WDW vet going to DL for 1st time...please help

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Here is a link to the historical park hours for last October... so you can get an idea of what was offered for the week you are going...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=10&year=2014

When you see the DL park hours closing super early (6 or 7 pm) it was because there was a Halloween Party that night.

Keep in mind there may not be fireworks/fantasmic during the weeknights. If you want to see those things you may want to go to DL on one of your weekend days[/QUOTE
Not concerned as much about Fantasmic cause I've seen it 10 times at WDW but would like to see fireworks.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Here is a link to the historical park hours for last October... so you can get an idea of what was offered for the week you are going...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=10&year=2014

When you see the DL park hours closing super early (6 or 7 pm) it was because there was a Halloween Party that night.

So it looks like there was a party Tuesday and Friday and only nighttime activities at DL on Saturday and Sunday. What's the chances of the Halloween party being Tuesday and Friday again?
I already feel like I'm behind. If I wait until the party dates to make my reservations at DLR, will that be too late?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Yeah... So looking at the calendar for last year... I changed my mind (women's prerogative)

I would do Sunday in the park (knowing it will be very busy), with the Blue Bayou Fantasmic dinner package booked 60 days out (BB is so unique to DL, plus you get awesome seats for F!). And I'd watch the fireworks from the Fantasmic seats... Which with the new fireworks the views are supposed to be great from everywhere.

Then Monday I would do WOC. Tuesday will probably be a Halloween Party, and then the last park day would be Wed. One of those three days I'd do the new paint the night parade... But I wouldn't try and do it on Sunday. It will be wall to wall people watching the parade.

This gives you sightseeing time Saturday, and then the last couple days... Which might be nice to rest your feet

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Here is a link to the historical park hours for last October... so you can get an idea of what was offered for the week you are going...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=10&year=2014

When you see the DL park hours closing super early (6 or 7 pm) it was because there was a Halloween Party that night.

Thank you!!!!!!! That really helped to give me a little bit of insight on what to expect for hours.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I wouldn't wait for the party dates to be released... I would book and then be willing to be a little flexible. Odds are the party will be Tuesday. But if it is Monday or Wednesday you can just flip things. I am going the last week of October. Already booked, betting that between my arrival on Sunday morning and Wednesday night there will be a party... Because it is Halloween week, there might even be 2... They've been adding parties every year. So my plans are similar to yours... But I am avoiding a major holiday weekend. I figured we would do F! On Sunday, and then play it by ear when the party was. WOC is typically nightly, so we can do it on the 1st night available after Sunday... I don't like waiting to the last night, because of there is an issue (wind will cancel fireworks etc) I want an extra chance to see something...

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Yeah... So looking at the calendar for last year... I changed my mind (women's prerogative)

I would do Sunday in the park (knowing it will be very busy), with the Blue Bayou Fantasmic dinner package booked 60 days out (BB is so unique to DL, plus you get awesome seats for F!). And I'd watch the fireworks from the Fantasmic seats... Which with the new fireworks the views are supposed to be great from everywhere.

Then Monday I would do WOC. Tuesday will probably be a Halloween Party, and then the last park day would be Wed. One of those three days I'd do the new paint the night parade... But I wouldn't try and do it on Sunday. It will be wall to wall people watching the parade.

This gives you sightseeing time Saturday, and then the last couple days... Which might be nice to rest your feet

That's an idea. I would have to pay to park the car for 4 days at disney. We were thinking of taking the car back Tuesday so we wouldnt have to pay to park. Fantasmic doesn't really appeal to me as I've seen it 10 times at WDW. It looked like there weren't any nighttime entertainment at DL during the week.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

But F! At Disneyland is very different than at wdw. I didn't mind the wdw version (it kinda gets bashed by DL fans)... And I thought wdws seating for it was great. But the DL version is much better, and very unique to be right along the rivers of America watching it.

WOC is the only nighttime entertainment that is held nightly. And you really shouldn't miss it... There is nothing like it at wdw. Because DL is in a residential zone they can only do fireworks nightly during the high seasons. Which while October is getting very busy, it isn't really high season. And all things holding true from last year, Halloween Screams fireworks were shown during the parties. Who knows with the diamond celebration what will happen for sure tho.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

That's an idea. I would have to pay to park the car for 4 days at disney. We were thinking of taking the car back Tuesday so we wouldnt have to pay to park. Fantasmic doesn't really appeal to me as I've seen it 10 times at WDW. It looked like there weren't any nighttime entertainment at DL during the week.

