Need DL Veteran Help on a Few ???

[sets14]

So we are making our first trip to DL Sept 11-19. It is myself, DH, DS8 and DS4. We will be staying in a studio villa at the Grand Californian. I have a few questions that have cropped up as we have firmed up plans and researched DL a bit more. Veterans, can you give me your opinion/perspective?

1. Should we rent a car?

We plan to hit the parks Sat the 12th, Monday, Tue, Thur, & Fri. We plan to attend the Angels game on Sunday the 13th, and plan to hit up some So. Cal sights on Wed. I am torn between using the shuttle to resort/taxi to game/one day rental at DTD, or just renting a car the whole time. I hate to rent a car and have it sit in the lot 95% of the time, but I also don't want to go the shuttle route if it is a major pain. I figure taking a taxi to the Angels game would wash with paying for parking, and the shuttle/one day rental wash with a whole week rental. Thoughts?

2. Should we do a WOC dinner package?

We are definitely planning on doing the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! package. Not sure if we need to do the WOC package. We plan to hit WOC on either Tues or Thur night. I am assuming we will have some lower crowds on the weekdays so am not sure it has the same value per say as the F! package.

3. What would you advise as far as park plans on Sat the 12th?

I figure this will be our busiest day crowd wise, and we will definitely be up for EMH coming from the east coast. I am planning to hit Fantasyland, Adventureland, and HM. We obviously have 4 more park days so not wanting to run around like a mad woman but do want to have a fun first day. Any advice here? Oh, and should I plan to run to CA for radiator springs FP this day? My boys are MAJOR Cars fans and I know they would love to do this our first day but again, if it would be too crazy on a Saturday, we will just wait until Monday.

I think that's all for now! Thanks for any help/insights!

 

[chickapin parterre]

enterprise car rental blocks away, be they California blocks, it is taxi or walking distance

 

[chickapin parterre]

if you skip peter pan on your first morning then Fantasyland is very completable during the EMH. When EMHi hour is over then to Adventureland, grab your Indy pass, ride Jungle, grab Thunder pass, ride Indy, POC and then over to Thunder. Then down to HM, if refurb is open, unlikely that early. If HM is closed, then ride splash over and over and over, unless it is not a warm morning, then once should do. Pooh is around the corner and then eats at Hungry bear. Noon, crowded, time to DCA and explore how the RSR area works, as in single rider, wait times, closed times and the breathtaking beauty.

 

[cmrdgrs]

So we are making our first trip to DL Sept 11-19. It is myself, DH, DS8 and DS4. We will be staying in a studio villa at the Grand Californian. I have a few questions that have cropped up as we have firmed up plans and researched DL a bit more. Veterans, can you give me your opinion/perspective?

1. Should we rent a car?

We plan to hit the parks Sat the 12th, Monday, Tue, Thur, & Fri. We plan to attend the Angels game on Sunday the 13th, and plan to hit up some So. Cal sights on Wed. I am torn between using the shuttle to resort/taxi to game/one day rental at DTD, or just renting a car the whole time. I hate to rent a car and have it sit in the lot 95% of the time, but I also don't want to go the shuttle route if it is a major pain. I figure taking a taxi to the Angels game would wash with paying for parking, and the shuttle/one day rental wash with a whole week rental. Thoughts?

While you are visiting the parks you do not need a car. DL is very compact and nothing like WDW. We drive over to DL from Phoenix, AZ and only use our car to go to the grocery store and that is about it, from that point forward the car sits in the parking lot. The airport is about 25 - 30 minutes away without a lot of traffic. I can't speak to the convenience of taking the shuttle. The Angels stadium is only about 5 miles away from DL. Not close enough to walk, but doable by a taxi, and shouldn't be expensive. They could drop you across the street and you can walk into the stadium. Then you need to arrange for a pick-up to go back once the game is over. I have seen a rental car location in DTD (near Earl of Sandwich), but you would have to look at all the costs to figure out what makes the most sense from ease/flexibility for you vs. not having a car.

2. Should we do a WOC dinner package?

We are definitely planning on doing the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! package. Not sure if we need to do the WOC package. We plan to hit WOC on either Tues or Thur night. I am assuming we will have some lower crowds on the weekdays so am not sure it has the same value per say as the F! package.

I have done both packages. IMO, I would skip the WoC package. I happened to think the viewing area for the WoC dining package is absolutely nothing special. It is more centered, but you are still way in the back of the crowd and if you have vertically challenged folks in your party, it isn't much of an advantage. My advice, is to get the FPs, get there early and head down to the front. If it isn't windy, you will not get wet, and really (JMHO) the best seats are up front. But, if getting wet will bother you, get there early and find something that works. Definitely do the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! package. Now that they are doing F! with the FP, getting a decent viewing spot is much more challenging. I was very disappointed with the change, and if I only did one thing related to dining, I would do the Blue Bayou F! package. The challenge will be snagging a reservation, they are hard to come by and they don't necessarily release them at the 60 day mark. I have found sometimes earlier and sometimes later. I love DL Fantasmic! So, so, so, much better than WDW version (IMO).

