A couple general questions from a DLR newbie!

[tellemarie]

Hello disboards! I've been a very loving member of the boards on the WDW side, but I'm in the process of planning a trip to DLR and had a couple of questions.

1. I'm going to be staying for about a week and wanted to stay at DLH and have heard about the AP discounts. I wanted to know if anyone thought it would be worth it to purchase either of the AP for my tickets and the discount for the hotel stay.

2. If I get the AP I would obviously need to get it activated before I could show DLH the pass (I believe, but tell me if this is wrong or I can do it at the same time). If this is the case, would it be recommended to just stay at one of the hotels across the street for the first night, go to DL and get the pass activated, and then go over to DLH the next day?

3. If I do that (wow lots of "if"s!) would it be pretty easy/cheap to get a shuttle from the airport to the hotel (I was thinking of Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn) and then a car service or taxi from the hotel to DLH? Even though it's close to the resort I don't really want to walk around Anaheim with my luggage.

4. Last and final question! I pretty much only go to WDW when it's the off season and cooler. I would like to go to DLR during the off season and also when it's cooler, but also when at least IASW and HM will still be up and running. I don't mind going when Xmas decor is up if this matters. I just like my Disney as cheap and cool as possible

Thank you so much for any help! I've already read over HydroGuy's tips and they were super helpful in a lot of areas

 

[furb & dez]

4. Last and final question! I pretty much only go to WDW when it's the off season and cooler. I would like to go to DLR during the off season and also when it's cooler, but also when at least IASW and HM will still be up and running. I don't mind going when Xmas decor is up if this matters. I just like my Disney as cheap and cool as possible

There is no offseason at the DLR any more. There's insanely busy, busy, and slightly less busy.

 

[blackjackdelta]

There is no offseason at the DLR any more. There's insanely busy, busy, and slightly less busy.

You may want to look at the stickies at the top of the board but here is one that will give you some knowledge...http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Jack

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

As far as your off-season question. With your specific requirements that it be cool and that both Small World and Haunted Mansion are up and running, you have only a few possibilities really. I would say your best bets are the first two weeks of December (holiday decor will be up) or the last two weeks of January. Another possibility would be late February or early March before spring break crowds come, and the weather might be cool. The risk you run in January and February and sometimes March is rain, but if you're ok with that, then that too will help thin the crowds.

As for the AP, you don't need to actually have the AP to book the AP rate. Tell the phone reservation person that you will be getting your AP when you get there. I don't know exactly how it works these days, but when we stayed at the Paradise Pier several years ago, we were able to upgrade our tickets to AP vouchers right at the check-in desk. We were then able to take those to the ticket booths at the park for the actual APs. These days you can pre-buy your AP vouchers right before your trip if that works best for you. Whether you need to have the actual AP in hand at check-in or the voucher will be satisfactory or if they will make you come back sometime before check-out to let them verify you have a valid AP I don't actually know. Perhaps someone who has done this recently can say, or you can call Disney and ask.

 

[skiingfast]

1. I'm going to be staying for about a week and wanted to stay at DLH and have heard about the AP discounts. I wanted to know if anyone thought it would be worth it to purchase either of the AP for my tickets and the discount for the hotel stay.

Will you also get to WDW in 365 days? In DLR one visit won't be worth the APs that cost over $380. If you go to WDW you could look at a Premier AP for both resorts. If you do it at DLR only your hotel savings will probably be under $50 because the savings are not great compared to general offers.

2. If I get the AP I would obviously need to get it activated before I could show DLH the pass (I believe, but tell me if this is wrong or I can do it at the same time). If this is the case, would it be recommended to just stay at one of the hotels across the street for the first night, go to DL and get the pass activated, and then go over to DLH the next day?

It is the same as WDW, you can reserve at an AP rate, but need the AP in hand to get the rate when you check in. You can pickup your AP at the ticket booths and then go right to the hotel. It is easy to do unless you show up in the middle of the night.

3. If I do that (wow lots of "if"s!) would it be pretty easy/cheap to get a shuttle from the airport to the hotel (I was thinking of Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn) and then a car service or taxi from the hotel to DLH? Even though it's close to the resort I don't really want to walk around Anaheim with my luggage.

There are not airport shuttles to DLR area hotels. But you can get shuttles or taxis to pay for tranportation easily.

Some people have walked with thier luggage from onsite to offsite or vice versa. It's not fun but is doable.

4. Last and final question! I pretty much only go to WDW when it's the off season and cooler. I would like to go to DLR during the off season and also when it's cooler, but also when at least IASW and HM will still be up and running. I don't mind going when Xmas decor is up if this matters. I just like my Disney as cheap and cool as possible

[/QUOTE]

Just read the thread BlackJack posted. The answers are in there.

 

[DisMike]

1. I'm going to be staying for about a week and wanted to stay at DLH and have heard about the AP discounts. I wanted to know if anyone thought it would be worth it to purchase either of the AP for my tickets and the discount for the hotel stay.

Beware the AP blackouts. Probably not a problem in the offseason though.

4. Last and final question! I pretty much only go to WDW when it's the off season and cooler. I would like to go to DLR during the off season and also when it's cooler, but also when at least IASW and HM will still be up and running. I don't mind going when Xmas decor is up if this matters. I just like my Disney as cheap and cool as possible

Thank you so much for any help! I've already read over HydroGuy's tips and they were super helpful in a lot of areas

We like to go the 2nd week in November. The weather is still warm (anywhere from the 70s to the 90s). The warm weather in SoCal is nowhere near like the warm weather in FL. Much, much less humidity. 85 degrees is comfortable in SoCal.

Also, all the rides are usually up except those that are getting Christmas overlays. The only one that we've consistently seen as being down is IASW which is no big deal for us but might be for you.

Lastly, the parks are D-E-A-D. Never have waited longer than 15 minutes for a ride (except weekends or Veteran's Day). Then with the proper use of fast passes it takes most of that issue away.

Have fun!

 

[Aust]

I recently bought an AP online that won't be activated until I'm there in September, and have booked the AP rate at PPH - the CM said I just need to show my paperwork for the AP when I check in.