Am completely overwhelmed by DLR--HELP!!

[anonymousegirl]

I know WDW like the back of my hand, I can avoid queues and see everything, even in the height of Summer. But DLR is a mystery to me. Haven't been for over 10 years.

Now I am the planner for my sister and her family. We are heading down early Feb and taking the kids out of school to avoid the weekend crowds.

Is the FP system any different than WDW? What rides should I get to first, which should I FP?

Should I plan one day at DL and one day DCA and one day for favorites? Will three complete days be enough?

Too many questions--- help me please!

 

[bumbershoot]

First assignment...look in the "sticky" threads for HydroGuy's hints. He has a great "essay" about DLR for WDW 'veterans'.

DL and DCA are very close to each other. My family has a hard time staying in one park for a whole day. It's too easy to hop over, you just walk over to the other park.

The FP system works the same, just some different rides. I think HydroGuy talks about FPs in his thread.

 

[HydroGuy]

First assignment...look in the "sticky" threads for HydroGuy's hints. He has a great "essay" about DLR for WDW 'veterans'.

DL and DCA are very close to each other. My family has a hard time staying in one park for a whole day. It's too easy to hop over, you just walk over to the other park.

The FP system works the same, just some different rides. I think HydroGuy talks about FPs in his thread.

Here are links

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

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132 (Note that all FP info in this three-year-old thread is still valid)

 

[fairykin]

How wonderful you have a trip to look forward to!

You will do fine..it's an easy park.. nothing like WDW... laid back and fun.

 

[Sherry E]

Embrace the planning! Planning is honestly a big part of the fun of a DLR trip, and coming to a board where people love DLR so much helps build anticipation! Sure, the logistics of the plans can be overwhelming and stressful at times, but just focus on one aspect of the trip at a time, i.e., accommodations, restaurants and dining/Priority Seating plans, itineraries or lists of things to do in the parks, souvenirs you want to look for, etc., etc. Everybody on DIS is so helpful and willing to share their own experiences, so you literally can have someone from DIS walking you through each step of your plan from beginning to end if you need it! You want to know how to master the Fast Passes? Someone will talk you through it. You want to try using PhotoPass in the parks and need to know those details? Plenty of us can come to your rescue! Character meals are of interest to you? Look no further! Lots of us have experience with those too!

DLR is much more manageable and less intimidating than a plan for WDW, from what I hear. I think it will all fall into place for you easily!

 

[robynv]

I had the same questions so thanks I am going to check those links out myself.

And hello to hydroguy! I live down the road in the Springs. (Colorado Springs)

Do you fly or drive, we are trying to decide what would be cheaper.

 

[HydroGuy]

I had the same questions so thanks I am going to check those links out myself.

And hello to hydroguy! I live down the road in the Springs. (Colorado Springs)

Do you fly or drive, we are trying to decide what would be cheaper.

Hi there. We neither drive nor fly to DLR. What happens is we usually drive to SoCal because DW and I are from SoCal originally and our folks are still there and we sometimes vacation at SoCal beaches in the summer. And we have four kids and driving for six of us is cheaper than flying. Plus driving means we do not need to rent a car when there.

When we are in SoCal for the other reasons above we often plan in trips to DLR. So DLR is not the prime destination but a side trip of sorts since we are already there. Are you confused yet?

 

[Disney Dreams]

OP - DL is MUCH less overwhelming than WDW. I am the reverse of you and was completely spinning in trying to plan our recent WDW trip. You will be fine. Study up on the things that DL has that the MK does not, and the things that both have that are different (as you presumably would enjoy comparing). Don't think of it as WDW compared to DLR. Think of it as MK+Fantasmic compared to DL. And then there's DCA just a few minutes walk away.

If you have any follow up questions, post here. People will help you out.

...So DLR is not the prime destination but a side trip of sorts since we are already there. Are you confused yet?

Suuuuurrrre it is. You know, admitting to the to the fact that DLR is the destination and visiting family is the side trip is the first step to addiction-recovery.

- Dreams

 

[MouseFamily2004]

I agree with the previous posts. DL and DCA are much easier to get around in and closer together than the parks at WDW. 3 days should be plenty to see most of what they have to offer. You might be able to do a whole day at DL, but maybe not so much at DCA. I would start one of the 3 days at DCA and head over to DL when you have seen enough or when it closes. DCA usually closes much earlier than DL. Don't count out DCA though, we think it is a great park and is a lot of fun. Most of all, have a lot of fun and enjoy yourself.

 

[Leofoenget]

If you are taking kids out of school to avoid crowds in February, you will be fine. Probably very low crowds, assuming you aren't going Presidents Day (week) Although I went then once and it wan't THAT bad.

 

[HydroGuy]

Suuuuurrrre it is. You know, admitting to the to the fact that DLR is the destination and visiting family is the side trip is the first step to addiction-recovery.

- Dreams

 

[DoomBugger]

Don't see the possibilities as a burden by worryng about what you might miss or not utilize best. See it all as an adventure with so many things to see and do no matter how you use your time it will be jam-packed with fun and excitement!

If you go three days get there early and hit both parks the first two days and the third do the same but refine it down to the things you must do or must do again. Use the FP system in both parks all three days and load up on passes and that will make you efficient, you can do a lot with three days at DLR, just don't worry about being perfect. Enjoy!

 

[bumbershoot]

You know, admitting to the to the fact that DLR is the destination and visiting family is the side trip is the first step to addiction-recovery.

- Dreams

Don't put him down the road to recovery, noooooo!


OP, any specific questions nowadays?