What if on Saturday instead of going sight seeing, you caught a cab to the DLR hotel you are staying at, spent Saturday by the pool and exploring DTD? Then did the parks Sun-Wednesday, and just had the rental car and sightseeing your last two days? We don't do anything but Disney when we are there, so I don't know how that would work time wise... But then you only need to worry about a rental car for the last part of your trip?

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

WDW vet here, with one trip (Feb) under her belt. I agree, schedule beach/touring (and resultantly driving) for busier weekend days. Traffic will be better. Just use Waze (popular map app) and pay attention to travel times before heading out. More of an issue M-F. Driving isn't bad, just trafficy. Much crazier driving in NY. No comparison.

The beaches are awesome. We went to Laguna Beach (Crescent Bay), and enjoyed the tidal pools (including some with kelp that were deep and clear enough to jump into when the tide went up), and sea lion rock...including a baby sea lion rescue, along with the beach itself and the gobs of surfers (fun to watch). We were there in Feb, and needed a dog friendly beach, so along came our 14yo lab. One of my favorite vacay days!

We stayed offsite (needed a place for our dog), and stayed at La Quinta Inn because of their pet policy and recent renovation. It was fine. We walked most of the time. We are DVC renting onsiters or deluxe stayers, and missed staying in the bubble, but the price differences were staggering. If we go again, we will plan way ahead and rent DVC VGC 7+ months in advance. We toured VGC and DLH, and preferred VGC for its themeing and location. I will say that Trader Sams (at DLH) was a favorite spot to hang out in the evening (outside, because of the kids), with live music and tiki torches. Pleased that they are bringing that to WDW!

The other must-do (IMO) is booking the Fantasmic dining package at Blue Bayou. I much preferred F! and POTC at DL, and this combines both! Arrive early to your reservation (and try to book the early side of dinner for first seating), and ask and wait for a water-side table. Everyone loved watching the boats going by, and even got chatty with them, LOL. The area for BB F! seating is the best, and receiving a foam pad to sit upon and having room to stretch out was totally worth it.

Everyone swears by hopping (the parks are crazy close), and we are hoppers at WDW, but given that this was our first time there, we didn't want to leave the park once we were there. Depending on the hours, and party schedule, you may want to add it on later on. For us, we only hopped when DCA closed earlier in the day (as it often does), and headed over (with the masses) to DL.

We probably won't hop. We don't at WDW And with the hours, I don't know that it's really worth it. Everyone else will be hopping.
Are the surfers there during the week? I was afraid we would only see them on the weekends.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

What if on Saturday instead of going sight seeing, you caught a cab to the DLR hotel you are staying at, spent Saturday by the pool and exploring DTD? Then did the parks Sun-Wednesday, and just had the rental car and sightseeing your last two days? We don't do anything but Disney when we are there, so I don't know how that would work time wise... But then you only need to worry about a rental car for the last part of your trip?

That would be a good idea but we were hoping to do the poolside on the day of the party or the next day so we could sleep in.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Are the surfers out every day in October?

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

So from what I've been reading on here, it looks like there might be a party on Friday night which leaves sat and sun night for fantasmic and fireworks, which leaves Sunday night for fireworks and fantasmic for us because we arrive and leave on a Saturday. Am I right?

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Yeah... So looking at the calendar for last year... I changed my mind (women's prerogative)

I would do Sunday in the park (knowing it will be very busy), with the Blue Bayou Fantasmic dinner package booked 60 days out (BB is so unique to DL, plus you get awesome seats for F!). And I'd watch the fireworks from the Fantasmic seats... Which with the new fireworks the views are supposed to be great from everywhere.

Then Monday I would do WOC. Tuesday will probably be a Halloween Party, and then the last park day would be Wed. One of those three days I'd do the new paint the night parade... But I wouldn't try and do it on Sunday. It will be wall to wall people watching the parade.

This gives you sightseeing time Saturday, and then the last couple days... Which might be nice to rest your feet

Will we know 60 days out what the park hours will be?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

So the surfers will be out if the surf is good... If it's crappy waves you won't see surfers. If the waves are good... It doesn't matter what day it is

Park hours are usually released 8 weeks out. The party dates should be announced by July and go on sale to Disney visa holders around then too.

Yes, if there is a party on Friday, then your only chance for fireworks and F! will be Saturday and Sunday nights. Unless Disney feels the park will be very busy, then they could do fireworks etc on another day... Thursday's are not unheard of to have nighttime entertainment.

Hopping at DLR is not like hopping at wdw... The parks are closer together than you can even imagine. Let's see... You've stayed at AKL... Imagine where you park at AKL and the windows in the lobby overlooking the animals... Yeah the parks are closer together than that. Not everyone hops, because they don't think they need to. But hopping is what the bulk of the vets do because it is so easy to zig when others are zagging.