LAND Advice Needed!

[allymouse]

Self proclaimed WORLD expert needs LAND help!


Will be in town for a conference so of course I need to get to Disney for a day!
Will have half a Wednesday in May (we land at 12:50 pm in Long Beach), and all day Thursday. We figured pool /downtown Disney for Wednesday and Disneyland for Thursday.

We are 3 early thirty-somethings looking to have some fun before a week of trade show! We will not have a car and be staying at one of the Disney hotels.

So... what do I need to know? Where should we eat? We like everything, but have one veggie in the group so a steakhouse it probably not a good idea (though many have great options).

Planning on spending the entire day at Disneyland on Thursday. Will be up and at 'em. What's a good lunch spot int he park? What about after the parks close? Is the Downtown Disney area fun at night? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I love Disney World but I feel so out of my element here!

Thanks!

 

[HydroGuy]

Self proclaimed WORLD expert needs LAND help!


Will be in town for a conference so of course I need to get to Disney for a day!
Will have half a Wednesday in May (we land at 12:50 pm in Long Beach), and all day Thursday. We figured pool /downtown Disney for Wednesday and Disneyland for Thursday.

We are 3 early thirty-somethings looking to have some fun before a week of trade show! We will not have a car and be staying at one of the Disney hotels.

So... what do I need to know? Where should we eat? We like everything, but have one veggie in the group so a steakhouse it probably not a good idea (though many have great options).

Planning on spending the entire day at Disneyland on Thursday. Will be up and at 'em. What's a good lunch spot int he park? What about after the parks close? Is the Downtown Disney area fun at night? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I love Disney World but I feel so out of my element here!

Thanks!

Start here:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

and the sticky thread here: * DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!

With your half day that would be a great day to catch the awesome new World of Color show. See "World of Color Superthread" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37986447

DTD is fun at night. Good walk-up lunch spots at DL are Plaza Inn and Redd Rockett's. Good reservation spots are Blue Bayou ($$$) and Cafe Orleans. At DCA we like Taste Pilots Grille for walk-up and Ariel's Grotto.

Be aware that Thursdays are Magic Mornings and you can go if staying onsite. So go! See "Magic Morning (Early Entry) Super Thread" by DLR29 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

Have a great visit! DLR rocks!

 

[bnbheartdisney]

What's a good lunch spot int he park?

Another vote for Cafe Orleans!

 

[Butterfly123]

It is really worth getting up early for MM entry...you can get so much done in that hour. And if you can swing it, do go into the parks on Wed. Even if you don't do WOC, being on the outside and not going in would be painful!

 

[allymouse]

Awesome links, thanks for posting! We are definitely planning to get up for the early hour.

Can anyone tell me if their is still construction going on at Disneyland Hotel? We are tying to decide which hotel to stay at. From what I hear the Pier is far away, so I was debating between the other two. DH is obviously less expensive, but I'm told there is a lot of construction going on.

 

[helenb]

Cafe Orleans for lunch for sure! They have awesome Monte Cristos (including a cheese-only one for your vegetarian friend) and fantastic garlic fries! Yum!!!!!

You definitely want to go on the rides that are different at Disneyland: either ones they don't have at Disneyworld, or are significantly different at Disneyland. These include: Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, POTC, HM, Tom Sawyer/POTC Island, Nemo's Submarine Ride, Pinnochio, Alice in Wonderland (not the tea party), Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, the new Star Tours (if it's open at the time of your visit). There are a few others as well, like the Storybook Canal Boats and Tarzan's Treehouse, but as 30-somethings you might not find those as interesting. Sleeping Beauty's Castle is also worth a walk-through as well, as you can go through it to see pages from the storybook laid out to read.

Do Magic Morning and use that time to ride Nemo (it will bring back your nostalgia for the long-gone 20,000 Leagues). Then get ready to explore the rest of the park!

Just saw your other post: PP is NOT Far away. It is across the street from the GCH. By WDW standards, it is impossibly close (even closer than the Contemporary Hotel to the Magic Kingdom). You will be fine there. Just be aware that the theming is minimal, at best.

 

[allymouse]

Just saw your other post: PP is NOT Far away. It is across the street from the GCH. By WDW standards, it is impossibly close (even closer than the Contemporary Hotel to the Magic Kingdom). You will be fine there. Just be aware that the theming is minimal, at best.

Thank you!

Trying to decide if it's worth it to splurge for the Californian. Or if the DLH will work, even with construction. It just screams Disney to me.

The pool at PP didn't wow me like Californian or DLH. I want to have a nice pool. None of the off-site hotels have thrilling pools to me. Heard good things about Hotel Menage, but it's far.

 

[DlandAmanda]

I've done Grand Californian and Paradise Pier. The Grand is by far the BEST, but yes it lacks the magical Disney feel, however, it sparkles with amazing classic Californian decor! I say if you had kids I'd pick one of the others as they have the Disney characters all over the hotels. The only word of warning I have for Paradise Pier is request a view room, or try and get on a higher floor. In the mornings the elevators will fill to capacity before reaching the bottom floors so they never stop to pick you up. We had to take the service elevator several times after the elevator just plain didn't stop for us. Or I guess request a lower level if you don't mind taken the stairs, just don't get stuck in the middle! I too love Cafe Orleans, but I'm thinking the only veggie item they have it the 3 cheese Monte Cristo (not exactly a healthy choice.) It seems that they have some good options at Rancho del Zocalo, Plaza Inn (pasta dish), Wine Country Trattoria (@ DCAP) looks like they have some salads and what not. I'm a little shocked that it's seems no place has a veggie burger or black bean burger or at least one vegetarian option. Hmm, well good luck! They can always eat the kid's mac n cheese or PB&J

 

[Hound 109]

Thank you!

Trying to decide if it's worth it to splurge for the Californian. Or if the DLH will work, even with construction. It just screams Disney to me.

The pool at PP didn't wow me like Californian or DLH. I want to have a nice pool. None of the off-site hotels have thrilling pools to me. Heard good things about Hotel Menage, but it's far.

With only one day (& it's a MM day if you stay on site) I would NOT do the Menage. Can't walk, can't enjoy a mid day break, can't enjoy MM...it's just not disney...& this is possibly your one shot to do DLR right!

If you want a good pool & want to experience DLR then (imo) stay at the GCH or DLH. (I like the PP, but the pool is just "OK").


Read these threads if you haven't already:

HydroGuy's DLR for the WDW veteran tip thread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699


Also, lots of good info for the WDW vet in Mary Jo's tip thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084

"Critique of MM/EE" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671



& KNOW THESE FP THREADS:

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

"FastPass for Dummies and Smarties - A Photographic Explanation" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186052

"Which Fast Pass First?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107718 (see my post #4 in that thread)

"Strategies For Using DL and DCA Opening Time Differences to Collect More Fastpasses"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1553197

"Why I Park Hop" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961



Also, the first page of my trip report might be helpful. (linked in my signature below). Have a DLR map handy when reading all the threads. After reading many of these tip threads you'll get an idea how easy it is to move from your DLR hotel (any of them).....to DL...hop to DCA....back to the hotel for a swim & a little break....back to DCA &/or DL at night. & you never have to get on a stinkin' bus!!

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.