with grad dates and annula passes which are the best dates late June??

[frazzle]

Hi there, I am a total newbie and know very little about Disneyland as I live waaaaayyyyy down the bottom of the world in New Zealand. I'm hoping someone can help me decide on my dates for a visit in June.

We don't have a lot of flexibility as we are moving for my husbands work and have to be in Europe by early July.

We are thinking of coming through Disneyland for 3 days during the week 20-26 June. From what I've read here there is quite a bit going on to balance up in deciding the best days. Is this right??

Mon - not a blocked out day
Tues - not a blocked out day
Wed - blocked day
Thurs - blocked day but grad night
Fri - blocked day but park usually very busy on a friday

So my question is what will be busier...the non-blocked days or the days around the grad night? We have 3 kids (4, 7 and 11) so are looking for the best days to visit.

I'm thinking it would be good to be there on the Wednesday so do we make it Mon/trues/wed or Tues/Wed/Thurs or Wed/Thurs/Fri?

I thought the week before would be good but there are Grad nights on the 16th and 17th.

Thoughts and advice from the professionals would be much appreciated!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I'd stick to the blocked days. The only real difference you will see on Grad nights is that DCA will close at 6 pm and DL at 9 pm. The kids won't be at the park until after everyone else is gone. And some have noticed that Grad Nights are generally slower during the day.

 

[Eeee-va]

Everything I heard was that you definitely want to do Wednesday-Thursday-Friday. Friday morning and even afternoon may be all right (usually they are but World of Color is a whole new animal). Traditionally, it's Friday night that gets busy. I think there's an excellent chance that Monday and Tuesday night will be busier than Friday night.

I'd do your nighttime entertainment (if applicable) on Wednesday and Thursday night, as much as practical.

Have a great trip!

 

[frazzle]

thanks for that. I was worried the Friday might be a bit full on for our last day, So there would still be an early entry on the Thursday?

What is World of Colour? A new attraction?

 

[Eeee-va]

Yes, there should be a Magic Morning on that Grad Nite. I THINK they have fireworks shortly before Disneyland's 9 PM closing on Grad Nites, so that might be a possibility.

World of Color is a brand new show opening June 11th. It's a fountain/water/laser/etc. show in the big "bay"/water/lagoon area of DCA. It's going to bring large crowds to the parks, I think, but luckily a predicted 9,000+ people will be watching the show at 9 PM and another 9,000+ at 10:30 PM. As it will be BRAND NEW, it will be very popular and a whole lot of people will be coming to the park to see it.

With a 4-year-old, I think I would probably not plan to do World of Color, because the viewing area (standing only) might be a challenge and the crowds could feel kind of oppressive. There has been no announced place to sit during the show. There should be a yet-to-be-confirmed priority seating/dessert or dinner package, but that will range from fairly pricey (at least $59) to possibly a lot more expensive than that; we don't know.

I'd probably look at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2443719 whether or not you want to see the show, since it will affect crowd levels and patterns.

 

[HydroGuy]

thanks for that. I was worried the Friday might be a bit full on for our last day, So there would still be an early entry on the Thursday?

What is World of Colour? A new attraction?

Fridays are really only bad when they are unblocked. I would totally do Wed-Th-Fri.

For WoC info see World of Color Superthread

 

[cooniez]

So glad you posted this thread. We'll be there the week before you (June 17-22nd) & I was thinking of doing F! & WOC Thur., June 17 until I read your thread! It's tough for a newbie like me to get it all straight

 

[Eeee-va]

So glad you posted this thread. We'll be there the week before you (June 17-22nd) & I was thinking of doing F! & WOC Thur., June 17 until I read your thread! It's tough for a newbie like me to get it all straight

Unless you're doing it for the sheer experience of doing both in one night, I would try to do them on separate nights. World of Color crowds are going to be crazy, and the current rumors at least are that even with Showpass you'll be lining up well in advance to use them, so I don't think you could do Fantasmic! and then go over to WoC. (Plus there are rumors now that the 10:30 showing of WoC won't have Showpass at all, in which case you definitely wouldn't get a spot in the viewing area if you came over from Fantasmic!)

If you really want to do them on one (non Grad Nite ) night, I'd do WoC at 9 PM (trying to keep near an exit area, if that's even feasible), and then try to get back for Fantasmic!, likely taking the train to New Orleans Square. Both WoC shows will be full, but the second Fantasmic! might not be so bad.

But I don't know how long it will take crowds to clear WoC. Once we see how the crowds go in the first few days, we should know if that plan is remotely feasible!

 

[cooniez]

Unless you're doing it for the sheer experience of doing both in one night, I would try to do them on separate nights. World of Color crowds are going to be crazy, and the current rumors at least are that even with Showpass you'll be lining up well in advance to use them, so I don't think you could do Fantasmic! and then go over to WoC. (Plus there are rumors now that the 10:30 showing of WoC won't have Showpass at all, in which case you definitely wouldn't get a spot in the viewing area if you came over from Fantasmic!)

If you really want to do them on one (non Grad Nite ) night, I'd do WoC at 9 PM (trying to keep near an exit area, if that's even feasible), and then try to get back for Fantasmic!, likely taking the train to New Orleans Square. Both WoC shows will be full, but the second Fantasmic! might not be so bad.

