HydroGuy
A Pirate's Life For Me
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
The entertainment offerings at DLR are significantly reduced during off-season. WDW vets in particular may get tripped up by this as WDW works differently in this regard. Non-regular DLR visitors planning a multi-day trip may not be aware of this either.
Compounding things further, DLR does not post their entertainment schedule until 1-3 months ahead of time. So if you plan an off-season trip far in advance, you may find out too late that you will not be able to see some of the excellent shows and parades at DLR. This is different from WDW where park hours, EMH, and entertainment are posted at least 6 months in advance. WDW vets can confidently plan a WDW trip for any week of the year and be comfortable they will have access to all of the entertainment offerings. Thinking that DLR works similarly is a mistake.
During high season this is not a concern because entertainment schedules are maxed out every day. During off-season a full entertainment schedule will be available on weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun). On weekdays there will be reduced entertainment. Typically that means no fireworks show at DL, no Fantasmic at DL, perhaps only one parade at DL, and no parade at DCA.
If off-season visitors want to be able to see some of these excellent shows, they will need to overlap some of their days over a weekend. However, with so many locals visiting DLR the difference between weekend and weekday crowds is significant, much more so than at WDW. Weekend crowds at DLR are pretty much comparable to high season year round. This means Friday nights, and Saturday and Sunday all day.
If you plan to visit DLR during high season, then the full entertainment schedule every day means it is a no-brainer to avoid weekends whenever possible.
Also be aware that DLR takes rides down for refurb and/or seasonal changeovers (HM and IASW) in off-season so you will be much more likely to miss some rides. See "HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852
During the lowest season DL and DCA will close at 8PM. If you see such hours on the DLR calendar this usually means there will be no entertainment that evening. The only exception I can think of would be short hours in early December where the Christmas parade and fireworks still are shown nightly. But Fantasmic is not.
The best way to predict park hours and entertainment is to look at what happened in recent years. Things do not change that much year to year. Check the links in this thread:
"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124
Also see "Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens " http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602
Which Days Should You Visit DLR In Off-Season?
My personal opinion is...
1. Three Day Trip and you do not care about entertainment offerings
Go Tuesday-Thursday.
2. Three Day Trip and you do care about entertainment offerings
Go Thursday-Saturday. On Thursday all day and Friday morning focus on rides. You will have Friday and Saturday night (usually) for full entertainment. If you want to see fireworks do that Friday night - HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule.
3. Four Day Trip and you do not care about entertainment offerings
Go Monday-Thursday.
4. Four Day Trip and you do care about entertainment offerings
Go Wednesday-Saturday. On Wednesday and Thursday all day and Friday morning focus on rides. You will have Friday and Saturday night (usually) for full entertainment. If you want to see fireworks do that Friday night - HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule.
Compounding things further, DLR does not post their entertainment schedule until 1-3 months ahead of time. So if you plan an off-season trip far in advance, you may find out too late that you will not be able to see some of the excellent shows and parades at DLR. This is different from WDW where park hours, EMH, and entertainment are posted at least 6 months in advance. WDW vets can confidently plan a WDW trip for any week of the year and be comfortable they will have access to all of the entertainment offerings. Thinking that DLR works similarly is a mistake.
During high season this is not a concern because entertainment schedules are maxed out every day. During off-season a full entertainment schedule will be available on weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun). On weekdays there will be reduced entertainment. Typically that means no fireworks show at DL, no Fantasmic at DL, perhaps only one parade at DL, and no parade at DCA.
If off-season visitors want to be able to see some of these excellent shows, they will need to overlap some of their days over a weekend. However, with so many locals visiting DLR the difference between weekend and weekday crowds is significant, much more so than at WDW. Weekend crowds at DLR are pretty much comparable to high season year round. This means Friday nights, and Saturday and Sunday all day.
If you plan to visit DLR during high season, then the full entertainment schedule every day means it is a no-brainer to avoid weekends whenever possible.
Also be aware that DLR takes rides down for refurb and/or seasonal changeovers (HM and IASW) in off-season so you will be much more likely to miss some rides. See "HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852
During the lowest season DL and DCA will close at 8PM. If you see such hours on the DLR calendar this usually means there will be no entertainment that evening. The only exception I can think of would be short hours in early December where the Christmas parade and fireworks still are shown nightly. But Fantasmic is not.
The best way to predict park hours and entertainment is to look at what happened in recent years. Things do not change that much year to year. Check the links in this thread:
"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124
Also see "Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens " http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602
Which Days Should You Visit DLR In Off-Season?
My personal opinion is...
1. Three Day Trip and you do not care about entertainment offerings
Go Tuesday-Thursday.
2. Three Day Trip and you do care about entertainment offerings
Go Thursday-Saturday. On Thursday all day and Friday morning focus on rides. You will have Friday and Saturday night (usually) for full entertainment. If you want to see fireworks do that Friday night - HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule.
3. Four Day Trip and you do not care about entertainment offerings
Go Monday-Thursday.
4. Four Day Trip and you do care about entertainment offerings
Go Wednesday-Saturday. On Wednesday and Thursday all day and Friday morning focus on rides. You will have Friday and Saturday night (usually) for full entertainment. If you want to see fireworks do that Friday night - HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule.