December 4th and 5th

[cerilene]

We're going to DL for the first time and we'll be spending the 4th and 5th in the parks. I'd love to spend some time Saturday night as well, but DH doesn't think it's worth the extra money for just a few hours. We've been to WDW many times and I have this fear that because I know WDW so well, I'll be totally confused trying to think DL should be just like WDW.

It's going to be DH, DD (almost 3yrs), my parents and me (7 months preggo.) My dad is a very slow walker with feet problems but would NEVER consider/agree to a wheelchair. DD is potty trained, but it's pretty new so we have to really be on top of her when she's busy playing. DD isn't 35" yet so we won't be riding many of the height restricted rides since she's too short and I'm pregnant.

We will be meeting Repunzel and Tiana or DD will never forgive us! (All tips for those two are welcome!) I'm sure she'd love to meet all of the princesses and fairies, but those 2 are 100% must dos.

We don't like Fantasmic at WDW so we'll be skipping that one at DL.

Will 2 days be enough time to get most of everything done? I'm making a spreadsheet with all of the restaurants and attractions on it. One by one, I'm making notes on what we don't want to do, kind of want to do and absolutely have to do. I would love some expert advice though. I've helped all of my friends plan their WDW trips and I feel so lost trying to plan my own trip.

Oh and I've already read Hydroguy's DL guide for WDW vets.

 

[dalstitch45]

Although I am not an expert on DL, I have been quite a few times over the past few years. I am a WDW vet. Just like you, I don't care for Fantasmic at WDW. I absolutely love it at DL. It is so much better.

I believe the 4th is one of the Candlelight Processional days at DL, so it should be pretty busy from everything I am reading. I will be there also, as this is my first time at DLR during the Christmas season. If you only have two (2) days, you will probably have to do Commando Park as much as you can (considering your dad). At least you will get to experience all of the Christmas season there, since they don't have MVMCP's. Just a couple of thoughts I hope will help you from one WDW vet to another.

 

[aan1701]

Yes that is Candellight time here. Second, Fantasmic here is eight billion times better than WDW. The Peter pan Piriate ship, the full bodied dragon, just do much better than that lame, insult to Fantasmic they have at WDW. Give it a shot.

 

[skiingfast]

We don't like Fantasmic at WDW so we'll be skipping that one at DL.

We all make mistakes.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We all make mistakes.

 

[cerilene]

Although I am not an expert on DL, I have been quite a few times over the past few years. I am a WDW vet. Just like you, I don't care for Fantasmic at WDW. I absolutely love it at DL. It is so much better.

I believe the 4th is one of the Candlelight Processional days at DL, so it should be pretty busy from everything I am reading. I will be there also, as this is my first time at DLR during the Christmas season. If you only have two (2) days, you will probably have to do Commando Park as much as you can (considering your dad). At least you will get to experience all of the Christmas season there, since they don't have MVMCP's. Just a couple of thoughts I hope will help you from one WDW vet to another.

Thanks for your help! Where are you reading your info on events and crowds? I haven't found this site to be as helpful as it is with WDW so I'm having trouble gathering as much info as I'd like to have.

 

[skiingfast]

Thanks for your help! Where are you reading your info on events and crowds? I haven't found this site to be as helpful as it is with WDW so I'm having trouble gathering as much info as I'd like to have.

You can find out about the CP here because the event is not run like the one in Epcot it's not a prioity for Disney to sell. Have you seen the Holiday thread? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2612827

Rapunzel's M&G is in Fantasyland on the left back as you go through the Castle, look for the turret. It can get a huge line so do it early.
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/tangled/

Tiana is in New Orleans Square in front of the French Market dining location.


You can get a Character Meeting& Greet times guide in the park or ask at the information spot on the hub by the wait time board. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/characters/

Ask questions on this side of the DIS and you can easily get answer from the many dissers with a lot of DLR experience.

 

[Nonsuch]

We're going to DL for the first time and we'll be spending the 4th and 5th in the parks. I'd love to spend some time Saturday night as well, but DH doesn't think it's worth the extra money for just a few hours.

There will be 2 performances of Candlelight on Saturday and Sunday
I would highly recommend trying to see Candlelight
It would be worthwhile going into Disneyland Saturday for that reason alone. It will require standing around for several hours, or try to slip in between the two performances. Go the City Hall for the Candlelight performance times, it will not be posted anywhere

 

[dalstitch45]

As previously stated, the Holiday thread is fantastic. There is so much information, and the pictures are awesome. We had been comtemplating going to DLR for the Holiday season. After looking at that thread, we made the decision to go.

Cerilene, I am looking forward to seeing the CP at DL. I am trying to picture what it is going to be like, having seen it at Epcot a million times. In my opinion, DLR does parades, fireworks, etc. way better than WDW (sorry, can't help it). I know we will not be disappointed, and neither will you.

P.S. Don't forget to do the castle walk-through if you have time. Your DD will love it.

