First timers to Disneyland at GCV

[Tiggeye]

We are going to Disneyland for the first time January 8 - 15. We normally go to Disneyworld. I am trying to get some information.

1. Do they have an outside delivery company for groceries? (as in wegoshop)

2. Refillable mugs?

3. What is the weather like in January, what should be pack?

4. Which is better a shuttle service from airport or the Disney Express?

5. Is Napa Rose worth it, sounds excellent ( we enjoy going to Yachtsman,
Shula, California Grille) any other good restaurants that are not to be missed?

6. What park first?

7. Will take anyother advise.



Thanks in advance.

 

[Teki]

1. Do they have an outside delivery company for groceries? (as in wegoshop)
Yes I have heard that they do, but I dont use it so Im not sure what its called.

2. Refillable mugs?
Yes
3. What is the weather like in January, what should be pack?
its pretty cold in january, but often its warm in the after noon, soo layers

4. Which is better a shuttle service from airport or the Disney Express?
Im not sure Ive never taken either the only trip I ever flew in my DBFs mom paid for it and she got us a cab.

5. Is Napa Rose worth it, sounds excellent ( we enjoy going to Yachtsman,
Shula, California Grille) any other good restaurants that are not to be missed?
It is very worth it ;-) Also try Blu Bayou
6. What park first?

7. Will take anyother advise.
Expect the castle to be smaller everyone i know who comes from WDW to DLR always pokes fun at our castle because it is small. So keep that in mind when your there and youll apreciate it more I think. I love our castle so much other wise have fun on your trip!

 

[HydroGuy]

This post should be on the DLR forum... I suspect the mods will move it.

We are going to Disneyland for the first time January 8 - 15. We normally go to Disneyworld. I am trying to get some information.

3. What is the weather like in January, what should be pack?

See "Detailed Weather History for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

4. Which is better a shuttle service from airport or the Disney Express?

Not sure but this thread addresses those questions:

"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

6. What park first?

That question is WDW thinking that does nor translate well at DLR.

DLR is best approached by how to get the most out of parkhopping. Many DLR regulars are like me. Park hop at DLR every day at least once if not 2, 3 or 4 times. At WDW I have never park hopped a single time.

The question at DLR is therefore not "which park first", it is which park to start the day off (usually DL) and when to hop to DCA. And then, possibly, whether to hop back to DL.

See

"Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

7. Will take anyother advise.

Your trip will be off-season so make sure you know what that means:

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

Also this thread gets lots of mileage around here. Last I checked it had been read over 25,000 times:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[pixiewings71]

Ok, let me clarify by saying I do not own in DVC so some of my info may be wrong, I apologize in advance if it is.


1. Do they have an outside delivery company for groceries? (as in wegoshop)

I don't know if DVC does but I do know you can get groceries delivered from local grocery stores

2. Refillable mugs?

DLR does not have refillable mugs, they do have reusable mugs but you do have to pay full price for refills, if DVC is different I do not know

3. What is the weather like in January, what should be pack?

Be prepared for rain, bring pants, long sleeves, jackets. We also take hats, scarves and gloves but some people don't, I always take extra socks and shoes in Jan.

4. Which is better a shuttle service from airport or the Disney Express?

5. Is Napa Rose worth it, sounds excellent ( we enjoy going to Yachtsman,
Shula, California Grille) any other good restaurants that are not to be missed?

6. What park first?

BOTH!!! Hop, all tickets over a single day are hoppers, the parks are about 500 yards apart, just hop......

7. Will take anyother advise.

 

[Sherry E]

I moved the thread!

You can order groceries to be delivered from Vons.com (or Safeway.com - same thing). Lots of DIS-ers use Vons.

 

[jlmarr]

1. Von's, at least.

3. Cool, but that's a relative term. From weather.com, avg high 69.0° F, avg low 45.0° F, avg precipitation 2.47 in.

4. We prefer Disney Express if we don't need an early morning pick-up and can get someone to drop us off at DLH.

5. Steakhouse 55 (at DLH) has been getting some great reviews, but we haven't tried it yet.

 

[dmartin69]

As Far a grocery delivery We Go Shop is a great option... You can have them shop where you want them to. And their prices are much lower than the competition...

