First day--DTD, Parks or a little of both?

[luvgoing2disney]

We arrive at John Wayne on a Saturday around 10:40. I am hoping that if all goes well, we could be checked in to HoJo's and then be off to "somewhere" by noon.

My initial plan was to visit DTD, have dinner, then return to our rooms to watch the fireworks. But will be the entire afternoon that we should have available. Would you buy a 5 day ticket instead of a 4 day and go to the parks as well? I know that the weekends are busier, and we will be arriving on Memorial Day weekend which might increase the crowds even more, but if we get to see or do 2 or 3 attractions/shows, it just might be worth it.

I'm a big enough Disney fan that if I am that close and don't go to the parks, to use a Biblical analogy, I'll be like Moses looking at the Promised Land but not being to go in!

 

[Captain Hindsight]

I'd get the 5, and try and knock out some of the shows like F!, WOC or the fireworks!

 

[Funball]

We arrive at John Wayne on a Saturday around 10:40. I am hoping that if all goes well, we could be checked in to HoJo's and then be off to "somewhere" by noon.

My initial plan was to visit DTD, have dinner, then return to our rooms to watch the fireworks. But will be the entire afternoon that we should have available. Would you buy a 5 day ticket instead of a 4 day and go to the parks as well? I know that the weekends are busier, and we will be arriving on Memorial Day weekend which might increase the crowds even more, but if we get to see or do 2 or 3 attractions/shows, it just might be worth it.

I'm a big enough Disney fan that if I am that close and don't go to the parks, to use a Biblical analogy, I'll be like Moses looking at the Promised Land but not being to go in!

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Omg, I am 1st reply!! yay! [/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ok so I would not even worry about Downtown Disney on your 1st day unless after coming in from the airport you are soo tired that going to the parks is just not going to cut it, then a leisurely walk down DTD would be just the ticket.but if you are not tired, then getting a headstart to the parks is also a good idea! There is just so much to do and see at the parks, it's like DTD can wait, at least that is how I feel.[/FONT]

 

[luvgoing2disney]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Omg, I am 1st reply!! yay! [/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ok so I would not even worry about Downtown Disney on your 1st day unless after coming in from the airport you are soo tired that going to the parks is just not going to cut it, then a leisurely walk down DTD would be just the ticket.but if you are not tired, then getting a headstart to the parks is also a good idea! There is just so much to do and see at the parks, it's like DTD can wait, at least that is how I feel.[/FONT]

We do have an early flight--5:30 from Birmingham which means being at the airport by 4:00 at the latest, but I can sleep on the plane and the price is only $10.00 more per ticket, so based on these responses the more I think it would be worth giving it a shot. We've not done DTD at DLR, so I was really not sure how it compared with the one at WDW and how much time it would take. It will be a party of 8 ranging in ages from 10 to 75 (MIL and FIL who are VERY young for their age). And if they needed an afternoon break, they could easily get one.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

im doing that too we love dtd an we will do both a ride or attaraction an dtd. so were adding a day to our ticket even if we wont get there till 11-1

 

[Funball]

im doing that too we love dtd an we will do both a ride or attaraction an dtd. so were adding a day to our ticket even if we wont get there till 11-1

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Well our DTD disney does not ha a ride or a attraction, you can catch the monorail into DL from DTD, but really in retrospect the whole place is like maybe a mile and a half long,it doesn't take long to walk through....[/FONT]




[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]http://disneyland.disney.go.com/downtown-disney/[/FONT]

 

[blackjackdelta]

We usually get in around about 1500, checkin and hit CA for a couple hrs, then DL and then we go to DTD. Wife has to go through WoD before she will go back and get to bed. Why waste valuable time and it really costs very little to add the day.

Jack

 

[figment_jii]

DLR's DTD is not quite like WDW DTD if that's your basis for comparison. DTD at DLR has a lot of shops (like WDW's Marketplace), but may of the shops are not Disney. I feel like I can spend a good part of day wandering through WDW's DTD, but DLR's DTD takes only a few hours. WoD is fairly similiar at both places, as are some of the vendors.

Overall, if you have an afternoon, I would get an extra day on the tickets and have the option to go into the park. Even if it's busy, if you allow the time you should be able to see at least one of the evening shows or get in a couple of rides.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

Looks like we WILL be going with the extra day on our ticket. Why not? Ten dollars per ticket is not that much in "Disney Dollars" so looks like we'll be on Space Mountain sooner than expected. Can't wait---even though I've got to.

 

[pixiewings71]

The price difference is negligible, we would add the 5th day, especially for $10. That doesn't mean you shouldn't go to DTD, it is fun to walk thru.

 

[sayshelen]

Looks like we WILL be going with the extra day on our ticket. Why not? Ten dollars per ticket is not that much

That's exactly what I was going to recommend. DL's DTD is interesting, but it's not going to pique your interest enough for that first afternoon/evening. I've never been to WDW's DTD but I hear it's quite expansive. DL's DTD has a large movie theatre, a restaurant or two, a great LEGO shop (my DH is a big LEGO nerd), and of course a huge Disney store. In my mind, it's more of a locals destination than it is a quintessential part of the Disney vacation experience.

I humbly recommend that you make leisurely reservations at a restaurant of your choice in the park and enjoy the beautiful California sunset on your first evening!

 

[ironpig70]

The way we do the parks is go early, take a mid day break and stay as late as possible(got kids)

With that in mind I would get a 5 day ticket and on one or two of the breaks mid day see DTD.


You said it was $10 and also Memorial day so you get in at noon and park will close around 10-12 so you are paying a $1 an hour.

 

[Bungle]

We are going right from the airport to DL. Well maybe a stop for coffee. But our flight lands at 9:30 am.

I would go ahead and go to DL. You can still go into DTD for dinner too.

 

[Hound 109]

The way we do the parks is go early, take a mid day break and stay as late as possible(got kids)

With that in mind I would get a 5 day ticket and on one or two of the breaks mid day see DTD.

You said it was $10 and also Memorial day so you get in at noon and park will close around 10-12 so you are paying a $1 an hour.

I agree the best time to visit DTD is when the parks are more crowded (or when you are hungry.

& if staying at Hojo's, you'd have to WALK RIGHT BY THE ENTRANCES to DL & DCA to walk to DTD. You could throw a rock & hit the Main Street Station & the Hub. There's NO WAY that I could "just walk on by" in the early afternoon of my FIRST DAY without going into Walt's Park.

For $10 bucks, it's a slam dunk. Go into Walt's park, pick up a FP, get a lay of the land, ride a couple of rides, take pics, see a show.....go into DCA & do the same. Then you'll be able to hit the ground running the next morning.

Have a great time at Walt's Park.

 

[MrsPinup]

You should buy the extra day. It will be worth it There is no way I could walk around DTD and not be jonesing to go into the parks

 

[Dobie]

The Dobies could not STAND to be a DLR and not go into the park! On our last trip, we arrived around 3, rode POTC, had dinner at Carnation Cafe, and watched the parade. Definately a good start to the trip!