Best laid plans of mice and men...trip change from WDW ==> DL

[DISHoppy]

OK. So the plans are all set for our surprise trip to WDW 6/3-6/8. Flights booked. Check. Reservation @ POR made (princess suite no less). Check. Park plans made. Check. ADRs made. Check. Already started packing. Check. So we're ready to go, right? Not so fast, my friend....

The DW's on again, off again trip to Anaheim June 21-26 for a library conference appears to be on again. Hence, it's time to revisit our plans and reconsider a trip to DL/DCA. Commencing emergency research on a left coast trip, and I haven't been to DL since 1979. Fortunately we're booked on SWA, so changing flights is not much of an issue other than cost. We are DVC members, but only have a few 2012 points remaining until our August 'use year' (I hate that term) kicks in, so we can't book more than a night or two @ GCR on points. I'm enough of a Di$ney nerd that I've kept up with most of the changes @ DL/DCA in addition to WDW, so the parks should not be that much of a challenge. Cars Land opening 15-June is a huge bonus since both DDs are Cars fans (DD5 to be DD6 on 20-June is a HUGE Cars fan).

So, here I am asking for advice as I begin my research on this. Tips/Tricks, Do's/Don'ts, etc. I need everything from recommendations on lodging that is reasonably close and frugal (we'll be able to stay with DW on the company dime for most nights of the stay) to ideas for nearby spots to entertain DDs 6 and 8 other than the parks and a pool. I also went to Knottsberry as a youth, but that may be a stretch for our DDs. Unfortunately my Dodgers are on the road that weekend...BUT playing the Angels in Anaheim! Suggestions for dining. Our palates, including the DDs, are open to everything. And most importantly, confirmation that our WDW tix bought through UCT will be valid for DL/DCA. We have 10-day non-expiry tix with 6 days remaining on them from our Dec trip.

Thoughts? Advil? Make that a double....

-Kevin

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Look *here* and especially *here*

 

[Disneyland 1951]

One of the unlisted things to do in the afternoon is to play Musical Chairs with Mr. Mad Hatter and Alice. Today they were joined by the full Wonderland crew (Hatter, Alice, White Rabbit, Tweedle Dum, Tweedle Dee, and the Red Queen.

At the Coke Refreshment Corner at the end of Main Street is a patio with a Piano Player. Nearly every day at 2:30 the Piano Player begins his set.
Without notice the Hatter and Alice show up and organize a game of Musical Chairs. Often on even the most crowded days it will take them a few minutes to find enough players. This make it easy to play, no lines, no waiting, just jokes and fun.

eg: How old are you? Eight... Hatters turns to the audiance: Then she is not hungry, she's already Eight!!! Why is Cinderella terrible at Soccer? She runs away from the ball, and has a pumpkin for a coach.

Also, between 2:00 and 2:30 you can usually find Mary Poppins and Bert hidden at the back of the area. Often they will be on their own, with no line.

It is a nice break from standing in lines and fighting the crowds.

Also, do not miss the Aladdin Musical in DCA, show up about 30-40 minutes early and get great seats. Turtle Talk runs every 1/2 hour with no need to get there more than 10 minutes early.

 

[DISHoppy]

Thanks for the 411 and tips (awesome info from Hydro and MaryJo). I'm slowly digesting it so as to not overload my noggin. I feel like I need a lobe transplant for my brain since I know I have a lobe dedicated to all things Di$ney and WDW, but have neglected DLR for the most part. There's simply no way to keep track of both w/o it being a full-time job. In any case, the major points I've gleaned thus far:

Looks like Paradise Pier may be where we are staying. The Pier is considered part of DLR and qualifies for MM, correct?

MYW tix can be used @ DLR, but need to be exchanged @ the gate and cannot be used for upgrades. Good news/bad news since we have 10-day non-expiry tix we can use, but I'd like to add the hopper option. No can do, right?

Sounds like the fun begins on 15-June with the re-opening of DCA and opening of Cars Land and BVS. Looks like it will be a zoo that week and the entire summer.

ADRs can be made 60 days out rather than 6 mos. and no online booking. Initial thoughts are to hit Ariel, Minnie & Friends and Goofy's Kitchen for the DDs, and maybe Napa Rose for mommy & daddy. Any thoughts/experiences for Pinocchio's Workshop @ GCH for the DDs?

Matterhorn and LM refurbs to be completed in time for the DCA fun later in the month. Any other major happenings/refurbs going on in the parks/resorts?

Anyone have an idea on distance/transportation b/w the Angels ballpark? Last time I was there was the day Pope Paul VI passed away and it was still the Big A. I'm dating myself...

-Kevin

 

[skiingfast]

Matterhorn and LM refurbs to be completed in time for the DCA fun later in the month. Any other major happenings/refurbs going on in the parks/resorts?

Anyone have an idea on distance/transportation b/w the Angels ballpark?

There is going to be only a little construction when you are there. A snack location on MS and little stage area off the hub. Also possibly two but at least 1 location in DTD will be getting work done.


To the Angels Stadium is not difficult. You can take ART, a resort shuttle for about $4. Or OCTA the local bus. Cabs are about $12-$15.

