Tue, Wed, Thur or Wed, Thur, Fri?

[Dale-n-Chip]

I need a little help deciding between Tuesday, Dec 13, and Friday, Dec 16. The question is, what do I miss by choosing Tuesday rather than Friday?

Here's what I know:
1. The hotel is available.
2. We "lose" 5 hours in DL and 3 in DCA (park hours are 8-midnight Fri and 9-8 Tuesday)
3. All shows/fireworks/parades EXCEPT Fantasmic! and the Electrical Parade are shown T-Th.
4. Tuesday crowds are historically lighter than Friday crowds (even with the 50th).
5. We are mid-day break/nap people, so subtract two and a half hours a day for lunch/nap.

I also recognize I'm the only one of five who WANTS to see Fantasmic. DS is five, timid, and easily frightened by big noise and "battles." DParents are 70+ and think staying up until 11 is LATE DH is the "Dumbo-or-Die-in-a-Day" kind of Dad, willing to forego the "adult" rides to make sure DS gets the vacation he wants. God love him for that! Me, I recognize that I think the world revolves around me. Dagnabbit, I plan on riding at least SOME of the big kid rides!

So tell me, what am I missing going on Tuesday versus Friday?

 

[HydroGuy]

I need a little help deciding between Tuesday, Dec 13, and Friday, Dec 16. The question is, what do I miss by choosing Tuesday rather than Friday?

Here's what I know:
1. The hotel is available.
2. We "lose" 5 hours in DL and 3 in DCA (park hours are 8-midnight Fri and 9-8 Tuesday)
3. All shows/fireworks/parades EXCEPT Fantasmic! and the Electrical Parade are shown T-Th.
4. Tuesday crowds are historically lighter than Friday crowds (even with the 50th).
5. We are mid-day break/nap people, so subtract two and a half hours a day for lunch/nap.

I also recognize I'm the only one of five who WANTS to see Fantasmic. DS is five, timid, and easily frightened by big noise and "battles." DParents are 70+ and think staying up until 11 is LATE DH is the "Dumbo-or-Die-in-a-Day" kind of Dad, willing to forego the "adult" rides to make sure DS gets the vacation he wants. God love him for that! Me, I recognize that I think the world revolves around me. Dagnabbit, I plan on riding at least SOME of the big kid rides!

So tell me, what am I missing going on Tuesday versus Friday?

Hmmm. The longer park hours on Friday would make that my choice. But that depends whether your crew is one that will get up early and use those hours. If not, Tue might be better. From what I understand, Fri night will get more crowded. But if everyone turns in early and only you stay out for Fantasmic, then that might be OK. I vote Friday.

Another factor is that Tue is an Early Entry day, while Fri is not. That means that doing Dumbo and FL in general on Tue will be a challenge (unless you yourself have EE) because the line will already be long at park opening.

 

[drgalyen]

Friday! We just got back and if you are only going one day go Fri. The fireworks are amazing!!! My DH loved them too. Go early and do fantasyland before the lines get long then do a few big rides before noon- it should not be a long wait. If you have a young one you have to do Buzz lightyear. That was cool for the little ones- they get to shoot a gun too! Tues. is good for low crowds but Fri. was so much more fun for us. Just plan out your day and stick to one area at a time!

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

It was early and I forgot a crucial point: We'll definitely be there Wednesday and Thursday, too. I just don't know whether to make three days beginning on Tuesday (T-W-Th) or Wednesday (W-Th-F).

My apologies. I shouldn't post to the boards before my first cup of coffee. . .

D-n-C

 

[stampinshauna]

Even though the park is open later on Friday, you can do more on Tuesday because of the crowds. However, if you want to see Fantasmic and the Fireworks, you'll need to go on Friday.

 

[camouseketeer]

My family (DH, DD2, DD3) went late last January at a very non-busy time of year. We were in the parks Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday and Thursday were heaven. By noon on Friday we saw a DRAMATIC increase in crowds. We left by 2 pm on Friday because we had done enough with our little ones and did not want to fight the crowds (remember, this was NOT a busy time of year.)

You will be going just at the beginning of the holiday rush. Locals like to come on Friday nights because may who have annual passes cannot come on Saturdays (blackout days). I'm guessing that with the combination of the 50th celebration and Xmas decorations, many people will be entering the park by noon on Friday (that being the last day of school before holiday break for many local schools). With a young DS, I think you will enjoy the lesser crowds of Tuesday than those of Friday.

It seems from your OP that Fantasmic will be the only thing you're missing out on by not going on Friday. From your description of your DS, it sounds like he may not like it anyway.

Whatever days you choose, I hope you have a magical trip!

