A few questions from a DLR newbie...

[karibritt01]

We have visited WDW several times, and are considering giving DLR a try next year. I have a few questions I can't find the answers to in the WDW vets thread.

1) Are there any advantages of a DLR hotel over a good neighbor hotel?
2) We will be there for 5 days. Is the dining plan worth the money? How much can I expect to spend on food otherwise?
3) Walking to/from the hotels? Is it safe? (Forgive me, but I'm in rural NC! And WDW is a self-contained world all to itself.)

 

[PinkBudgie]

The advantage of a DLR hotel would be you can go to all Magic Mornings offered during your stay and you are close to the park. Some offsite places are also close- many here seem to like the Hojo which is walking distance. I have never stayed there, we prefer to stay a little further away (a mile) and drive over. There are nice hotels around and they are way cheaper than the DLR properties.

If you stay somewhere like that there are lots of people walking around so seems pretty safe to me. I haven't walked there in a long time so maybe someone else can answer that better.

From what I have heard, the dining plan is not as good as WDW. It isn't worth it. You don't get more than you pay for and they also don't give you change back if you underspend a voucher so you could loose money. I would never use it.

I hope you are able to DLR a try!

 

[blackjackdelta]

My family has never had a safety issue in the resort area. As with any place you need to be aware of your surroundings, but there are so many people moving about on Harbor, Clementine, etc you feel safe.

Jack

 

[HydroGuy]

I would clarify Pink's post to say that if you stay off-site and have a 3+ day ticket you get one MM (Magic Morning - DLR's version of EMH). If you stay at a DLR hotel you get MM every morning it is offered (which is four days a week).

There really are no other advantages of DLR hotels except for being more "Disney". The GCH is the closest hotel by far and has that advantage. But the DLH and PPH are further away from the gates than probably a dozen other good neighbor hotels.

Regarding safety, I agree with Jack and Pink. The area immediately around DLR is pretty safe. I would be more careful at night more out of an abundance of caution than any real danger I have seen.

We have let our kids walk back and forth to hotels on Harbor Blvd at night alone when they were 10-12 years old because there are just so many people around. But the later it gets the more careful I would be. HTH.

Regarding the DDP, I have never seen anyone around here say the one at DLR is a good deal. It works differently than WDW I understand.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Just wanted to add that you can go to allears.net to look at menus and see prices so you can get a general idea of how much you would spend on food (there is a tiny link for DLR at the bottom of the page and then the menu button is on the left side).

And I agree with everyone else that it is safe to walk around the DLR area. I've never felt like I was in danger or that I had to be extra careful. I just try to be aware of my surroundings like I would do anywhere. There are usually tons of other people walking around so you won't feel like you're wandering around at night by yourselves.

Have a great trip!

 

[karibritt01]

Thanks so much for the responses! I feel very "out of my element" trying to plan this trip as opposed to WDW or DCL. I visit allears.net all the time, but never noticed a DLR section to the website. I will definitely look into that more carefully.

Hydroguy... it was interesting to read your thread on WDW for DLR vets. I take so much of WDW planning for granted that it was interesting to see how it is viewed by "outsiders." In WDW, walking anywhere is almost out of the question, so thinking of leaving the resort and walking to my hotel is daunting! As for the DDP in WDW... I highly recommend it. It is generally a 50% savings on the cost of food. But in trying to look at the meal plans DLR offered, I really wasn't seeing the value. I figured I had better ask instead of missing out on something wonderful!

 

[toocherie]

One of the bad points about the DLR dining plan is that you get vouchers for a certain dollar amount--and if you spend less than that dollar amount (say the voucher was for $25 but you only spent $23) you don't get your change back! Really don't get a dining plan at DLR as it is currently set up. Just not worth the aggravation.