Disney WORLD Expert Completely Baffled by DisneyLAND Help!!

Katems

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 30, 2005
Messages
497
I'm so confused right now!! The family wants to check out Land as we've done World so very many times. There is very little info here though, compared to World.

Questions.....do they have a dining plan?? Is it ever free?

Do they offer Magical Express airport transport??

Do they have extra magic hours?

Are there really only three hotels??

What else should I know?? Thanks!
 
I am, by no means, an expert. I hope others will chime in here, but I will give you some quick and dirty answers to your questions.

1) There is a dining plan for Disneyland, but I don't believe they ever offer it free. However, most DLR experts will advise you AGAINST purchasing the dining plan. Dining at DLR is much less complicated than at WDW because there are simply fewer places to eat and fewer guests vying for tables.

2) I don't think Disney offers shuttle service to and from the airports, but there are some independent companies that do. Hopefully someone can give you names of reputable companies. I can think of Super Shuttle off the top of my head, but when in Southern California you may consider renting a car because there are so many things to see and do and they are widespread, not within a several hundred acre compound like at WDW.

3) There really are only 3 on-site hotels. There are, however, dozens of hotels in the immediate vicinity of DLR, some of which get excellent reviews.

I recommend you read Hydroguys tips in the Stickys above. His compilation of information is very comprehensive, succinct and runs the gamut of things you may want to know. There is also a thread here that a WDW vet created that compares DLR to WDW (you should run a search); that may help you orient yourself.

Good luck and ENJOY!!!!! :dance3:
 
I'm so confused right now!! The family wants to check out Land as we've done World so very many times. There is very little info here though, compared to World.

Questions.....do they have a dining plan?? Is it ever free?

Do they offer Magical Express airport transport??

Do they have extra magic hours?

Are there really only three hotels??

What else should I know?? Thanks!


They do have a dining plan but it is not worth it. Emphasis is not on food like WDW. There are some good restaurants but not worth the plan.

They do have a bus that shuttles people from LAX but it is a seperate charge. You can also do Supershuttle among others.

They have extra magic HOUR but its in the morning.

There are only three hotels ONSITE. There are several off site which are just as close. I would suggest though if its your first time that you stay at either GC or DLH. More magic.

California is just amazing. The pacific ocean is just so beautiful. If you can swing it you need to hit all the major cities in CA. You can skip Hollyood.
You must visit Monterey, San Fran, Yosemite National Park (It's the most beautiful place I've ever seen put it on your bucket list), San Diego is also so gorgeous. Corona Del Mar and Newport Beach is the beach area when staying at DL.

All the hotels, parks and dowtown disney are so close together its so nice. No buses. No long walks. It really is wonderful. Disneyland is so much better than WDW's magic kingdom. More detail, so much nostalgia. The weather is always so wonderful. The fireworks are so much better, fantasmic! is so much better, Aladdin Musical is the best, Pirates is great, Fantasyland has so many rides and the area is just so much better than WDW. DL and DCA have as many rides/attractions in two parks as WDW has in four. There are not as many restaurants and extra things at the resorts but you have the Pacific Ocean to take advantage of. Ever drive the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway?) its the best drive if you can swing it from LA to SF.

There is so much to tell you. You can check out books like the Unofficial Guide to DL.

I have a couple of favorite quotes:

1st one is from Miceage's Al Lutz,
"There's an answer the old timers at Disney like to give when asked to compare the Anaheim and Orlando main parks, and to me it still applies as to how they are currently run: Disneyland is a park designed by a father for his daughters, while the Magic Kingdom is designed by a committee for the hordes."

2nd one is from Tony Baxter,
Disneyland can never be duplicated because it was the original “I’ve never seen anything like this!”

A Walk in Walt's Footsteps is probably the best tour.

Please keep asking questions as this side of the disboards is extremely friendly and helpful.
 
They do have a bus that shuttles people from LAX but it is a seperate charge. You can also do Supershuttle among others.

Just a note about this, there are no Disney-operated motorcoach transfers similar to the Disney's Magical Express service in Florida. Several private companies do offer motorcoach transfers to the Anaheim Resort Area. These services are not necessarily endoresed by the Disneyland Resort, and do not offer luggage delivery of any sort to the onsite Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
 

Just a note about this, there are no Disney-operated motorcoach transfers similar to the Disney's Magical Express service in Florida. Several private companies do offer motorcoach transfers to the Anaheim Resort Area. These services are not necessarily endoresed by the Disneyland Resort, and do not offer luggage delivery of any sort to the onsite Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.

