Help, oh, Help! I may get a day at DLR!!! Or NOT!

[wickey's friend]

Hi! I'm a WDW vet, but I've never been to DL. I may get a chance to go to a convention in a couple of weeks (nothing like short notice), and I will probably only have one day to get to DL.

I know nothing. I see discussions about which airport, which hotel and weather/clothing in October. I don't even know where to start.

Help. Me.

UPDATE: After dangling the conference in front of me and my immediate boss telling me it was pretty much a done deal, I was told this afternoon that I can't go.

So, I'll just file all this great info in my brain for when I do finally get to DL!! Thanks to everyone who responded.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Start with the stickys at the top of the page. WDW vets seem to find this thread useful:

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

 

[iChloe]

Ooh, so you'll be there around Halloween time! Disneyland is much like Magic Kingdom, with many rides closer to eachother than WDW... Yay, no walking for you! You might want to look up Disneyland secrets, you will find some interesting things about disneyland! Looking at other DL goer's insights on where to eat, shop, and ride should give you a good feel of what and what not to do. Good Luck!

P.S. Their pineapple icecream is delicious!

 

[wickey's friend]

Thanks!!! I will check out the thread, and definitely try the pineapple ice cream -- I LOVE pineapple.

I just started to panic a little, lol!!!

 

[ktlm]

No panicking!!! You will have a fantastic time! The same thing happened to me. Business meeting about 10 miles (if that) from DL on a Monday. DH and I decided to fly out early Saturday morning and have a weekend to ourselves. The Friday night before we left the Disney lure got me and I got online and bought tickets to spend Sunday at DL/CA. We got there at opening and went 100 mile an hour commando from open to close, only stopping for Mickey bars and to shovel some quick service food in! We had a blast. Everything is extremely close together, so you can get a lot done in a day. DL is different, yet also very familiar. You won't feel lost. Don't miss POTC, Indy, Space Mountain, Nemo or Monster's Inc. We have been back since then for a few day trip. Both times we flew into John Wayne Airport. We really liked doing that. It is fairly small, easy to navigate through, and not too far from DL.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Thanks!!! I will check out the thread, and definitely try the pineapple ice cream -- I LOVE pineapple.

I just started to panic a little, lol!!!

I think she is referring to the Dole Pineapple Whip, which you may have already had at WDW. It is a bit different at DL, all pineapple, not a pineapple/vanilla swirl.

 

[jodeja]

Both times we flew into John Wayne Airport. We really liked doing that. It is fairly small, easy to navigate through, and not too far from DL.

I totally agree about John Wayne Airport! Very easy to navigate and the closest to DL.
Although, on our first trip I did have a moment of panic when I looked at my airplane tickets, which I thought were for Orange County Airport and I saw instead that they were for Santa Ana airport - I thought the wrong airport had been booked Of course I was embarrassed (and slightly confused) to find out that SNA is Orange County Airport aka Santa Ana Airport aka John Wayne Airport! I can laugh about it now, but I was panicked and then embarrassed at the time.

 

[LisaCat]

If you can get a full day at DL, you should be able to see most everything. HydroGuy's post (linked in the first reply) will be a huge help for you! Have fun!!!!

 

[keahgirl8]

I totally agree about John Wayne Airport! Very easy to navigate and the closest to DL.
Although, on our first trip I did have a moment of panic when I looked at my airplane tickets, which I thought were for Orange County Airport and I saw instead that they were for Santa Ana airport - I thought the wrong airport had been booked Of course I was embarrassed (and slightly confused) to find out that SNA is Orange County Airport aka Santa Ana Airport aka John Wayne Airport! I can laugh about it now, but I was panicked and then embarrassed at the time.

I wouldn't be too embarrassed about that! Why in the world does one airport have 3 names?

 

[wickey's friend]

Update in first post -- not going.