PinkBudgie
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2008
- Messages
- 7,205
We just came back last night from a 5 1/2 day trip to DLR. So I thought I would post some of the things we found out that were helpful.
The Drive Down-
Drove down from North Bay down 5 like always. The Lebec rest area was closed, but they don't tell you that until you are right there. The sign says the next one is 200 miles!
We had sandwiches with us and we always eat there. So at the point we just kept going and ate when we got to our room. The Lebec rest area going north has been closed for several years but this is the first time we have found this one closed. It was filled with tractors when we went by so plan accordingly.
We stop at the travel centers sometimes and they have yummy chocolate banana coffee for a cheap price.
The Hotel-
We stayed again at CCI. It was wonderful as always so nothing new to report that isn't in my orginal review in my sig. We brought our own Keurig coffee maker (the smaller one) and some K cups so that we could have some good strong coffee in the morning and mid-day.
We timed the walk this time. Getting to DLR security in the morning took 8 minutes at a fast walk making the cross walk light. On the way back it too 12 minutes with a wait at the light and probably a slower pace.
What to do on Arrival Day-
We arrived at 2pm and our room was ready. After our late lunch and resting a bit we got to the parks around 3:30. Not having any FPs, we went to Mermaid first with a 20 min wait. TSMM, Monsters, and a parade would all be good choices for a first afternoon with no FPs. We were back to CCI around 9 to rest up for the next day.
Star Tours-
We went on ST 8 times while there- 2 times a day. None on the last day. Our strategy went like this: Arrive at gate by opening. We were not the first in and sometimes it was already open for rope drop by the time we got there. That was ok, and we still had plenty of time. We went stright to ST FP machines and got a return time for around 8:40. (On MMs our return times were about 9:45.) We then rode Buzz (no wait) sevearl times. Then go to another ride like IJ or Thunder while standby line was still short. Then head back to ST FP machines as soon as we were able to get more. The time for the second ST FPs was afteroon. Somewhere around 2 or 3 (or 4 on MM). Of course, by the time we were able to get the next FP, ST was empty. We never stood in line standby to see it.
The odd thing is, except for our first ride, every other ride took us to the snow planet- both morning and afternoon.
WOC-
Last year we did a WOC dinner. This year we just wanted to try FPs and we didn't want to rush over first thing in the morning which is prime time at DL. We headed over to WOC FPs at noon hoping to get blue for the second showing which it was. We watched Laserman at 8:45 (very cool! ) then got pretzles and sat down to eat them in the warf area. At 9:25 we joined the "line" for the blue section near the warf area. Lots of people were in front of us, but more were behind us. I kept an eye out for the VIP section and found the yellow hydrant near it. We stopped there at the railing while everyone else filled in down below. Then they started lining up at the railing along with walkway near us. Just before the show started, a few people came in behind us. We had a clear view of the show and it was a great spot. If the VIP section had been filled and those people decided to stand, then it might have been harder to see. But there were only 2 people in the VIP section. Love that show!
Food-
We loved the new food at The Hungry Bear. Now a great place to eat has some good food. I really liked the chili cheese burger. MUCH better than the old burgers they used to serve! I had the sweet potato fries which were ok considering I hate sweet potatos. I still can't believe they can't offer regular fries!
Wetzles Preztles in DTD has a wonderful pepperoni pretzel! Yum! Bubba Gumps on the outside of Garden Walk was really good for seafood and non seafood eaters alike. We all enjoyed it. At Cafe Orleans I tried the gumbo for the first time and it was amazing! LOVE IT! I will definately go back for that again!
Rides-
On Friday, our last day, we skipped ST and went straight to Peter Pan, then over to Nemo (about a 35 min wait).
We discovered that Big Thunder is the most fun at night. And the cave you pass through first is different in the night from the day. Also, the sounds coming from the "town" are different at night.
Parade and Fireworks-
On friday we found a spot at 6:15 closer to IASW for the 6:30 parade, which doen't come by there until 6:45. I liked this one much better than the old celebrate one. The costumes are amazing and clever and remind me of the Pixar Play Parade (probably because the same people who worked on that one, did this one).
The fireworks show was Magical, which we all liked. We arrived at 9:15 by IASW and found a spot on the ground to watch where we could see the sky and the images on the building.
Last-
We were lucky enough to get to see the new entrance to DCA on our last day. It looks so much better than the old one! It was also nice to walk right in without going around the big wall. We all thought it looked very cool and more so at night.
I think that's about it. Hopefully people going soon found some helpful info in here.
