Orlando native wants to see the original

[yakkin' yeti]

We're thinking about going to Disneyland Labor Day weekend to cheer on a good friend running in the 1/2 marathon.

I read the info post about what WDW vets should expect, and it was really helpful. (Hooray for Mr. Toad, Indy, and rational lines for Toy Story Midway Mania!) I still had a few questions, though.

The biggie: How crowded is it likely to be on a marathon weekend? Should we try to come in a couple of days early? Should I be making hotel reservations right now?

Which airport would you recommend for a newcomer?

How many days is advisable for first-time park commandos? (I always mean to take mid-day breaks, but some theme park drill sergeant takes over my body the minute I walk down Main Street.)

How tough is it to see World of Color? Is it important to do the dining package?

Also, does Disneyland have a Main Street Electrical Parade? (Haven't seen it since I was a kid and would love to. I miss Pete's Dragon.)


Food questions: We're not serious foodies and the prices at Napa Rose scare me. But we like spicy food, seafood, Thai, Indian, etc. I also have the only kid in America who doesn't like ketchup. (I have no idea how that happened.) Any places you would recommend?

Many, many thanks for any and all advice.

 

[Tiny Little Seed]

How crowded is it likely to be on a marathon weekend? Should we try to come in a couple of days early?

How many days is advisable for first-time park commandos? (I always mean to take mid-day breaks, but some theme park drill sergeant takes over my body the minute I walk down Main Street.)

How tough is it to see World of Color? Is it important to do the dining package?

Also, does Disneyland have a Main Street Electrical Parade? (Haven't seen it since I was a kid and would love to. I miss Pete's Dragon.)


Food questions: We're not serious foodies and the prices at Napa Rose scare me. But we like spicy food, seafood, Thai, Indian, etc. I also have the only kid in America who doesn't like ketchup. (I have no idea how that happened.) Any places you would recommend?

I can answer some of your questions. That weekend will busy because it's Labor Day weekend. The marathoners will add to the crowds, but it would be busy anyway. That being said, it's still very manageable with good planning. It's nowhere near the levels you'd see b/w Christmas and New Years or around Easter.

If you truly tour commando style, I think 3-4 days is a good number. Five days is better if you like to take it easy and build in time for DTD, swimming, naps, etc. California Adventure (DCA) will be a much more completed park by Labor Day weekend. With Cars Land and Buena Vista St open for business, you'll want to dedicate some extra time to DCA than you would if you were visiting right now.

For WoC, FPs are readily available at park opening and through midday or even later. The later you acquire your FP, the later your showtime will be. If you were planning on trying either Wine County or Ariel's Grotto anyway, then doing the dining package could be a good option for you. There is also the picnic option, which is less expensive. The dining packages are beneficial if you don't want to worry about getting there in the morning to guarantee yourself a FP for the first show. On a side note, I like the food at Ariel's better, but others will disagree. To each his/her own...

Sadly, the Electrical Parade is still at WDW, and all indications are that it will remain there for the foreseeable future. I hope it returns to DCA within the next year, but I have not heard of this. At least through the summer, we are not expected to have it.

Finally, dining is much more laid back at DLR than at WDW. You can make reservations 60 days out for nearly all places, but this is really not necessary unless you are 100% set on a certain place at a certain time. However, being that it is a holiday weekend, I would err on the side of caution and book at least 3-4 weeks out. For Blue Bayou and character meals, this is an especially good idea. I don't have any good recs for the food preferences you listed. Nothing is real spicy at DLR, and there really aren't any indian or thai places at the resort. You might like Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (cajun food). Check out all the menus and plan accordingly. Just don't expect the exact same experiences as at WDW.

 

[yakkin' yeti]

Thanks so much, Tiny Little Seed. I really appreciate it. (And bummer about the Electrical Parade -- you'd think they could have at least sent you Spectro in exchange.)

 

[Barbday62]

Its been a couple years since I ran the half marathon but its not as busy as you would expect when I was there. I limited my touring on Saturday to not exhaust myself and found it very nice not to bad waits. I think many passes are blocked out which helps. I did very limited parks on Marathon day because I was franly too worn out lol. But I have to say Monday and Tuesday after were so surprisingly empty. Is staying after an option? Espeically Tuesday. we almost had the park to our self that year and no fast passes needed there just were not any lines at all. The hours were short and no night time things but rides were open. I seem to remember haunted mansion went down for the over lay so we had to ride it Saturday and Sunday

The second time I did the half marathon is was on Labor day weekend

 

[HydroGuy]

We're thinking about going to Disneyland Labor Day weekend to cheer on a good friend running in the 1/2 marathon.

