at DLR this year on September 16th, so you will be there right smack dab in the middle of that, and HMH/SMGG will most definitely be up and running!

 

[Vexorg]

It almost seems to be a little too soon to start planning a trip in September (especially since I'm right in the middle of getting ready for a Caribbean cruise in two weeks) but fhis is going to be a different trip from some of the other ones I have taken. For one thing, I usually go solo on my various Disney trips, but I will be with a group this time around (some other single friends) which will change my plans around quite a bit. We will also be staying offsite in a condo, which will save a couple hundred bucks on hotel, but will also require dealing with parking and rental cars. Some of the others also want to go see a TV show taping or two (they wanted to go see Conan, but he's not taping that week, so Leno would be the most likely plan B, but I think Wheel or Jeopardy would be interesting too). On the Disney side of things, my last trip was before WoC opened, so there will be that to see, as well as the new Star Tours and Little Mermaid. I saw HMH on my 2006 trip, but haven't seen SMGG yet, and have somehow managed to miss Splash Mountain on all three of my recent trips (last trip was a rehab closure).

To be honest, I'm not sure how it will all work out, but nit should be interesting either way.

 

[Vexorg]

Digging this one back up, as it now looks like my friends are now deciding that they're planning to go on Labor Day weekend instead of later in September (definitely not my first choice, but I suppose that's what Fastpasses are for, right?) Some of the other threads I've seen recently seem to suggest the HMH installation waits until after Labor Day weekend to start, but I'm guessing there's no official schedule for this yet, correct?

 

[skiingfast]

Digging this one back up, as it now looks like my friends are now deciding that they're planning to go on Labor Day weekend instead of later in September (definitely not my first choice, but I suppose that's what Fastpasses are for, right?) Some of the other threads I've seen recently seem to suggest the HMH installation waits until after Labor Day weekend to start, but I'm guessing there's no official schedule for this yet, correct?

That is possible that HM will stay open longer. Halloween starts about the same time this year so it may repeat last years rehab/closure schedule. However the calendar only goes out 2 months so we have some time to wait and see.

Labor day weekend isn't ideal for crowds, but FP and strategy can help maximize the time.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

Haunted Mansion closed really early this year, either right after Labor Day or Labor Day weekend itself. It's because they keep pushing Halloweentime up. That started on Sept. 17.

Does this mean that all of the Halloween decor is up by Sept 17th or just the re-do of HM is done by the 17th? We'll be there on the 19th and I would love to be engulfed in Disneyland decked out for a holiday.

 

[skiingfast]

Does this mean that all of the Halloween decor is up by Sept 17th or just the re-do of HM is done by the 17th? We'll be there on the 19th and I would love to be engulfed in Disneyland decked out for a holiday.

All of the above. Halloween is scheduled to start on the 16th of September, with the parties starting on the 30th.

 

[tykayausjake]

So just wondering- How does Labor Day compare to spring break crowds? We survived a 3 day trip right before Easter a few years ago. We are considering making Labor Day our first day in the parks. If it's going to be anything like spring break we might rethink that. TIA

 

[PirateFish989]

Just a note: Labor Day weekend is also the weekend for the Disneyland Half Marathon, so along with the typical Labor Day weekend crowds there will also be all of the Half Marathoners (the event has been sold out for quite some time now).

 

[MKFD71]

Why do they close the HM for the 1/2 marathon? They should keep it open due to the increased crowds. There are a lot of runners who are going to be participating in the rundinsey events that have never been to disneyland, my mother being one of them, is not planning on making the cross country trip again. Do you think they would be able to delay the rehab a week?

 

[HydroGuy]

Why do they close the HM for the 1/2 marathon? They should keep it open due to the increased crowds. There are a lot of runners who are going to be participating in the rundinsey events that have never been to disneyland, my mother being one of them, is not planning on making the cross country trip again. Do you think they would be able to delay the rehab a week?

They don't close HM for the 1/2 marathon to my knowledge. They close it in late August for several weeks to change it over for Halloween Time.

 

[Sherry E]

Why do they close the HM for the 1/2 marathon? They should keep it open due to the increased crowds. There are a lot of runners who are going to be participating in the rundinsey events that have never been to disneyland, my mother being one of them, is not planning on making the cross country trip again. Do you think they would be able to delay the rehab a week?

As HydroGuy indicated, Haunted Mansion goes down to receive an elaborate, detailed Nightmare Before Christmas overlay for the Halloween and Christmas seasons. It takes at least a couple of weeks to give the ride its makeover. Halloween Time at DLR begins on 9/16 this year, so Haunted Mansion Holiday has to be up and running on that date, if not the day before. Last year, HM closed at the end of August, before Labor Day, for the overlay. It appears that this year, the same pattern is repeating. It's inconvenient timing for those who are visiting DLR on Labor Day or who are there for the marathon.

I would guess that if and when Halloween Time ever begins later in September, Haunted Mansion might close after Labor Day. It could happen - in the past there have been times when Halloween Time began a bit later in the month.