DLR Questions from WDW Vet

[subtchr]

Hi, All,

I have tried reading through the stickies and doing searches, and I think I have a pretty good idea what we want to do on our upcoming trip to DLR, but I thought I'd ask a couple of questions of the experts.

We (myself and DH, 50s, and our DD, 20, and possibly my SIL, 50s) will be at DLR June 20-22. The dates were set before we learned about the Carsland opening, but that's okay, even though it will be crowded, it will be cool to experience. We are actually huge DCA fans from our 2 visits there, in 2002 and 2006.

We are excited to be staying at the GCH. Yes, it's expensive, but a military discount helps a lot, and we LOVE the idea of being right in the middle of everything. I also love the feel of the hotel, from the times we have walked through.

So my first questions are about the hotel and room choices. We reserved a standard room for the three of us for the first night, and added another room for my DD and SIL to use the second night. For that night they said they did not have a standard room available but they did have a Downtown Disney view room. Are those rooms noisy? Any other advice about room choice at GCH? Any other special things we should do or be aware of during a stay there? We are not under a package because we have a large military room-only discount, and we are purchasing the $99 3-day hopper tickets from our local military base before we arrive.

Right now our plan is to arrive at LAX late morning, rent a car, and be in the parks by early afternoon that Wednesday, June 20. We will then spend all day Thursday in the parks, and until mid-afternoon Friday. I am thinking of catching F! on Wednesday night and WOC on Thursday. Any problems with that plan? Advice for snagging decent viewing spots?

I know it will be very crowded, but we are looking forward to the trip. Any and all advice is welcome!

 

[skiingfast]

Since the 21st and 22nd are grad nites, you should see WoC on either of those nights since that is a ticketed, limited entry show. See the open to eveveryone on Wed when there are less crowds.

For viewing tips look in.
The WoC Superthread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2542717
and the F! Superthread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2671983

There may be some noise from DTD, but it dies down around 11pm.

 

[niklynn1]

]Since the 21st and 22nd are grad nites, you should see WoC on either of those nights since that is a ticketed, limited entry show. See the open to eveveryone on Wed when there are less crowds.
[/COLOR]
For viewing tips look in.
The WoC Superthread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2542717
and the F! Superthread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2671983

There may be some noise from DTD, but it dies down around 11pm.

Could you explain this some more? I also will be in DL on some of the grad nights, and am trying to plan a schedule. I'm not sure I understand your response, though. Thanks!

 

[subtchr]

Since the 21st and 22nd are grad nites, you should see WoC on either of those nights since that is a ticketed, limited entry show. See the open to eveveryone on Wed when there are less crowds.

For viewing tips look in.
The WoC Superthread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2542717
and the F! Superthread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2671983

There may be some noise from DTD, but it dies down around 11pm.

Sorry I am a bit confused by your response as well. We will not be in the parks the night of the 22nd, so you are saying my plan will work - F! on the 20th and WOC on the 21st?

How do grad nights work?

I am considering the dessert package for F! and a dinner package for WOC. I'll decide that closer to the trip.

Thanks for your help!

 

[skiingfast]

Could you explain this some more? I also will be in DL on some of the grad nights, and am trying to plan a schedule. I'm not sure I understand your response, though. Thanks!

On nights that are busier it's better to see something with a fixed capacity, rather than something where more people can push thier way in.

Big or small crowds Paradise Park the WoC viewing area fits about 4,000 guests, all of which need a WoC Show Pass to enter. You could say X number of people see it every night, never greater than X.

The area to view Fireworks on the Hub and Mainstreet, along the parades, and near River of America, do not have a capacity restriction. As many people as want can squeeze their way in to see the shows. For these you could say the area fits Y, but only days less than Y will be there, on busy days greater than Y.

 

[skiingfast]

How do grad nights work?

I am considering the dessert package for F! and a dinner package for WOC. I'll decide that closer to the trip.

Doing the F! desert package, will also help on a busy night, as it means you are getting a ticket to a limited capacity area as well.

The dinner package for WoC, is ok, not a big help to see the show, you mostly are doing it to get the dinner.


Grad Nites, will bring many Seniors, looking to be around 10K and maybe up toward 20K. This is different then in the pat when many more came. They can come during the day, use their park hoppers and two any attraction, any return time FP. They get a private party in DL starting at 11pm, this is when DL will close to regular guests. Hopefully DCA will be open longer.

 

[KCmike]

What are the latest dates for Grad Nights in June? Where can I get the full list of dates?

 

[skiingfast]

What are the latest dates for Grad Nights in June? Where can I get the full list of dates?

Read the OP and skip to post 39 for information about the current format, and not the old one.

The Scoop on Grad Nites.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

 

[subtchr]

Thanks so much for the info and the links. I am getting excited!

 

[KCmike]

Read the OP and skip to post 39 for information about the current format, and not the old one.

The Scoop on Grad Nites.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

Thanks!

 

[taaren]

Just wanted to add two things - I've heard from so many people that they really love the DTD rooms, and if they're anything like the villas in construction, which I suspect they are, when the glass door to your balcony is closed you won't hear a thing. If it were me I'd love to leave it open in the evening though and listen to the music drift up towards me and watch the lights and people below.

The other thing to make note of is that you won't have to stand in line to get a ticket to World of Color, if you're staying at the Grand Californian, they let hotel guests into the park to get tickets before the park opens or sometimes they just print out a ton of tickets and hand them to hotel guests that walk up, I've always been there for the latter. Hard to say what's going to happen with WOC tickets this year given the rumors about DCA MMs but I'd think its a safe bet that hotel guests will still have some kind of priority on them ... which makes paying for the dinner even less of an advantage for hotel guests. If I'd known that the first year I wouldn't have gone for the picnic dinner when we were staying at the GC.