I highly recommend taking a look at
HydroGuy's A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. It'll help identify the similarities and differences between the two resorts.
In terms of FPs, at this point, DLR is still using the "Legacy" FP system. There is no Magic Bands or FP+ at DLR, so you cannot "reserve" your FPs in advance, but for the most part, the FP system at DLR is similar to the FP system that WDW was using
before they went to FP+. You'll insert your ticket into the FP machine to get the FP; they do post the current return time so you'll know if it works for you or not before getting the FP. You can also check the official
Disneyland App, which will give you the current return time. Unlike WDW, there is no official grace period (either early or late), so plan on returning during the time window printed on the ticket.
Once you've obtained a FP, you can collect your next FP two hours later or when the FP window opens, whichever comes first. Let's say it's 9:00 am and you obtained a FP with a return time of 10:15 am to 11:15 am. You'll be able to get your next FP at 10:15 am (when the time window for the most recent FP opens). On the other hand, let's say it's 9:00 am and you obtain a FP with a return time of 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm. You'll be able to get your next FP at 11:00 am (two hours after you pulled your most recent FP). (Caveat: You cannot hold two FPs for the same attraction, so if you already have a FP for an attraction, but it's time window has not yet opened, you cannot get another FP for that attraction even if you're eligible to get more FPs.) A few other notes:
- There are a handful of "disconnect" FPs. You can obtain these FPs and they do not limit/impact your ability to get another FP immediately. The only "disconnected" attraction FP is for Buzz Lightyear. WoC, Frozen at the Royal Theater (a show), and the A&E M&G (they may no longer be using this) are also "disconnected" FPs. In other words, you could go get a WoC FP and then immediately go get a RSR FP.
- The two parks are "disconnected" from each other. Meaning you can collect a FP in DL and then immediately hop over to DCA and collect a FP there. For example, if you are in DL and pull a FP for Space Mtn, you can immediately go over to DCA (assuming you have park hopper tickets) and get a FP for RSR.
- Once a park ticket has been used to enter a park, you can obtain FPs in either park. So let's say your party all enters DL in the morning. You can then have one person (aka "the runner") hop over to DCA to get FPs in that park. (It's worth noting, I've only ever done this with park hopper tickets, so I don't know if works if someone had a one-park-per-day ticket).
- There aren't a huge number of attractions at DLR that use the FP system. Mostly they are the thrill rides and a few of the more popular non-thrill rides. Disneyland.com has a list of the attractions that currently use the FP system: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/#/fastpass/
DLR posts their operating calendars about 45-days/6-weeks in advance, but entertainment is not always complete until much closer to the date. Dining reservations open 60-days in advance. Unlike WDW, it's not really critical to be online right at the 60-day mark; you can often find prime dining reservations with only a week to go. I would still recommend making dining reservations if you know you want to eat somewhere specific. Walk-ups are possible, but I've been there when they were turning away walk-ups or when the stand-by wait times were over an hour.
I highly recommend getting to the parks at rope drop or a little before. The park crowds tend to build during the day, so the emptiest time is usually right at opening. Unlike WDW, I don't think the crowds thin out all that much nearer to closing time. A lot of folks do leave after fireworks or the parade (think like MK), but the lines for the popular attractions still seem long at closing (even if closing is at midnight).
