The Mess that is DL Entertainment Schedule

[GatorChris]

I really have to laugh at DL wanting to roll out FP+ (digital version) for Toy Story Mania. Why? Because here it is, Halloween, and Disney can't manage to get out a WOC schedule for the Holiday season which starts in 11 days.

They announced in their blog that a new Christmas version (Season of Light) would begin on the 10th. From what I hear, they're booking WOC packages. So what gives? Do we get WOC or not? I'm just growing weary of Disneyland not being able to schedule months out like Legoland, Six Flags and Universal can. If these so-called "second tier" parks can do it, why can't Disney?

OK, rant over. Unless it's still not out by this Thursday. They gotta give us at least a week, right?

 

[Darkbeer1]

It drives a lot of folks crazy, including a lot of CM's, even though they get a little better info, they still see changes with little advance notice...

We can blame part of it on the "one Disney/Disney Parks" issue, where all the info is now processed in Orlando, and goes through a few different departments between the Disneyland Resort Entertainment department and the WDW Data Processing division. And it gets worse, not better.

One of the solutions Disney came up with, just don't announce it, so we can make changes. This will cut down on complaints.... (Yeah, RIGHT!) IMHO, the lack of advance info is causing a LOT of complaints based on the things I have read on line and people have told me.

To be fair, other parks have some of the same issues, such as Universal and Grinchmas, since they use celebrity readers on some days, you will see a lot of "TBD" (To Be Determined), and the like. But let's look at Knott's and their Summer Ice Show, they don't give out exact times, but will say something like, dark on Wednesdays, except for if a Holiday falls around it (such as July 4th). I do understand not releasing exact starting times until only a few weeks before, but at least tell us if a certain "show/parade/etc" is being offered that day.

Also announce the planned operating hours. You can always add on more time, and most parks, even Disneyland, will do it. Making announcements in the park such as "Due to large crowds, we are extending the operating day and the park will now close at Midnight, thanks for visiting and spending the day with us". But at least for planning purposes you know the minimum hours the park will be open.

 

[cruisehopeful]

They announced in their blog that a new Christmas version (Season of Light) would begin on the 10th. From what I hear, they're booking WOC packages. So what gives? Do we get WOC or not?

I have WOC dessert party booked for December. It is scheduled for 8:15, so I am assuming the show is at 8:45 based on what people have posted about their own experiences. I know it isn't on the daily schedule, yet, but I can't imagine them booking dessert packages for a particular time if they don't know what time the shows are. You could always begin booking a package (even if you don't want one) to see what time shows up and plan your visit around that.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have WOC dessert party booked for December. It is scheduled for 8:15, so I am assuming the show is at 8:45 based on what people have posted about their own experiences. I know it isn't on the daily schedule, yet, but I can't imagine them booking dessert packages for a particular time if they don't know what time the shows are. You could always begin booking a package (even if you don't want one) to see what time shows up and plan your visit around that.

Same here, only mine is booked for 2 weeks from Thursday.

If they can sell me the dessert party, why can't they put it on the schedule? You shouldn't have to know to check the dining reservations to know when something is showing just over 2 weeks from now.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I have WOC dessert party booked for December. It is scheduled for 8:15, so I am assuming the show is at 8:45 based on what people have posted about their own experiences. I know it isn't on the daily schedule, yet, but I can't imagine them booking dessert packages for a particular time if they don't know what time the shows are. You could always begin booking a package (even if you don't want one) to see what time shows up and plan your visit around that.

But then, Disney always adds the disclaimer, "Everything is Subject to change", and uses it to deal with things like complaints when schedules get changed. I have had reservations cancelled more than once, and get told "we are sorry", and if you pre-paid, you get a refund, but they normally won't do anything else, except apologize.

 

[Rmagical2nd]

I am also excitedly waiting for the WOC schedule as well as the Frozen times for the rest of the weekend. I like to fill out my entertainment grid for the week and know what fun is happening on what day.

 

[hawkfam]

What's even more comical is that they have listed times for Mickey's Fun Wheel Challenge which, unless I'm wrong (only second trip to DLR coming up) only happens before WOC. So, they can list the times for the challenge but can't actually list the times for WOC? Jeesh. Assuming those times are at least correct though then WOC starts 15 mins after the listed time for the challenge. That's at least how I've worked to determine what times WOC will be showing while we're there. For instance, on the expected opening night of the new WOC on 11/10 the challenge starts at 8:45 so that makes it appear as if the actual WOC will start at 9p.

But as everyone else has noted here of course anything can be changed with little or no notice.

