Help out a DLR newbie plz!

[Colleen27]

DH & DS just sprung it on me that they'd like to go to BlizzCon this year, which is in Anaheim, and want me to get together a plan and price out our options before the tix go on sale. And of course I have a bunch of stupid questions because I thought we'd ruled out DLR for this year in favor of WDW!

First and foremost, how is the end of October at DLR? The weather looks a bit all over the place on the Wunderground trip planner! We'd be there Oct 20 thru 26-27ish (depending on how much else we decide to do and which days are best for airfare), and probably in the parks on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, including the Halloween party on Tues if it follows past years' schedules.

Also, are DLR tickets like WDW tickets where extra days can be added at the gate? I'd like to book a package to get the Toontown morning for my girls, but the girls and I will probably spend a day or two more in the parks while the boys are geeking out so we won't all need the longer tickets.

 

[sonnyjane]

First and foremost, how is the end of October at DLR? The weather looks a bit all over the place on the Wunderground trip planner! We'd be there Oct 20 thru 26-27ish (depending on how much else we decide to do and which days are best for airfare), and probably in the parks on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, including the Halloween party on Tues if it follows past years' schedules.

The weather here is always all over the place In October it will likely be cool in the mornings and the evenings but pleasant during the day. If you go during that week before Halloween, you should be aware that it will likely be very crowded that weekend and keep in mind that the park does close earlier on nights when they have the Halloween party and that you will have to buy a separate admission ticket for the party when you go.

Also, are DLR tickets like WDW tickets where extra days can be added at the gate? I'd like to book a package to get the Toontown morning for my girls, but the girls and I will probably spend a day or two more in the parks while the boys are geeking out so we won't all need the longer tickets.

You can upgrade tickets, but then you will pay the difference between what you paid and the full ticket booth price to upgrade, and I'm not certain how it works when you book a package rather than just buying separate tickets. Hopefully someone else does. It is almost always cheaper to buy the hotel and tickets separately, but if attending Toon Town Morning Madness is worth the added cost to you, a package is the only way to get that perk.

Hope that helps!

 

[skiingfast]

There is some preresiquite reading. Though possibly you've seen it.

Hydroguys DLR guide for WDW vets.

I see you may have two trips planned for WDW also. I'd price it out and see if the $700 Premiere pass is worthwhile. In DL you get discounts with APs for dining, and it will help for merchandise and MHP tickets and a room if you stay onsite. Granted I understand you might trade one WDW for a DL trip. Just price it out. If only the person who pays gets the AP it might be worthwhile. Otherwise I think you can upgrade your tickets. WDW and DL ticket policies are almost mirror images.

Since it is handy here is some good weather info that Hydroguy put together.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

October is moderate but surely better than the mitten state.


Crowds will be alright but Friday night crazy all of sudden as the parks flood with locals. Busy on the weekend and solid but not bad on a Tuesday assuming the days hold true for next years Halloween parties. Anyway Halloween at DL blows the MKs version out of the water because of the layovers on Space and HM.

 

[Dobie]

I went for one day in late October a couple of years ago and I was sweating in my tank top...

The Dobies have often found that it is less expensive to book tickets and rooms separately...once you have figured out where you want to stay, you can run it both ways...if you book separately, you don't all have to have the same days on your tickets...

Have a magical trip!

 

[Colleen27]

Hope that helps!

It does.

I'm figuring on big crowds for the weekend, but Fri & Sat I'll be solo with my girls and not doing many headliner rides because the youngest isn't big enough for anything with a height requirement. We'll just take it slow, meet the characters, maybe do a character meal, and enjoy the tamer/all-ages attractions. The bigger rides can wait for when the whole family is together on Sun and Tues so we can baby swap them!

I'm going to price the tickets separately and as part of a package because I'm compulsive like that when I plan trips, but this will probably be our only trip to DLR with the kids and my 2yo is absolutely obsessed with Mickey & the gang so I think this would be worth it for her. Same goes for the Halloween party; it looks a lot better than WDW's Halloween party and we're not likely to have another chance to try it.

I see you may have two trips planned for WDW also. I'd price it out and see if the $700 Premiere pass is worthwhile. In DL you get discounts with APs for dining, and it will help for merchandise and MHP tickets and a room if you stay onsite. Granted I understand you might trade one WDW for a DL trip. Just price it out. If only the person who pays gets the AP it might be worthwhile. Otherwise I think you can upgrade your tickets. WDW and DL ticket policies are almost mirror images.

Since it is handy here is some good weather info that Hydroguy put together.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

October is moderate but surely better than the mitten state.


Crowds will be alright but Friday night crazy all of sudden as the parks flood with locals. Busy on the weekend and solid but not bad on a Tuesday assuming the days hold true for next years Halloween parties. Anyway Halloween at DL blows the MKs version out of the water because of the layovers on Space and HM.

I have looked at Hydroguy's threads, and will probably re-read them five more times as I plan.

I totally forgot they introduced a combined AP! I love the idea of it but I'll have to run the numbers for just me getting one to see how it stacks up.

One of our 2011 WDW trips is already past - I was there last month with my girls for Flower & Garden. When we got home DH & DS, who said they were Disney'd out and told us to go without them, decided we need to go back sooner rather than later! And so the next trip was born... The Aug trip will be swapped for DLR if we get the BlizzCon tix. However, we also have a big WDW trip planned for our anniversary in Sept '12 that will be adults-only with some tours and things, so getting an AP in October is definitely an option worth checking into.