 

[bumbershoot]

No free-to-refill mugs. Pay to refill, yes. Have a CM make sure 5 times you know that you'll be paying for that beverage so they don't get yelled at by someone used to WDW's refillable mugs, yes.




vons.com for groceries.

I went later in Jan almost 2 years ago and it was chilly and drizzly, but fabulous otherwise!

Do whatever park you want to first! Hop back and forth, the parks are very close to each other. My family likes DCA over DL, personally.

 

[jlmarr]

As Far a grocery delivery We Go Shop is a great option... You can have them shop where you want them to. And their prices are much lower than the competition...

I don't think they operate in the Disneyland area, or do you know otherwise?

We're getting some rain the next few days, along with (relatively) cool temps. Had to bring in our desert tortoise a few days ago so she doesn't freeze overnight.

 

[Disney Princess]

I will comment on two things - especially as we are WDW vets who went to DL for the first time this May.

1) Park hop!!!! The parks are so close together that it is a must. We usually did DL first (as in each day) because it opened earlier than DCA. The hours may be different in January. While DL is quaint and the "original", DH and I loved DCA so much.

2) Steakhouse 55 was a phenomenal dining experience for us. We didn't try Napa Rose, but loved loved loved 55. We went for our anniversary and our waiter was so attentive. I absolutely loved it. We would recommend this to anyone.

3) We flew into SNA. Which airport are you going to? We didn't try DL Express, but we used Super Shuttle. We paid in advance using a code from here on the DLR board and paid $8 each way for each of us. The van held 10(?) people and we stopped at three places (our stop was second). Very quick and easy. As soon as we grabbed our luggage we were loaded into the next available van.

Enjoy your trip and your stay at GCV or VGC (I can't decide which it is! )

 

[bumbershoot]

Enjoy your trip and your stay at GCV or VGC (I can't decide which it is! )

I call it "Grand Cal", b/c my guide calls it that. I also call BLT "Bay Lake"! Such a rebel.

 

[Sherry E]

I don't think they operate in the Disneyland area, or do you know otherwise?

We're getting some rain the next few days, along with (relatively) cool temps. Had to bring in our desert tortoise a few days ago so she doesn't freeze overnight.

You are correct. They do not operate in Anaheim (or in my area, up in L.A., either, for that matter). Also, from what it says on their website, their delivery fee is higher than Vons.com's delivery fee is. One good thing is that it appears they will send the shopper to pick up coupons from the customer first, which Vons won't do, but I am sure that costs extra.

 

[Disney Princess]

I call it "Grand Cal", b/c my guide calls it that. I also call BLT "Bay Lake"! Such a rebel.

You are such a rebel. I said BLT to my guide, and I don't think he knew what I was talking about for a minute. We are all about the abbreviations here at our house. We use them all the time, I just can't get a handle on this one. I use it 6 one way and a half dozen the other. I guess that keeps life exciting.

 

[jodeeb]

I have to agree with the PP that suggested going to the Blu Bayou. The food is good, but nothing to brag about, but the experience is like no other even at WDW. You are actually inside the the POTC ride. If you are willing to wait, it is fun to sit next to the railings right by the ride. It is open and at water level so it is fun to wave at the people on the ride. Just mae sure you have an ADR. We've been very lucky at time to be able to get in, but sometimes they are booked and there is no way to get in.

Also, as another pp has said, park hopping is no problem at DLR. The parks are directly across from each other. Probably no further then the Monorail Station is from MK. You dont have to spend near as much time hopping.

Another thing to remember is that if you stay at the Grand California you will have a private gate into CA. Also, there are rooms directly overlooking the park. Not a view, but the edge of the hotel us probably 10-20 feet from the park itself. We stayed there for the first time during its grand opening, and had a park view room on the 3rd floor. We could clearly see Grizley Run River, in fact DH could have thrown a ball into it, but we also had a clear close view of Soarin. We had a clear view of Cal Screaming.

It is also a good idea to keep in mind that DL is on a much smaller scale then WDW but what it doesnt have in size it makes up for in nastalgia. You will be amazed how much it packs into its small size. Also, Fantasmic is a little different. No stadium, just have to find your spot(early) near New Orleans. I live in Northern CA and everyone here asks me why I go to WDW when we have DLR right here in CA. I have never been able to put my finger on it, but all I can say is both are wonderful, but very different. Most of all, both of them have the Disney Feeling and are the Happiest Place on earth.

Hope this helps.