 

[gottalovepluto]

What in the world is going on with their Holiday Scheduling?! There have been no Holiday announcements besides the original one on the Parks Blog and Holiday Time starts in 11 days! PTN just sneaked back onto the schedule (normally there would have been 2 Disney Park Blog write ups, one saying "it's coming" -which they did- and then one saying "here it is, on these nights PTN will be back" -which they did not-). And the Holiday Food Festival in DCA has had zero info come out. Something is messed up, whether it's Disney IT or the Disneyland Scheduling Team or maybe accounting freaked out and said "Holidays are too expensive! Cut back!" and/or did parks blog staff all go on holiday so the updates are done? Only the Mouse knows! Just rest assured you are not alone in your frustration and it goes beyond WOC!

 

[doomer]

"Disney can't manage to get out a WOC schedule" is not completely true. There is a schedule out there, but not where many can find it.

The "15 mins after" strategy may seem bizarre, but it will give the correct start times for World of Color - Seasons of Light.
I've only see one exception. On Thursday, December 8, WoC - SoL is listed at starting at 9:45, an hour after the Challenge start time.

 

[Darkbeer1]

"Disney can't manage to get out a WOC schedule" is not completely true. There is a schedule out there, but not where many can find it.

Perfect example of why folks are frustrated... listed one place but not another, and hard to find.....

Things like the Disneyland App (and similar apps at other theme parks) have truly helped, but they are more focused on the "here and now", and doesn't help those who like to plan in advance....

 

[mom2rtk]

"Disney can't manage to get out a WOC schedule" is not completely true. There is a schedule out there, but not where many can find it.

The "15 mins after" strategy may seem bizarre, but it will give the correct start times for World of Color - Seasons of Light.
I've only see one exception. On Thursday, December 8, WoC - SoL is listed at starting at 9:45, an hour after the Challenge start time.

You shouldn't need to read between the lines to find the entertainment times 11 days out.

 

[Mabel67]

I'm not impressed that the latest the Christmas Fantasy Parade is on the schedule is at 4:15pm. It's still daylight at that time! The magic of the Christmas Parade is accentuated in the dark - it's just way more magical then! To see it in the daylight will be a huge let down. Christmas is such a short time and the parade can only be shown at that time (can't run it in July that would be just silly and wrong and would never happen!). So save PTN for days when it's NOT Christmas, and make Christmas more Christmas-y. I know that lots of people loved PTN, but love it when it's not Christmas!!

 

[iloveseals]

"Disney can't manage to get out a WOC schedule" is not completely true. There is a schedule out there, but not where many can find it.

The "15 mins after" strategy may seem bizarre, but it will give the correct start times for World of Color - Seasons of Light.
I've only see one exception. On Thursday, December 8, WoC - SoL is listed at starting at 9:45, an hour after the Challenge start time.

Can you clarify where on the site you are seeing times for WOC? Or do you have insider knowledge?

 

[Jedi Mouse]

We have a trip scheduled from 12/14-12/18 and the scheduling issues are driving me (an over planner) crazy.

 

[Nonsuch]

Can you clarify where on the site you are seeing times for WOC? Or do you have insider knowledge?

The international versions of the calendar sometimes have more complete schedules.
This is the Australian version, note the "au" in the URL:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/calendar/daily/
(may require Flash)

 

[iloveseals]

The international versions of the calendar sometimes have more complete schedules.
This is the Australian version, note the "au" in the URL:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/calendar/daily/
(may require Flash)

Thanks for that! Guess I'll have to follow the AU schedule for the most up to date info!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Why are the international sites so much better? It just doesn't make sense. I, too, am working on scheduling for our trip later this month. I would love to know what's going on with WoC. I would also like to know if any packages are available for PtN seating. I'm going in assuming no, but I'm going to be mad if packages are released and I don't know about it because they get sold out before I get home from work or something like that.

 

[GatorChris]

Checked today and the WOC schedule is finally up. But it looks like Frozen at the Hyperion runs through the 10th and then has no shows after that, per schedule. I'm not very happy about that fact.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I know Disney does rent out the Hyperion to private groups including cheer/dance organizations, since it is a 3 day weekend, that might be what is causing no Frozen shows that weekend.

 

[GatorChris]

I know Disney does rent out the Hyperion to private groups including cheer/dance organizations, since it is a 3 day weekend, that might be what is causing no Frozen shows that weekend.

It actually doesn't show for the rest of the month. Either this show is on a long-term hiatus, or this is just another lapse in the Disneyland Entertainment Calendar.