A Few questions...

[smile4stamps]

Okay... I have a few questions and thought I would lump them together.

1) How long do you think it will take to get from LAX to DL at 6:30pm on a Wednesday evening?

2) The parks close at 8pm (DCA has WOC scheduled for 8:15pm) that night. Is there any way I will be able to redeem my AP voucher that night or will I have to wait till Thursday morning. I kinda want to hit the parks running Thursday morning and not have to worry about stopping to get my official AP first.

3) Without extra morning hours is there any way to get in the park early? I love my empty park pic at WDW and was hoping to get the same at DL somehow.

4) This is a complete budget trip for me but barring that is there any dining experiences that are a MUST for truly getting the DL experience? I will have 2 solo days so am thinking to do the dining those days as the person I am with the first 3 days is on an even tighter budget than I am.

5) I am planning on getting the DAP... is there any reason to pay the extra for a PAP when it is only 1-2 of us for meals, I will buy a few souvenirs but probably not many and won't have a car... (the next trip I am most likely to make is not during any black-out days either)

6) Is there anything you wish you knew before your first visit to the Land??

Thanks!

 

[letthembelittle]

#1 My answer to your first question totally depends on how you are getting from the airport to your hotel? When we flew in last week, it took us about 2 hours total to get our luggage, wait for the rental car shuttle, pick up the car (which had an incrediablly long line), and drive to our hotel.

#2 My guess is you will be there after the parks close so you will have to do your pass on Thursday morning.

#3 Not that I know of, although there is a breakfast inside the park maybe you could sneak a picture in if you had early enough reservations.

#4 Not in my opinion but we are not the type to pay much for food. (I like having my free breakfast at the hotel, packing a sandwich lunch, and then eating a meal at the park for dinner)

#5 Not in my opinion.

#6 Just relax and enjoy it all, take time to people watch, know how to use the fastpass system.

 

[smile4stamps]

#1 My answer to your first question totally depends on how you are getting from the airport to your hotel? When we flew in last week, it took us about 2 hours total to get our luggage, wait for the rental car shuttle, pick up the car (which had an incrediablly long line), and drive to our hotel.

#2 My guess is you will be there after the parks close so you will have to do your pass on Thursday morning.

#3 Not that I know of, although there is a breakfast inside the park maybe you could sneak a picture in if you had early enough reservations.

#4 Not in my opinion but we are not the type to pay much for food. (I like having my free breakfast at the hotel, packing a sandwich lunch, and then eating a meal at the park for dinner)

#5 Not in my opinion.

#6 Just relax and enjoy it all, take time to people watch, know how to use the fastpass system.

Thanks for responding.

We plan on taking one of the shuttles to the motel. Super Shuttle or one of the others.

#4 That is what I was thinking too. Trying to figure out how to pack the sandwiches without them getting smushed...

#6 Does the fastpass work the same as WDW? Can we go back anytime after the time listed or do we have to go in the time frame listed on the fastpass.

 

[skiingfast]

1. + 2. It will take a while to get from LAX to DLR I wouldn't count on being at the resort at 8pm. Plan on getting you pass on Thursday. To get a decent view of WoC you need a FP, and won't be able to get one for your arrival day.

3. Look at eating breakfast at the Plaza Inn or Ariels Grotto in DCA. I've read contrasting reports on if they let you in early. But the people who wrote these don't know about the WDW strategy to see the park empty.

4. Maybe the DL only things, a Monte Cristo Sandwhich from blue bayou or cafe orleans. A tigger tail and a matthorn macaroon.

WCT is really good too in DCA.

5. If you are going to go on a Sunday I would get a Premium. You can make up the rest of the difference on meals and merchandise. If you just get a DAP you may be altering your future plans around that.

6. Collect FPs and stay until closing.

 

[barefootmomma]

Thanks for responding.

We plan on taking one of the shuttles to the motel. Super Shuttle or one of the others.

#4 That is what I was thinking too. Trying to figure out how to pack the sandwiches without them getting smushed...

#6 Does the fastpass work the same as WDW? Can we go back anytime after the time listed or do we have to go in the time frame listed on the fastpass.

