DL rookie question.

[jpolak]

So we are planning our first ever trip to DL. We are checking in on 8/25 and flying home on the 29th. Just wanted to know if there were any must do dining experiences? Also should park passes be purchased in adavance or add them when you check in? Do you buy them from Disney or a third party vendor? TIA.

 

[Susie63]

August 2018?

 

[jpolak]

yes

 

[biochemgirl]

I love GetAwayToday and ParkSavers for discount tickets. That extra discount often makes the difference between adding a day or not. You might find you want a 4 day park hopper to make use of every minute you can in the parks

Dining - there is more than just table service! Get the fried chicken at the Plaza Inn and mickey shaped beignets from the Mint Julip.

Have a great trip!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

We loved the experience of eating inside Pirates at Blue Bayou.

We also really enjoyed the World of Color dessert party. I hate being in the middle of a big crowd, so the non-crowded seated viewing area was worth every penny.

And be sure to check out Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land for some fun treats.

 

[SteveMP]

"Must do" dining experiences are more about the experience, so kind of depends on what experience you want. For example when the kids were younger, the character breakfasts were must do, when my girls were 6-8ish the Ariels grotto princess meals were must do, for me personally Blue Bayou was a must do because I love Pirates and always wanted to eat there when i was a kid.

For tickets, price the well known 3rd parties like Last Minute Travel, ParkSavers etc and conpare them once all fees and taxes etc have been added, also I think one of the blogs has a slight discount at Parksavers. The discount will depend on how many days you are purchasing.

 

[figment_jii]

Things can change a lot by August of next year, so I would make sure to ask this question again closer to the date of your trip (maybe at the start of summer). This is especially true of dining and special events. While some things are consistent from year to year, other things can change.

In terms of tickets, I would look into one of the reputable third-party sellers or buy them in advance from Disneyland.com. Currently, if you pre-purchase your tickets online from Disneyland.com, select three-day or longer tickets, includes one Magic Morning. That perk is not included if you buy the tickets at the ticket booths. Again, check closer to the dates of your travel to make sure that offer is still in effect. Also, make sure to check the expiration dates of the tickets before you buy them (most will be good through the end of 2018 at this point, but it's better to be safe than sorry).

 

[StarlitNight05]

I'll second Word of Color Dessert Party. We just did this for the first time last week, and it's the best way to view the show (well, the view is not as good as front and center at the railing, but it's way less stressful and doesn't take away from valuable park time).

 

[jpolak]

Great! Thanks for all the info.