1st time DLR Visit – need advice

[Katems]

Oh no oh no oh no!!! I just purchased our flights and we arrive August 18th through the 25th, with our first Disney day slated to be August 20th!!! Someone above just explained how August 20th is the first day the AP blackout dates are lifted!! I picked horrible dates, didn't I?? Will my first trip to Disneyland be doomed? I am a Disney World vet and I assumed the southern schools being back in session in August would make the later part of August a safe bet for Disneyland. (

 

[HydroGuy]

Oh no oh no oh no!!! I just purchased our flights and we arrive August 18th through the 25th, with our first Disney day slated to be August 20th!!! Someone above just explained how August 20th is the first day the AP blackout dates are lifted!! I picked horrible dates, didn't I?? Will my first trip to Disneyland be doomed? I am a Disney World vet and I assumed the southern schools being back in session in August would make the later part of August a safe bet for Disneyland. (

Doomed? LOL, no. Will it be busy? Yes, but mostly concentrated around CarsLand and the new areas of DCA. The other parts of DLR I suspect will be a bit busier as well, but nothing like grid lock - except for maybe Cars Land.

I suggest you stop worrying about it since you are locked into dates and just learn how to have the best trip possible. It will still be a great trip but make sure to learn everything you can about touring and especially afternoon breaks and FP.

This advice might help:

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

 

[Katems]

Thanks so much for the helpful link! You mentioned collecting FastPasses, which is something we do at World, however....at World they are now enforcing the FP return time. Are they doing this at Land, too?? Or can we still collect FPs and use them well after our return window has closed?

Thanks!

 

[DLR29]

Thanks so much for the helpful link! You mentioned collecting FastPasses, which is something we do at World, however....at World they are now enforcing the FP return time. Are they doing this at Land, too?? Or can we still collect FPs and use them well after our return window has closed?

Thanks!

At DLR they are not enforcing the FP return window.

Also if you're arriving on the 18th, that day and the 19th should have relatively low crowds. I plan on going on those 2 days with some of my friends.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

Thanks for the feedback received so far. It's very helpful.

I do know that the week I selected is not slow by any stretch of the imagination; but, I did review many sources before selecting these dates besides Touring Plans. I usually just use them as a starting point anyway. This time around, I read several trip reports from previous years that indicate it being not too bad that week.

Granted Carsland throws everything for a curve <pun intended> this year.

We will be renting the ECV from offsite as it's such a hassle to get them from the parks.

As I mentioned before, I spend a lot of my time with my SLR in the parks so I'm super excited to take on DLR for the first time. I'm going to try to get the fire hydrant spot for WoC on a couple of the nights as it's far enough back from the spray zone to allow me to work my "magic".

The main thing that will throw me off initially is going to be setting up for Magical. At WDW I have it all down to a science of where I set up my camera. Basically you can control where you want the big bursts are in relation to the Castles by moving forward and backward. The further away you go, the higher the bursts appear and the smaller the Castle becomes. Typically I like to keep the Castle as the primary focus of the composition and have the fireworks act as garnish. Since Sleeping Beauty is much shorter than Cinderella I'll have to push in closer and use a wider angle lens to accomplish the same effect; but, in looking at others photos you will lose the northern launched bursts. Oh well, I've got 7 nights to play with it to get it right. (Before you ask, I'll post my WDW and DLR photos eventually)

 

[HydroGuy]

The main thing that will throw me off initially is going to be setting up for Magical. At WDW I have it all down to a science of where I set up my camera. Basically you can control where you want the big bursts are in relation to the Castles by moving forward and backward. The further away you go, the higher the bursts appear and the smaller the Castle becomes. Typically I like to keep the Castle as the primary focus of the composition and have the fireworks act as garnish. Since Sleeping Beauty is much shorter than Cinderella I'll have to push in closer and use a wider angle lens to accomplish the same effect; but, in looking at others photos you will lose the northern launched bursts. Oh well, I've got 7 nights to play with it to get it right. (Before you ask, I'll post my WDW and DLR photos eventually)

I love your diligent plan to get shots of the fireworks show at DL! Best of luck as you fine tune your location!