Few Questions About My First DLR Trip

[XSeabiscuitX]

So these are somewhat random unrelated questions but I didn't see the point in making multiple threads. I am going to DLR next week for the first time, but I didn't find out I was going until two weeks ago so I haven't had quite the time I would like to plan. The circumstances are not ideal time wise (only three days, there on a weekend, and only have one night I can be at the parks), but I'm not paying for it so who am I to complain. Any suggestions at all would be very much appreciated but I have a couple of specific questions. Trip dates are March 9th (the night I have at the park), 10th and 11th.

1) I am arriving at 9:30 Friday morning at SNA and plan on going straight to the parks because my hotel does not have a shuttle and I am too young to rent a car. And I can't check in until 3 pm anyway. Which means I'm going to have my carry on bag from the airplane with me, I'm not checking a suit case. Are the lockers there big enough or is there another place I could put it?

2) I want to see World of Color more than anything and plan on doing the picnic lunch for a good seat. The only problem is I'm a very picky eater. I'm 20but I look more like 24, is anyone going to care I ordered a kids meal? And yes, I'm enough of a dork to want the braclet.

3) I'm a character nut more than anything. Is there a way to get the character times guide before I get there so I can plan which park to go to first? I haven't had any luck finding it.

4) This is a big one. I am actually meeting my best friend in California, but I'm getting there before him. He's paying for the trip so he used his military discount (Air Force stationed a few hours away). I arrive Friday morning and he arrives Friday night so he sent me the tickets. Is there going to be any kind of issue with that? I obviously don't have a military ID and I won't have him with me when I first go to the park. Also, this means I'm going to be spending most of Friday by myself. Is there anything that's something I should or shouldn't do by myself? Like it'd be more fun to wait for him? Also this one's probably a stupid question but, I read somewhere a lot of the characters don't have people with them at DLR, are there usually photographers?

Again, any suggestions at all would be appreciated! I'm so excited!

Edit: More Questions!

5) I read somewhere about a "Birthday Bucket" you can get at the Plaza Inn breakfast but I haven't seen that anywhere else. Does anyone know if this is right?

6) I know the average weather temperatures are posted but I'm not good at deciding what kind of clothes that needs. Does anyone have suggestions on what to pack for the second week of March? I thought capris based on what I read but mom said shorts.

 

[Escape2Disney]

Hi - sounds like a fun trip!

I'll try to answer from my experience:

1) Even if check-in isn't until 3, most hotels will let you leave your bags at the front desk. Sometimes there's a small fee. I've done this at many hotels around the parks.

2) I'm not sure, but I believe the cost of the picnics are the same for adults and kids. There's no difference between an adult and child fast pass, so I think you're okay here. Someone else will have to chime in to confirm.

3) I don't know if there's a published list online, but I do know you can get a list in City Hall when you arrive.

4) My experience with this one is about 12 years old, so I'll let someone else answer

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

4) This is a big one. I am actually meeting my best friend in California, but I'm getting there before him. He's paying for the trip so he used his military discount (Air Force stationed a few hours away). I arrive Friday morning and he arrives Friday night so he sent me the tickets. Is there going to be any kind of issue with that? I obviously don't have a military ID and I won't have him with me when I first go to the park.

I think you better call Disney and find out for sure. A friend's father offered to buy her family military tickets (he's retired military) a couple years back so they could go to the park, but they found out in advance that they had to be accompanied by the military member when activating the tickets the first time at the turnstile. Since the father wasn't going with them, she ended up getting regular tickets.

 

[croppincolburn]

I'm going in a couple weeks on the military tickets (3day hopper for $99 wahoo) We were told you must have the person with the ID for the first entry. After that you would be OK. You can shop and eat at DTD. I believe there are movie theaters there too. You could wander around Disney's Hotels and check them out.

Have a great trip!

 

[XSeabiscuitX]

Thank you all very much! I'm so excited!!

 

[A Small World]

There is no problem with an adult getting the childs Picnic meal - DBF did this last year.

However just to add there is no seating for WOC it is all standing

 

[chttyangel]

I think you better call Disney and find out for sure. A friend's father offered to buy her family military tickets (he's retired military) a couple years back so they could go to the park, but they found out in advance that they had to be accompanied by the military member when activating the tickets the first time at the turnstile. Since the father wasn't going with them, she ended up getting regular tickets.

AGREE; there are two types of military tickets. The first are just the regular Disney tickets that military members get a small discount on. Those they can buy unlimited amounts of and they don't have to be with you. The second are the military salute tickets. They are super cheap (under 100 for 3 day hopper). There is a strict limit and they HAVE to be there with you. Your friend can call the base ticket office for all the details. We just bought ours.

 

[croppincolburn]

Thanks for clarifying the military tickets. I was so excited at the deal for the military salute that I forgot about the others.