Veteran's Day?

[glossypink16]

Hi all,

I am new to the forums and just had a few questions about Veterans day. I've been searching but everything talks about days prior to or after Veterans day, but we will be going ON Veterans day. I'm pretty sure it will be busy, but will it be horrendously busy? It will be my 2 year old son's first time along with his Grandma's and I want it to be really special and am worried about the crowds being too overwhelming. I just read on a site that the Christmas festivities start on the 12th. Will we still be hitting the Christmas crowds regardless or does a day make a difference? Also, what ride do you think we should dart to first that my toddler could ride with us? I was thinking Peter Pan (since the lines are always long and I've never been on it), but I also know how special IASW is and Pirates which I'm expecting really long lines as well. I'm very excited! My son has been waking up saying he's going to Disneyland today and continues to put his Lightning McQueen slippers on with his Spiderman hat and is content going in his undies. TIA for all the advice!

 

[Jkpark]

I'm going that day, too but will be hitting DCA in the morning. I'm expecting heavy crowds. DL doesn't have early entry that day so there won't be guests in the park before you (assuming you get there before gates open). We always hit Peter Pan first - the line gets long fast and doesn't get better. Pirates is hit or miss on crowded days but the line moves really fast. I've read IASW will already have its overlay so expect longer lines for that. I find IASW lines are shorter during day as it is beautiful at night and draws longer lines then. Have a magical trip!

 

[cmwade77]

The trick for IASW is to go during the parade. They line gets substantially shorter then, as when it's long it crosses the parade route.

As for how crowded, it will be a bit less crowded than the 4th of July, but SUBSTANTIALLY more crowded than labor day.

 

[glossypink16]

Thank you for the replies! I will be sure to hit Peter Pan first! I'm so excited!

 

[wiigirl]

The trick for IASW is to go during the parade. They line gets substantially shorter then, as when it's long it crosses the parade route.

As for how crowded, it will be a bit less crowded than the 4th of July, but SUBSTANTIALLY more crowded than labor day.

 

[Sherry E]

Hi all,

I am new to the forums and just had a few questions about Veterans day. I've been searching but everything talks about days prior to or after Veterans day, but we will be going ON Veterans day. I'm pretty sure it will be busy, but will it be horrendously busy? It will be my 2 year old son's first time along with his Grandma's and I want it to be really special and am worried about the crowds being too overwhelming. I just read on a site that the Christmas festivities start on the 12th. Will we still be hitting the Christmas crowds regardless or does a day make a difference? Also, what ride do you think we should dart to first that my toddler could ride with us? I was thinking Peter Pan (since the lines are always long and I've never been on it), but I also know how special IASW is and Pirates which I'm expecting really long lines as well. I'm very excited! My son has been waking up saying he's going to Disneyland today and continues to put his Lightning McQueen slippers on with his Spiderman hat and is content going in his undies. TIA for all the advice!

You won't be able to avoid some sort of crowds on a national holiday.

Add to that the fact that the holiday season festivities have already begun, and you'll get more crowds.

The holiday season "officially" begins on 11/12 this year. However, all of the decorations in the 2 parks will be up before that -- most of them are up now -- and much of the holiday entertainment has already begun, i.e., the Christmas Fantasy Parade and the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks. The Christmas tree lighting on Buena Vista Street in DCA has already begun.

It's a Small World Holiday usually soft opens a few days before the season officially begins, so I would expect it to open this weekend -- if it's not already open now.

Jingle Cruise -- the new holiday version of Jungle Cruise -- is set to "officially" open on 11/12, but I would not be shocked if it, too, soft opens on Monday. Disney knows that Monday is a holiday and will try to sneak some things in there for the Veterans Day crowds to enjoy.

I think the Enchantment Lighting of the Castle should be happening on Veterans Day as well.

The Jingle Jangle Jamboree may or may not be "unofficially" open on Monday.

 

[glossypink16]

Thank you for such great advice! I'm getting more excited as I read the responses.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you for such great advice! I'm getting more excited as I read the responses.

A quick update --

DIS'er Alohagirl73 reported (in our Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread) that she was at Disneyland on Friday night (11/8). She said that It's a Small World Holiday is, indeed, now open. The Jingle Jangle Jamboree is now open. I'm not 100% sure if Jingle Cruise is now open (with the holiday decor in the queue and boathouse), or if it is still just Jungle Cruise! Jungle Cruise has stayed open as the decorations were going up. Of course we already know that the Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks are running. And we know that the Buena Vista Street tree is up, which likely means that all of the decor in California Adventure is up.

The only thing (decorations-wise) that didn't seem to be up on Friday night was the giant Main Street Christmas tree, and I think that was directly due to the taping of the parade. That tree is probably up now, or will be up by tomorrow/Veterans Day.

So I think the only entertainment you would miss out on is World of Color - Winter Dreams and Viva Navidad (both of which begin on 11/15), and the "Winter Village" in Downtown Disney opens on 11/14 so you'd miss that. Otherwise, mostly everything holiday-ish is in place now.