I did not win the Super Bowl...

[The QC]

But I am going to Disneyland!

I had originally planned to take a family vacation in 2013 to WDW, but after a lot of thought and discussion with DW, I think Disneyland is a better match for my family and so I'm gathering information on that resort.

Unfortunately, I've spent the last couple of months researching WDW (whoops), so I'm a little ignorant of the subtleties of DLR.

Hopefully the experienced folks on this board can help me out with the following questions:

How many days are suggested? I am expecting to spend 7-10 days in Southern California total. My best guess is 3 full park days is enough to see just about everything at Disneyland and California Adventure without going commando style. Is that right?

Getting PINs and other discounts - since signing up with Disney World online I have been getting PIN offers every so often. How do I tell Disney that I am interested in Disneyland instead now? I logged in on the Disneyland website using the same ID, is that enough?

Ordering free customized maps - Is this offered for DLR like it is for WDW?

Resort hotels - Which of the three on-property hotels has the best, most elaborate pools? Is it the Disneyland Hotel? What's the pool like at the Grand Californian?

Park hopping - This appears to be a complete no-brainer at DLR but a challenge with a little one (DD will be 5 at the time of the trip) at WDW. Is my read on this correct?

Rope drop - Are there opening shows at DL and DCA like there are at the WDW parks? Is making rope drop essential at DLR for top attractions like Toy Story Mania and Soarin' like at their Florida counterparts?

Thanks!

 

[3monkeys4me]

We were also planning a 2013 WDW trip but we have switched to DLR in August 2012 since my cousin in getting married in CA (I grew up in CA, now I live in the midwest). I grew up going to Disneyland on a regular basis but have not been a lot as an adult. My husband and I were there in Nov. 2002 as part of our honeymoon and again in June 2010 for our first trip as a family.

But I am going to Disneyland!

I had originally planned to take a family vacation in 2013 to WDW, but after a lot of thought and discussion with DW, I think Disneyland is a better match for my family and so I'm gathering information on that resort.

Unfortunately, I've spent the last couple of months researching WDW (whoops), so I'm a little ignorant of the subtleties of DLR.

Hopefully the experienced folks on this board can help me out with the following questions:

How many days are suggested? I am expecting to spend 7-10 days in Southern California total. My best guess is 3 full park days is enough to see just about everything at Disneyland and California Adventure without going commando style. Is that right?

I think this will vary by the ages of your children and the time of year. We have youngish children and will be going in the summer. We are planning 9-10 days in So. CA. 5 will be spent in San Diego the other 4-5 will be at Disneyland. We spent 6 days there in our June 2010 trip and did not run out of things to do, but it was the week before the Southern CA APs were blocked for the summer and WOC had just opened. It was very crowed. We were in the parks from rope dropish until 12-1 and then took a 4-5 hour break for naps and pool time. Then we went back to the parks for a couple of hours before bed.

Getting PINs and other discounts - since signing up with Disney World online I have been getting PIN offers every so often. How do I tell Disney that I am interested in Disneyland instead now? I logged in on the Disneyland website using the same ID, is that enough?

I am not sure. I get PINS for both Disneyland and WDW and I haven't been to WDW since 1999.

Ordering free customized maps - Is this offered for DLR like it is for WDW?

I don't know, Sorry.

Resort hotels - Which of the three on-property hotels has the best, most elaborate pools? Is it the Disneyland Hotel? What's the pool like at the Grand Californian?
I would say probably the DLH. I think the new pool area is opening soon. We stayed at the GCH in 2002 and I don't remember it being anything really special but that was a long time ago. We stayed at the PPH in June 2010 and the kids loved the (small) waterslide but I wouldn't call it themed.

Park hopping - This appears to be a complete no-brainer at DLR but a challenge with a little one (DD will be 5 at the time of the trip) at WDW. Is my read on this correct?
Yes, park hopping is really easy. We did it with a total of 5 kids 6 and under our last trip (my niece and nephew were there too) and it was a piece of cake!

Rope drop - Are there opening shows at DL and DCA like there are at the WDW parks? Is making rope drop essential at DLR for top attractions like Toy Story Mania and Soarin' like at their Florida counterparts?

We were there 10-15 mins. after rope drop all the days we were there. TSM doesn't have fastpass at DCA. When we got there we had about a 45 min. wait. We didn't have any issues with Soarin fastpasses though. At most we had to wait 2ish hours for our fastpass time. The standby line was also not that long, about 35 min. wait. I don't know if we just got lucky or what!
Thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

But I am going to Disneyland!

If you had you would be going to WDW, you have to be in the West to win and goto DLR.

I had originally planned to take a family vacation in 2013 to WDW, but after a lot of thought and discussion with DW, I think Disneyland is a better match for my family and so I'm gathering information on that resort.