I read the info post about what WDW vets should expect, and it was really helpful. (Hooray for Mr. Toad, Indy, and rational lines for Toy Story Midway Mania!) I still had a few questions, though.

The biggie: How crowded is it likely to be on a marathon weekend? Should we try to come in a couple of days early? Should I be making hotel reservations right now?

Which airport would you recommend for a newcomer?

How many days is advisable for first-time park commandos? (I always mean to take mid-day breaks, but some theme park drill sergeant takes over my body the minute I walk down Main Street.)

How tough is it to see World of Color? Is it important to do the dining package?

Also, does Disneyland have a Main Street Electrical Parade? (Haven't seen it since I was a kid and would love to. I miss Pete's Dragon.)


Food questions: We're not serious foodies and the prices at Napa Rose scare me. But we like spicy food, seafood, Thai, Indian, etc. I also have the only kid in America who doesn't like ketchup. (I have no idea how that happened.) Any places you would recommend?

Many, many thanks for any and all advice.

The best airport IMO is SNA. Closest to DLR and nicest. But also smaller.

You really should plan at least four days if you want to feel like you had a solid DLR visit. Three days will leave you feeling like you did not have quite enough time. Understand that DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks have altogether.

I would also strongly recommend a walking distance hotel. It will make it easier to do the afternoon breaks you find so hard at WDW.

Sorry I do not know crowds over Labor Day. The reports one reads is that they are not that bad.

No harm making hotel reservations now if they can be canceled. But you likely will not really need reservations until June or July.

World of Color is still a challenge. It is easy to get admittance. It is harder to get one of the sparse good viewing spots. See the WOC link in my signtaure area below.

As the PP said MSEP is at WDW now - but reportedly going away in May.

Recommended places to eat are many. In DL Blue Bayou is the nice$t and most unique. Other ideas are Cafe Orleans, Plaza Inn and Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. You will get lots of suggestions.

At DCA we like Taste Pilots Grill for burgers. Also the new Garden Grill area has good pasta plates. Wine Country Trattoria and Ariel's Grotto are nicer.

In DTD we like Rainforest Cafe and Tortilla Jo's.

 

[yakkin' yeti]

Its been a couple years since I ran the half marathon but its not as busy as you would expect when I was there. I limited my touring on Saturday to not exhaust myself and found it very nice not to bad waits. I think many passes are blocked out which helps. I did very limited parks on Marathon day because I was franly too worn out lol. But I have to say Monday and Tuesday after were so surprisingly empty. Is staying after an option? Espeically Tuesday. we almost had the park to our self that year and no fast passes needed there just were not any lines at all. The hours were short and no night time things but rides were open. I seem to remember haunted mansion went down for the over lay so we had to ride it Saturday and Sunday

The second time I did the half marathon is was on Labor day weekend

Thanks -- that's reassuring. And thanks for the info about the Haunted Mansion. That's a favorite for all of us, and we'd hate to miss it.

 

[yakkin' yeti]

The best airport IMO is SNA. Closest to DLR and nicest. But also smaller.

You really should plan at least four days if you want to feel like you had a solid DLR visit. Three days will leave you feeling like you did not have quite enough time. Understand that DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks have altogether.

I would also strongly recommend a walking distance hotel. It will make it easier to do the afternoon breaks you find so hard at WDW.

Sorry I do not know crowds over Labor Day. The reports one reads is that they are not that bad.

No harm making hotel reservations now if they can be canceled. But you likely will not really need reservations until June or July.

World of Color is still a challenge. It is easy to get admittance. It is harder to get one of the sparse good viewing spots. See the WOC link in my signtaure area below.

As the PP said MSEP is at WDW now - but reportedly going away in May.

Recommended places to eat are many. In DL Blue Bayou is the nice$t and most unique. Other ideas are Cafe Orleans, Plaza Inn and Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. You will get lots of suggestions.

At DCA we like Taste Pilots Grill for burgers. Also the new Garden Grill area has good pasta plates. Wine Country Trattoria and Ariel's Grotto are nicer.

In DTD we like Rainforest Cafe and Tortilla Jo's.

