Newbie

[luv2lft]

Hi everyone! I have been to Disney World countless times but will be going to Disneyland with my high school graduate in May! I am at a total lost of where to start planning. Do I need dining reservations ahead of time? We are staying off site. One of the nights we are there is a Grad Night but we are not doing that. Will 1 day in each park be enough? We plan on doing Downtown on our arrival day and then 1 day in each park. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give this newbie

 

[Plip]

Check out Hydroguy's Disneyland Guide for WDW Vets thread. Lot's of good info there should be particularly helpful for you!

 

[figment_jii]

I second the recommendation to check out Hydroguy's DLR guide for WDW Vets.

Dining reservations are not as critical at DLR as they are at WDW, but it's still a good idea to make reservations if you know you want to eat at a specific TS location and/or at a specific time. Dining packages and special event dining (e.g., Afternoon Tea) tend to book up the fastest. Reservations come open 60-days in advance, one day at a time. That being said, things are not often loaded into the system right at the 60-day mark, so if you can't get something you want, keep trying. DLR also has a lot of pretty good counter service options, so if you don't want to make TS reservations, you have plenty of other good choices.

In terms of how many days, it depends on what you want to accomplish. One day in each park is enough time to get a sense of the parks, but it's not enough time to do everything (or even close to everything). You'll need to prioritize what attractions, shows, characters, etc. that you want to do and develop a plan from there.

What time are you arriving? Downtown Disney is not really an all day activity, unless you really like to shop. It's mostly shops and restaurants. Depending on when you're arriving and your budget, you might want to consider adding a third day to your tickets and going into the parks on your arrival day.

Are you going to get park hoppers? It might also be something to consider, especially if DL is open later than DCA on the day(s) you're there. The two parks are about 110 yards apart (think of DL like Epcot's FW, DCA like Epcot's WS, and the Esplanade as the bridge between the two). Park hopping is typically pretty easy in DLR and might give you some more flexibility.

 

[KateDrake]

I would definitely check out HydroGuy's awesome thread. And I would for sure consider adding days. We usually go for 5 days and while we do repeat some things, we always find plenty to do.

Downtown Disney is not nearly as big as Disney Springs, and honestly more of a walk through for us. We take a break from the park for a bit and stroll over to Earl of Sandwich or something and maybe poke our heads in a shop or two, but it is by no means a full day activity. I'd totally try to use that as a park day if you can!

DLR is much smaller and more compact than WDW, but there is a lot packed into that space! I believe Disneyland has nearly double as many attractions as MK, and one day would barely scratch the surface. But even if you can't add more time, I'm sure you'll have a delightful trip!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Some helpful threads for you:
* DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here! -- from the sticky threads at the top of the first page -- TONS of great information here!
From that sticky:
HydroGuy Tips Compilation -- so many helpful threads here!
A DLR Guide for WDW Vets -- absolute must reading for you!
"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/ -- very helpful info here -- ask any questions! At DLR, it's not about on site or off site -- it's all about location, location, location! What you invest in location/hotel, you will save in sanity, peace of mind, physical wear and tear, major convenience, commute/parking time and money, etc.
"Maxpass/Fastpass: an overview and some strategy" by @Skyegirl1999 - www.disboards.com/threads/maxpass-fastpass-an-overview-and-some-strategy.3726246/ -- most WDW vets love MP once they use it -- read up on it here and ask all your questions in this thread!
"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by @3TinksAndAnEeyorewww.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297 -- very helpful info here -- closest airports to DLR are SNA (John Wayne) and LGB (Long Beach).
Grad NIte: While you may not be participating, it will still affect the park hours at DCA, so be sure to check this. DCA will close early for the grads only party. This will make DL more crowded after DCA closing as non-grads with park hoppers head over to the only open park.
Number of days: we usually suggest our friends aim for 3 days minimum and up to 5 days -- more days allows for a more relaxed touring style, more time for shows/parades/ character meals/ TS meals/ shopping/pool time/beach days/etc. More time will help you deal with any crowds and give you time for breaks during the afternoon so that you can do nighttime shows. There really is so much to see and do at DLR!

Happy trip planning!

 

[mouschievous]

Can you do it in 2 days? yes, but make sure you prioritize! And I would highly recommend MaxPass so that you can get Fast Passes on your phone and not have to go to the kiosks - it will save you time.

Reservations for table service can be made 60 days in advance. I recommend the Minnie and Friends breakfast at the Plaza Inn if you're interested in a character meal. We did a very early meal (7:30) and it was great! We were out in about an hour, got to interact with ALL the characters (some multiple times), and were already in the parks so could pull fast passes during breakfast.

What do you mean you aren't "doing" the grad night? My understanding is the grad nights are nights that various high schools bring their graduating students. Nothing is different, it's just that there will be tons of grads running around.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Hi and welcome. To answer your question, unless you just want to eat at quick service type places, I would defnitely make resi's. Even many rest's. in DTD are hard to get into without resi's.
Have a great trip!

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

Two days will be possible, but three days would be much better. If you do three days, I'd say you should spend two in DL and one in DCA. If you are only able to do two days, then seriously consider getting park-hoppers. The parks are less than a 5 minute walk from each other, so you can hop back and forth all day long to find the rides with the shortest lines if you want to. For me, I usually only end up spending about half a day in DCA - I'm just not as big a fan of many of their rides. So I always get park-hoppers to ensure that I can go back to DL after I've seen everything I want to in DCA.

 

[goooof1]

We've been going 4 days and have not seen and done everything that we'd like to ! 3 days would be bare minimum and 5 days much better. Hoppers are essential (to us)! We like to be flexible and relax and enjoy all the rides, sights, sounds and smells! Definitely go over @HydroGuy 's tips...… so helpful!

 

[DisTXMom]

With 2 days, you will need to know what your must-do’s are. If you’re willing and able to splurge for some dining events such as fantasmic! or World of Color, you may find that helps you see the evening shows with less waiting/stress. Park hoppers help but are not critical for a 2 day trip IMO. Maxpass would be my #1 priority, as it will help you get more attractions in. Disneyland is so chill- You will love it! I grew up going to WDW and didn’t hit DLR until about 5 years ago- fell in love!!! Hope you have an amazing trip.

 

[luv2lft]

Thank you all for your help, I will check out those threads!! We will be arriving to the airport for 11:30 our first day and not leaving until 6:15 on our last day so I can add some time to those days as well!! My mom will be coming with us and neither of us are big riders (she says she is too old, lol, and I have neck issues) so my daughter will actually be using single rider line for the attractions that offer it! I am a Disney fanatic and would LOVE to stay there longer but we just can't fit it in more nights with schedules at that time.

 

[mrsw94]

Thank you all for your help, I will check out those threads!! We will be arriving to the airport for 11:30 our first day and not leaving until 6:15 on our last day so I can add some time to those days as well!! My mom will be coming with us and neither of us are big riders (she says she is too old, lol, and I have neck issues) so my daughter will actually be using single rider line for the attractions that offer it! I am a Disney fanatic and would LOVE to stay there longer but we just can't fit it in more nights with schedules at that time.

Consider adding MaxPass to just her pass for two reasons. Not all rides have single rider, and even when they do, FP return can often be easier. Second, and more importantly, it includes Photopass for each day you purchase it. Having those photos (to me) is always worth it!