Insight needed please!

[RCMommy]

Hi all! We are planning our first ever trip to DLR and CA. We are WDW veterans and trying to grasp how differently planning is going for Cali. We are aiming for third week in October, first half of December or January.

I am reading and researching everything I can about visiting the area. We aim to fit in Universal a Studios as well. We are in Ontario Canada so this may be the one and only trip....

Out of our traveling dates, is there one you would choose over the other for a reason? We have been to both mvmcp and mnsshp at WDW.

What has my head spinning is discounts. I have looked at discount vacation sites, airline vacation packages, dlr website, etc. I'm thinking we will end up in a good neighbour hotel budget wise. Is there a few known discounts used regularly by dis board users?

Would you just stay at the same hotel for our week stay, or go more towards the coast for Universal and other places of interest?

I'm hoping someone will point out something I am not considering or info. That could make our decision easier. Thank you!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you haven't already done so, look over this thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/. This is a great place to start. As far as your dates go, do you have a preference for Halloween, Christmas, or lower crowds? Your October choice will have Halloween Time in full swing and Mickey's Halloween Party 2 or 3 nights each week. First half of December will have Holiday Time in full swing. Early January should have lower crowds, but (depending on when in January) possibly shorter hours and a limited entertainment schedule. Keep in mind that the 60th celebration may affect Halloween and Holiday decorations and entertainment at DLR. There are threads here you can find that list the school breaks and big event dates which may help you plan your trip.

 

[Geemo]

Crowd wise, January would be my choice.
The SoCal weather in January has always been nice during our trips. Sunny and in the 70's. The kids enjoy using the pool. With it being winter, there usually aren't many people in the pool.

Geemo

 

[SMD]

But if you're thinking of going MLK weekend be aware of the half marathon crowds.

 

[DLfan4]

hi. We like to go in January. The crowds are low, weather is great. instead of flying out of Canada, try flying out of USA. we got a great deal with Allegiant air.
also, check out Costco Canada for the Southern California citypass.

have a great trip

 

[RCMommy]

Sadly, we have not flown out of Canada in over ten years, it is just too expensive! Buffalo and Detroit are nearly equal in distance so we fly from either of those. I will check with Allegiant air. I will check Costco for the pass. I wish we could book travel through the US Costco

We do prefer smaller crowds, but we also don't want to go during a time when many of the attractions are closed. I think my family would prefer October in all honesty. The kids were small when we did MNSSHP so doing it again would not be a hardship!

I found a link somewhere in a blog or on this site about Get Away Today. I am going to look into that option as well. I can get hotel and flights (Southwest for example) for a decent price but then I need to add on tickets and food, etc. I am so use to the "book one and done" so to speak with WDW. Our last 4 trips have been with free dining!

My other big question would be, and I am certain you have all been asked a thousand times - but, how many days will we need at DLR and CA? I am thinking three, but...... I want to see as many shows, attractions, rides, WOC, fireworks, etc. that we can so my question is can it be done in three?

 

[figment_jii]

We are aiming for third week in October, first half of December or January.

These are very different times of the year, but all can be fun. October is during HalloweenTime, which means (based on the past) that there should be a Mickey's Halloween Party (MHP), the Haunted Mansion and Space will have their overlays (Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy), the Halloween Carnival should be happening. It's worth noting that during this period, fireworks and F! are usually only presented on weekend (Fri to Sun) and we do not yet know what PtN's schedule will be. WoC is generally presented nightly. Crowds can be quite variable, which high(ish) crowds on weekends.

December is during the Holiday season in DLR, which means (based on the past), HMH will still be running, Small World and Jungle Cruise will also have holiday overlays (Space will be back to normal). Fireworks and WoC are usually presented nightly, but F! will probably still only be running on weekends. The Christmas parade, Holiday fireworks, and WoC Winter Dreams are not being presented this year because of the new shows for the 60th (Paint the Night, Disneyland Forever, WoC: Celebrate, respectively). Crowds tend to build up as you get closer to Xmas, but weekends are busy.

January is a "quiet" time of the year, but it depends on when you go (before the end of the holiday season, mid-January, or late-January). The crowds will likely be low, but there will probably be closures and short operating hours. HMH and Jungle Cruise usually close when the holidays end to have the holiday overlays removed and when they re-open, Small World closes.

I've been tracking some of the school breaks and events in and near DLR that might impact crowds on the 2015 Calendar thread. It might help you narrow down some of your choices.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/2015-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3358090/

I am so use to the "book one and done" so to speak with WDW. Our last 4 trips have been with free dining!

DLR doesn't have a dining plan like WDW does. They do have vouchers, but most guests have said that it's not economically worthwhile to buy the DLR dining plan. The vouchers are only good at a few locations (unlike the DDP which is accepted at most locations).

