First Visit Advice

[Marie9LPG]

Considering a quick trip from the UK over Halloween 2 adults & 2 kids (13&9).

Arrive LAX Oct 27th & fly home again Nov 2nd.

We have 5 full days, would you recommend getting park tickets for all these or fewer. Also dining plan, how many days would you recommend we go for and any restaurants that are must do.

Have been to WDW several times but never to Disneyland.

We would also be keen to do some shopping, where would you advise we go(looking for Hollister, Abercrombie, Hillfiger, Bath & Bodyworks etc).

Sorry for my rambling.
Marie

 

[DisneytheKid]

Hi Marie,

If you are a veteran of disney world, I think you can do DLR in 4 days no problem. This would at least give you that extra day for shopping. Unfortunately I'm not very keen on the shopping locations around there so I can't help you there. For dining, one restaurant that we're going to in December that we have heard great things about is the Blue Bayou inside of POTC. I hope you have a great visit!

 

[kayleigh83]

Personally, I would go for all 5 days! But if you want to have a dedicated shopping day, maybe do 4?

From what I've heard, dining plan is a no-go for DLR... they're just prepaid vouchers with no discounts, and you don't receive change if the meal you get is worth less than your voucher. Better to just plan ahead which restaurants you want to eat at and budget for that (you can find lots of menus with pricing online).

 

[Argento]

HydroGuy does a pretty good job covering the restaurant topic for WDW vets which has some critical info to help you not get thrown for a loop by Disneyland's decidedly different approach to dining: What WDW Vets Need to Know About Dining at DLR

 

[KCmike]

This would have been better served being posted on the DL main site of the boards and not the community section.

I would do 4 days during that time frame. I believe there is a big mall near Newport Beach called Fashion Island. In Newport there is a concrete boardwalk where you can also take a boat out for a sunset cruise (and get corn dogs and all the greasy stuff). We did it one year and it was amazing. It was like 90 minutes long and they take you around the bay area and show stars homes and then out onto the Pacific Ocean and watch the sunset over the LA coast. It was cheap only around $15-20 a person. You can google Fashion Island Newort to see all the different shops. You could always drive up to Rodeo Drive as well (think very high end).

If you needed to you could always add on the extra day later in the trip.

Don't do the dining plan. As previous poster said its just vouchers.

Have a great first time to Disneyland. It's so amazing! We were WDW vets who switched to DL back in 2007 and fell hard for it.

 

[Marie9LPG]

Thanks for the advice. We have decided to leave West Coast until we can do a longer trip! Worried the jet lag may have too much impact on a short trip especially when kids would be back to school a day later.

Notes kept for future reference though

 

[chrissiecutie]

Thanks for the advice. We have decided to leave West Coast until we can do a longer trip! Worried the jet lag may have too much impact on a short trip especially when kids would be back to school a day later.

Notes kept for future reference though

Bummer! Halloween time at DL is awesome!

But I will chime in for next time...you really only need 4 days. 2.5 for DL & 1-1.5 for DCA. Perhaps with Carsland opening there will be more to do in DCA but I would say 1 1/2 days at most. Keep a half day to full day for DTD, it's a fun area.

My family typically spends 1.5 days at DL and .5 days at DCA but that's only because DH is a hater!

Oh...and skip the dining plan. WASTE OF MONEY!