Just left...first timer thoughts

[texasgingerbread]

Sounds like a great trip! I was there on Friday and it seemed very busy to me, just like it was a weekend day. Didn't you stay at the new Homewood Suites? How was it? I'm thinking of staying there if we go on a big family trip around Thanksgiving.

Yes we stayed at Homewood and would stay there again without hesitation. Breakfast was good. Walk to Toy Story lot is next door to Hotel about 4 min walk and continuous shuttles with no wait ever. We used Uber on our MM and it cost $4.95. And another trip because we ran late and it was $5.

 

[texasgingerbread]

Excellent post! Did you enjoy the character interaction with the later reservation at the plaza? Did you meet a lot of characters? We have reservations for 10:00 on a Sunday in a few weeks but I am considering pushing it back a few hours... Kids are 2 and 6 though, don't want to be rushed, or miss anything... Let me know! Glad you had a a good trip!

Yes we weren't rushed at all and got TONS of attention because not many people there. Some characters came by twice and others were photobombing. Chip and Dale were making rounds inside stealing pancakes etc. Super fun. We also LOVED PCH. Stitch is a fav.

 

[texasgingerbread]

I cannot imagine true Disney fans not loving both WDW and DLR and wanting to go to both - assuming they have resources to do so.

Before my first WDW trip in 2006 I never imagined I would keep going back - now six times in 10 years. I plan to go back in 2017 after the AvatarLand area is completed.

Yes, the two resorts have their differences. But the Disney magic is there in both places.

I totally agree. In Texas people almost "frown" when you say you're going to Disneyland. Awww....why not WDW? Now that I've been I just don't get it?!

 

[texasgingerbread]

I'm so glad you had a good vacation out here, and enjoyed the park. It sounds like you had an amazing time.

Thank you for your podcasts! We are still here enjoying the beaches etc and got some muxh info from you. Great job!!

 

[texasgingerbread]

LOL but I guess DLR just offers so much! I have never in my life had any of the things you did on your first trip!

Anyways, thanks for you nice mini-review!

Thanks for all your sticky threads and maps and extensive info!!

 

[NJlauren]

Thank you for the tips! Going in a few weeks so looking for as much info as I can find!

 

[GatorChris]

I have to just comment on the ride closures - we found on prior trips rides actually went down more frequently - since you were there the same time as us, while you found it frustrating, it's actually better than it used to be. So that is a good thing, cause I can't imagine what you would have thought had you gone two years ago!!

And yes, being the fast runner is tiring but heh, if you have to walk, let it be walking in Disneyland!!

I'll agree with all of this! A few years back, it seems like everything was either down for refurb or going down in flames. It was really bad. Although I will say that from time to time I'll look at the DL app and it seems BTMRR is down just about every time!

And as for walking to get FPs, you get to walk at DL!!! So that's a real plus. And it's way better than the 'plus' that FP has at WDW. I'll walk twice as much in a day if I can just walk into a park and not have to worry about making my ride reservations.

And one more thing for the OP while I'm here: you actually like the beef gyro plate at DCA? Eeeewww. I eat gyros everywhere, but the one at DCA is nasty. I was really disappointed in that.

 

[asunutgirl]

DLR vet here. If you are a WDW vet, I would definitely recommend hitting the rides at DLR that they don't have a WDW. (We did the reverse our first trip to WDW and it was a great plan.) Matterhorn and Indiana Jones are two of my favorites that are only here. Hit IJ early in the morning - it tends to close down often because guests don't secure their belongings.

Some of my favorite foods/snacks if you are a first timer to DLR: Baked potato soup at Carnation Cafe, Matterhorn Macaroon (coconut) at Jolly Holiday, Corn Dogs from the Little Red Wagon, Fudge Mallows at the Candy Palace on Main Street, Fried Pickles at Carnation Cafe.

 

[Disney127]

Thanks for sharing! It's always nice to read about different experiences!

 

[texasgingerbread]

And one more thing for the OP while I'm here: you actually like the beef gyro plate at DCA? Eeeewww. I eat gyros everywhere, but the one at DCA is nasty. I was really disappointed in that.[/QUOTE]

I'm not comparing any Disney food to restaurant quality. . Just inside the parks. I wouldn't eat there ever if I had a choice compared to a Greek restaurant. Lol

 

[larie21]

Sounds like a great trip! We are going in June & planning on a late breakfast at Plaza Inn also. Glad to know there is still good character interaction at a later breakfast.

I had some ?s about the fireworks & projections on IASW- Did you do the Aladdin dinner package? How early did you get there? And was it a good place for the PTN parade also? I just can't see spending hours to get a good seat on Main Street.

 

[taniahappy]

Very happy you enjoyed it so much!

 

[GeneralTso]

Nice report! Glad you had a great time.

 

[jfk4]

I have one suggestion regarding Paint the Night and fireworks viewing. In my experience the most convenient place to view Paint the Night is in front of Small World during the first presentation of the evening. If you head into Small World plaza you can sit on the brick border on the left directly in front of Small World. During less busy periods you can often find seating there within 30 minutes of the parade start time. In general the fireworks are timed to start 40 minutes after the first presentation of Paint the Night, so one of the benefits of going with this approach is that you can easily see both shows with a minimum of waiting.

If you have multiple evenings available I'd suggest trying to watch the fireworks from two different locations: directly in front of Small World, where the projections are much clearer, and from Main Street, where you can see the castle projections and spotlight effects. Main Street can be tough for little folks since it tends to get really congested, but I love being immersed in the projections. If you do decide to go for it, you should follow the end of the Paint The Night parade until you get to the path that cuts between the Matterhorn and the waterway, then walk *slowly* through Tomorrowland. Your goal here is to allow enough time to pass so that the end of the parade is just starting to head down Main Street. You can then get in line behind the parade and find a spot in the middle of Main Street before it fills up with other parade viewers. Disney crowd control won't allow you to follow the parade all the way to Main Street, which is why you need to cut through Tomorrowland.

 

[cagirl4life]

Its funny I go all the time but I haven't tried most of the food you suggest, except the corn on the cob. That I have gotten once and every time I have tried to get it afterwards they have been out. I have been wanting to do the Plaza Inn breakfast and the Bengal Asparagus so its good to know you liked it. I didn't even know about the Pomegranate Lemonade. Will need to try that asap

I had only seen the green army men at DLR and they have always been painted green face, so the first time I saw them at DLR it was a shock to see them with the fabric faces.

I was in the parks on Friday and it was unusually crowded, it felt like with how they were set up they weren't prepared for it to be that busy. I ended up going from Adventureland to the train station, through the bypass, up to Tomorrowland during PTN because they kept telling me the crosswalk was full. Seriously the top of hub and carnation cross. So I had to rush to make it to the bypass prior to them closing the cross there for the parade. It felt a little like during that time.

 

[Tattylou]

I'm a WDW who went to DL last April and had a fabulous time! Agree with most of your opinions, especially about the rides that are better at DL!! I'm going to WDW in 35 days, but plan to head back west next year b/c I loved DL so much.

 

[PRomano]

Excellent post! Did you enjoy the character interaction with the later reservation at the plaza? Did you meet a lot of characters? We have reservations for 10:00 on a Sunday in a few weeks but I am considering pushing it back a few hours... Kids are 2 and 6 though, don't want to be rushed, or miss anything... Let me know! Glad you had a a good trip!

We did a 10 a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. The characters were great. We somehow missed Pooh though! It was a great time to go. We did rides in the morning and then ate a late breakfast, early lunch at the plaza.

 

[momto2]

WDW vets here going on our first DLR in one week! Thanks so much for sharing. Very helpful.