HELP! Going to DL for first time

[cedmonds]

We tried to plan a quick trip to wdw-we arw DVC memebers and were shocked when we called and could not get a ressie anywhere the week of April 1. Everything was booked and air flight was high. SO dh called and got a ressie using points at the grand california hotel. Air was cheaper then flying to Florida so it is meant to be. But where to begin??? I am a little nervous venturing to new land wdw is so comfortable and safe to us.
We are arriving MOnday and leaving Friday/ Will we have enough time to see everything? should we make adr and where. It is dh, myself and ds 12. Should we plan on a day off property to see some sights??? weather??I am so excited but nervous as well. Any help, suggestions, etc....would be welcomed! Thanks

 

[HydroGuy]

I am a little nervous venturing to new land wdw is so comfortable and safe to us.
We are arriving MOnday and leaving Friday/ Will we have enough time to see everything?

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

You should be fine with your scheduled days. Three days is a minimum at DLR, and you will have that. Four days would probably be better. It isn't clear from your post how many total days you will have.

should we make adr and where. It is dh, myself and ds 12.

ADRs (called PS - Priority Seating at DLR) are available. Not sure if you are looking for the nicer or more moderate restaurants. We like the Blue Bayou at DL and eat there with our kids. There are only a couple places at DL that accept PS.

The Napa Rose at the GCH is very nice. You might like StoryTellers at GCH as well.

Should we plan on a day off property to see some sights??? weather??I am so excited but nervous as well.

No, you do not have enough time to see DLR and also see other things in SoCal.

The shows will be going at full schedule that week. Review this topic "HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851. Do NOT miss the fireworks show at DL. It is more than a fireworks show, and the best show Disney has ever assembled - better than anything at WDW right now.

Aladdin at DCA does not show on Mondays or Tuesdays, but it also is better than any show at WDW right now and you should plan to catch it later in the week.

You will have a blast. While comparing resorts and parks is inevitable, try to not force DLR into your WDW expectations. It is not WDW, and not even "WDW lite". It is smaller, but more packed with rides and shows (DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks put together).

Do not let the small castle disappoint you. At MK the castle is the visual center of the park. At DL the Matterhorn is the visual center, not the castle.

DLR has areas where is exceeds WDW. Do not allow your WDW expectations to cause you to miss the great parts of DLR. Let DLR be DLR on its own, and you will have a magical time.

 

[DLR29]

I agree with HydroGuy. That time is going to be busy! You will want to spend the majority of your time at DLR because there will be long lines = less rides ridden in one day. We have gone druing Spring Break and it is manageable if you use FP, get there early, and stay late.

 

[casaazul]

You are doing the opposite of us, we are DL veterans headed to WDW for the first time on April 1!! AND you are the same, we are me, dh and 12 yo ds!!!!!

We have been to DL during busy times and slow times. 3 days is good, 4 is better. It will be busy that week, so make some plans and make sure you enjoy the pool! The parks have extended hours that entire week, DL until midnight, DCA until 10pm. DL and DCA are so much smaller that what you are used to. You will not have to board a bus at all! Make sure you get hopper passes to go back and forth between DL and DCA. You should have nice weather, last time I was there in April it was warm during day, sweatshirt at night.

There are a number of attractions that are unique to DL/DCA that you must do including Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Roger Rabbit CarToon Spin, California Screamin are some of the best, plus Pirates is much better I have heard and Haunted Mansion is different as well.

Make sure you see Disney's Electrical Parade at DCA, looks like it is at 8:45 pm that week. Also there will be fireworks each night, so you can see them from inside the park, outside the park, and from different vantage points. Also you can be on attractions while everyone else is watching the fireworks.

