Any Tips for a Solo First Trip to DLR for a WDW Regular/CM?

[t3techcom18]

Hey there! Long time of the forums/site here! I had some questions for you guys that I believe you will be able to help with.

As the subject says, I'm a local here in Orlando, FL (Been a CM for almost 5 years now actually), going on my first trip to the West Coast this coming July (in time for the 56th). I'll be staying there at the Hojo (I can thank you guys for that tip!). I'll be going there by myself for about 3 days (4 if you count the evening I arrive/early afternoon I leave) and I'll be solo the entire trip.

I have 3 questions:

1) What's the attraction I must first do when I get there? I'll probably be in DL around 5 or so. Everyone keeps recommending Indy as the first to go, but, I'm honestly worried about two things:

One, As much as I want to do Indy first, I've seen that it has a HUGE queue and with that in mind, I want to spend as much as time absorbing all the details and smell the roses, so waiting in a long line there won't necessarily be an issue for me (I have quite a bit of patience). On the side note, in terms of FP, my plan is only to use it if I want to do a repeat of something; otherwise, Standby all the way.

Second, I also just don't want to go to some attraction first and then either get lost or lose track or what I have or haven't done. I'm one of those types who likes to plan everything out or do things in sequence (in this case, by land). I hate it when I'm with guests who want to do something on the other side of the park, to go vice versa after that attraction. -___-

(Just to mention: I won't be doing ToT, Splash, and CS. I like intense stuff but not TOO intense like roller coasters and anything with big drops. I can do Big Thunder, Space, and Dinosaur with no issues though.)

2) What's the best food in the parks/hotels? I don't know much about dining in the hotels or if I'll even have time to visit them, but I do know that the Monte Cristo and the infamous Corn Dog Cart on Main Street are must do's; I just need a weeee bit of guidance here. (Anything goes, TS, QSR, etc.) I don't think I'll be doing any dining at the resorts, mayyybe the Steakhouse at DLH, but that's all I'm thinking about; it's primarily going to be at the parks.

3) Lastly, if any of you know the LA area very well: I'll be there for one day and have everything mostly planned out, but does anyone know a good shuttle service or such? There will be a few times I'll be going around via the Metro system, but some of the places I'm going to don't have that luxury and I don't want to go on something ultra-touristy or such. I won't be driving so rental cars aren't an option.

Thanks for all the help guys!!!

 

[skiingfast]

Granted you aren't thinking to try a couple on this list use single rider when you can and save the holding FP for other rides. And who knows you might want to ride Indy twice, once quick and once taking time to enjoy the que.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/list/#/single-rider-line

Honestly if you don't want to ride Indy first I would do either PP first? Or a Space, Buzz and Nemo, though somehow stick ST in there. While you will probably ride the same ST in DHS before or after many times, rumor is DL is getting a better que, and that was the cause of a longer rehab.

If that doesn't sounds good, I like Indy, JC, POTC, HM and for me splash all in a row because they are all in a line, JC first, and hit the original Tiki room later in the day.

I wouldn't say CS is to intense, it's fast and smooth, less intense than RnRC in DHS, in my opinion.


For food also snack on a Tigger Tail (DLR only). Village Haus and Hungry Bear just got new menus with terrific non typical park food. I also like Nachos at White Water Snacks in the GCH but not far from the special entrance. Burgers and Ribs in Taste Pilots Grill are a big hit.


Grayline runs some tour buses from the resort area to lots of places, and you can get a Hollywood tour through them. That's about the limit of me LA without a car experience.

 

[glendalais]

2) What's the best food in the parks/hotels? I don't know much about dining in the hotels or if I'll even have time to visit them, but I do know that the Monte Cristo and the infamous Corn Dog Cart on Main Street are must do's; I just need a weeee bit of guidance here. (Anything goes, TS, QSR, etc.) I don't think I'll be doing any dining at the resorts, mayyybe the Steakhouse at DLH, but that's all I'm thinking about; it's primarily going to be at the parks.

A lot of the new menus (Village Haus and Hungry Bear) are getting pretty good reviews. I'm also partial to the Chicken Fusilli at Redd Rockett's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland.

Don't forget that the Cast Discount is much more generous than what we're used to here in Florida. It applies basically everywhere with the exception of ODV (what WDW refers to as ODF) carts.

 

[Dobie]

Ride Indy first. After that, everything else is gravy!

 

[HydroGuy]

I have 3 questions:

1) What's the attraction I must first do when I get there? I'll probably be in DL around 5 or so. Everyone keeps recommending Indy as the first to go, but, I'm honestly worried about two things:

One, As much as I want to do Indy first, I've seen that it has a HUGE queue and with that in mind, I want to spend as much as time absorbing all the details and smell the roses, so waiting in a long line there won't necessarily be an issue for me (I have quite a bit of patience). On the side note, in terms of FP, my plan is only to use it if I want to do a repeat of something; otherwise, Standby all the way.

Second, I also just don't want to go to some attraction first and then either get lost or lose track or what I have or haven't done. I'm one of those types who likes to plan everything out or do things in sequence (in this case, by land). I hate it when I'm with guests who want to do something on the other side of the park, to go vice versa after that attraction. -___-

(Just to mention: I won't be doing ToT, Splash, and CS. I like intense stuff but not TOO intense like roller coasters and anything with big drops. I can do Big Thunder, Space, and Dinosaur with no issues though.)

If you are solo, who cares about the Indy queue? You can use the Single Rider line.

I would say Indy will be the signature attraction for a WDW vet. Whether that means you do it first or not, that is your call.

If you want to do things in sequence, consider using RideMax - www.ridemax.com and choose options to minimize walking.

But be aware that DL is much smaller than MK and moving from land to land at DL is not a big deal for most people.

Alos, if you want to get wowed right away, see World of Color on your first night.

2) What's the best food in the parks/hotels? I don't know much about dining in the hotels or if I'll even have time to visit them, but I do know that the Monte Cristo and the infamous Corn Dog Cart on Main Street are must do's; I just need a weeee bit of guidance here. (Anything goes, TS, QSR, etc.) I don't think I'll be doing any dining at the resorts, mayyybe the Steakhouse at DLH, but that's all I'm thinking about; it's primarily going to be at the parks.

Hmmm. The best food we have had was probably at Ariel's Grotto for the World of Color. But there are many places at which we have not eaten at DLR.

 

[Dobie]

The best food, for breakfast or lunch, is served at La Brea Bakery. The best dinner food is Napa Rose or Storyteller's at the GCH.

The best all around places to eat, for food and ambience, are the outdoor patios at Carnation Cafe and Cafe Orleans.