My other big question would be, and I am certain you have all been asked a thousand times - but, how many days will we need at DLR and CA? I am thinking three, but...... I want to see as many shows, attractions, rides, WOC, fireworks, etc. that we can so my question is can it be done in three?

I think you can hit the highlights in three days. I'd recommend 5 days if you want a more relaxed trip. It also really depends on when you go and if you're going on weekdays, weekends or a mixture.

 

[RCMommy]

This is awesome! Thanks so much. I think I am leaning more and more towards October. If you buy the three day park hopper does it have to be used in three consecutive days? I would like to visit during the week when it is quieter (in theory) but if F! or fireworks are Fri-Sun only we would need to consider that.

Is Fantasmic at WDW and DLR the same show? WOC is high on our priority list!

 

[figment_jii]

No, the days do not have to be consecutive, but they have to be within 14-days of first use (similar to how the tickets work at WDW). One thing to note about weekends in October...we do not yet know the schedule for MHP (and whether it will be in DL as it has in past years), but historically, there has been an MHP on all of the Friday nights in October. Assuming the party remains in DL, it means there won't be fireworks, F!, or (probably) PtN for day park guests that night (kind of how on nights when MNSSHP happens in MK, a lot of the nighttime entertainment does not occur until after the party starts and day-guest have left).

F! has similar elements between the two resorts, but DL's version has some elements that are not in the DHS version (and vice-a-versa). Most guests consider DL's version to be better, but DHS has better seating. DL's version uses the Columbia (the sailing ship) and the Mark Twain (think Liberty Belle) for much more impressive sequences (and finale) and DL has a better/newer dragon.

The Columbia/Peter Pan Sequence:

The Dragon (DHS top, DL bottom):

The Final (DHS top, DL bottom):

WOC is high on our priority list!

I recommend checking out the WoC SuperThread for a lot of information about WoC (and especially about the viewing area).

 

[4Siamese]

How long in total are you going for?
Are you planning on doing anything else in the area as well...eg beach day, Hollywood, going to the San Diego area?
Have you been to WDW/Orlando area?

The reason I ask is that if you have been to Orlando and if you have been to Universal there I would personally not bother with the LA version. We have been to both, loved Universal Orlando and was very much underwhelmed by the LA version (just my opinion though).

If you are doing other attractions/sightseeing then 3 days is bare minimum for DLR. If you are taking a day for Universal then IMO I would add that day to DLR for a more relaxed time.

 

[NJlauren]

If you haven't already done so, look over this thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/. This is a great place to start. As far as your dates go, do you have a preference for Halloween, Christmas, or lower crowds? Your October choice will have Halloween Time in full swing and Mickey's Halloween Party 2 or 3 nights each week. First half of December will have Holiday Time in full swing. Early January should have lower crowds, but (depending on when in January) possibly shorter hours and a limited entertainment schedule. Keep in mind that the 60th celebration may affect Halloween and Holiday decorations and entertainment at DLR. There are threads here you can find that list the school breaks and big event dates which may help you plan your trip.

Thanks for the link to the other thread I just started reading It and love it so informative!

 

[Sherry E]

RC Mommy --

Keep in mind that our Mickey's Halloween Party does not have a Boo to You parade like what takes place at WDW for MNSSHP. We have a Costume Party Cavalcade (a mini-parade) -- no Headless Horseman, no Grave Diggers, etc.

If you decide to commit to an October trip, be sure to join us in the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread, for discussion, news, rumors, speculation, questions and answers, etc. You don't have to read the whole thread, of course -- just jump in anytime -- but I suggest skimming the posts on page 1 (lots of info and photos) to get a sense of what to expect (assuming that this year's Halloween festivities stay pretty much unchanged, with no drastic interruptions). Here is the thread - http://www.disboards.com/threads/ha...iting-info-about-halloween-time-2015.3270919/

Likewise, if you decide that early December is better for you, join us in the Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread, and, again, skim the posts on page 1 to see if anything grabs your attention. Then jump in and join us anytime. Here is the thread -- http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...erthread-5-awaiting-details-for-2015.3358217/

 

[TechGuy]

Many of the tour bus companies operate a bus from the Anaheim area to Universal Studios (USH) where you are picked up at your hotel, driven to bus depot and board new buses to USH. The tour include the USH tickets. IIRC its about $100 per person,including the bus and ticket. you do get a short day in-park but IIRC youget the tour as a priority and don't need to wait to get on it.

As for the hotel, find the hotel near the park you like to the cost of, check the online reviews here and at the travel sites and book it. On-site DLH/GCH and PPH are nice but much more expensive.

Can you book at a US Costco by joining the US Costco store nearest you to save the difference between CA and US prices? I understand it can be a huge difference.