Places your 12 yo would like to eat (I have a 12 yo ds too)
Blue Bayou (get reservations), it is right in the Pirates of Caribbean ride
Redd Rockets Pizza Port in Tomorrowland, a great counter service place
Pizza Oom Mow Mow in DCA
Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney (also get reservations)
ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney, great food, plus huge arcade

I have heard great things about Napa Rose at GCH, and IF your ds wants to do a character meal, the Storyteller's place at your hotel is great food and has I think Chip and Dale. We have never been either place. We also liked Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen in DTD, great food and atmosphere

Visit Downtown Disney there is a great Lego store, again, 12 yo love that! Also the World of Disney is there. There are other shops, and movie theaters.

If you have a car, you may want to take part of a day and drive down to Huntington Beach, should take about 45 minutes. The beach is great, lots of surfers to watch, and there is a pier out into the ocean with a great kite store. Surf shops and places to eat are all over. I would take the time if you can, just to see the ocean. As for other attractions, most are at least an hour plus away. You may want to visit the Aquarium in Long Beach, probably the closest. My mom says it is a great place!

Well hope this helps. Ask more questions if you need to. Have a great time!

 

[HydroGuy]

Make sure you get hopper passes to go back and forth between DL and DCA.

The policy in place for several years now is that parkhopping is included in all tickets of 2 days or more. This is different than WDW where you have to pay for parkhopping.

By way of background, at first Disney tried to charge for parkhopping and hardly anyone would buy it. With the embarrassingly low attenance at DCA during the first year, they had to find a way to get more people in there. What they did is start providing DCA access for "free" to people with 2+ day tix. They also started including DCA access for AP holders. That is one of the reasons that DCA has picked up the nickname of "The AP Lounge".

Personally, I think DCA got off on the wrong foot but it has a bad rap now that is not entirely justified. No, it is not as good as DL. But then neither are AK or MGM at WDW. The SoCal locals who go to DLR regularly (some of them go once a week) are extremely picky.

DCA has been improving, and there are a ton of new things coming over the next three years that sound very exciting.

 

[casaazul]

Yep, I forgot about the hopper tickets changing. Last time we were there, we only had one day, just bought DL tickets!! And before that, there still was a choice on hoppers or no hoppers. I think that it makes so much sense to just be able to go from park to park.

 

[Dizneydaz]

We love DCA! It has some of the best rides (IMHO) and it is almost always less crowded than DL. DCA has ToT, Soarin', Ca. Screamin', Maliboomer, Grizzly Rapids, and Mulholland Madness. Also, they have the best stage show (inc. those at WDW-sorry) and that's Aladdin. My DD7 and I have seen it at least 9 times now and it's is truly wonderful. It's Broadway quality, similar (but better) than the Beauty and the Beast show at DL that lead to the Broadway Musical. It's a must see.

Also, check out the Mission Tortilla Factory, you'll get a few tortilla (flour or corn, depending on what they're making). If it's your birthday (wearing a button) you'll get a free dozen.

With our AP we usually go to DL first and then when it gets crowded we head over to DCA. We are going on Wed. since my DD7 has a min. day anyway. The weather should be lovely. Today, it's expected to hit around 90! (95 where I live)

 

[casaazul]

It was the first show I have ever seen, and loved it. I hope the Lion King at WDW will be as good.

 

[tinkermell]

You are doing the opposite of us, we are DL veterans headed to WDW for the first time on April 1!! AND you are the same, we are me, dh and 12 yo ds!!!!!

We have been to DL during busy times and slow times. 3 days is good, 4 is better. It will be busy that week, so make some plans and make sure you enjoy the pool! The parks have extended hours that entire week, DL until midnight, DCA until 10pm. DL and DCA are so much smaller that what you are used to. You will not have to board a bus at all! Make sure you get hopper passes to go back and forth between DL and DCA. You should have nice weather, last time I was there in April it was warm during day, sweatshirt at night.

There are a number of attractions that are unique to DL/DCA that you must do including Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Roger Rabbit CarToon Spin, California Screamin are some of the best, plus Pirates is much better I have heard and Haunted Mansion is different as well.

Make sure you see Disney's Electrical Parade at DCA, looks like it is at 8:45 pm that week. Also there will be fireworks each night, so you can see them from inside the park, outside the park, and from different vantage points. Also you can be on attractions while everyone else is watching the fireworks.

