Do we NEED a plan for DL?

[thinkerbell]

We go to WDW at least once a year. We have gotten used to planning out everything. We know which day we will be at each park and have fast passes booked for each day. We are going to DL and CA in June. I haven't planned anything beyond which days we will be there and have bought tickets. Are there better days to be at one versus the other? We enjoyed the days past at WDW where we could just decide the morning of which park we wanted to go to. Can we do that at DL?

 

[azfalcon]

Yes you can decide whatcha park you want to right up to the last minute...both parks a day if you have hopper passes. If you are staying on location I would take advantage of the early entry for each park in that certain day. Other than that have fun

 

[HydroGuy]

We go to WDW at least once a year. We have gotten used to planning out everything. We know which day we will be at each park and have fast passes booked for each day. We are going to DL and CA in June. I haven't planned anything beyond which days we will be there and have bought tickets. Are there better days to be at one versus the other? We enjoyed the days past at WDW where we could just decide the morning of which park we wanted to go to. Can we do that at DL?

DLR definitely does not need a plan like WDW. If you have been to DLR before then that means less need for planning than if your first time. Here is how I do it FWIW:

• I know which park I am starting at each day
• I know what the morning priorities are for rides and FPs. With that, I usually have an itinerary in mind for the first 2 hours or so
• I know what major and sometimes minor shows I want to hit each day and try to make that work
• I do important (for me or others in my group) rides and shows early in the trip. Then if something goes amiss (e.g., ride breaks down, someone not feeling well) we have extra days to go back and do those things

The only issue on which park/which day relates to EMH/MM, whether you have EM/MM yourself, and whether you are a rope drop type of person. In short, if you are a late arriver 1-2 hours after the park opens, EMH/MM is a non-issue (unlike WDW where it impacts the park all day long). On the other hand, if you do arrive at rope drop, start at the park without EMH/MM.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I would add that if there are any TS restaurants where you really want to eat (or if you are a large party, have special needs, or if you want to dine at peak hours), make your Priority Seating Reservations ahead of time. Blue Bayou can be hard to book during peak periods, and I have seen CMs there turn away walk ups. If you want to dine somewhere special, like the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose, book that ahead, too. Otherwise, you'll find dining at DLR to be much more relaxed in general than at WDW.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Blue bayou, definitely.

be aware that the Island attractions (canoes and Columbia) and storybook boats close comparatively early for the various shows.

Maybe know what you want to rope drop. And when the shows are.

Other that do whatever strikes your fancy! Have fun!!

 

[disneydadazut2]

I've never been to WDW, so I'm not sure on what 'planning' completely entails for you. I agree with all the advice given by HydroGuy, especially to plan which park to enter based on EMH/MM because it effects how many rides you can do in the first couple of hours (staying ahead of the crowds). Also, get reservations early for table service restaurants. One thing that is a part of our planning is shopping/souvenir plans. We always plan to grab a few things on our trips for the kids. At the end of the day Emporium (on Main Street) is packed. Personally, we get our shopping down after our initial rush for rides for small items like pins and hats that we can wear during the day and then any 'big/heavy items' we purchase in DownTown Disney just before getting on the tram back to the parking lot. Yes, that Disney store is busy as well, but not nearly as crazy as Emporium.

 

[Delilah1310]

I think that more than a "plan" for DL and DCA, a person needs just a lot of information and knowledge.
To me, things are much closer to its not about maximizing time with a plan ... but things will be in slightly different locations than WDW, so be sure to study maps before you go so you can.
And learning about the traffic patterns at DL and DCA will help you to understand why you may want to consider doing something earlier (or later) than you would at WDW.

I don't like a plan at DLR ... I just like a lot of knowledge so I can make recommendations to my crew.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Along those lines, be sure you know what's closed during before/during fireworks (most of FL) and what areas you need to avoid during/after parades -- without a plan, those bottlenecks can really slow you down.

 

[robert_j]

Recognize too that making table service reservations in advance does not commit you to a particular park. It is perfectly reasonable, for example, to make a dining reservation at Blue Bayou but decide at the last minute to spend the rest of the day at California Adventure. Park hopping is so easy it is really just like one big park.

