NokOnHarts
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2010
Epic venting here for us out of towners on black hole week so skip on by if you aren't feeling it:
I think it is hard for locals to "completely understand" the time and money it takes to plan a Disneyland vacation in particular. I mean, there really is only a few places in the world to get that true "Disney" feel. Disneyland is a different experience that I want my kids to have a memory of. Added to the fact that my kids are completely obsessed about Disney in general (I think most kids are....they do a great job of that)
Every other large vacation I have planned for my family has had surprises, sure, but I overall knew what I was getting into and what I was paying for. After all, multi day tickets are the same price all year, but you never know what you are paying for with Disneyland until 40ish days before when they finally release the schedule.
I can't book a flight just 40 days beforehand once the schedule is released and expect to get a decent price or even a seat on an airline sometimes. I can't book a hotel anymore in that timeframe and get good availability. But that is disneyland's timeframe for releasing their schedule.
So we have to plan based on past years dates and hours and ride closures. When Disneyland decides to change something big (Like moving Halloween this year plus adding extra stuff) and add in a 5 pm closure, extra overlay closures, plus the usual refurbishments and less hours/entertainment/staff, it is a bummer. The changes are great! Just give us some heads up! 40 days is not a courtesy for your rising prices.
That is the point of this "black hole week" thread. It's about us people who planned ahead of time to accept the shorter hours and refurbishments and such (that's fine, it's a trade off) but based on previous years, Halloween was supposed to be up. Halloween overlays were supposed to be done. If we wanted those problems, us planners would have booked the week before. And by planners, I mean anyone who planned Disneyland just 2 months before Sept 9-14ish. Not obsessive planning honestly. Instead we have all the usual disadvantages plus a slew of others to deal with.
I'm done. Again, first world prob, but it feels good to rant to people in my same situation. Maybe I just need a rain of positivity after looking at my credit card bill.
I am not local at all either (several states away) and I agree with you that the late release of all info. and hours is frustrating to say the least. Honestly, that is why we have stuck with WDW for the last 4 trips even though it was much further to travel than DL. Because we were able to actually "plan" for that trip, instead of making adjustments at the last minute. I guess my point is, when we decided to really do DL this time for several days, I went into it *knowing* that it would all be last minute with surprises that were likely to be disappointing. This is very often considered a "local's" park, versus WDW that is trying to attract more international travel. DL has the visitors, period.. it doesn't have to "try" as hard as WDW because the locals will always come. For those of us who are traveling from further away and spending a pretty penny to do it, the question becomes, is it worth it? To be honest, my husband would say no. He prefers WDW any day. In other words, I completely understand your point but there is a part of me that feels if it is not "worth it" (either in regards to cash or process) maybe we should stick with WDW or other experiences. However, I am going into this knowing it isn't going to be perfect and wanting to soak in all the little moments regardless. Things like seeing my kids ride a ride for the first time, eating Mickey bars together, singing It's a Small World till we all can't stand it
... so many great memories we have made that had nothing to do with what was open or closed. Don't let the bad news ruin the great time that can still be!! 