It's interesting because they do have a motorcoach called "the disneyland resort express". Here is what I pulled from the DL website.

Disneyland Resort Express

The Disneyland Resort Express provides the most convenient mode of transportation between LAX and the Disneyland Resort area — including Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Resort hotels.

Upon exiting the baggage claim area at LAX, proceed to the center island. You may board the Disneyland Resort Express underneath the green sign in front of each terminal. Busses depart frequently beginning at Terminal #1. Reservations are not required, but there is a fee to ride.
 
It's interesting because they do have a motorcoach called "the disneyland resort express". Here is what I pulled from the DL website.

Disneyland Resort Express

The Disneyland Resort Express provides the most convenient mode of transportation between LAX and the Disneyland Resort area — including Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Resort hotels.

Upon exiting the baggage claim area at LAX, proceed to the center island. You may board the Disneyland Resort Express underneath the green sign in front of each terminal. Busses depart frequently beginning at Terminal #1. Reservations are not required, but there is a fee to ride.

Hence why I said the shuttle services are not *necessarily* endoresed.

Gray Line licenses the name from Disney. Other than that and some minor advertising, DLR doesn't really involve themselves with their operations, unlike DME services in Florida, which are jointly operated by Disney and Mears Transportation Group.
 
I'm so confused right now!! The family wants to check out Land as we've done World so very many times. There is very little info here though, compared to World.
Have you read the sticky notes at the top of the forum? The one that says NEWBIE INFO? Do your homework!!
 
I'm so confused right now!! The family wants to check out Land as we've done World so very many times. There is very little info here though, compared to World.

Questions.....do they have a dining plan?? Is it ever free?

Do they offer Magical Express airport transport??

Do they have extra magic hours?

Are there really only three hotels??

What else should I know?? Thanks!
Have you read the sticky notes at the top of the forum? The one that says NEWBIE INFO? Do your homework!!
That was my same thought. Yes, DLR information is not as voluminous as WDW - at least on DIS - but I think all your questions are answered in Mary Jo's sticky thread. :wizard:
 
I have a couple of favorite quotes:

1st one is from Miceage's Al Lutz,
"There's an answer the old timers at Disney like to give when asked to compare the Anaheim and Orlando main parks, and to me it still applies as to how they are currently run: Disneyland is a park designed by a father for his daughters, while the Magic Kingdom is designed by a committee for the hordes."

2nd one is from Tony Baxter,
Disneyland can never be duplicated because it was the original “I’ve never seen anything like this!”

Been loving your TR, but this has got to be the icing on the cake! I love both Walt and Tony Baxter, his love of the original comes through almost as strong as Walt. At D23 in one of the seminars, last year he showed some pics of himself working as an almost teenager and you could hear the pride in his voice coming through just how much he really loved DL. As VP of imagineering he is responsible for all the parks, but you can totally tell, that his first love like most of ours is DL!
 
:)
It's interesting because they do have a motorcoach called "the disneyland resort express". Here is what I pulled from the DL website.

Disneyland Resort Express

The Disneyland Resort Express provides the most convenient mode of transportation between LAX and the Disneyland Resort area — including Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Resort hotels.

Upon exiting the baggage claim area at LAX, proceed to the center island. You may board the Disneyland Resort Express underneath the green sign in front of each terminal. Busses depart frequently beginning at Terminal #1. Reservations are not required, but there is a fee to ride.
Disneyland Resort Express isn't owned or run by the Disney company as glendalais mentioned above. It is run by the Gray Line bus company, an independant company who licenses the name from Disney. This is why there is a cost to use their shuttle services.
 
I have a couple of favorite quotes:

1st one is from Miceage's Al Lutz,
"There's an answer the old timers at Disney like to give when asked to compare the Anaheim and Orlando main parks, and to me it still applies as to how they are currently run: Disneyland is a park designed by a father for his daughters, while the Magic Kingdom is designed by a committee for the hordes."

2nd one is from Tony Baxter,
Disneyland can never be duplicated because it was the original “I’ve never seen anything like this!”

I LOVE these quotes! Especially the first one. :thumbsup2
 


Disney Vacation Planning. Free. Done for You.
Our Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are here to provide personalized, expert advice, answer every question, and uncover the best discounts. Let Dreams Unlimited Travel take care of all the details, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a stress-free vacation.
Start Your Disney Vacation
Disney EarMarked Producer






DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Add as a preferred source on Google

Back
Top Bottom