 

[thinkerbell]

Thanks all! I'll just study the maps and info on here before going. We went to DL for about 6 hours about 8 years ago. Don't remember much at all so it is basically like we have never been. I'm glad we don't have to plan every little thing like at WDW. It takes some of the fun out of going. We normally just eat counter service at WDW. We don't normally eat TS but may make reservations for Blue Bayou if they still have availability for when we will be there. I have seen that mentioned several times. Must be good.
We do like shopping. Do they let you send packages to the front of the park and pick them up on your way out?

 

[Lesley Wake]

Thanks all! I'll just study the maps and info on here before going. We went to DL for about 6 hours about 8 years ago. Don't remember much at all so it is basically like we have never been. I'm glad we don't have to plan every little thing like at WDW. It takes some of the fun out of going. We normally just eat counter service at WDW. We don't normally eat TS but may make reservations for Blue Bayou if they still have availability for when we will be there. I have seen that mentioned several times. Must be good.
We do like shopping. Do they let you send packages to the front of the park and pick them up on your way out?

For shopping, yes they do typically allow that, but not for every store. For example, the Port Royal Curios next to Pirates-I saw a sweatshirt I liked and got it but they didn't have the ability to send it up, so I had to carry it around all day. I haven't tried with Star Traders or other shops, so I would check with the CM before you buy if you don't want to carry it around. Lockers are pretty easy to use though and aren't too expensive (the one in DL is halfway up Main Street, and in DCA it's next to the entrance).

I've heard that CS is better at DL vs WDW. I think it's because we have much more of it. In addition to Blue Bayou I would recommend Ariel's Grotto. They have a good World of Color dinner package, with steak and lobster! Don't forget about looking at Downtown Disney-it is so close to the parks, it is easy to walk into to grab food while you are in the middle of hopping from one park to the other.

 

[agamble]

Thanks all! I'll just study the maps and info on here before going. We went to DL for about 6 hours about 8 years ago. Don't remember much at all so it is basically like we have never been. I'm glad we don't have to plan every little thing like at WDW. It takes some of the fun out of going. We normally just eat counter service at WDW. We don't normally eat TS but may make reservations for Blue Bayou if they still have availability for when we will be there. I have seen that mentioned several times. Must be good.
We do like shopping. Do they let you send packages to the front of the park and pick them up on your way out?

We always eat quick service food at DL, except the occasional character meal. I plan to branch out a bit this year and try a few of the table service places. I would say that the food at Blue Bayou gets mixed reviews; it's a bit pricey for the quality I've heard. It's the atmosphere that people go for as the restaurant is inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

 

[VandVsmama]

You definitely do not need a moment-to-moment plan at DL. If there are certain TS restaurants that you want to try, then I recommend to make reservations for those. Other than that, you can most definitely wing it. Winging it is also easier now that the Disneyland smart phone app has attraction wait times.

 

[Wahlee]

For shopping, yes they do typically allow that, but not for every store. For example, the Port Royal Curios next to Pirates-I saw a sweatshirt I liked and got it but they didn't have the ability to send it up, so I had to carry it around all day. I haven't tried with Star Traders or other shops, so I would check with the CM before you buy if you don't want to carry it around. Lockers are pretty easy to use though and aren't too expensive (the one in DL is halfway up Main Street, and in DCA it's next to the entrance).

You can still check packages yourself, but only certain locations do it. It used to be only at the Newsstand at the front of the park, but now there are several locations that do it. Here's a link:

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/parks/checking-services/

 

[kkmcan]

I love the planning. Its half the fun for me. The anticipation of our next DL trip always has me giddy for months. Thats why you won't catch me booking a last minute trip to Disney ever!! I would feel very jipped to not get to do the planning and daydreaming.. the research on the which hotel, the time of the year we are going makes for more planning to - Halloween, Xmas, Summer etc.

I start by jumping on here every day for a bit to see if there's anything I didn't know about or should be thinking about. We always plan which park on which day ahead of time so as to avoid EMH as we don't usually have that option on our tickets.

Secondly we plan our lunch restaurants and make the reservations. Then we make a loose plan of what rides are important and decide what we are hitting for the first 3 hours of each morning. The afternoons are wing it and the evenings we usually wing it as well with the exception of making a plan for getting a spot for the parade and fireworks (if we plan on seeing those).

Other than that, we've had a request to get beignets from Jazz Kitchen and I always buy an ornament and a mug so we make time to do a little bit of shopping.

Plan as little or as much as you want! Happy planning!