1st time- questions!!

[laura12581]

I am a veteran of WDW, but we just moved to the Central Coast of California. I am planning a trip to DL in Feb.
So my questions:
1. Will President's Day weekend (also Valentine's Day) be a nightmare of crowds? We will have to go a weekend due to DH's job and he will be off for President's day.
2. Does it matter where I stay? (At WDW I ONLY stay in the parks) Where should I stay- DS will be 13 months? Any insight here is appreciated!
3. How do I get from LAX to DL?
4. Do you have a recommended guidebook? The one I have is not specific and not very helpful, which is why I have these questions.

Thanks so much!!

 

[HydroGuy]

I am a veteran of WDW, but we just moved to the Central Coast of California. I am planning a trip to DL in Feb.
So my questions:
1. Will President's Day weekend (also Valentine's Day) be a nightmare of crowds? We will have to go a weekend due to DH's job and he will be off for President's day.

Can't speak from personal experience on this one. So others should jump in. All holiday weekends tend to be busy. I doubt it will be a "nightmare". But it will be busy because DLR draws so many locals and holiday weekends tend to be busy times.

2. Does it matter where I stay? (At WDW I ONLY stay in the parks) Where should I stay- DS will be 13 months? Any insight here is appreciated!

Yes! It matters. I like onsite at WDW too but at DLR the bang for the buck, so to speak, is much less IMO.

My thoughts are summarized here FWIW:

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

3. How do I get from LAX to DL?

There is a dire need for a travel thread here on the DLR board to answer questions like this. So far we do not have one. I usually drive to DLR from out of state and can't give you an answer from experience. If I did fly I would probably take a taxi as we have six in our family and that is faster and cheaper than a shuttle. Others have done this personally and can give better ideas.

4. Do you have a recommended guidebook? The one I have is not specific and not very helpful, which is why I have these questions.

Getting published info on DLR is harder than WDW because it is a smaller resort with less than half the annual attendance which is made up mostly of locals on day trips. There is probably 10% of the demand for this kind of thing at DLR compared to WDW. I have yet to find a DLR guidebook worth buying.

This lengthy thread has some info you might find helpful:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Hydroguy is right about needing a transportation sticky or something.

From LAX - you can get your own personal SuperShuttle, if you have over 6 people.

Easiest and cheapest way to get there, if you stay on property (or in walking distance) is the DL Express Bus operated by Gray Line Buses. they often have coupons on their website for a discounted price.

I'm a local, but I still love spending the occasional night in the DL hotels. I like to stay immersed (why I bought DVC so many years ago...), so I prefer them to the offsite ones, but you really can't beat the price of some of the neighboring hotels like the HoJo. It's really up to what your personal preference is. If you stay at the DLH, and you wake up really super early, it's fun to grab a coffee and just wander the hotel property and absorb the history and atmosphere. I love to then wander DTD before heading back to the room and waking the family.

Depends what you want in a guidebook, but Birnbaum makes one and so does the Unofficial Guide.

 

[Hound 109]

I've read guide books....& there is more information & more USEFUL information found in HydroGuy's collection of tip threads than in most guidebooks.

& I agree with Yellow Ponchos.....staying on site is great....but if a huge difference in price, staying within walking distance on Harbor Blvd is great as well. (MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WDW, where one should always stay "on site")

Read the threads that he's linked above.....& then read most of the others found in his compilation link below:

HydroGuy DLR Tips Compilation: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.