[Disney Babe]

I belong to a travel website and participate on their Anaheim forum. If I am remembering correctly, DLR's fiscal year ends at the end of summer, so they decide what they will be doing for fall (September is considered fall) closer to the end of summer. Don't forget that operating hours are subject to change, although during most of the summer prior to Labor Day, they do stay the same. As I understand it, hours are shortened when attendance is projected to fall.

If you are looking at going during the first week of September, after Labor Day, and are seeing long operating hours there is a good bet they will remain long and the shows will be filled into the calendar a little later in the season. Normally, off peak season Fantasmic is dark on weekdays. But I have seen it on the calendar last year and the year before for weekdays in the first week of September. You are also chancing not seeing fireworks if you plan a weekday visit at that time, but if you see keep seeing long hours it is most likely they are going to fill in the calendar schedule with the shows later.

If you are planning to go around the third weekend of September you will be going during Halloweentime. I heard there is some talk about a possible Halloween themed parade, but nothing set yet.

Haunted Mansion usually closes for the NBC overlay the day after Labor Day and will not reopen til Halloweentime begins. Remember, also that rides are more likely to close for reburishment after the summer. Summer season for So. Cal. theme parks is around mid-June to Labor Day. Most theme parks and even zoos cut operating hours and shows the day after Labor Day. I noticed that with Disneyland you sometimes get a little extra summer in the beginning of September if you are lucky!

Your best bet, unless you are planning a weekend day visit, is to change your plans, if possible, to the third week in August. I noticed some shortened hours on the weekdays in the last week of August - don't know if that is still the same. Or call DLR guest relations and see what they will tell you.

Private message me if you want the name of the travel site where I get information. There is someone there who knows things in advance sometimes.