Timings for September trip

[PChef]

I am planning for 2019. We want to visit LA for 5-6 nights, Disneyland for 4 nights and San Diego for 4 nights. Nothing is booked yet but travel dates are fairly fixed at 25 Aug to 11 Sept with a bit of flexibility.

I am thinking of visiting DL from Mon 2 Sept until Fri 6 Sept as that is historically a low crowd week, and planning everything else around that. I realize the opening of SWGE may mean bigger crowds especially if AP blackout dates last well into August. My main concern is wanting to see some fireworks, will there be fireworks on Labor Day? Or should I shift the stay a day later to catch fireworks on Friday? Once would be enough, hopefully there will be a nighttime parade/ World of Color to see on other evenings too.

Original plan would be to drive to Anaheim from LA on Monday morning, have a relaxed day enjoying the pool and Downtown Disney then go into DL for fireworks on Monday evening (Labor Day). Then on Friday check out, visit Orange Outlets in the morning and drive to San Diego on the Friday afternoon.

Planning to stay at Grand Californian, we will have a car, party is 2 adults and 18 yr old son, from the UK. We have been to WDW 3 times off-peak. I know there will be shorter hours that week, which we are fine with, my main aim is to visit with as few crowds as possible, we will use early entry.

Any input as to whether this is a good strategy would be welcome.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

One thing stuck out to me... you don’t want to drive to San Diego on Friday afternoon unless you are thinking 1pm or so. The traffic will be terrible in the late afternoon/early evening. I recommend leaving in the late morning (around 10am or so) if possible.

 

[lizardlife]

When SWL hits, I don't think there will be a quiet week for the whole year. And considering Labor Day is what you'd call a Bank Holiday here, there will be people.

Having said that, there will also be fireworks on the actual holiday of Labor Day (assuming high winds do not cancel the show) as well as all the other scheduled night shows. (in DLR, any bank holiday is a holiday to make bank).

 

[Sarahelizabeth]

I would also caution on driving from Anaheim to San Diego in the late afternoon. I live in San Diego and commute from an office in the Anaheim area every other week and i leave by 1:30 on Fridays at the latest. Depending on where you are going in San Diego it can take 2 hours on a great day, more realistically 3 hours, and if it’s, bad forever!

 

[PChef]

Ok so we will try to leave for San Diego in the morning or wait until late evening, thanks for the advice. I guess if we don’t get to see fireworks on Labor Day we have another chance Friday evening and we could go after that.

If it is really busy I am hoping that staying onsite with early entry will help somewhat. Need to get my head around Maxpass too.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The start date for Halloween Time in 2019 will have some effect on crowds and on HM and SM. This year, Halloween Time starts on Sept. 7th. That day will be very crowded with local APs coming to view all the Halloween decorations and to buy holiday themed merchandise. HM is expected to go down for the NBC overlay on Aug. 20th and SM will be down for a few days during the first week of September. Both will reopen on Sept. 7th. This will probably be repeated next year during your trip dates, so if those rides are important to you, know that you might miss them.
Also, "low crowds" is now a relative term at DLR, and next year, after SWGE opens, no one really knows what it will mean at all. We advise people here not to plan for "low crowd" periods (which really are not predictable at DLR now), but to plan for whatever time is best for them. Check the holiday calendar and the school break calendar (do a search on this forum -- search bar in the upper right corner under your name). And check the AP blockout calendar (available on the DLR website -- be aware that changes are being made to this through 2019). When you find a time that works for you, has minimal/no holidays and minimal/no school breaks, and has the lower passes blocked -- go for it! Even if you can't find a time that works for you with the other factors, you're ahead of the game by starting your planning early and asking questions here. Plan for crowds, do your research, make your plans -- than let go and let the magic happen. With good planning and a positive attitude, you'll have a great time!