Thanks, Hydroguy. I like small airports -- much tougher to get lost. And we definitely want to be within walking distance. The main question we're mulling is whether to spring for an "on-site" hotel or save some money on one of the other, closer ones.

Blue Bayou sounds wonderful, as does the idea of not having to decide where we want to eat six months from now right this very second.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I was a WDW vet for years and took my first DL about two years ago. I fell in love with it and actually prefer it to the hectic nature of WDW.

I'd recommend SNA. It's super close and a smaller airport. I prefer navigating it over LAX. Flights can sometimes be limited there though.

My fav restaurant is Ralph Brennen's. It has a New Orleans theme with a lot of spice. Check out their website and menu to see if it suits your interests.

World of Color is an absolute MUST. I'd plan on seeing it two times, not just one. You can do that picnic meal package which gives you a FP to get in. Otherwise, you'll have to get to the park early that morning in order to get one for that night. Either way, it's an amazing show and far better than anything WDW has to offer.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Butterfly123]

The Aladdin show at DCA is also a must see. We had not heard much about it before I found Dis boards. We saw it on our last trip and loved it!

 

[yakkin' yeti]

I was a WDW vet for years and took my first DL about two years ago. I fell in love with it and actually prefer it to the hectic nature of WDW.

I'd recommend SNA. It's super close and a smaller airport. I prefer navigating it over LAX. Flights can sometimes be limited there though.

My fav restaurant is Ralph Brennen's. It has a New Orleans theme with a lot of spice. Check out their website and menu to see if it suits your interests.

World of Color is an absolute MUST. I'd plan on seeing it two times, not just one. You can do that picnic meal package which gives you a FP to get in. Otherwise, you'll have to get to the park early that morning in order to get one for that night. Either way, it's an amazing show and far better than anything WDW has to offer.

Enjoy your trip!!

Thanks for the tips -- I'll definitely research Ralph Brennen's and the picnic package for World of Color. I read the Fantasmic show at DL is better, too, so I'm really looking forward to seeing both.

And less hectic sounds great. (Before the DDP, we used to decide where we were going to eat at Epcot that same day, so I definitely remember when it didn't take months of planning and split-second timing to pull off a WDW vacation. Still miss it, though.)

 

[KCmike]

Another WDW vet here who converted to Walt's original. Even going commando you will find that you can miss alot of the smaller rides and attractions. I would go earlier like you mentioned if you can. The weekdays are very easy to manage and you can get alot done on magic mornings which are usually Tuesday and Thursdays I do believe. You can easily get all of fantasyland done that morning.

I don't understand the problem with LAX for everyone. I understand that its further away but its usually the cheapest and I find it very easy to get around for such a major airport.

FOOD : Plaza Inn is great for the fried chicken dinner (you get a lot and can be easily shared).

Don't miss things like Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (Golden Horseshoe), Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthru, Original Tiki Room, Lilly Belle train car, All of fantasyland including Storybook Canal boats, Fantasmic!, Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks (not sure if it will still be Magical Fireworks or not), Aladdin Stage Show (Broadway Style Spectacular), WOC, and so much more.

I would stay onsite if you can. I prefer to keep a blind eye to the outside world. The MOTELS are Harbor are ok but not like staying onsite for me. You will have to weigh the cost though. HOJO and Fairfield Inn are my favorite two outside. I prefer walking through downtown disney vs. Harbor Blvd at night. But again its sometime hard to justify the extra money for staying onsite. For us we only get to go once a year if that so we try to splurge.

Have a blast! This side of the boards are very friendly and very helpful so feel free to keep asking questions!

 

[yakkin' yeti]

The Aladdin show at DCA is also a must see. We had not heard much about it before I found Dis boards. We saw it on our last trip and loved it!

Thanks for the tip! Will add it to the list!

 

[yakkin' yeti]

Another WDW vet here who converted to Walt's original. Even going commando you will find that you can miss alot of the smaller rides and attractions. I would go earlier like you mentioned if you can. The weekdays are very easy to manage and you can get alot done on magic mornings which are usually Tuesday and Thursdays I do believe. You can easily get all of fantasyland done that morning.

I don't understand the problem with LAX for everyone. I understand that its further away but its usually the cheapest and I find it very easy to get around for such a major airport.

FOOD : Plaza Inn is great for the fried chicken dinner (you get a lot and can be easily shared).

Don't miss things like Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (Golden Horseshoe), Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthru, Original Tiki Room, Lilly Belle train car, All of fantasyland including Storybook Canal boats, Fantasmic!, Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks (not sure if it will still be Magical Fireworks or not), Aladdin Stage Show (Broadway Style Spectacular), WOC, and so much more.