 

[DLtorgo]

Yes you get MM with Paradise Pier.

I would suggest converting your tickets as soon as possible. If you check in the evening before your first park day I would go and convert them at the ticket booth that night. You might even be able to do it at the front desk. Trying to get lined up and doing it in the morning can be very frustrating and time wasting.

Sounds like you have a good attitude. Should be busy, but a blast!

 

[taaren]

Park hopping is really part of the DLR experience. I'd keep the 6 day non-expiring non-hopper tickets for a WDW trip and get a set of DLR hoppers for this trip ... it'll also be a lot less hassle than exchanging them every morning and losing valuable time at the gate.

 

[brenda1966]

Park hopping is really part of the DLR experience. I'd keep the 6 day non-expiring non-hopper tickets for a WDW trip and get a set of DLR hoppers for this trip ... it'll also be a lot less hassle than exchanging them every morning and losing valuable time at the gate.

I second that! I would not trade my non-expire WDW days for DL days, not unless I never, ever planned to go back to WDW. Buy a DL hopper. You must hop!

 

[ktlm]

I second that! I would not trade my non-expire WDW days for DL days, not unless I never, ever planned to go back to WDW. Buy a DL hopper. You must hop!

WDW vet here- what she said. DL/CA isn't like WDW where you can get by without hopping. You must hop! They are basically one park by WDW standards. You can walk from the far back corner of DL to the far back corner of CA in 10 minutes, assuming it is a time when there isn't a big line to get into CA- we've done it. Walking between DL and CA is pretty much closer than walking from where the bus lets you off to the gate of the park at WDW. There is only a plaza in between the gates. When we visit DL, we go back and forth between the parks multiple times a day. To give you an idea I believe DL is approximately 75 acres and CA approximately 58 acres, so compare that to Epcot at WDW which is approximately 300 acres on its own.


My DD (6), loves Ariels, Minnies and Goofy's! Good choices! For characters, Minnie's is the best character meal we have ever been too. Much better than any of them at WDW! There are a ton of characters and they really interact with the kids. Last time we had 11 characters come by our table! I think the time before that it was 8 or 9.

 

[DISHoppy]

WDW vet here- what she said. DL/CA isn't like WDW where you can get by without hopping. You must hop! They are basically one park by WDW standards. You can walk from the far back corner of DL to the far back corner of CA in 10 minutes, assuming it is a time when there isn't a big line to get into CA- we've done it. Walking between DL and CA is pretty much closer than walking from where the bus lets you off to the gate of the park at WDW. There is only a plaza in between the gates. When we visit DL, we go back and forth between the parks multiple times a day. To give you an idea I believe DL is approximately 75 acres and CA approximately 58 acres, so compare that to Epcot at WDW which is approximately 300 acres on its own.


My DD (6), loves Ariels, Minnies and Goofy's! Good choices! For characters, Minnie's is the best character meal we have ever been too. Much better than any of them at WDW! There are a ton of characters and they really interact with the kids. Last time we had 11 characters come by our table! I think the time before that it was 8 or 9.

Yes, getting DL/DCA tix is something I've considered, but not fully investigated. My initial concern was ADRs (thinking 6 mos. out like WDW), but the 60-day window works in our favor. I bought two sets of 4 10-day non-expiry WDW tix two price increases ago, and through UCT/Mousesavers, so we've saved a bunch on those already. We're DVCers, so we'll be going back pretty much annually. They won't go to waste. Of course our first trip back after buying those tix we ended up buying APs and TIW due to two trips in '10 after buying yet another set of tix through UCT (Mickey now holds the mortgage on our DDs). Hopping is important...especially considering the CL and BVS openings. I do recall DL from 34 years ago (I'm dating myself again), and my older legs can attest to the size difference b/w Epcot/DAK and DL. In my mind DL/DCA are more on par with the size of DHS, but the layout (or lack thereof) of DHS makes it a longer walk than its size would indicate. Also, our DDs have been walking the parks @ WDW since they were 4...I always laugh when I read posts about strollers for ~8 yos.

Looking forward to seeing Walt's light in his apartment window...

-Kevin

 

[quantumottle]

Look *here* and especially *here*

There ya' go... Not much reason to go any further, those two links will cover %90 of your DLR planning. It isn't like WDW, you do not have to spend months planning for a DLR visit. Have a great trip!

 

[Leofoenget]

"Left Coast??" funny!

 

[7200604]

Sorry - had to laugh.

For spring break two weeks ago, we had the 10 day Disneyland trip lined up. With a winter storm scheduled for the middle of the trip (40-50's in Anaheim and steady rain for 2-3 days), and our son getting sick the day before flying to Anaheim, we did the exact opposite...Rebooked for WDW (Port Orleans).

We made the decision about 12 hours before the flight to Anaheim, and sprinted to change air, car, hotel, etc. Fortunately it all worked out, but I came to realize all the intensive planning and plotting of other Disney trips just wasn't going to happen this time. In the end, it turned out to be a wonderful week on the fly.

A bad day at Disney still beats a good day in the office, and we didn't have anything close to a bad day

- Kevin (too!)