You can go back anytime after the listed time in the same day.

Also, DAP get 10% food discounts and until Jan 2011, 10% on merchandise as well. So you will get some discounts if you decide to stick with the deluxe over the premium.

 

[jennym68]

can only answer #1

we took the super shuttle, out flight landed at 6.10pm so a similar time to yours

the drive itself was great, close to an hour. it did however take 45 minutes just to get our luggage!! so we left later from LAX than we had planned.
not being familiar with LAX i'm not sure if this is always the time to wait for luggage or we just had bad luck

 

[skiingfast]

#6 Does the fastpass work the same as WDW? Can we go back anytime after the time listed or do we have to go in the time frame listed on the fastpass.

Yes the same.

Plus: Don't be fooled into thinking since you have one in DL that you can't get one in DCA. In WDW you can have them in MK and in Epcot. In DLR you can go between the two really easy and people are fooled into thinking they are connected systems but are not. Also Roger Rabbit and GRR are not hooked into the system so you don't have to wait to get a FP from them.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Yes the same.

Plus: Don't be fooled into thinking since you have one in DL that you can't get one in DCA. In WDW you can have them in MK and in Epcot. In DLR you can go between the two really easy and people are fooled into thinking they are connected systems but are not. Also Roger Rabbit and GRR are not hooked into the system so you don't have to wait to get a FP from them.

GRR IS hooked into the system and it's currently difficult to get a GRR FP until late in the day - they are using the GRR FP system to do WOC FP's.

The only ride not connected is Roger Rabbit. You can get FP's for DLR and DCA since the two parks are NOT connected to each other by FP.

 

[mrsxsparrow]

Okay... I have a few questions and thought I would lump them together.

1) How long do you think it will take to get from LAX to DL at 6:30pm on a Wednesday evening?

2) The parks close at 8pm (DCA has WOC scheduled for 8:15pm) that night. Is there any way I will be able to redeem my AP voucher that night or will I have to wait till Thursday morning. I kinda want to hit the parks running Thursday morning and not have to worry about stopping to get my official AP first.

3) Without extra morning hours is there any way to get in the park early? I love my empty park pic at WDW and was hoping to get the same at DL somehow.

4) This is a complete budget trip for me but barring that is there any dining experiences that are a MUST for truly getting the DL experience? I will have 2 solo days so am thinking to do the dining those days as the person I am with the first 3 days is on an even tighter budget than I am.

5) I am planning on getting the DAP... is there any reason to pay the extra for a PAP when it is only 1-2 of us for meals, I will buy a few souvenirs but probably not many and won't have a car... (the next trip I am most likely to make is not during any black-out days either)

6) Is there anything you wish you knew before your first visit to the Land??

Thanks!

1 & 2 have already been answered but I'll just reiterate that you probably won't make it before park closing.

3. Often, if there is no magic morning, they will let you into the park early (I think about 15-30 mins beforehand?) but only to the end of main street, because this is where the morning "show" usually is. However this is not guaranteed and many people get there early so you probably won't have an empty park.

4. I really enjoy the atmosphere at the Blue Bayou. My BFF and I have an annual Blue Bayou dinner and on years our budget is tight we just go in for dessert. I also like Cafe Orleans... it is nice to sit outside and people watch and their garlic fries are AWESOME.

5. Probably not, especially with the special discounts going on right now.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I would stick with the DAP. You will get 10% off food. Plus, you can get 10% off merchandise purchases of $10 or more until January. Sounds like you don't plan on making tons of purchases, you don't need parking, and you're not going on blockout days. The only reason to upgrade to the PAP in your situation would be if you knew you were going on 3 or more blockout days. If in the future you find yourself going unexpectedly on blockout days, you do have the option to upgrade, although at the full price difference between the DAP and PAP, there is no pro-rating. Many Saturdays are blocked out to deluxe passholders but few Sundays. Prime holiday periods are also blocked out.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Why not purchased a 3 day hopper and upgrade to your AP after you've used your MM? Ideally your MM day is your 1st day so you can take advantage of AP discounts early on in your visit. We've had APs twice and have done that both times.