Weekend or not weekend in sept?

[seobaina]

Ok, I keep hearing about different things being shut except at the weekend. We've got 2 to 2 and a half days to visit Disneyland in sept and it's my friends first ever trip. I love fantasmic and raved about that, but she hasn't said there is any one specific thing she wants to see...just all of it LOL. Are we better going mid-week for less crowds, or weekend for the shows, or overlapping somehow (like sunday/monday or thurs/fri)? Would appreciate the experts help!

 

[HydroGuy]

You can have a great time at DLR by skipping shows. Prior to 2000 I always skipped shows to get on more rides. However, that was before I walked past a showing of Fantasmic in 2000. We went back the next night to get good seats for our kiddos and ever since have been hooked on DLR's great shows.

So, my two cents is to go Thursday/Friday, and you can have lower crowds on Thursday all day and Friday during the day, and have Fantasmic and fireworks Friday night.

In Sept you will likely miss Haunted Mansion and possibly Matterhorn as these are usually closed after Labor Day.

 

[seobaina]

Thanks for the advice, Haunted Mansion will be closed? Is there anywhere I can look up what rides etc are shut before I go?

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for the advice, Haunted Mansion will be closed? Is there anywhere I can look up what rides etc are shut before I go?

It will be hard to get ride closure info this far out. You can find it here on DIS. I trust the info on MousePlanet in their weekly park updates. Here is a link to this week's update:

www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=dl070514xx#Rehabs

If you look at past updates for Sept you can get an idea of what was closed in past years. Here is a link: www.mouseplanet.com/search.php?type=c&cid=dl

You can also check www.riderefurbs.com .

HM usually goes down the day after Labor Day until the final weekend in Sept. Matterhorn usually goes down after Labor Day until Oct.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Depends on if the shows are really important to you. We like the shows and parades but having shorter lines for rides and less crowds is most important to us. So in Oct. were doing all weekdays. If they are important you could also do it to where you have one Friday or Saturday thrown in there so you can catch them. We will be there for a Friday and will probably catch some that way.

But since we go so often during June/July we see the shows and parades then, so our Oct trip is okay for us during the week.

 

[seobaina]

Thank you, I'll keep an eye on the site. I would normally say the shows were more important because my friend has never been to a disney park in her life...but then if the queues are so bad we only get on two or three rides it'll be bad. Think I'm gonna have to work out how to split it half and half and hope HM is open. Which shows wouldn't you miss?

 

[ChrisMouse]

We included a Friday in our trip to make sure we didn't miss the fireworks...

I am SO GLAD, even though the crowds were large Friday. There is no word to describe the fireworks...they were just so amazing. I would never want to miss them! I imagine Fantasmic is the same!!! Do an overlap and include one day for your shows!

 

[oscarkitty1]

I would just caution that if you overlap for the best of both worlds, keep in mind it might not work out exactly as planned. My DH hates the long lines, and prefers to go through the week. I love all fireworks and I think that those at DL are the best!!

We compromised on one fall trip and went Wed - Fri, so that I could see the fireworks. After standing in longer lines that day, guess what? The fireworks were cancelled due to high winds!!

Still, it was a wonderful trip in all!

Vicki

 

[seobaina]

Aw that sucks oscarkitty. Glad you had a good time anyway. I think I'll discuss it with my friend. THere's no guarentee I know, but I think we might have to try for fantasmic as they don't have that one at Paris. Thanks for the advice.
Oh one question - with the fireworks I've heard about the castle lights? Is that just like with wishes at WDW where it changes colour or does something else happen? I'm asking cause I'm debating the Blue Bayou dessert thing.

 

[oscarkitty1]

I'm not an expert on MK Wishes, since I haven't seen them since Feb 2006. But at DL, it's not just lights on the castle. I don't want to give too much away, but there are character from the rides, and relevant shapes that are projected on the castle.

Also, there is interaction between the castle and the Matterhorn!

And Tink's flight is not to be missed!

Can you tell I love the fireworks!

Vicki

 

[seobaina]

Oh now I have more dilemas because I heard you can't see them from the Blue Bayou....would it be worth trying to make it to the castle after Fantasmic?

 

[HydroGuy]

Oh now I have more dilemas because I heard you can't see them from the Blue Bayou....would it be worth trying to make it to the castle after Fantasmic?

If you see Fantasmic for a 9PM showing you won't be able to get to the hub area to get a decent spot for the fireworks. And you can see fireworks from NOS, but you will miss a big chunk of the fireworks show. It was designed to be seen from the hub or Main Street.

If there is a second showing of Fantasmic at 10:30PM you can see the fireworks first and then make it to see Fantasmic after.

 

[seobaina]

Ah ok, thanks again I'm guessing there will be only one Fantasmic showing as it's september, so I think I'm gonna have to chose between the shows...oh well. Thanks again for all the information.

 

[iceskatejen]

The Blue Bayou is an indoor restaurant, so you wouldn't be able to see either the fireworks or Fantansmic from there.

 

[seobaina]

The Blue Bayou is an indoor restaurant, so you wouldn't be able to see either the fireworks or Fantansmic from there.

err confused. I thought they did the Fantasmic dessert meal there?

 

[HydroGuy]

err confused. I thought they did the Fantasmic dessert meal there?

There are two locations for the Fantasmic dessert. The first location (called balcony) is above the POTC ride - not in the BB (you can't even see Fantasmic from BB anyways). There is a question at the moment whether the balcony location is still being offered. The second location is called riverside and is next to the Rivers of America.

 

[seobaina]

Ah thanks...I got confused by the 'near POTC' thing. Thanks for clarifying.