Here is newbie again with ?'s...

[brymolmom]

Ok - thanks to all your great advice here, this WDW vet and DLR newbie is now booked at HOJO with Ent Rate (except for 1 night). I am starting to get serious about my planning and have a couple of questions at this point. Hope someone can help me.

1) I haven't decided yet if we're going to stay at HOJO that last, more expensive, night or head to our next location (likely down in San Diego) if I get a better deal. If we do check-out on that Friday, but intend to visit the parks that day - will HOJO let us keep our car there all day or just until check-out?? Same question with using the hotel amenities - can we swim that afternoon or no?
2) Trying to get a feel for the different rides at DCA - in the Bug's Land area - are these 'kiddie' rides, as in are they MADE for my 6 and 7 year olds to go on ALONE or does an adult have to accompany them? Last year at WDW I was chastised for letting them (well, almost) go on the teacups alone, while I just watched on the side. They are becoming more strict about parents always accompanying the kids...Just wondering what we should expect for the 'rules' on these ones.
3) I was told to expect fireworks ONLY on the weekends at our timeframe - 4/20 - 4/23. Are they worth hanging around for?

 

[goldies 5]

You have to be 7 to ride alone. Your younger one cannot ride with the 7 year old as a chaperone.
Hojo's will let you stay parked there that day.

 

[DLR29]

Ok - thanks to all your great advice here, this WDW vet and DLR newbie is now booked at HOJO with Ent Rate (except for 1 night). I am starting to get serious about my planning and have a couple of questions at this point. Hope someone can help me.

1) I haven't decided yet if we're going to stay at HOJO that last, more expensive, night or head to our next location (likely down in San Diego) if I get a better deal. If we do check-out on that Friday, but intend to visit the parks that day - will HOJO let us keep our car there all day or just until check-out?? Same question with using the hotel amenities - can we swim that afternoon or no?
2) Trying to get a feel for the different rides at DCA - in the Bug's Land area - are these 'kiddie' rides, as in are they MADE for my 6 and 7 year olds to go on ALONE or does an adult have to accompany them? Last year at WDW I was chastised for letting them (well, almost) go on the teacups alone, while I just watched on the side. They are becoming more strict about parents always accompanying the kids...Just wondering what we should expect for the 'rules' on these ones.
3) I was told to expect fireworks ONLY on the weekends at our timeframe - 4/20 - 4/23. Are they worth hanging around for?

1. Yes, you'll be able to park and use the pool that day.

2. All rides at DLR are designed so that kids and adults can ride. I know for sure that the bumper cars require an adult if the child is under 48" I think. The others I'm sure they could ride alone.

3. Fireworks are only on weekends during that time. Just saying, Remember! Dreams Come True is my favorite fireworks show ever! I (and many others around here) highly recommend them.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can definitely park, but think about where the kids might change into dry clothes after swimming.

Kids have to be 7+ to ride alone, and as goldie said, the 7 year old can't be the 6 year old's chaperone.

The rides in bug's land are meant for adults to join in as well. There is a teacup like ride that, IMO, is better than the actual teacups b/c you can't turn it extra. The "bumper" cars will not accomodate all 3 of you, and DLR29 is right that you have to be a certain height to ride alone. However, I've seen the CMs there let a parent ride with one child while the second child waits to the side, and then switch for the next ride. Sort of an informal rider switch.

Fireworks are absolutely worth hanging around for. However, sometimes they are canceled due to winds. Sometimes, the winds are up high and cannot be felt on the ground. Therefore, they can be canceled at the last minute, or even partially through them. If the possibility of that would destroy your enjoyment of that last evening there, think long and hard about if you should stay. And if you stay, watch for the fireworks smoke moving up in the air. While watching the fireworks last year there's a part where they are shot straight in the air, and smoke plumes stay vertical. I saw them moving to the side, and knew it would be canceled. And less than a minute later, music stopped, fireworks stopped, and the PA came over telling us it was canceled. I was glad ot know it was about to happen! And we know the parks well enough to know where we might want to head if something like that happens (note: not Peter Pan, b/c the fire marshall has to clear the area, so it's a whole lot of waiting around until that rope is drawn back).

Long story short, if you're there for more than one weekend night, try to see the fireworks asap. Better chance of seeing them if you have a few nights to try to see them!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Ok - thanks to all your great advice here, this WDW vet and DLR newbie is now booked at HOJO with Ent Rate (except for 1 night). I am starting to get serious about my planning and have a couple of questions at this point. Hope someone can help me.

1) I haven't decided yet if we're going to stay at HOJO that last, more expensive, night or head to our next location (likely down in San Diego) if I get a better deal. If we do check-out on that Friday, but intend to visit the parks that day - will HOJO let us keep our car there all day or just until check-out?? Same question with using the hotel amenities - can we swim that afternoon or no?
2) Trying to get a feel for the different rides at DCA - in the Bug's Land area - are these 'kiddie' rides, as in are they MADE for my 6 and 7 year olds to go on ALONE or does an adult have to accompany them? Last year at WDW I was chastised for letting them (well, almost) go on the teacups alone, while I just watched on the side. They are becoming more strict about parents always accompanying the kids...Just wondering what we should expect for the 'rules' on these ones.
3) I was told to expect fireworks ONLY on the weekends at our timeframe - 4/20 - 4/23. Are they worth hanging around for?

1) You can leave the car, but you'll need an active hotel room key to get into the water play area. Once you check out your room key would probably be no good as they are programmed with your check out date in it. I think you may need one for the regular pool too, not sure though as the details are starting to get fuzzy...There were a lot of people there that day going in/out so just can't recall if we needed one for the pool by bld2. On the off chance that you can get in, there are public restrooms in bld 1 on the first floor that you could change the kids in but they'll walk around smelling like chlorine, even after they rinse off at the pool most likely. There are public restrooms by the pool area too but they are smaller and I imagine will be very wet after beingused all day.

3) OMG yes! RDCT is the best fireworks show in any park -- even WDW. I've heard many WDW vets say this about RDCT too! The only one that moved me more is Illuminations at Epcot, but they are different.
HTH, have fun.

ETA: If they are only having fireworks on the weekend, I would stay the extra weekend night at least Friday to see the fireworks. You're getting the room so cheap at the Ent rate the rest of the week, one night at regular price won't kill you! And you could always get the Disboard discount for that last day if you don't have an AP.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...3) I was told to expect fireworks ONLY on the weekends at our timeframe - 4/20 - 4/23. Are they worth hanging around for?

Well, I live about 45 minutes from DLR. Last night, I drove to the Park and met up with some friends with the only purpose to see the fireworks, wander Main Street for an hour, and drive home. In my opinion they are worth planning your evening around (beyond "hanging around for").

They are fantastic!

- Dreams

P.S. OT: For those of you who take issue with the "going to the Park just to see the resort for special shows and leave," Park-goer who seemingly does not contribute money to the Disney economy, between the 3 of us who went just to see fireworks, we dropped about $250 in in the stores on our way out.