Would you try to reschedule June 3-12 trip?

[kwgilley]

We've been planning our 2nd trip to DL for June 3-12. I knew it would be busier than our first trip last May, but thought the SC AP blackout dates would help. We had planned to make the 2 grad nights this week our non-Disney days. HOWEVER, now with ST & LM opening this weekend is it going to be totally insane? I'm not sure we can adjust DH's vacation time at this point, but should we try?

Thanks for any advice! There will be 5 of us - Me, DH, and 3 kids (16, 12, 10)

 

[yupikgal]

We will be there May 30-June 4th, so during the opening week as well...I'm also kind of nervous about the crowd levels, because the last 2 times we went, Aug & end of May, it was not bad, so we are kind of spoiled! What is the difference between SC AP blackout dates & regular blackouts? On their website, the only thing I could see was that Sat the 4th was a blackout day for AP holders, I looked because I'm considering getting one AP so that we could get a discount on our room onsite if we decide to stay there...

 

[HydroGuy]

If you can easily change you might want to try. But really what would you change it to? 2012? Before or after CarsLand?

This summer it will be busy from June 3 all the way to Labor Day. Then a short breather and then HalloweenTime crowds which seem to grow every year.

Unless you want to wait a long time to go, just be smart about how you tour.

1. Get there early
2. Collect FPs
3. Take afternoon breaks when the lines are longest
4. Eat at off-peak times
5. Focus on rides, rides, rides for the first 2-3 hours of each day
6. Use Magic Mornings well

 

[kwgilley]

@yupikgal: We were also spoiled by the crowds on our last visit. Our MM day, there was literally no one else on Main Street when we entered!! Probably won't see that again ;o) I also thought about getting an AP for the discounts. I want to go on a wknd to see F! - don't know if it'll be running yet on weekdays - and since we won't arrive until LATE Fri night, we'd have to go Sat and then couldn't use the AP.

The Deluxe AP is only blacked out on June 4, but the SoCal AP's have a slightly more restricted calendar.

Deluxe AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...me=AnnualPassholderDeluxeBlockoutCalendarPage
Southern California AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...ame=AnnualPassholderSoCalBlockoutCalendarPage
Southern California Select AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nualPassholderSoCalSelectBlockoutCalendarPage

HydroGuy has an awesome sticky about the different AP's & their impact here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[kwgilley]

@HydroGuy: All great points, as usual. I really don't want to wait a long time to go!! If I changed, it would have to be later in June or sometime in July. June seems like long enough already. I'll follow your suggestions for sure!

We did not use our MM well last time. I could not get the family up & there before we'd missed 1/2 of the time! They were kicking themselves when they saw how empty the park was. Other than getting there early for MM and heading for the popular rides, are there other things we should be doing to maximize MM?

 

[Brady's Mom]

@yupikgal: We were also spoiled by the crowds on our last visit. Our MM day, there was literally no one else on Main Street when we entered!! Probably won't see that again ;o) I also thought about getting an AP for the discounts. I want to go on a wknd to see F! - don't know if it'll be running yet on weekdays - and since we won't arrive until LATE Fri night, we'd have to go Sat and then couldn't use the AP.

The Deluxe AP is only blacked out on June 4, but the SoCal AP's have a slightly more restricted calendar.

Deluxe AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...me=AnnualPassholderDeluxeBlockoutCalendarPage
Southern California AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...ame=AnnualPassholderSoCalBlockoutCalendarPage
Southern California Select AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nualPassholderSoCalSelectBlockoutCalendarPage

HydroGuy has an awesome sticky about the different AP's & their impact here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

If you won't be there until LATE Friday night will you be going into DLR? If you aren't planning on going into DLR until Sat. for MM, you should get a regular parkhopper ticket for you, as well as your family, use the magic morning to it's full advantage and then later that day (Sat.) upgrade your parkhopper to the AP. The only thing you lose is maybe a smallish discount on breakfast or lunch in the park - depending on when you upgrade to the AP.

If you get the AP before you go, your family will have MM privileges and you will be standing outside wishing you could go in.

 

[yupikgal]

If you can easily change you might want to try. But really what would you change it to? 2012? Before or after CarsLand?

This summer it will be busy from June 3 all the way to Labor Day. Then a short breather and then HalloweenTime crowds which seem to grow every year.

Unless you want to wait a long time to go, just be smart about how you tour.

1. Get there early
2. Collect FPs
3. Take afternoon breaks when the lines are longest
4. Eat at off-peak times
5. Focus on rides, rides, rides for the first 2-3 hours of each day
6. Use Magic Mornings well

I always get there early, I'm an early bird! Since my kids are teens, of course they love to sleep in, but I have convinced them to go early (separately) before and it works out nicely! I do take afternoon breaks, because of the crowds, heat and I'm tired by then and need a nap! If I do what I'm planning on doing, I should be getting 2 MM's (2 separate reservations, one for offsite, one for on)

@yupikgal: We were also spoiled by the crowds on our last visit. Our MM day, there was literally no one else on Main Street when we entered!! Probably won't see that again ;o) I also thought about getting an AP for the discounts. I want to go on a wknd to see F! - don't know if it'll be running yet on weekdays - and since we won't arrive until LATE Fri night, we'd have to go Sat and then couldn't use the AP.

The Deluxe AP is only blacked out on June 4, but the SoCal AP's have a slightly more restricted calendar.

Deluxe AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...me=AnnualPassholderDeluxeBlockoutCalendarPage
Southern California AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...ame=AnnualPassholderSoCalBlockoutCalendarPage
Southern California Select AP calendar:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nualPassholderSoCalSelectBlockoutCalendarPage

HydroGuy has an awesome sticky about the different AP's & their impact here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

kwgilley, I know, the only day I'd have to pay extra for me if I get an AP is 6/4, the Disney person said I could upgrade to it. Just thought of something though, I was going to use Costco for the pkg w/tickets for the first part of our trip, but I doubt if I can buy AP's through any other place but Disney directly, correct? So that blows my theory of having 2 MM's..

If you won't be there until LATE Friday night will you be going into DLR? If you aren't planning on going into DLR until Sat. for MM, you should get a regular parkhopper ticket for you, as well as your family, use the magic morning to it's full advantage and then later that day (Sat.) upgrade your parkhopper to the AP. The only thing you lose is maybe a smallish discount on breakfast or lunch in the park - depending on when you upgrade to the AP.

If you get the AP before you go, your family will have MM privileges and you will be standing outside wishing you could go in.

Brady'sMom, are you saying that AP passholders don't get MM's, or am I misunderstanding this?

 

[Briarrose1306]

APs do not get MM unless they are staying onsite.

 

[kwgilley]

Hadn't thought about the MM issue! I think we'll just stay with hoppers for everyone.