Booking park reservations at DLR?

[meggiebeth]

Hello everyone!

We are visiting Disneyland in California later this year and I am trying to suss out the park reservation system. My month hasn’t opened yet but what has is pretty much all fully booked. I’m worried that I won’t be able to secure spots for our stay - does anyone have any experience reserving for DLR or any tips?

Also, at WDW whenever I’ve had a resort stay they’ve given me access to the resort reservation pool rather than CM pool - I’m guessing that this isn’t the case at DLR?

Thanks in advance!

 

[PatMcDuck]

No access to the DL hotel guest park reservation pool I don't think? HOWEVER, that wouldn't help anyway if MEP is blocked. Fortunately, they release pretty reliably at 60 days, the calendar seems to move forward a day at a time. AND while MEP are blocked A LOT, weekends especially, Self Admit is usually available. I am going in October. I am thinking I will have to buy a pass for my son because last year, October was pretty much blocked for our guests. I am hoping that is not the case, but prepared for it. What you see currently on the MEP calendar isn't dates fully booked, it is mostly dates that are blocked. Sometimes, they open up much closer to the park date you want.

Another thing, you can only book 3 days at a time there. BUT, last year I discovered you can reserve 3 park reservations under MEP and 3 as self admit at the same time. Which helped me somewhat.

 

[meggiebeth]

No access to the DL hotel guest park reservation pool I don't think? HOWEVER, that wouldn't help anyway if MEP is blocked. Fortunately, they release pretty reliably at 60 days, the calendar seems to move forward a day at a time. AND while MEP are blocked A LOT, weekends especially, Self Admit is usually available. I am going in October. I am thinking I will have to buy a pass for my son because last year, October was pretty much blocked for our guests. I am hoping that is not the case, but prepared for it. What you see currently on the MEP calendar isn't dates fully booked, it is mostly dates that are blocked. Sometimes, they open up much closer to the park date you want.

Another thing, you can only book 3 days at a time there. BUT, last year I discovered you can reserve 3 park reservations under MEP and 3 as self admit at the same time. Which helped me somewhat.

Hi Pat, thanks so much for this! Is there any way to see which dates are actually blocked out as opposed to just fully booked? Our trip is in September and I’m really hoping that I can use my MEP as I will have my family with me. It seems such a shame when availability at WDW is so much better.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I am going in October so I feel your pain. You will know nothing until 60 days out. Usually it is one day at a time that they release it. You may have more luck than me, going in September. I went last year in Sept. I was able to use my MEP for our days, but went into parks mostly Sunday to Thursday. (The Oogie Boogie parties started that week too). I booked 3 days for MEP, 2 days for self admit. Once I used a MEP day, I cancelled my self admit park reservation and made another one as MEP. So generally one would book the 3 MEP days as your first 3 days, and add the 4th day once you used the first day up. I do think that Sunday was originally blocked but did open up. So it can open up as dates get closer, which is a nightmare for us planning a vacation trip from out of state. I might have even booked some using comps but then switched to MEP as week went on. You do have to redo the park reservation under the ticket media you are using of course.

 

[meggiebeth]

I am going in October so I feel your pain. You will know nothing until 60 days out. Usually it is one day at a time that they release it. You may have more luck than me, going in September. I went last year in Sept. I was able to use my MEP for our days, but went into parks mostly Sunday to Thursday. (The Oogie Boogie parties started that week too). I booked 3 days for MEP, 2 days for self admit. Once I used a MEP day, I cancelled my self admit park reservation and made another one as MEP. So generally one would book the 3 MEP days as your first 3 days, and add the 4th day once you used the first day up. I do think that Sunday was originally blocked but did open up. So it can open up as dates get closer, which is a nightmare for us planning a vacation trip from out of state. I might have even booked some using comps but then switched to MEP as week went on. You do have to redo the park reservation under the ticket media you are using of course.

Thanks so much for your input Pat, that’s really helpful (and reassuring to know that chances in September are a bit better!) It’s a 12 hour flight for us to get to Disneyland so to get there and not get in would be a bit frustrating

 

[PatMcDuck]

Weekends are worse than midweek. I am grateful that DL at least allows self admit most days, so I am good to enter. But not my son, I think I will need to buy him a pass in October.