DL newbie, please help with questions!

[OFF TO WDW!]

I have tried to do some looking, but I rather ask than make a mistake in rushing. Any help is appreciated!


1) How bad is the third or fourth week in April in regards to crowds?

2) How much time is enough time without rushing to see and do most of the attractions ? (I have heard answers from 1 day to 5 days from friends).

3)We are WDW vets of five trips in the last 9 years, my wife and I are afraid that our 13 year old Disney fanatical son will be disappointed going from the Florida park to a compact park. Any thoughts on that?


Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[carebee21]

Easter is April 24, so based on that, that time frame will be pretty busy. During the busy season, I would say 4 to 5 days to comfortably do and see most things.

 

[SD33]

I think anywhere from 3+ days is enough to see all the major attractions. If you are a fast pass master than you will be just fine

Your son will not be disappointed as long as you prep him about DLR being its own animal. It's a totally different experience. Everything is much more accessible at DLR compared with WDW. It doesn't have the same "escapist feel" in the sense that there just isn't as much land to keep the magic intact. However, the walking distance between attractions is much easier to traverse, and many on these boards will attest to the fact that DL and DCA have some versions of rides that are vastly superior to WDW--Pirates, Space Mountain, Grizzly River Rapids (compared to WDW'z raft ride), Indiana Jones (not found in WDW) etc.

Plus, if your son is a true Disney fanatic, then he will be stoked to walk in Walt's footsteps as this is his park. You guys are going to love it. Best of wishes on your trip!

 

[OFF TO WDW!]

I think anywhere from 3+ days is enough to see all the major attractions. If you are a fast pass master than you will be just fine

Your son will not be disappointed as long as you prep him about DLR being its own animal. It's a totally different experience. Everything is much more accessible at DLR compared with WDW. It doesn't have the same "escapist feel" in the sense that there just isn't as much land to keep the magic intact. However, the walking distance between attractions is much easier to traverse, and many on these boards will attest to the fact that DL and DCA have some versions of rides that are vastly superior to WDW--Pirates, Space Mountain, Grizzly River Rapids (compared to WDW'z raft ride), Indiana Jones (not found in WDW) etc.

Plus, if your son is a true Disney fanatic, then he will be stoked to walk in Walt's footsteps as this is his park. You guys are going to love it. Best of wishes on your trip![/QUOTE

Thanks! We arepushing our first trip back to April because besides being a Disney fan, he is also a MAJOR L.A. Lakers fan and he would love to see a game. We're hoping the LAKERS are not too far from DL as we will not have a rental car.

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks! We arepushing our first trip back to April because besides being a Disney fan, he is also a MAJOR L.A. Lakers fan and he would love to see a game. We're hoping the LAKERS are not too far from DL as we will not have a rental car.

I went this year the week before Easter and while it was full of Spring Break crowds, it was perfectly manageable with FastPass. I think three days is my magical number to see everything I want to see, and to be quite honest three days can begin to feel like "too much" for me, but I go at a commando pace - up early and stay late with a break in the middle.

As far as the Lakers, Staples Center is about 30 miles from Disneyland, so who knows how long that takes with traffic. I don't know much about LA public transportation, but hopefully there is a bus that goes from DL to LA because taking a cab would be pricey.

 

[Funball]

i dont have suggestions but i just wanted to say to the starter of this thread.. you got a cool screen name

 

[skiingfast]

I have tried to do some looking, but I rather ask than make a mistake in rushing. Any help is appreciated!


1) How bad is the third or fourth week in April in regards to crowds?

2) How much time is enough time without rushing to see and do most of the attractions ? (I have heard answers from 1 day to 5 days from friends).

3)We are WDW vets of five trips in the last 9 years, my wife and I are afraid that our 13 year old Disney fanatical son will be disappointed going from the Florida park to a compact park. Any thoughts on that?


Thanks for all the feedback!

1) Easter will cause some problems, but I haven't looked at any school schedules but that is pretty pushed back for Spring break.

2) I would say 3 days at least. It will be critical to see WoC, the firework show whatever it will be next year and Fantasmic. F! is way different than at WDW and the pre summer fireworks are much better than Wishes.

3) To a large extent the compactness is superior to WDW's huge layout. Also DL may be half the size of MK, but has more attractions packed in.



4) Lakers play in downtown LA. A couple miles cab ride to a commuter train goes to LA. The station there is a a mile cab ride to the Staples Center. The subway may go from the station to near it, but I don't know.

 

[OFF TO WDW!]

i dont have suggestions but i just wanted to say to the starter of this thread.. you got a cool screen name[/QU


Thanks! It may be time for a new handle soon! LOL!

 

[TLuvsD]

Most of the schools are scheduling Spring Break the week before Easter, so you might want to take that into account. So Cal Select and the So Cal APs are blocked out both weeks.

 

[raftislander]

3)We are WDW vets of five trips in the last 9 years, my wife and I are afraid that our 13 year old Disney fanatical son will be disappointed going from the Florida park to a compact park. Any thoughts on tha

It would help to know in what way is your son a "Disney fanatical." If he loves all things Disney and like to know about the history of the parks and Walt, then I agree with the pp that he will be thrilled with a trip to DL. As far as the "compact park" goes. Many are thrilled that you can walk between parks and go back and forth freely between them. And while compact, DL is jammed packed. But if your Disney fanatic is really a park fanatic, then I would ask which of the four WDW is his favorite? We have most of what is in the Magic Kingdom, a lot of what is in the Studios, some of what is at Epcot Furture World, plus many rides that do not exist in Florida. But if his favorite parks are either Epcot or Animal Kingdom,he may miss WDW. Indiana Jones has the same ride track as Dinosaur, but has completely different themeing. GRR is vastly superior to Kali (IMO), but essentially the same type of ride. California Screamin is a great outdoors rollercoaster, but has none of the wonderful storyline of Everest. Matterhorn is also fun but it is 54 years old (the first tubular track roller coaster) and not as fast or smooth as more recent coasters. No indoor RNR equivalent, but a better Space Mt than WDW. No animals, no World Showcase, no TestTrack equivalent (unless you wait until Carsland opens in 2012) no Mission Space. There are also other things to do/see in the LA area. if you are a family that can get up and be at rope drop, five days is probably more that enough time to see the parks.

 

[HydroGuy]

Some WDW vets make the mistake of underestimating DLR because of it smaller size. I could go on and on, but a few things to keep in mind:

1. DLR's two parks have a much higher ride concentration that WDW's four. In fact WDW only has 10% more rides in it's four parks than does DLR's two parks. Once Little Mermaid and CarsLand opens (with its 3 new rides - one an E-ticket - Radiator Springs Racers) at DCA the ride count will be even closer.

2. At the moment, the four top shows at DLR are significantly better than any of the shows at WDW. That would be the new World of Color, Fantasmic (better at DL), Remember Dreams Come Trure fireworks/laser/specail effects show (which shows seasonally and likely from January thru May), and the Aladdin stage show.

3. As others have noted, the compactness of the resort has advantages as well as disavantages. How about having your hotel room door be as close or maybe closer to the theme park gates than some of the bus or boat drop-offs are at WDW? With easier parkhopping, closer hotels and longer park hours, you can do a lot more in a day at DLR than WDW - much less wasted time on transportation and possible parkhopping.

Usually late April has crowds calming down but with Easter so late next year that will likely be different. Be careful trying too hard to miss crowds as off-season at DLR is different than WDW. Here are some links that may help:

"Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

"Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens " http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602

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

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889