63 days to go! Help me plan, first time visitor!

[Azza1987]

Hi All!

So back in January I booked DLP for April 22nd for 4 nights, staying at Santa Fe! We're first time visitors so have no idea what to expect, but we've been to WDW a few times now.

From what I've read I can book dinner reservations from 60 days which is coming up, but do I really need too? I was hoping (and from what I've read) DLP would be a bit more relaxing then WDW 180 extreme planning! We're quite happy to take it all as it comes but I really don't want to miss out on any 'must do's'. Can anyone given advice/recommendations for what we should be looking to book so I can investigate?

Are FP like old WDW, still on Paper?

Is it a 20 minute walk to the parks from Santa Fe? Or should we just get the shuttle bus?

Thanks in advance! xx

 

[OldSchoolReasons]

You can book dining reservations in advance but you don't have to. Most people do it two weeks in advance, it definitely doesn't have the made rush that WDW has. The restaurants that I'd reserve in advance (even if it's just when you check in to your hotel) are: Bistro Chez Remy, Walts, Blue Lagoon and any character dining you might want to do (Auberge, Inventions, Cafe Mickey).
FP's are paper. It's about a 20 minute walk to the parks depending on your walking speed, it's quite a nice walk past the other hotels, Lake Disney and through the Disney Village/ Marne - La - Valee station and I prefer it to the buses (in fact I never use them).

 

[Isila]

I do use shuttles. Never walk. Too tired in the evening... and rushing in the morning. And it's fun to ride Disney bus.

 

[Joyce_Belle]

The only restaurant I would recommend reservation is Bistro Chez Remy, because it's quite new and so it's popular. Also, Café Mickey is popular because of the characters dining, so maybe that one too. Other restaurants aren't really necassary to reserve. You can make reservations during your stay at the congierge of your hotel or in City Hall in Disneyland Park.

Sometimes the shuttle busses are really crowded during park opening/closing hours. And outside peak hours, you could be waiting for the bus a bit longer. So it's up to you, try both. We like to walk, it's not that far and you walk through Disney Village so that's a plus. Maybe if you're tired you would want to take the bus by the end of the day.

Fastpasses are indeed in paper form. You can get one every 2 hours or earlier if the time on the ticket is earlier.

Good luck, have fun!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I think you can wait to make dining reservations when you arrive but if there is a special meal that you really want you may want to book ahead. I always wait until I arrive and have gotten everything I want - but I am usually very flexible about restaurants and times. I even got Bistro Chez Remy today for lunch and it is crowded right now - but I am a party of one so perhaps that makes it easier.

I do both - walk and take the buses. A nice thing about DLRP compared to WDW is that everything is very near really. Fastpasses are paper - but thirty minute windows not 1 hour windows like WDW.

 

[HeyKoolaid]

We enjoyed the Santa Fe - nice choice. Great pool, and delicious breakfast. Travelled with DS6 and DS8, and we walked each way to and from the park, no problem. We always book dining reservations at WDW, but I wish we hadn't bothered when we went to DLP. We booked Blue Lagoon the same day as our flight arrived (not sure where you are flying from but we came from US) and we were so exhausted we could hardly eat a thing. We booked and prepaid to eat at the Disneyland Hotel the next day (DS 9th birthday), and we were so tired from the full day at the parks that we didnt enjoy that either. Probably the only time I have wished I didn't book ahead, but you might have a different itinerary, or more energy than our family. Still, a memorable trip that we will repeat some day. Enjoy!

 

[torsie24]

We enjoyed the Santa Fe - nice choice. Great pool, and delicious breakfast.

I don't think it could've been SF you stayed at. It doesn't have a pool.

 

[HeyKoolaid]

I don't think it could've been SF you stayed at. It doesn't have a pool.

Sorry, my bad. We stayed at the Sequoia Lodge.