3. What would you advise as far as park plans on Sat the 12th?

I figure this will be our busiest day crowd wise, and we will definitely be up for EMH coming from the east coast. I am planning to hit Fantasyland, Adventureland, and HM. We obviously have 4 more park days so not wanting to run around like a mad woman but do want to have a fun first day. Any advice here? Oh, and should I plan to run to CA for radiator springs FP this day? My boys are MAJOR Cars fans and I know they would love to do this our first day but again, if it would be too crazy on a Saturday, we will just wait until Monday.

I think that's all for now! Thanks for any help/insights!

IMO, if your boys are big Cars fans, I would hit RSR for sure on day one. The MK is much like WDW MK and most everything in California Adventure will be new and different for your family. I don't remember the schedule for EMH, but if it is at DCA day for that, I would recommend going to DCA (Disneyland California Adventure). What are your boy's ages? My family loves DCA and really I'd have to say for all the visits we have had to DL, we probably spend more time in DCA then the MK. Also hit Toy Story early, no FP for that attraction at DL.

Hope that helps and Have fun!

Edited to add: I overlooked that you said that your boys are 8 & 4. My recommendation is to go to DCA. Go to RSR, go to bugs land, I think these things will be big hits for your boys. Also there is a splash pad in bugs land. Bring bathing suits (and water shoes - you must have shoes or you can't play) and spend time in the splash pad. My kids at this age adored bugs land. Also, also Goofy's flying school, the swings, the games on the boardwalk... I think your boys will love DCA. Enjoy!

 

[SMD]

You're likely going to be there the opening weekend of Halloween. I think it's wise to skip Sunday. Most of the activity will be centered around DL, unless they come up with some new DCA Halloween thing (unlikely), then all bets are kind of off. I think Monday will be pretty crowded too, with many people going for HMH, Jack & Sally, Ghost Galaxy and anything that's happening in the festival arena this year. Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the lower crowd days. Are you making any plans that lock you in to Wednesday, like theater tickets or meeting up with people? If not, I'd see how you feel after Saturday if you want to swap that touring day.

If you get free parking with DVC, absolutely rent a car for the trip. You'll usually get a better rate renting round trip from LAX. You can install your 4 year old's safety seat once and. It have to haul it on a shuttle and use it in the cabs to and from the game. And staying in DVC you can make a quick trip for anything you need in the room.

 

[HopLow1968]

Isn't the rumor that the viewing area might get some changes as part of the WoC refurb? If so, might that not change everything? I am holding off on deciding about WoC dining package until I hear feedback from others after the refurb.

 

[cmrdgrs]

You know HopLow1968, I think you are right about the refurb. I forgot about that! I still think that the WoC package won't be worth the price, but that's just my opinion. I guess the OP could book and cancel closer to the timeframe. Good suggestion!

 

[cherice95403]

1. Should we rent a car? I'd pencil out the cost. keep in mind you'd have to pay for parking at the Grand.

2. Should we do a WOC dinner package? We have never done the package and always gotten a great spot. Just be sure to get there about 20 minutes before they open the rope and head straight for a rail.

3. What would you advise as far as park plans on Sat the 12th? Head Fantasyland during EMH and hit all the rides just through the castle. Those are the ones that tend to have long lines later. At full park opening head to Adventureland. It sounds like you will probably have more then one EMH day for each park. Going on Nemo is a good option on a EMH too since it is a slow moving ride and the lines get long. On CA Adventure EMH days head to Carsland and go on the Radiator Springs Racers and then go to Toy Story. Everything after that is easy.

 

[sets14]

if you skip peter pan on your first morning then Fantasyland is very completable during the EMH. When EMHi hour is over then to Adventureland, grab your Indy pass, ride Jungle, grab Thunder pass, ride Indy, POC and then over to Thunder. Then down to HM, if refurb is open, unlikely that early. If HM is closed, then ride splash over and over and over, unless it is not a warm morning, then once should do. Pooh is around the corner and then eats at Hungry bear. Noon, crowded, time to DCA and explore how the RSR area works, as in single rider, wait times, closed times and the breathtaking beauty.

Thank you! This is a great starting point!

We will have free parking since we are DVC so I think I am leaning towards just doing the rental for the week- cost comes out about the same, and if I get a major In-n-Out craving I can satisfy it

I also forgot about the WOC refurb for the 60th so I guess I will wait and see what is going on with that as we get closer. We plan on going back in 2017 for my mom's 60th birthday so if we regret anything, we can rectify it then.

Again, thanks for all the replies!