Is there a thread for DLR vets?

[JEWLSVERN]

Is there a thread for DLR vets going to WDW? We are headed to WDW soon after having been to DLR more times than I can count and I would love to read a thread on the differences.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Sorry... NVM... read your post wrong

 

[figment_jii]

Is there a thread for DLR vets going to WDW? We are headed to WDW soon after having been to DLR more times than I can count and I would love to read a thread on the differences.

It's not quite the same, but HydroGuy has a thread on the Disneyland board that's written for WDW vets going to DLR. It provides a lot of good information about the similarities and differences between the resorts. I think that a DLR vet can learn a lot about WDW from it, so I'd take a look at that thread as a starting point.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[crazyventures]

EasyWDW and **************.net have been really helpful for me when planning WDW trips. There's just so much information out there that it's difficult to know where to start. I also like using AllEars for restaurant menus for planning ADRs.

The one thing I can say is that WDW takes a lot more preliminary planning for me than DLR does (more hotel options, rental cars, planning which parks to go on different days, etc). DLR is so easy because both parks are just a stone's throw away from each other, whereas the parks are more spaced out in FL. The new FP+ program makes planning even more important imo.

 

[figment_jii]

As the PP said, some of the more popular planning sites are:

• waltdisneyworld.com: this is the official Disney website. You can make reservation and ADRs here and it does (sometime) have useful information.
• easyWDW.com: this site provides a lot of information, but some folks are put off by the bloggers sometimes sarcastic tone. Still I really like the photos and there is a good amount of information.
• Allears.net: this site has also has a lot of good general information and is a good source of information about dining. There are menus (with prices) for all of the dining venues at WDW (how recent are the menus varies).
• wdwinfo.com: this site also has information and dining menus. The calendar is very useful.
• Disney Tourist Blog: this site has lots of pretty picture and some interesting information (especially if you're into photography). It's not a major general information site, but it's fun to look at. (I don't know why the link is blocked because the major contributor is active on the Disboard).
• Touringplans.com: this is paid subscription site, but it does have some free information. Worth looking at as a secondary source of information.
• Chip and Company: this site has some information and some fun articles to read. (Disboard often blocks typing the weblink as well - I don't know why.)

Some other things that I found are good to know:
1. The schedule/calendar is released about 180-days in advance. The travel agents calendar is often released a bit earlier and it's a great source when planning ADRs. You can find links to all 12 calendars here:
http://www.easywdw.com/news/disney-moves-its-travel-agents-calendars-to-new-web-adddress/

2. Dining ADRs come open 180-days in advanced. There are lots of dining options and having ADRs can be important if you want to dine at the most popular venues. Getting walk-ups is less common than at DLR, especially at character meals, in-park venues, and peak dining times.

3. There are both AM and PM EMHs for on-site resort guests. Morning EMH is one hour and evening EMH are two hours. The schedule of which park is having EMH varies, but I've found at the EMHs are a great way to get in rides.

4. Everything is much more spread out, so you have to plan your travel al ittle more. You cannot quickly walk between parks (in truth, only Epcot and DHS have a walking path between them - it's about a mile). You pretty much have to take transportation to get between parks. So allow about 45 minutes leg of the journey.

5. I haven't been keeping up with FP+ and MagicBands as much, but those are being used throughout WDW and there is nothing like them at DLR. I do know that like DLR, WDW is enforcing FP return times (they actually started enforcing times first).

Planning for WDW is a lot more work than planning a DLR trip, but WDW is a lot of fun and well worth it!

When are you going?

 

[Angel Ariel]

Hydroguy also has a WDW Guide for DLR vets