The Drive Down-
Drove down from North Bay down 5 like always. The Lebec rest area was closed, but they don't tell you that until you are right there. The sign says the next one is 200 miles!
We had sandwiches with us and we always eat there. So at the point we just kept going and ate when we got to our room. The Lebec rest area going north has been closed for several years but this is the first time we have found this one closed. It was filled with tractors when we went by so plan accordingly.We stop at the travel centers sometimes and they have yummy chocolate banana coffee for a cheap price.
The Hotel-
We stayed again at CCI. It was wonderful as always so nothing new to report that isn't in my orginal review in my sig. We brought our own Keurig coffee maker (the smaller one) and some K cups so that we could have some good strong coffee in the morning and mid-day.
We timed the walk this time. Getting to DLR security in the morning took 8 minutes at a fast walk making the cross walk light. On the way back it too 12 minutes with a wait at the light and probably a slower pace.
What to do on Arrival Day-
We arrived at 2pm and our room was ready. After our late lunch and resting a bit we got to the parks around 3:30. Not having any FPs, we went to Mermaid first with a 20 min wait. TSMM, Monsters, and a parade would all be good choices for a first afternoon with no FPs. We were back to CCI around 9 to rest up for the next day.
Star Tours-
We went on ST 8 times while there- 2 times a day. None on the last day. Our strategy went like this: Arrive at gate by opening. We were not the first in and sometimes it was already open for rope drop by the time we got there. That was ok, and we still had plenty of time. We went stright to ST FP machines and got a return time for around 8:40. (On MMs our return times were about 9:45.) We then rode Buzz (no wait) sevearl times. Then go to another ride like IJ or Thunder while standby line was still short. Then head back to ST FP machines as soon as we were able to get more. The time for the second ST FPs was afteroon. Somewhere around 2 or 3 (or 4 on MM). Of course, by the time we were able to get the next FP, ST was empty. We never stood in line standby to see it.
The odd thing is, except for our first ride, every other ride took us to the snow planet- both morning and afternoon.
WOC-
Last year we did a WOC dinner. This year we just wanted to try FPs and we didn't want to rush over first thing in the morning which is prime time at DL. We headed over to WOC FPs at noon hoping to get blue for the second showing which it was. We watched Laserman at 8:45 (very cool! ) then got pretzles and sat down to eat them in the warf area. At 9:25 we joined the "line" for the blue section near the warf area. Lots of people were in front of us, but more were behind us. I kept an eye out for the VIP section and found the yellow hydrant near it. We stopped there at the railing while everyone else filled in down below. Then they started lining up at the railing along with walkway near us. Just before the show started, a few people came in behind us. We had a clear view of the show and it was a great spot. If the VIP section had been filled and those people decided to stand, then it might have been harder to see. But there were only 2 people in the VIP section. Love that show!
Food-
We loved the new food at The Hungry Bear. Now a great place to eat has some good food. I really liked the chili cheese burger. MUCH better than the old burgers they used to serve! I had the sweet potato fries which were ok considering I hate sweet potatos. I still can't believe they can't offer regular fries!
Wetzles Preztles in DTD has a wonderful pepperoni pretzel! Yum! Bubba Gumps on the outside of Garden Walk was really good for seafood and non seafood eaters alike. We all enjoyed it. At Cafe Orleans I tried the gumbo for the first time and it was amazing! LOVE IT! I will definately go back for that again!
Rides-
On Friday, our last day, we skipped ST and went straight to Peter Pan, then over to Nemo (about a 35 min wait).
We discovered that Big Thunder is the most fun at night. And the cave you pass through first is different in the night from the day. Also, the sounds coming from the "town" are different at night.
Parade and Fireworks-
On friday we found a spot at 6:15 closer to IASW for the 6:30 parade, which doen't come by there until 6:45. I liked this one much better than the old celebrate one. The costumes are amazing and clever and remind me of the Pixar Play Parade (probably because the same people who worked on that one, did this one).
The fireworks show was Magical, which we all liked. We arrived at 9:15 by IASW and found a spot on the ground to watch where we could see the sky and the images on the building.
Last-
We were lucky enough to get to see the new entrance to DCA on our last day. It looks so much better than the old one! It was also nice to walk right in without going around the big wall. We all thought it looked very cool and more so at night.
I think that's about it. Hopefully people going soon found some helpful info in here.
I think you've convinced me to at least try to see it next week. 
I think it is great to have something new, but it seems like that has become the standard for new places. Other places in the park do serve reg. fries. The best, of course, are the ones at Cafe Olreans!