Unfortunately, I've spent the last couple of months researching WDW (whoops), so I'm a little ignorant of the subtleties of DLR.

Have you read the DLR guide for WDW Vets it may help you a lot.

How many days are suggested?

It depends when you go. 3 if weekdays in offseason, 4 if you include a weekend, 5 if Holiday. In the offseason only the weekend have full entertainment, Fri-Sun.

Getting PINs and other discounts

Register at Disneyland.com, save some offers, request a planning DVD, and hope. Most general dicounts come out after PINs are offered.

Ordering free customized maps

They don't have this at DLR.

Resort hotels - Which of the three on-property hotels has the best, most elaborate pools? Is it the Disneyland Hotel? What's the pool like at the Grand Californian?

The Disneyland Hotel, a splash play area, multiple slides a couple hot tubs and a big pool. Grand Californian has two large pool, and standard big small slide like found at WDW deluxes.

Park hopping - This appears to be a complete no-brainer at DLR but a challenge with a little one (DD will be 5 at the time of the trip) at WDW. Is my read on this correct?

Piece of cake, everything can be done without a car or shuttles. DL and DCA gates face each other seperated by about 100 yards. The hotels are a 5 to 12 minutes walk away.

Rope drop - Are there opening shows at DL and DCA like there are at the WDW parks? Is making rope drop essential at DLR for top attractions like Toy Story Mania and Soarin' like at their Florida counterparts?

Not even, TSMM gets a 30-45 minute wait and does have a rope drop for it, though this could change when the much anticipated Carslands opens this summer. Soarin does not get huge WDW lines either, and so far but could change opens inside the rope rope drop area, so if you enter early you can walk on or grab a FP with a small wait.

No shows like WDW. In DL the rope drop is at the end of Main St.

 

[Huff]

I haven't made rope drop in years but I don't recall a WDW style ceremony, mini parade etc. I've seen characters come out and drop the rope at Disneyland park but no big deal. The point of going early is to get on a few rides with shorter lines.

Toy Story Mania seems to average about 45 minutes almost all day no matter how crowded it is. Once in a rare while on a slow day you may see 15 mins but thats rare.

Soar'n can get a bad line midday and FP's have long return waits unless you obtain early.

FP's for Grizzly Rapids, Tower of Terror and Scream'n are often short return times. GR after dark almost always has a short line unless its still hot out.

Get FP's for Space Mountain or Indiana Jones very early as return times become 3-6 hours or all FP's gone by midday.

Parkhopping is completely different than WDW. Its quite easy and common to hop back and forth several times in a single day in order to see various shows or dine etc. We prefer to eat in Downtown Disney which is right outside the gates of either park.

Keep in mind that you can have FP's for both parks at the same time. They are not linked. This along with hopping maximizes your day!

 

[sierranevada]

This stickied thread has tons of info for first timers to DLR:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276


How many days are suggested? I am expecting to spend 7-10 days in Southern California total. My best guess is 3 full park days is enough to see just about everything at Disneyland and California Adventure without going commando style. Is that right?
I would actually suggest 4 days for a leisurely pace with daily afternoon breaks


Getting PINs and other discounts - since signing up with Disney World online I have been getting PIN offers every so often. How do I tell Disney that I am interested in Disneyland instead now? I logged in on the Disneyland website using the same ID, is that enough?
As others said, go to website, save some offers and then just hope and wait

Ordering free customized maps - Is this offered for DLR like it is for WDW?
Nope

Resort hotels - Which of the three on-property hotels has the best, most elaborate pools? Is it the Disneyland Hotel? What's the pool like at the Grand Californian?
Agree with others - the DLH will have the best pool area

Park hopping - This appears to be a complete no-brainer at DLR but a challenge with a little one (DD will be 5 at the time of the trip) at WDW. Is my read on this correct?
Absolutely correct - super easy and convenient

Rope drop - Are there opening shows at DL and DCA like there are at the WDW parks? Is making rope drop essential at DLR for top attractions like Toy Story Mania and Soarin' like at their Florida counterparts?
No opening shows. Toy Story is best done when you enter early as a DLR hotel guest. First go either ride Soarn' or get a fastpass and then line up for rope drop at Toy Story

Have a great time

 

[Brady's Mom]

We love 5 days in the parks. We've done 3 days, 4 days and 6 days and 5 wins for us. We tend to go really commando and miss some of our favorite things when we only do 3 or 4 days. AND, our kids don't get the chance to ride Screamin as many times as they want when we go for shorter times.

Planning a trip to DLR is MUCH easier than planning for WDW. It will be a more relaxed planning. Good luck and happy planning!