 

[skiingfast]

Cerilene, I am looking forward to seeing the CP at DL. I am trying to picture what it is going to be like, having seen it at Epcot a million times. In my opinion, DLR does parades, fireworks, etc. way better than WDW (sorry, can't help it). I know we will not be disappointed, and neither will you.

This will hold true. It's really cool how they do it on the Town Square side of the Main Street train station. Better than,although not as comfortable or easy to see than the ampitheater in Epcot. Sort of like the DL F! vs DHS F!.

If you think you want to see the CP, just remember it will be hard to find a good spot and take up a lot of time.

 

[dalstitch45]

This will hold true. It's really cool how they do it on the Town Square side of the Main Street train station. Better than,although not as comfortable or easy to see than the ampitheater in Epcot. Sort of like the DL F! vs DHS F!.

If you think you want to see the CP, just remember it will be hard to find a good spot and take up a lot of time.

Do you know what time it has started in the past, and what time should we start heading for a spot? Thanks.

 

[cerilene]

This will hold true. It's really cool how they do it on the Town Square side of the Main Street train station. Better than,although not as comfortable or easy to see than the ampitheater in Epcot. Sort of like the DL F! vs DHS F!.

If you think you want to see the CP, just remember it will be hard to find a good spot and take up a lot of time.

See this is our problem. We don't like to stand around just to secure a spot for shows, parades and such. Of course we do a lot of other things that are much more our style while the parades and stuff are going on, so it actually does work out well for us. I will do whatever it takes to see the Wishes fireworks at MK though. For our last trip we went in our first night just for the fireworks and so DD could meet Tinkerbell. Then we headed to the hotel to crash.

I think Fantasmic is cool, but I'm not a huge fan of the story and neither is DH. I'd love to catch a few minutes of it if we happen to be there when it starts, but I've heard that you can't walk up at the last minute and find a spot like you can at WDW. So many things at WDW we've been able to walk up and see just as they are starting and been perfectly happy with our spot. Can this happen at DL too? Like for WOC, parades, fireworks, etc.

Another thing...we usually take our time getting to the parks in the morning (usually arriving just before lunch) and then we close down the park. Can we do this at DL or do we need to follow the golden rule of get there at park opening, take an afternoon break and come back for the rest of the night?

 

[cerilene]

P.S. Don't forget to do the castle walk-through if you have time. Your DD will love it.

This is definitely HIGH on the priority list! DD was very disappointed that we couldn't go in Cinderella's castle at WDW. We tried/begged to be let in the lobby of CRT just so she could go "inside" but not that they have Cinderella meeting guests there, it was a no go.

 

[skiingfast]

See this is our problem. We don't like to stand around just to secure a spot for shows, parades and such.......I would do whatever it takes to see the Wishes fireworks at MK though.

You should invest the time for Fantasmic and WoC. If it was the summer fireworks Remember Dreams Come True, I would say the same because it's so much better than Wishes.

I've heard that you can't walk up at the last minute and find a spot like you can at WDW. So many things at WDW we've been able to walk up and see just as they are starting and been perfectly happy with our spot. Can this happen at DL too? Like for WOC, parades, fireworks, etc.

You can watch from crappy spots but for some shows this has adverse effects.

For F!, it's only going to run on Sunday, I would really take the time to watch this. Staying for the second showing will let you wait much less than the first show. If you show up while the first show is running and wait near the Haunted Mansion and Splash (don't watch it and spoil it) waitfor it to end, the crowd will exit toward the Hub. Take thier spots for a shorter wait.

For WoC see it from Paradise Park with a show ticket, get there early to grab a railing spot. There are no views comparable to the railing in Paradise Park from the outlying area. The 2nd show has a shorter wait.

For the parade, viewing on Monday when crowds are lower will help. Watch near Town Square of back toward Small World.

For the fireworks, seeing the castle helps, they will also do the castle lighting if you have never seen that, Watch from the hub or hub end of Main Street this will take a lot of time, but yeild good views. Less crowds on Monday.

A good alternative is to watch from near Small World, where they will also have the show porjections. The problem is, you won't see the low fireworks by the Castle.

Another thing...we usually take our time getting to the parks in the morning (usually arriving just before lunch) and then we close down the park. Can we do this at DL or do we need to follow the golden rule of get there at park opening, take an afternoon break and come back for the rest of the night?

On Sunday I would do the opening and closing hours and break early after noon if you need to. DLR has much bigger crowds on the weekend so the time is more important to take advantage of. Monday will be much quiet, and have shorter hours, I would stay open to close.

Do you know what time it has started in the past, and what time should we start heading for a spot? Thanks.

I think 5:30 and 8pm was last year. If you look at the official calendar for the 3rd or 4th notice the parade is earlier than normal. You may want to watch the parade at the Town Square and stay there for the CP. Or you might come over a hour afte the first show starts, and hope to fill in as the first show crowd leaves.