Visit pre or post Carsland?

[emilymad]

We are thinking of planning a trip to DL in 2012. Neither DH or I has been there for longer than a day visit and those trips haven't been in recent years. We have to go no later than the end of August due to frequent flyer rewards. I am trying to decide between the following months, mid May, mid July or mid August.

From my only limited research it seems that lower crowds would be the advantage in mid May. I doubt we will get back to DL in at least the next 10 years so I was debating going later in the summer when Carsland should be opened. Would it be crazy to comtemplate such a thing?

If we do go in the summer and Carsland is open would be we better off staying at an on-site hotel?

Thanks so much! I am new to DL and am reading everything I can. If this has been discussed somewhere already please feel free to point me in that direction

 

[HydroGuy]

Its not just Cars Land that one might want to wait for. It is also the completion of several years worth of work and massive disruption to the park which also involves an entirely new entrance to DCA called Buena Vista Street. My two cents is wait as late in the summer as possible to go.

 

[mydisneymoney]

Do you have children that would be excited to see Carsland? That would be a huge deciding factor for me. When we go again, it will be after Carsland opens because of DS6 loves Cars.

You are right that it will be less crowded in May PRIOR to Memorial Day then it would be in August but August can be not too bad per the historical attendence data. It might be a wash so you might want to go in August when you can take advantage of Carsland being open. Now, there is no firm date yet on Carsland. I was just reading something recently about the CA construction going on and they used to say that Carsland was June 2012 but now the CMs are being told to say it is opening in the Summer of 2012. So will it be open by Mid August, who knows.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I expect crowds to be crazy when Carsland opens. And since Buena Vista Street is looking like later in the summer, it could be super crazy then with a grand re-opening (and possible closure of DCA for a day). As far as staying onsite, I'd typically say no it won't be a huge advantage. BUT with the way they did the FPs for onsite guests this year, I can see where they'd do that again or give onsite guests a jump start in the park. We really won't know until next summer.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

So will it be open by Mid August, who knows.

And just a reminder that mid August is when the So Cal APs come back.

 

[ArchOwl]

I agree about waiting as long as possible to see DCA. It is really quite a mess right now with an alternate entrance and construction walls everywhere. If you won't make it back to the DLR for another 10 years, you will want to wait to see the finished product. The entire entrance and middle section of the park is under construction at this point.

For folks who will be making multiple return visits to DCA (like myself) it isn't a big deal. It is actually interesting to see the progress being made. But for someone who won't be coming back for quite sometime, I think you find it frustrating and a little disappointing. Best to see it when it is all bright and shiny and new!

Yes, this means it will be crowded because everyone will want to see it as well. And Disney will be pulling out all the stops to promote it. But if you go BEFORE the APers are unblocked for the end of summer, it should be better. Also if you can, I would stay onsite. This will allow you to make use of Magic Mornings (which is rumored to be occurring for DCA next summer) and perhaps some extra magic like they did this summer. When they opened two new rides this summer, onsite guests received super fastpasses for the attractions and also were allowed onto Little Mermaid before the ride opened for regular guests. I would imagine they would have a little something for onsite guests when they re-open DCA.

Anyway, have fun planning!

 

[skiingfast]

I expect crowds to be crazy when Carsland opens. And since Buena Vista Street is looking like later in the summer, it could be super crazy then with a grand re-opening (and possible closure of DCA for a day). As far as staying onsite, I'd typically say no it won't be a huge advantage. BUT with the way they did the FPs for onsite guests this year, I can see where they'd do that again or give onsite guests a jump start in the park. We really won't know until next summer.

I wouldn't plan anything based around these rumors. They are just rumors and nothing more about the timing of construction. Why do I not believe these construction timelines, because one thing I have that it doesn't appear Al Lutz has is construction experience. I've been on hundreds of construction projects of big and small sizes.

As far as the FPs, it is possible that onsite guests will get them for at least Radiator Springs Racers since they did promotions like this for ST and LM and previously WoC.

And just a reminder that mid August is when the So Cal APs come back.

This is very important because it may make for insane crowds. Avoid August 20th-26th when several hundred thousand AP holders are let back in, possibly for thier first visit to see Carsland.


Still I would go for the safe bet and go mid or early August for Carsland. May would be much nicer crowd wise but could be a nightmare if a visit collides with the opening of Carsland. Carsland looks well on its way to getting wrapped up easily.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

We were faced with this and chose before carsland will be open. My ds is right at the edge of caring about it too much. The girls do not care. We decided that while it might be a bit disappointing to see it ALMOST finished and not get to see it...the possibility of lower crowds was more appealing to us. Our hotel room also jumped 40 dollars a night if we even went a week later. Early June it is for us

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I wouldn't plan anything based around these rumors.

110% agree. There is so much uncertainty on when things are going to be done I wouldn't plan a late summer trip hoping it all be done and end up there when it all gets done and there is just a mess of people. I personally am just avoiding it all next summer after the first week of June.

 

[emilymad]

Thank you so much for the information! Everyone mentioned a bunch of things I didn't think about! We don't have any kids but with this being a once in a long time trip I think I would rather see as much as possible. I will look at the AP blackout days and see if we can squeeze something in then.

Is there a list of on-site hotel rack rates and the seasons like there is for WDW?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Is there a list of on-site hotel rack rates and the seasons like there is for WDW?

There isn't. It fluctuates with demand like most hotels.

 

[emilymad]

There isn't. It fluctuates with demand like most hotels.

Thanks! No wonder I am so confused!

 

[tanyaewa]

DCA in general is so boarded up right now it's hard to even imagine how awesome it really is as a park - even before CarsLand comes on stream. We were ther last wek and I was unprepared for HOW MUCH area is borade off and inaccessible. It is quite lame.

I would wait until ater CarsLand is up and running and he boards are down on everything - like late summer or fall next year.

 

[emilymad]

When is Buena Vista Street supposed to be done? I read something that said Spring 2012 but I wasn't sure how accurate that was.

 

[HydroGuy]

When is Buena Vista Street supposed to be done? I read something that said Spring 2012 but I wasn't sure how accurate that was.

Here are the rumors. Al Lutz does not work for Disney. Sometime in summer 2012.

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al092711a.htm

 

[emilymad]

Here are the rumors. Al Lutz does not work for Disney. Sometime in summer 2012.

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al092711a.htm

Thanks for the link and all your wonderful threads!