Places your 12 yo would like to eat (I have a 12 yo ds too)
Blue Bayou (get reservations), it is right in the Pirates of Caribbean ride
Redd Rockets Pizza Port in Tomorrowland, a great counter service place
Pizza Oom Mow Mow in DCA
Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney (also get reservations)
ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney, great food, plus huge arcade

I have heard great things about Napa Rose at GCH, and IF your ds wants to do a character meal, the Storyteller's place at your hotel is great food and has I think Chip and Dale. We have never been either place. We also liked Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen in DTD, great food and atmosphere

Visit Downtown Disney there is a great Lego store, again, 12 yo love that! Also the World of Disney is there. There are other shops, and movie theaters.

If you have a car, you may want to take part of a day and drive down to Huntington Beach, should take about 45 minutes. The beach is great, lots of surfers to watch, and there is a pier out into the ocean with a great kite store. Surf shops and places to eat are all over. I would take the time if you can, just to see the ocean. As for other attractions, most are at least an hour plus away. You may want to visit the Aquarium in Long Beach, probably the closest. My mom says it is a great place!

Well hope this helps. Ask more questions if you need to. Have a great time!

I'd have to agree about going to Huntington Beach. I think it might be closer than 45 minutes myself. Anyways, if you have never been to California try to take time and see the beach. It is so fun and so "California". Also there is a website called Ridemax.com that can really help you plan your time there. It will give you the best time to see each attraction. You choose which ones you want and it pops back an itinerary. I probably use it everytime we go!
Casaazul-Lion King in WDW is different in that it is more like a circle auditorium, and several acts are going on at once. It's not an actual play. It is alot of fun with great music and costumes, just different. Funny how you go with expectations.... I thought it was going to be a smaller version of the story. Anyways, still a must see!

 

[casaazul]

I hope we will have time to do it.

Huntington Beach is about 20 miles or so from DL. Depending on traffic, LOL, you may be able to get there sooner. We always get stuck at every light on Brookhurst, Magnolia or Beach!! It is an interesting drive nontheless!!!

 

[mystic_path]

Dont worry Its Disney and you cant beat it. Althought its gonna be busy, 4 days should be plenty if you go at a leasurely pace. Weekends are a great time to hit DCA as well as peak afternoon times during the week. But other then that just make use of all your fast passes, and even look up things online that you might want to go check out and work your schedual around it.

Its very simple. Dont stress, your gonna have a wonderful time. I hope you write a TR when you get back to let us know how it goes.

 

[cedmonds]

Thanks for all the great information!! I can hardly wait!!!

 

[cedmonds]

Thanks for all the great information we have gotten! I am really excited to go. Could you possibly make some dining suggestions? My dh, myself and ds12 who is not a picky eater but we are a "little on the health obsessed side" our biggst problem at wdw.
thanks

 

[tinkermell]

Thanks for all the great information we have gotten! I am really excited to go. Could you possibly make some dining suggestions? My dh, myself and ds12 who is not a picky eater but we are a "little on the health obsessed side" our biggst problem at wdw.
thanks

Unfortunately, your picking of eateries is WAY less than WDW!
My favs at DL are French Market and Cafe Orleans, which might have some good options for healthier food. At DCA still trying to find our favorite. We tried the Trattoria, which was OK. Maybe it was a off night? Anyways, there are alot more people out there, who have tried many more places than us. Good luck!

 

[casaazul]

and we loved the salads at Rainforest Cafe. My favorite "healthy" snack is fruit from the fruit stands in the park. It is expensive, but we don't go to grocery stores when we visit, and having an apple, or orange during the day is great!

Another place I have heard is great to eat at is Whitewater Snacks in the Grand Californian.

I also really enjoyed eating at Mimi's Cafe, just up Harbor from the main entrance. It is a chain (we don't have it here tho) and for breakfast I had fruit plate and a bagel, plus coffee!!

Have a great time.