Trip Help Needed Please!

[jenergy]

Hey everyone! I've been stressing out trying to figure out which week and days to plan our trip and stumbled upon this site. Hopefully, you guys will be able to help me with your Disney knowledge and opinions. Here's my scenario:

My boyfriend has his vacation time assigned to him and these are the two weeks they gave him: 9/4 - 9/11 and 10/24 - 10/31. Both weeks start on a Sunday and end on a Saturday. Since we will be driving down from the bay area, having a night there on a weekend night will be kind of hard. My main problem being that I love the night-time shows which only happen on weekends during off-peak seasons.

I was planning on going at the end of October because I would really like to see the parks during Halloween Time. However, Fantasmic, WoC, and the fireworks are more important and I've heard that sometimes they run daily through the beginning of September. I looked at the schedule for last year and this was true. I also talked to a rep online and they said it should probably run through Sept. 11 BUT I called and a rep told me they would only run daily through the end of August. If they're not running daily during our September week then I would much rather go during October. What are your opinions? Do you think they will run daily through early Sept or is it too iffy and I should just go during Halloween time?

This is our one vacation that we get and I want to reserve our trip as I have a lot of saving to do until then but I also want it to be perfect which is why I'm being so particular.

Also, on another note, what are your opinions on paying for preferred viewing for Fantasmic? Is the view worth it or not? I'm not really into waiting for hours to reserve a seat but I really love the show so I would rather pay. I heard the view isn't actually that great though and I don't want to pay $118 for rice krispy treats...

Thanks A TON in advance and I hope this post wasn't too lengthy!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Well, I can't hlep you with the dates.... Sorry, we have never gone during those times, but there are many experts that I am sure will respond.

What I can help you with is the Premium Seating for F! We always do that. Our main reason is that we go with older family members and they just cannot sit on the ground.

Is it worth it? Well, it just depends on your perspective. I think the seats are pretty good. The food is plentiful and we never eat it all. The last time we did it, they provided cheese, crackers and sweets. There is so much, we always take the rest back to the room for snacks or breakfast.

My number one tip would be to chose the early showing, whether or not you decide on the premium seating. That way, if you want an alternate view of the fireworks, you can stay in your seat and watch the fireworks from the same spot.

Premium seating at F! is one of the highlights of our trip!

Hope that helps.

 

[jenergy]

Thanks!! That's actually very helpful!

 

[goldies 5]

We have gone in mid September. Crowds were low, but it was hot and humid and after Labor Day. HM will most likely close right after Labor Day during the first set of dates you have proposed, for the overlay. If things aren't running nightly you could do some on Sunday and some on Friday night.
Someone here will most likely clarify if the shows are running that week in October. Going for as many days as you are will make for a nice, relaxing time even if it is busier.

 

[Eeee-va]

I wouldn't be shocked if WoC ran nightly for quite some time--there's no way to KNOW, but since there are no live performers, and I believe no fireworks, it may cost less than the other shows to run.

Disneyland park will close early on Tuesday and Friday for a separate-ticket Halloween event. If you are willing to pay extra for this event, you will be able to see the Halloween Screams fireworks show (provided wind conditions allow). The price is pretty steep though; I think $54 for a Tuesday (or $59 for your Friday)? It's unclear as to if non-Halloween fireworks will occur in the rest of the week.

Conversely, though, the party means that Fantasmic! probably will not run on Friday, so your only chance to see it would most likely be Sunday. Then IF WoC is only running on weekends, then you would have to see it on Friday when Disneyland closes early (DCA might be pretty busy that night because of that).

I've never done Fantasmic! preferred seating (if you can stay up all night you can easily get ground seats for the show, for probably not much more of a wait than you end up waiting for those preferred seats). But I think that the dining packages for World of Color are probably worth it. We'll know better in a week or two when guinea pigs (like me!) report back.

 

[jenergy]

We have gone in mid September. Crowds were low, but it was hot and humid and after Labor Day. HM will most likely close right after Labor Day during the first set of dates you have proposed, for the overlay. If things aren't running nightly you could do some on Sunday and some on Friday night.
Someone here will most likely clarify if the shows are running that week in October. Going for as many days as you are will make for a nice, relaxing time even if it is busier.

Well, we'll actually only be going to DL for 2 days sometime during one of those weeks. Since our days off start on sunday, we could drive that day but probably wouldn't actually go to DL at all unless it was for food or something. We would also prefer not driving all day then having to possibly go to work at 6 am the next day which is why going on a weekend night might be hard. Of course, since additional days on park hoppers are so cheap, it's a possibility that we may buy a 3-day and go just for that on the day we get there.

 

[goldies 5]

Well you know, more is always better.

 

[jenergy]

Well you know, more is always better.

Oh I know! Unfortunately, my boyfriend isn't into it like I am so going out of our way to see shows and such will be hard since he can be quite disagreeable at times.

 

[jenergy]

I wouldn't be shocked if WoC ran nightly for quite some time--there's no way to KNOW, but since there are no live performers, and I believe no fireworks, it may cost less than the other shows to run.

Disneyland park will close early on Tuesday and Friday for a separate-ticket Halloween event. If you are willing to pay extra for this event, you will be able to see the Halloween Screams fireworks show (provided wind conditions allow). The price is pretty steep though; I think $54 for a Tuesday (or $59 for your Friday)? It's unclear as to if non-Halloween fireworks will occur in the rest of the week.

Conversely, though, the party means that Fantasmic! probably will not run on Friday, so your only chance to see it would most likely be Sunday. Then IF WoC is only running on weekends, then you would have to see it on Friday when Disneyland closes early (DCA might be pretty busy that night because of that).

I've never done Fantasmic! preferred seating (if you can stay up all night you can easily get ground seats for the show, for probably not much more of a wait than you end up waiting for those preferred seats). But I think that the dining packages for World of Color are probably worth it. We'll know better in a week or two when guinea pigs (like me!) report back.

This is exactly where most of my frustration stems from! I think it would be awesome to see the special Halloween fireworks but that would probably be all I would be seeing depending on when I got there in October and I would have to shell out the extra $$. Unless I got there on Sunday, went in just for Fantasmic, WoC, and fireworks. Then went to DL for full-days on Mon, Tues and the halloween party on Tues night. I just hate the thought of our vacation starting and not having any time to relax before we have to drive 6 hours then possibly dealing with a grouchy boyfriend while I want to see all the shows.

Decisions! Decision!