But I don't know how long it will take crowds to clear WoC. Once we see how the crowds go in the first few days, we should know if that plan is remotely feasible!

whoops, I meant to say I wanted to get either F! or WOC done on Thur. night (sorry for the typo!)...but it looks like I won't get to do either. Thanks for the info. though! Yes, after reading some threads & the Unofficial DL Guide I've decided we're going to try for the 2nd showing of F! (assuming the girls feel up to it). I just hope in the 5 nights we are there that we're able to see both of these shows!

 

[Leofoenget]

Fridays are really only bad when they are unblocked. I would totally do Wed-Th-Fri.

For WoC info see World of Color Superthread

I'm planning a late June trip too. Thanks for the info. I'm usually pretty good figuring this stuff out, but with WOC and the late Grad Nites I'm lost

 

[Eeee-va]

whoops, I meant to say I wanted to get either F! or WOC done on Thur. night (sorry for the typo!)...but it looks like I won't get to do either. Thanks for the info. though! Yes, after reading some threads & the Unofficial DL Guide I've decided we're going to try for the 2nd showing of F! (assuming the girls feel up to it). I just hope in the 5 nights we are there that we're able to see both of these shows!

Fantasmic! most likely won't be hard if you do the second showing.

You will probably be able to see WoC, but it will be crowded and probably involve waiting in a lengthy line for a "Showpass" at park or maybe even before DCA opens. I'd personally do WoC Wednesday and Fantasmic! Friday.

Have fun!

 

[cooniez]

Fantasmic! most likely won't be hard if you do the second showing.

You will probably be able to see WoC, but it will be crowded and probably involve waiting in a lengthy line for a "Showpass" at park or maybe even before DCA opens. I'd personally do WoC Wednesday and Fantasmic! Friday.

Have fun!

OP was the one doing a W-T-F I think (I'm actually doing TH.-TU., but leaving Tues. morning/afternoon). Given that my schedule includes what will probably be one of the busiest weekends before the APs are blocked, what day would you recommend doing WOC? (sorry OP if I hijacked your thread )

 

[HydroGuy]

OP was the one doing a W-T-F I think (I'm actually doing TH.-TU., but leaving Tues. morning/afternoon). Given that my schedule includes what will probably be one of the busiest weekends before the APs are blocked, what day would you recommend doing WOC? (sorry OP if I hijacked your thread )

Don't think it matters. I would try it see earlier rather than later. Maybe you will want to see it a second time?

 

[cooniez]

Don't think it matters. I wold try it see earlier rather than later. Maybe you will want to see it a second time?

I was just responding to the post where Eeee-va said it would be best to do WOC Wednesday (but we won't be in LA until Thur. afternoon). I'd love to go a day earlier though! Thanks Eeee-va & Hydroguy for your suggestions. We probably should brave the crowds anyway earlier in our trip just in case we decide we want to see a second time

 

[Eeee-va]

OP was the one doing a W-T-F I think (I'm actually doing TH.-TU., but leaving Tues. morning/afternoon). Given that my schedule includes what will probably be one of the busiest weekends before the APs are blocked, what day would you recommend doing WOC? (sorry OP if I hijacked your thread )

Ooops, sorry! Reading usernames is not my strong suit.

So you'll be there 6/17 - 6/22? Or 6/24-6/29?

I'm not sure yet, not having seen how WoC really runs yet. Saturday has more APs blocked out, which could be a HUGE help in theory (in reality, maybe not). But even locals who work Monday - Friday jobs can get to the park around opening on Saturday, so the lines for WoC showpasses might be much worse on Saturday and might be smaller on Friday. But then again, locals tend to not quite make it to the park at opening any day, so who knows? (If you're in the front of the line it doesn't really matter how many people are behind you, considering every show will be at capacity, IMO.)

Anyway, I'd keep an eye on the DISboards to see how it's going opening weekend. If Saturday 6/12 ends up having significantly worse Showpass lines than the premiere date Friday 6/11, then I would definitely do WoC Friday, blockouts or not. If premiere Friday is only a little worse than Saturday, then Friday may still be the better day a week or two after. (I'll be there that premiere weekend so I'll try to keep everyone updated. )

But at this point I'm keeping in mind that Saturday is more blocked, plus Friday won't have magic mornings for anyone, so you can do Fantasyland with no lines at Disneyland opening if you're not stuck waiting in the WoC line. (Though you can probably have a poor "runner" wait in the Showpass line while the rest of your party enjoys the park?) Anyway, by that logic, I'd personally try:

*Fireworks (if possible) on Grad Nite Thursday
*If you saw fireworks Thursday, then Fantasmic (2nd show if possible) on 2-pass-types blocked Friday; otherwise if fireworks are a priority, fireworks
*WoC on 3-pass-types-blocked Saturday
*If you have to, fireworks or the second Fantasmic on 1-pass-type-blocked Sunday (but if you need to see WoC again, you can try it)
*If at all possible, no nighttime entertainment on 0-pass-types-blocked Monday (but if you need to see WoC again, you can try it)

Have a great time!