To go...or wait...

[georgiesmum]

Hi! DH, DD7 and myself have been to Disneyland a few times and love it! We're always planning our next trip. However, coming from Australia is quite expensive so we try to make sure we come at good times, when things are more likely to be open and not reasons for huge crowds. At the moment we're debating on whether to come next year or wait until Star Wars is finished. If we wait until Star Wars is finished, we'll also have to wait until the crowds die down a bit, so probably another 4 years. *gasp*
But if we come next year and a lot of the things we love to do are closed, then it's a bit of a wasted trip. So what I'm needing to know is - What will remain closed or not showing, until Star Wars opens and does it have much of an impact on the overall feel of the park with part of it closed down?
I know it's probably a bit hard to tell with the 60th anniversary celebrations having been on for more than 12 months and now the holidays starting because there has been so much happening.
Oh, and no doubt we will come again after Star Wars is completed, so it's not a choice between next year or later, just whether it's worth coming next year.
I hope that makes sense!

 

[Abbey1]

Next summer, a lot of what has been down for Star Wars Land will re-open. The railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, etc. should all be back running by the beginning of next summer. Fantasmic! will also be back and will have some changes and new additions as well.

We have been twice since they started Star Wars Land, and I don't feel like the ambiance or atmosphere is lacking at all.

I would 100% say you should visit next year! 4 years is way too long to go without Disney!!

 

[chickapin parterre]

depends how you value the train...there is no set date for ROA...could very well be summer or later...much of what I have read here is that ambiance is not lacking, but the once again, folks have not visited because of the missing train.

 

[georgiesmum]

Next summer, a lot of what has been down for Star Wars Land will re-open. The railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, etc. should all be back running by the beginning of next summer. Fantasmic! will also be back and will have some changes and new additions as well.

We have been twice since they started Star Wars Land, and I don't feel like the ambiance or atmosphere is lacking at all.

I would 100% say you should visit next year! 4 years is way too long to go without Disney!!

Thank you so much! I think it's time to start saving now to set a date...not before summer of course

 

[georgiesmum]

depends how you value the train...there is no set date for ROA...could very well be summer or later...much of what I have read here is that ambiance is not lacking, but the once again, folks have not visited because of the missing train.

I do like the train...but I wouldn't not go just because the train isn't going.

 

[Leopardstars]

Before deciding to plan our trip, DH and I decided whether we wanted to wait until attractions/shows like the train, Rivers of America and the attractions related to ROA were re-opened. We decided to go with our plan of March 2017. These attractions don't matter as much to us and since it's our daughter's first visit she won't know what she's missing.

 

[Aladora]

We actually made plans to get APs this past September, go again in March and probably August and then skip DL until at least 6 month after Star Wars Land opens because the crowds are going to be insane for at least that long, possibly much longer. We are looking at going back to WDW in 2018 to tide us over until SWL!

 

[BecAus]

Hi georgiesmum,
We are in exactly the same boat - also coming from AUS and after doing our first trip in 2012 I have been to D/L six times and the kids five times, each time saying this will be our last trip and then going again : )
We got to go again this year as my husband was going to California in July on business and we insisted we just had to tag along! The kids and I went in July last year and I swore we wouldn't do that again but didn't have any choice this year due to the timing of my husbands trip but would definitely avoid July in the future. Our other trips in April / September were much better crowd wise.
After this recent trip we had said we would not be returning till at least the 65th Anniversary after all the current goings on were completed. I actually have zero interest in SWL, never had any interest in Star Wars / Star Trek / SciFi etc... although I'm happy for other people who will like it as would my kids I'm sure.
I was more concerned with all the new entry / bridge works that will be going on and how that would affect us as we stay on Harbor Blvd.
However, I just couldn't do it - have just this week booked to return next September at the end of the month for Halloween. I attended the park for the Halloween activities solo when I was in NY for a week in 2014 and decided I just had to fly across and see D/L at Halloween. Loved it and was on the bucket list to return with my kids.
At this stage I've just booked for myself and 10yr old - have left the option to add on the 13yr old if he wants but won't decide that till later next year - he recently expressed the opinion after seeing a local water / adventure park about an hour a way from us on TV - why do we fly all the way across the world to go to Disneyland if we can go there instead - will probably leave him at home!
Have already purchased our 10day tickets and made reservations at 3 different hotels and will decide the best option in a few months when we see how the new gateway project is affecting things in the area.
My thoughts were along the lines of 'Abbey1'. I have been wondering the same as you what would likely to be closed in the second half of next year??
Currently they are saying that most of the ROA attractions and Fantasmic should open again next summer. Of course that will be subject to change but hopefully most if not all will be open / running.
The only thing I've seen mentioned (and of course a year is a long time away till next September!) is that there is the possibility that the monorail may be closed for an extended period possibly through towards the end of next year. This would be disappointing as that is one of the things on the list I'm compiling of things we are still yet to do!
If I had to choose between the monorail and the railroad however I would definitely take the railroad being open!
I feel like 2017 is less likely to have major disruptions than the next two years after that in 2018 & 2019 when the major changes on Harbor should happen and SWL is likely to happen. I had been reading the posts by DarkBeer and others on all the proposed changes but hadn't taken much detailed interest as I didn't think we intended to return in the near future.
I will be reading with interest in the next few months on the current goings on and how people think the changes are going to affect visits to Disneyland.
Currently I just have to work out the best time to let my husband in on the fact that we've booked another trip there (he won't particularly care as long as he's not being dragged along! Whilst he is into the history of Walt and D/L he is not so much a fan of touring around the parks - he's been three times and I don't think he's in any hurry to return).

Good luck with your decision - I reckon go for it if you can - you know you want to : ))

 

[SMD]

Have you priced other parks? WDW, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo could be alternatives.