I would stay onsite if you can. I prefer to keep a blind eye to the outside world. The MOTELS are Harbor are ok but not like staying onsite for me. You will have to weigh the cost though. HOJO and Fairfield Inn are my favorite two outside. I prefer walking through downtown disney vs. Harbor Blvd at night. But again its sometime hard to justify the extra money for staying onsite. For us we only get to go once a year if that so we try to splurge.

Have a blast! This side of the boards are very friendly and very helpful so feel free to keep asking questions!

Whew -- we're clearly going to need an extra day. Thanks for all the recommendations. Everyone's been really nice over here, and I really appreciate it.

 

[wbl2745]

You've already had some good answers and a few items, let me just put in my 2 cents worth on a couple of your questions.

Which airport would you recommend for a newcomer?

I'd agree with the poster that recommended John Wayne Airport in Orange County (SNA), but my absolutely favorite airport for getting to Disneyland is Long Beach (LGB). It has I think about 10 gates and the airport is tiny. You may not believe this but from the point that I've exited the plane to the time I was driving out of the airport in my rental car was 20 minutes! That included getting my luggage, a quick pit stop, and renting the car. LGB is a little further from Disneyland than SNA, but LGB make SNA look huge!

How many days is advisable for first-time park commandos? (I always mean to take mid-day breaks, but some theme park drill sergeant takes over my body the minute I walk down Main Street.)

Some people try to do it in one day, but that's silly. There's too much. I'd say three days minimum and four days would be nicer. This give you time to do some fun things that are not on the top of the list. For instance, there's a tour of the Grand Californian Hotel, which is free, and for the Disney art or architecture buff, it is a lot of fun.

How tough is it to see World of Color? Is it important to do the dining package?

There are a lot of ways to see the WoC. You have to have a Fast Pass which are handed out in three different ways. There's a WoC dinner package, which gives you the prime viewing location, but it is pricey. There's a WoC picnic package which we've done a couple of times. It gives you a good viewing location too. Then there's standing in line in the morning. If you stay at a Disney hotel you can get into DCA an hour early, giving you first pick at the WoC Fast Passes. E

Even with a Fast Pass, even a good one, you still need to get there early based on the crowds. The best locations are at the front of any level. There are several stepped up levels. The front of any of these is best. My daughter and her husband got right up front on the water.

Also, does Disneyland have a Main Street Electrical Parade? (Haven't seen it since I was a kid and would love to. I miss Pete's Dragon.)

I don't think so. I thought that moved to another park.

Food questions: We're not serious foodies and the prices at Napa Rose scare me. But we like spicy food, seafood, Thai, Indian, etc. I also have the only kid in America who doesn't like ketchup. (I have no idea how that happened.) Any places you would recommend?

The Napa Rose is great, but truly pricey. The do have a kids menu.

If you like spicy, then you have to try the Bengal BBQ in Adventureland in Disneyland. Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney might also be good. The Cheesecake Factory in the Anaheim Garden Walk has a great Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp, which is coconut curry. My favorite!

I always like to eat at the Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand Californian. Nice food, and a quiet atmosphere. A great place to get away from the crowds in California Adventure. Note that the Grand Californian has an entrance right from the park.

Have a great time!

 

[johde]

I took my first trip to DL last year for the Disneyland Half Marathon. Instead of doing a few days before the race, I did my touring after the race. The weekend was fairly busy but by Tuesday the parks had cleared out nicely. The only downside of doing most of your touring afterwards is that refurbs have a tendency to start at that time.

 

[ArchOwl]

Yay for a Disneyland visit! I think you will have so much fun!

We're thinking about going to Disneyland Labor Day weekend to cheer on a good friend running in the 1/2 marathon.

I read the info post about what WDW vets should expect, and it was really helpful. (Hooray for Mr. Toad, Indy, and rational lines for Toy Story Midway Mania!) I still had a few questions, though.

The biggie: How crowded is it likely to be on a marathon weekend? Should we try to come in a couple of days early? Should I be making hotel reservations right now?

I was there at the last Labor Day weekend with the 1/2 marathon. My observations regarding crowds can be seen here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2794666

Bottom line, manageable crowds if you know how to work FPs and long hours which I prefer. Monday was the busiest day because APs were unblocked and it was a holiday. Plan accordingly.

