My DLR guide for SIL, taking nephews for 1st

[mickeymomindesert]

Good morning! So,you've had your breakfast and it's off to DCA! As you come thru the gates you my see a replica of the golden gate bridge in front of you (mane remodels so I'm not sure). To your immediate right are restrooms and stroller rentals. To your right is guest services (the equivalent of city hall at DL). As you proceed underneath the bridge you will come into a hub area backed by a large sunshine fountain on the left and grizzly peak on the right.

Hollywood Blvd is a hard left. This is a great place to start. Playhouse Disney has a live show here, on the right side of the street. If Wes is a fan, don't miss it. Next door is the art of animation building. This will take at least an hour. Don't miss Turtle Talk with Crush!!!!! Help your little guys find a place on the floor,down front. Encourage them to think of something they'dlike to ask Crush: "how fast do turtles swim." or "Wheres squirt?" are popular ones.

Check out all the other rooms in building.....you can play some fun games here. If it rains this is the place to meet characters!

When you finish here, cross the street and proceed past the hot dog counters, the muppets are here! This is a 3D set up that ends with one loutish cartoon like cannon blast, other than that, nothing scary. The blast is amidst a lot of humor and rarely frightens any child, but thought I better mention it. just beyond the exit from the muppet theatre is the Monsters Inc. dark ride.....not at all frightening, but confusing if one does not know the stories or characters.

At the end of Hollywood Blvd. you will come upon a large theater. They show live showings of the Aladdin story here, most nights. The flying carpet & elephant ride scenes are enough reason to see this show! With little ones, I'd do this rather than the more alarming fantasmic or fireworks.

At the end of this dead end cul de sac, off of hollywood to the right, is the tower of terror. Skip it! Turn around and exit this part of the park by returning to the hub.

 

[mickeymomindesert]

Just so you know, I said that when you've entered this park guest services is to your "right" that is incorrect! Strollers and restrooms on right, Guest Services on LEFT....Sorry about that.

As you leave the Hollywood Backlot area and re-enter the hub(Sunshine Plaza), there is the path to your right (back under the golden gate to the front gate area), straight ahead (to the Golden State Area), and a path to the Left which we are about to follow.

As you veer left, Grizzly peak will be on your right hand side and Bug's Land will appear on your left. We are headed to Bug's Land.

Skip the theater show called, "It's Tough to be a Bug!" This was alarming to my kids when they were much older than yours. It is Disney's idea of a 4D experience. The audience is squirted, poked in the back, assaulted w/foul odors and sudden smoke/fog effects and the scary parts (much of the show) are dark and overwhelming. It is educational if you can stand the abuse, I think it loses it's point with little ones by scaring them so badly.

Past the show area you will come out onto a small playland like area. There is a little caterpillar train, called Heimlich's Chew Chew train and I like it more than the Casey Jr. ride in DL. The scenery is alot more interesting. The Jr. version of a Ferris Wheel here (Flik's Fun Flyers), is really cute. Francis' Ladybug Boogie is reminiscent of the teacups. Tuck and Roll's Drive In Buggies are not worth a long wait, but ok if crowds are low.

Now I have come to why you should bring the boys both swimsuits and changes of dry clothes into parks(and a trash bag sized plastic bag or two)......Princess Dot's Puddle Park is called a "splash area." If it is warm enough (as toss up in April, but the way this year has been, likely), your boys will get DRENCHED. I suggest either changing into suits in the nearby restrooms, or planning to change into a dry set of clothes afterword. WARNING: There are two other splashy play areas on the other side of the park!

Warnings aside: kids love this area. Lots of fun and easy to keep kids in eye sight while they play (not true over at Redwood Creek, which we will visit in another email).

Let them play and run while you consider lunch. Characters? Table or counter service? The possiblilities are pretty vast, in this park. Don't forget to snap some cute shots of the kids playing in the Splash Park.....By the Way, you may run into a meet & greet for Flik, Princess Atta, and Dot in this part of the park. Some kids are a little taken aback by giant bugs, but if they are familiar with the movie they LOVE them!