 

[lowe@massed.net]

I'll be there for the ALA conference too, with my DH, and we were able to use our DVC points for a studio at VGC for our entire stay. This will be the 4th trip to DLR for me and the 3rd for DH. Last time we were there DCA and WOC were under construction so we're really looking forward to seeing all of that completed. I hope you and your family have a great trip. You can read my DLR trip reports by clicking on the links in my SIG.

 

[DISHoppy]

I'll be there for the ALA conference too, with my DH, and we were able to use our DVC points for a studio at VGC for our entire stay. This will be the 4th trip to DLR for me and the 3rd for DH. Last time we were there DCA and WOC were under construction so we're really looking forward to seeing all of that completed. I hope you and your family have a great trip. You can read my DLR trip reports by clicking on the links in my SIG.

Look up the OCLC booth and you can meet my DW.

-Kevin

 

[DISHoppy]

OK, a few additional questions since I finally have the DW in planning mode, too. She wants to hit the beach so the DDs can dip their toes in the Pacific. Is a cab the best way to get to/from the Seal/Sunset Beach area? Or are there other beach areas that are easy to get to using public trans? She is also interested in the SD Zoo. I see there are tours from Anaheim to the SD Zoo, but are they worth it for a day trip? I did a day trip to Yosemite from SF years ago, which was far too short, but worth it for me to see it in person rather than just from Ansel Adams' photos. I could easily have spent a week there hiking through the area. The bus trip alone was worth the price of the trip. Lastly, as I noted earlier, the Bums will be on the road while we are there, but Dodgers Stadium has tours available. On the map Chavez Ravine isn't THAT far away, but in SoCal terms that could mean a LONG trip. Is it worth it to consider/do?

-Kevin

 

[mydisneymoney]

OK, a few additional questions since I finally have the DW in planning mode, too. She wants to hit the beach so the DDs can dip their toes in the Pacific. Is a cab the best way to get to/from the Seal/Sunset Beach area? Or are there other beach areas that are easy to get to using public trans? She is also interested in the SD Zoo. I see there are tours from Anaheim to the SD Zoo, but are they worth it for a day trip? I did a day trip to Yosemite from SF years ago, which was far too short, but worth it for me to see it in person rather than just from Ansel Adams' photos. I could easily have spent a week there hiking through the area. The bus trip alone was worth the price of the trip. Lastly, as I noted earlier, the Bums will be on the road while we are there, but Dodgers Stadium has tours available. On the map Chavez Ravine isn't THAT far away, but in SoCal terms that could mean a LONG trip. Is it worth it to consider/do?

-Kevin

Is renting a car an option? Sounds like you guys are looking at being adventuresome. A car will allow you a lot of flexibility to come and go as you want. I think it depends on where all you decide to go. My family will go to DL for a week and spend every day there. We have gone to the beach but for us, we love disney and have no problem filling our whole week up with DL and CA.

I too agree that you should save your non expiring days at WDW and buy hoppers for DL/CA. We have stayed at PPH and really liked it. Easy walk to the park THROUGH GCH. Make sure you go through GCH. You can use the entrance to CA at GCH if you are staying at PPH. It is available for anyone staying at a resort hotel and you can use MM every morning it is offered

Have fun. We are planning our next trip for Christmas time.

 

[DISHoppy]

Is renting a car an option? Sounds like you guys are looking at being adventuresome. A car will allow you a lot of flexibility to come and go as you want. I think it depends on where all you decide to go. My family will go to DL for a week and spend every day there. We have gone to the beach but for us, we love disney and have no problem filling our whole week up with DL and CA.

I too agree that you should save your non expiring days at WDW and buy hoppers for DL/CA. We have stayed at PPH and really liked it. Easy walk to the park THROUGH GCH. Make sure you go through GCH. You can use the entrance to CA at GCH if you are staying at PPH. It is available for anyone staying at a resort hotel and you can use MM every morning it is offered

Have fun. We are planning our next trip for Christmas time.

I could easily spend a week in DL/DCA/DTD as well. Just trying to take full advantage of our time there since @ least part of the trip will have a comp room (and fulfill the DWs wish list). Not likely we'll be back to SoCal in the very near future despite the DW's dreams of a trip to DL/DCA, Hawaii and back to DL/DCA. I would prefer another cruise on the Dream or the Fantasy for the cost of that. IMO the trip will only include DL/DTD/DCA, a quick beach trip and a game @ the Rock Pile (since the Bums play the Halos). Renting a car is always an option...I've driven around Chitown, DC and Philly, so high traffic areas have been done in the past. I just don't know the ins and outs of renting a car in the area (like I do @ WDW @ the Swalphin). IF and trip to the SD Zoo were to happen, it would likely be @ the end of the trip once we exhausted 4-5 days @ the parks.

-Kevin

 

[skiingfast]

If you want to go a few other places, consider a rental. If only the zoo and a beach. You can take the Metrorail to Oceanside and walk a couple blocks to the shore. From there you can take the Coaster into SD. Likewise you can hop off the Coaster in Carlsbad and walk a few blocks to the shore. From the SD train station it's a short cab ride to the Zoo.