I booked a hotel a few weeks in advance, but stayed off-site that visit. I would imagine the on-site hotels might be busier, so keep that in mind. I think you have plenty of time to decide, however.

Which airport would you recommend for a newcomer?

I haven't flown into SoCal in forever, but price is the determining factor for me.

How many days is advisable for first-time park commandos? (I always mean to take mid-day breaks, but some theme park drill sergeant takes over my body the minute I walk down Main Street.)

I agree with most everyone else that 3 days is the minimum, but more days would be better. I would imagine Tuesday would be the least crowded day, but keep in mind the hours will probably be sharply curtailed and possible refurbs could begin.

How tough is it to see World of Color? Is it important to do the dining package?

World of Color is an absolutely must! If you know what you are doing it isn't hard to see, but does take some time to get a good view. The picnic option gives you the exact same FP as the free ones you can get, so I would skip that. The WOC dinner gives you access to the preferred dining area, but is pricey.

Looking at my trip report from that weekend, it looks as though I was able to snag a blue FP (good section) for the second WOC show well into the late afternoon/early evening. By lining up early, you could get a very good view from the blue section. Definitely read HydroGuy's WOC Superthread. It breaks down your choices and has a great map showing the best viewing spots for WOC. But it is worth the time investment for sure.

Also, does Disneyland have a Main Street Electrical Parade? (Haven't seen it since I was a kid and would love to. I miss Pete's Dragon.)

Sadly, no.

Food questions: We're not serious foodies and the prices at Napa Rose scare me. But we like spicy food, seafood, Thai, Indian, etc. I also have the only kid in America who doesn't like ketchup. (I have no idea how that happened.) Any places you would recommend?

Napa Rose is amazing, but very pricey. I second the recommendation for Jazz Kitchen. Not too many ethnic food spots in the DLR unfortunately. Most of the food is American in style and taste. Along those lines I like Storyteller's, Plaza Inn for chicken, Boardwalk Pasta, and Pacific Wharf Cafe.

I don't know if you were thinking of Fantasmic, but there is a dessert option that is very nice. Reserved seating and a dessert box with beverages. It is pricey, though. I think you get a better benefit doing the Fantasmic dessert than the WOC preferred dining, but that is my opinion.

I think if you do Fantasmic, WOC, Aladdin, and the fireworks you will really be wanting 4 days to fit it all in.
Many, many thanks for any and all advice.

 

[yakkin' yeti]

I took my first trip to DL last year for the Disneyland Half Marathon. Instead of doing a few days before the race, I did my touring after the race. The weekend was fairly busy but by Tuesday the parks had cleared out nicely. The only downside of doing most of your touring afterwards is that refurbs have a tendency to start at that time.

Wish we could try that strategy, but our son's first day of middle school is that Tuesday, so we need to have him back in time. Thanks for the idea, though!

 

[yakkin' yeti]

Yay for a Disneyland visit! I think you will have so much fun!

Thanks! I really appreciate all the great advice and the link. Your laid-back Labor Day trip sounded lovely (except for the Monday crowds). I hope you're feeling better, though.) We've got to fly out on Monday to get our son back for school, so it doesn't sound like we'll be missing much -- except a whole bunch of people. From what you and other posters have said, I think we'll aim for four days. And thanks for all the advice on World of Color and Fantasmic. (The dessert option sounds yummy.) I'll definitely need to read Hydroguy's thread on WOC.

And wbl2745, I have yet to master the multi-quote, but your tips were really helpful. My husband and son love BBQ, so thanks for the Bengal recommendation. The Jazz Kitchen definitely sounds worth a look, since so many people have mentioned it. And Storyteller's sounds like a nice way to experience the Grand Californian.

 

[wbl2745]

My husband and son love BBQ, so thanks for the Bengal recommendation.

Just to clarify, the Bengal BBQ is more Bengal than Texas. The flavors are definitely Asian. I mentioned it because you said that your family liked spicy. My favorite at the Bengal BBQ is the bacon wrapped asparagus. Not spicy, but really good. You can find the menu here.

Have fun!

 

[johde]

Wish we could try that strategy, but our son's first day of middle school is that Tuesday, so we need to have him back in time. Thanks for the idea, though!

I teach college and had the reverse problem. I gave my last final of Summer secession on the Thursday before the race, made sure everything was graded Friday, and flew from Columbus, OH to LAX on Saturday for the race Sunday.