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I realize the park is open more hours on Friday, but you lose those hours in the time you are waiting in lines and fighting those awful crowds. I would absolutely opt for Tuesday instead of Friday. A Tuesday through Thursday vacation at Disneyland sounds lovely. Friday would just be annoying if you don't like standing in lines forever and fighting strollers by the thousands. I must have been run over a dozen times last Friday when I was there and I still have the bruises to show for it. I swear, people use those things as weapons to get where they want to go! Eeek!

You would miss Fantasmic, but if that isn't high on your priority list, then believe me you are better off going Tuesday. Another thing to keep in mind, even if you did go on Friday to see Fantasmic, you would have to claim your spot two hours before the show began, otherwise you wouldn't have a good view. It is that bad. There is a lot of frustration that goes with the excessive crowds.

Hey, don't miss the block party in CA. THAT is a lot of fun. We went to that show four times and never got tired of it! ) Have fun!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I vote for Tuesday. We were there that same time last year and by Friday the crowds were much, much heavier. If they weren't having fireworks the other days it would be different, because to me, those are not to be missed. But since you can see those the other nights, I would avoid Friday. Those late nights don't gain much, as the crowds don't seem to thin out that much on Friday nights. Many people live locally and come after work so they aren't leaving early, they are staying late! I love Fantasmic but the set up at Disneyland is not good. I notice you have been to WDW recently, if you saw it there then I should tell you that the show at Disneyland is basically the same with two main differences: Peter Pan sequence instead of the Pocahantas one and NO SEATING!! As somebody else said, people stake out their spots hours in advance and it gets to be a mob. Then you have to exit in that same mob. I love the show but only see the one at Disneyland if I am splurging and doing the dessert balcony seating. As for extra park hours if you are travelling with little ones and older parents late nights can be a waste. We went with my parents recently to WDW and they were pooped by 9:00 after a long day of park touring. Also, my elderly dad had a hard time navigating through the dark in crowds, we learned that the hard way at MK trying to leave the park after Wishes in a mob. Personally, if they showed fireworks every night of the week, we would probably never go to Disneyland on a Friday or Saturday when we go there!

Good luck with whatever you decide and enjoy your trip! It is so magical (and sometimes a bit challenging) sharing Disney with the grandparents and younger set. I wouldn't trade our recent trip for anything!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I need a little help deciding between Tuesday, Dec 13, and Friday, Dec 16. The question is, what do I miss by choosing Tuesday rather than Friday?

Here's what I know:
1. The hotel is available.
2. We "lose" 5 hours in DL and 3 in DCA (park hours are 8-midnight Fri and 9-8 Tuesday)
3. All shows/fireworks/parades EXCEPT Fantasmic! and the Electrical Parade are shown T-Th.
4. Tuesday crowds are historically lighter than Friday crowds (even with the 50th).
5. We are mid-day break/nap people, so subtract two and a half hours a day for lunch/nap.

I also recognize I'm the only one of five who WANTS to see Fantasmic. DS is five, timid, and easily frightened by big noise and "battles." DParents are 70+ and think staying up until 11 is LATE DH is the "Dumbo-or-Die-in-a-Day" kind of Dad, willing to forego the "adult" rides to make sure DS gets the vacation he wants. God love him for that! Me, I recognize that I think the world revolves around me. Dagnabbit, I plan on riding at least SOME of the big kid rides!

So tell me, what am I missing going on Tuesday versus Friday?

My opinion is that you should weigh the pros and cons...

Are crowds a factor?
- Do long lines bother you?
- On Friday a lot of locals will probably go to see the fireworks & "snow" -
would that bother you?

Does your family wake up early, and would they be ready to go to the parks early?
- Would they be willing to be at the park gates by 8am? by 9am?

If you were to stay late, would everyone in the family be up to that on the last night?
- Could the family be out until midnight, even with a 2-hour break in between? (December = cooler nights)

It seems to me that with older parents and young child, you might have a more fun time going Tuesday, instead of trying to pack everything in on Friday (knowing that you're going to be there Wed & Thu, too).

Happy planning.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

And the winner is. . . Tuesday!

After much debate (if you thought it was fun to read the thread, you would have LOVED the debate at my house!), it just sounds like Tuesday is the way to go. The Friday crowds and Fantasmic were the only two things we were going to miss. Not that I'm not sad to miss Fantasmic. . .it will just have to wait until next trip!

We are early risers coming from Central Time, so we'll be at the park entrance nice and early every day. It will be a little more relaxing for all not to try and burn the candle at both ends.

Next up is my call to Dining to change my ADRs. . .

Thanks, y'all!