Newbie help!!

[hart6066]

Hi--so we've been to DW so many times I can do it in my sleep and know exactly what I should be doing--get ADR's 180 days out, stay on property, use my TGM guide etc. But I am at a total loss for DL!!!

We are thinking of going next summer for 1 or 2 days as part of a larger trip. My questions are (and there are many!)

Should we stay on property--is that very important?

Do we need to go with a big plan (we'll have a general idea of what we want to do) like TGM if we go on a summer weekend (2 kids who like the big rides)

Can you do Magic Kingdom in one day?

Is eating on property the best way to go or should we just grab counter service while in parks and eat dinner elsewhere?

Any other suggestions--just trying to figure out if I should treat this like DW or if we can be laid back in our planning.

Thanks!

 

[Raindown]

Should we stay on property--is that very important?

I've never been to the WDW, and I'm a short drive from Disneyland. But what I have heard is that staying on site is not as important at DLR (Disneyland Resort) as it is at WDW. So if you don't mind a walk or a short ride then, besides magic mornings, not really is the general theme I have heard.

Can you do Magic Kingdom in one day?

You can do all if not most of the E tickets. However, as a frequent visitor, I often find many of the smaller things very 'magical.' For example, that little show they put on in front of the castle at like 10am or so. Would I generally say you can experience it in one day. . . No.

Is eating on property the best way to go or should we just grab counter service while in parks and eat dinner elsewhere?

Since you only have one or two days I would just eat in the parks. Not having ADR is not a bar to eating at many places, expect for some of the character meals. Sure you might have to wait longer, but usually you can get in. Perhaps not during the busier times and at more popular places, see Blue Bayou.

Any other suggestions--just trying to figure out if I should treat this like DW or if we can be laid back in our planning.

You have until next summer. Relax. I'd say look over the attractions you really want to see. Also pick up general tips. Any plans to visit California Adventure?

 

[Big_Disney_Fan]

Dang Raindown took my answers.. Enjoy the history, and look for the light in the window above the fire house. It is a little diffrent layout, but it has a charm all it's own

 

[JaxsonsMom]

I will kind of answer your questions briefly, put they are strictly my opinion, and as a family, it might work different for you...

Should we stay on property--is that very important?
- No, if your in it for the experiance (more money) then its fine, but there are some very nice hotel across they street within walking distance. I would look at hotels on Harbor Blvd. (Fairfield Inn, Howard Johnson, Best Western)

Do we need to go with a big plan (we'll have a general idea of what we want to do) like TGM if we go on a summer weekend (2 kids who like the big rides)
- I would say no, I would make a list a must do's and kind of go from there, it's always nice to have an idea of the basic layout of the park and the food selection, but it's pretty easy to go with the flow.

Can you do Magic Kingdom in one day?
- It depends on what time of year you go, but for the most part I want to say no, along with the walking, shows, parades, meals, and so on it's hard to see everything. That being said, if you have list of said rides you really want to do, and there are some you can skip, it's do-able. California Adventure is easily done in a day or less.

Is eating on property the best way to go or should we just grab counter service while in parks and eat dinner elsewhere?
- Another personal choice, the food in the park is normal "Disney" food, there are also some great resturaunts in downtown disney (ESPN Zone, Naples, Uva Bar), and across the street (MiMi's Cafe, Denny's, IHOP)

Any other suggestions--just trying to figure out if I should treat this like DW or if we can be laid back in our planning.
- The number one things I would recommend is that you don't overplan and kind of go with the flow, but enjoy yourself and have fun!



Terese

 

[gatorfreud]

If you are still on TGM you can also post over on the Other Disney board - lots of good info from the TGM perspective.

Kim

 

[HydroGuy]

Hi--so we've been to DW so many times I can do it in my sleep and know exactly what I should be doing--get ADR's 180 days out, stay on property, use my TGM guide etc. But I am at a total loss for DL!!!

Most TGM advice applies equally well at DLR. Here some differences:

TGM says about WDW: "It's a marathon, not a sprint". At DLR it is more of a sprint. No need to plan whole or half days off.

At WDW TGM says to skip Extra Magic Hours. At DLR you should do extra hours (called Magic Mornings)

We are thinking of going next summer for 1 or 2 days as part of a larger trip. My questions are (and there are many!)

Hopefully you can do at least 2 days. Two days at DLR would feel roughly like four days at WDW. Enough to get your feet wet. One day at DLR would feel like two at WDW.

There are three major shows at DLR right now. The one you will want to be sure to see is World of Color as it is the most different from WDW. DL's Fantasmic is preferred over WDW's by many. And then there are the Summer Nightastic fireworks called Magical.

Be sure to see the excellent Aladdin show at DCA. It is a 40-minute broadway quality show that frankly is better than any of the WDW stage shows.

As you can see it gets hard to fit all of this even into two days. If you only have two days I would do World of Color and Aladdin - both at DCA.

The weather at DLR in the summer is much more tolerable than WDW. See

"Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

Should we stay on property--is that very important?

As others have said, it is not that important. There are lots of folks around here that only do onsite at WDW but at DLR are comfortable with offsite. Realize that there are numerous offsite hotels closer to the DLR gates than two of the three Disney hotels.

Whatever you do, many of us are firm believers if walking distance hotels. See "HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Do we need to go with a big plan (we'll have a general idea of what we want to do) like TGM if we go on a summer weekend (2 kids who like the big rides)

Some level of planning and awareness is helpful, but dining is easier at DLR as is parkhopping and afternoon breaks. DLR lends itself more to a non-planned experience. But to get the biggest bang for the buck (as per TGM) you need to get to the gates early, collect FPs and focus on rides for the first 2-3 hours. Then you can slide into a more slow paced, non-planned day.

Can you do Magic Kingdom in one day?

The Disneyland park has 30% more rides than MK. So think of trying to do MK in three-fourths of a day. Can you do a lot of DL in a day? Well, yes you can do a lot of the rides. But DL is jam packed full of stuff. You will feel like one day was not enough.

Is eating on property the best way to go or should we just grab counter service while in parks and eat dinner elsewhere?

DLR vets do not emphasize dining as much as WDW vets and there are less options. You will probably want to do a mix of CS and TS. Maybe one each per day?

Any other suggestions--just trying to figure out if I should treat this like DW or if we can be laid back in our planning.

Lots of 'em here: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Have a magical trip! DLR rocks!