Hi everyone!
I'm planning a trip for August 24-25th, and just found out that DCA will be closing at 9pm on Thursday 8/24 for a private radio station event (guests can enter at 6pm). I'm trying to figure out how this should affect our plans if at all. We're about 12 days out from making dining reservations, so I have time to ruminate on it, but not too much!
The given circumstances:
Thanks for reading all of this!
I'm planning a trip for August 24-25th, and just found out that DCA will be closing at 9pm on Thursday 8/24 for a private radio station event (guests can enter at 6pm). I'm trying to figure out how this should affect our plans if at all. We're about 12 days out from making dining reservations, so I have time to ruminate on it, but not too much!
The given circumstances:
- 2 friends, late 30s/early 40s
- We've traveled together a lot. I'm a planner, he's "go with the flow" but always comes away bragging to people about how much we got done!
- Staying 3 nights at the Cortona Inn, right across from the Toy Story lot. The plan is to use the parking lot shuttle from there and stay in the parks rope drop till closing, with some slower-paced activities worked in throughout the day to keep our stamina up.
- I'm living in San Diego now. He's coming out to visit from the East coast, so this is part of a longer visit.
- We'll have spent the previous 2 nights in Sequoia National Park doing some hiking. We'll be packing in all our food for those days, so will be ready to enjoy Disney dining
- We currently have 2 Undercover Tourist tickets with Genie+ but no park hopping. I generally like to limit the "bouncing around" to appreciate the immersive theming, so in a vacuum, I prefer not to park hop on a short trip.
- We've been to Disneyland together (1 day at each park) once, 5-6 years ago. I went to DL a bunch as a kid, and have visited a couple additional times as an adult, most recently one day at DCA just before Christmas.
- Friday 8/25 is my birthday (not the reason for the trip, but a bonus!)
- Sunset will be around 7:30pm in late August
- Arrive in Anaheim on Wed 8/23, leaving Sequoia mid-late morning. Dinner at Trader Sam's if I can get a reservation for 7pm or so.
- Thurs 8/24 DCA
- Hit attractions pretty heavily throughout the morning using G+ and rope drop strategies.
- Slow down in the afternoon, catching shows, exploring Avenger's Campus, using a few more LLs, and taking a break at Lamplight Lounge (hoping to get a reservation for around 3:30pm)
- Evening shows/re-rides if possible
- Dr. Strange (not a big deal at all if we miss this. Could also just do it earlier in the day, but I've heard it's best later)
- Incredicoaster (we will ride during RD and save our LL to ride at sunset or after dark)
- World of Color (using VQ)- We do not need an amazing view, but do want to see it
- RSR re-ride (willing to use ILL if necessary)
- Guardians of the Galaxy re-ride (will rope drop and use a LL earlier, but we were planning to try to hit it as our last ride if we could make it in line just before closing)
- Fri 8/25 Disneyland
- Hit attractions pretty heavily throughout the morning using G+ and rope drop strategies.
- Lunch reservation at Cafe Orleans, hopefully around 11:30am
- More relaxed afternoon, with time for slower attractions/shows and snacks
- Get to Galaxy's Edge around 3:30 and stay through sunset (both attractions, Oga's, quick service dinner)
- Catch fireworks from Main Street, but otherwise evening is free for re-rides, unless an evening parade is added (I've heard this is possible due to the cancellation of Fantasmic, so I want to keep it on my radar just in case)
- If possible, save LL for BTMRR to ride at night
- Matterhorn, Space re-rides using Single Rider?
- Sat 8/26 Return to San Diego
- Keep our plans as-is, and just be prepared for increased crowds on Thursday after 6pm.
- Pros:
- Keeps the intended cadence of a lower-key park first, since we'll probably be tired from Sequoia NP when we arrive.
- Lets us finish with Disneyland on my birthday, which just seems more fun- and lets us end with fireworks, which for me tops WOC by a bit.
- Keeps with the original intention of hitting DCA on the likely more crowded day, since Imagine Keys are allowed on Thursday but blocked out on Friday.
- I've managed DCA with crowds just before Christmas and it wasn't a big deal at all.
- Depending on how aggressively they're kicking people out, we might be able to ride RSR with an ILL right after WOC, and then enjoy the lights in Carsland (maybe even get a snack?) as we work our way toward the exit.
- Could even visit the Grand Californian bar for a nightcap in the unlikely event we have extra stamina.
- Cons:
- Crowds obviously stink, and depending on how big this event is they might be really bad?
- With a relatively late sunset time, we will have a hard time trying to fit in most of the things we'd like to see at night. For example, I think we'd absolutely need to use an ILL if we want to ride RSR after WOC (scheduled for 8:15), and would probably need to be happy with two rides on Guardians.
- Pros:
- Swap parks- do DL on Thurs and DCA on Fri
- Pros:
- Avoids the DCA event crowds on Thurs and gives us an extra hour of park time.
- Cons:
- Could potentially give us a more crowded day at DL on Thursday, and that's the park I think is harder to manage lines.
- Risks "peaking early," doing DL on Day 1 and then leaving us tired for the park that has fewer attractions.
- Pros:
- Add Park Hoppers
- Pros:
- Flexibility, letting us keep most of our plans but jumping ship when DCA gets too crowded.
- Opportunity to juggle if things like weather or other issues temporarily shut down favorite attractions.
- More park hours, specifically after dark when it's extra pretty and cooler.
- Cons:
- Obviously it costs extra money, and may involve some complication since they're Undercover Tourist tickets.
- If we do pay extra for the hoppers, we may decide not to spring for ILLs
- We'd still need to do WOC on Thurs night unless we are ok not ending our trip/my birthday with fireworks.
- Pros:
Thanks for reading all of this!