Disneyland CA questions

[barb007]

We are avid WDW FL visitors, but I'm actually contemplating using my airline miles to fly out to CA & visit. We normally go to WDW at the end of Aug before Labor Day - we avoid July due to the heat & certain tour groups.

Which month is normally better for CA for heat & crowds - July or August?

Does CA offer a dining plan similar to WDW FL?

Thanks.

 

[carolinamama]

Welcome! We are WDW vets who have just returned from our first DLR vacation ourselves!

DLR does NOT have a WDW-style dining plan. There are meal vouchers you can pre-buy, but they work the same as cash. Dining at DLR is a totally different experience, and there's less emphasis on table service meals. DLR is smack dab in the middle of town instead of out by itself like WDW, and there are so many different options off property that are within walking distance.

California heat is nothing like Florida heat! Right now, it's been unseasonably cold, and I actually had to buy my DD a coat last week to wear in the mornings and at night. But when it's hot, it's not that hot Florida tropical heat with rain and high humidity.

I'll let others talk more about crowd levels.

 

[Funball]

As a California native an never been to WDW ( at least not yet) I cannot compare the two for weather, But as a native I can tell you that, our summer season lately has been odd, cold n the morning, sometimes misty and almost like rainy, and then by afternoon it get’s to the 80’s(maybe). The hottest it can get at the parks is like anywhere between 85 and 96ºF, and we don’t get humidity. So it’s not a sticky hot. crowd levels, yeah i can't really tell ya if it's bad or not, even it was crowded i would not notice i don't let it bother me, but in the hot days it can be bit busy i guess

The dining service at DLR is different, but we have a great selection restaurants in our Downtown Disney section witch is walk-able from DL. Also the hotels offer nice dining options also; most of them are buffet, given the respect that Napa Rose is not. In my opinion, the food choices at California Adventure are a lot better then at Disneyland Park, but again that is my opinion. I hope this info helps!



Here is a link to the menus for dining options at DLR and DCA and Downtown Disney and the hotels of the resort:

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm#dl

 

[AmyPond]

We are avid WDW FL visitors, but I'm actually contemplating using my airline miles to fly out to CA & visit. We normally go to WDW at the end of Aug before Labor Day - we avoid July due to the heat & certain tour groups.

Which month is normally better for CA for heat & crowds - July or August?

Does CA offer a dining plan similar to WDW FL?

Thanks.

Weather can be tricky in SoCal. I find late August and September to be quite hot for me. However, I haven't been to WDW in those months so I can't really compare the two. I just know I've been in Disneyland during record high temps in late August (over 100 degrees) and I was pretty miserable.

However, there's also a chance the weather could be nice. It's really hard to say.

Crowds on weekends will always be higher than during the week because there are a lot of locals. Labor Day weekend also has the potential to be quite crowded (although when we were there over Labor Day 2007, it wasn't terrible.)

No, DLR doesn't have a similiar dining plan. It's best to pay out of pocket for food.

 

[HydroGuy]

July is a little better than August but both are comparable.

See "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098 and "Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

 

[S. S. Columbia]

We normally go to WDW at the end of Aug before Labor Day ....

I've visited DLR in both July and August, and IMO both months are a good time to visit.

If you choose August, I think you should visit during the first three weeks, and avoid the last week or so of August. Last year DLR was crazy busy during the last week in August, because the SoCal APers and SoCal Select APers returned after the summer AP blockout.

Here's a good thread:

"Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds"
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

Here's a link to this year's AP Blockout Calendar:
http://www.mouseplanet.com/misc.php?pg=blackout

HTH

 

[tink53]

I'm a CA native and avid DLR-goer. There's not too much difference in temp between July and August and if those are the ONLY months you're able to go, I'd pick August. Many kids will be back in school/college and you'll have a better chance of less (though not nearly as less as other months) crowds.

 

[Funball]

with the new layout of the calendar on the disneyland website it tells you in adanve the days that every pass but premium is blocked!! i just checked it out i thought it was cool!