August/September 2008

[Imjustpeachy]

Alright, here's my question. Why is it that from September 2nd on, there are no shows? Like the fireworks and Fantasmic? Besides the fact that they close early on some days, I've checked the calendar and there are no shows on the days that they are opened late [ie. 11 or 12]. Why is that? If anyone can help, it is appreciated.

I want to plan a trip to go this summer and It stinks that if the week we decide to go, there are no shows. There's already a lot to do there, but I always look foward to Fantasmic and RDCT. Could it be because they may be touching up the Fantasmic show and/or changing the firework show?

[atbsfire]

im sure its cause its right after the summer season which means not as much park goes x]

[RankoAnime]

I'm just going to take a wild guess, but...I know Fantasmic! auditions are coming up in late July, so the show might be going down so that the new cast can rehearse?

[arizonahoya1]

By that time, the summer off-season has started. The special shows only occur during peak season times (all summer and holidays, mainly). I guess that is the downside to visiting during less crowded times at the park(s).

[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.

[stephaniestracener]

School starts on August 26th for many, many kids...can't travel with your kids just starting school, plus they cleanup after the busy summer season and also get ready for the upcoming holidays...

You need to check the refurb schedule.

Disney seemed to think that it would be a great idea to suddenly list a bunch of stuff as closed with only 3 weeks' notice.

Carefully check the refurb schedule, my friend. It's a real bummer after the second of September.

Closed on the second are:

Conostoga Wagon
Fantasmic!
French Market
Harbour Galley
Haunted Mansion
it's a small world
New Orleans Square Railroad Station
Sailing Ship Columbia
Burger Invasion
Flik's Flyers
Hyperion Theater

Not sure when they re-open. It's bad news for a lot of us who booked around the refurb schedule, and then found so many things closed when they changed the schedule the next day (that's what happened to me).

Book safely, and have a lot of fun on the trip!

[#1DisneyFreak]

I thought fireworks ran year round. I wonder if they are closed because they are redoing the Sleeping Beauty walkthrough. didn't they have fireworks shooting from that area? Can't work with them firing at you haha.

[Disney Babe]

The fireworks go to weekends only off peak season.

They may be closing French Market and the NOS train station because of working on the pathways of NOS. Darkbeer has a recent report about this.