Overwhelmed 1st DL trip

[metalis4ever]

So I am a seasoned WDW vet, but the DW and I are planning our first ever DL trip in October. We decided this Thursday and booked our flights yesterday, which for us is VERY last minute.

So here is my issue, we have flights....But the rest is just completely overwhelming..... I have perused the threads on here which have been helpful and subscribed to a few.... Having said that can anyone suggest specific threads on here that will provide me with some guidance as far as where to stay, eat and play...You know the usual.

We are flying into LAX and renting a car so transportation is not an issue. We plan on being in Anaheim 7 nights. Oct 15-22.

Any thread links would be greatly appreciated!! I feel like a fish out of water Also I can't help but feeling that on some level I am cheating on WDW haha

 

[Mr Wes]

Don't be overwhelmed. Disneyland is smaller then WDW. With 7 days you'll have plenty of time to do it all. Don't know how many days you plan to spend at Disneyland but I think in to 4-5 days you should be able to see everything DL and DCA have to offer! 1 think I recommend is don't miss World of Color, it is, in my opinion the best Disney attraction anywhere! WDW included.

 

[metalis4ever]

Don't be overwhelmed. Disneyland is smaller then WDW. With 7 days you'll have plenty of time to do it all. Don't know how many days you plan to spend at Disneyland but I think in to 4-5 days you should be able to see everything DL and DCA have to offer! 1 think I recommend is don't miss World of Color, it is, in my opinion the best Disney attraction anywhere! WDW included.

Yeah we were thinking at least 4 or 5 days at DL then taking 1 day to do San Diego Zoo (Cause we're nerds) and another day trip to Las Vegas cause we've both never been. Not much for gambling or partying so I figure a day to walk around and maybe dinner someplace nice then head back to Anaheim, 4 hrs is nothing for us

I was looking into the World of Color Dinner Package eyeballing Ariel's Grotto. We definitely don't want to miss that!!!

The 18th I was thinking about doing Mickey's Halloween Party, we've done Not So Scary at WDW and I know they are very different but it still seems like a good take....

We're also going to really take our time and have 2 full days planned for each Park with the 5th day being going back and doing all the things we loved again...and of course filling up on the fabled Tigger Tails before heading back home....

 

[MychaelP]

Vegas day trip is doable, but not recommended. It takes about 4 hours with no traffic to get there from Anaheim. I've done it before, but you only get a few hours there. It's better to stay overnight one night. More is better, but one night still gives you the chance to see Vegas at night and more than enough time to see what you want to.
They have flights to Vegas though that can get you there quicker if your budget allows. Then one day is ok, but would cost much more with taxis, etc.

 

[BigCheese]

I know how you feel. I felt the same way when planning our first WDW trip (reverse of what you're planning). The following link, full of VERY useful information (and tons of links) compiled by Hydroguy is extremely helpful for DLR newbies.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276

Based on personal preference, we love staying onsite, just because we love being totally immersed in the Disney magic. However the main drawback is the price (which is a LOT more costly than staying offsite). However unlike WDW, offsite hotels (on Harbor Blvd) are very close to the parks, some of which require less walking to the park entrances compared to the DLH or PPH. That being said, we love all 3 hotels on property. If budget isn't a primary concern, I would consider researching the Grand Californian (GCH), Paradise Pier Hotel (PPH), and Disneyland Hotel (DLH). There's a superthread for the GCH (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2396588&highlight=gch). It's the most expensive (but closest) of the 3 onsite hotels. I don't believe there's a super thread for DLH or PPH.

Another really different thing (compared to WDW) is that DLR has magic mornings (MM). It's different from EMHs in that MMs are offered, for Disneyland, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. You can enter the park 1 hour before the normal opening time. A lot of people avoid EMHs at WDW, but you should NOT avoid MMs at DL. You can get a LOT done in that one hour, and it has no impact on estimated crowd levels like EMHs sometimes do. If you stay onsite, you get every available MM during your stay (you just need to show your hotel key). If you stay offsite and buy a park hopper ticket, you only get 1 MM. Also, if you stay onsite, you can take advantage of the GCH private entrance to DCA. Onsite guests (if you stay at any of the 3 hotels) can enter DCA through a side entrance earlier than guests can enter the main DCA entrance. This allows you to get WOC fast passes earlier (if you decide not to get the WOC dinner package), ride Soarin' earlier (which is open to all guests as soon as they enter DCA), and ride Little Mermaid earlier (30 minutes before other guests. Although I'm not sure if this option will always be available, or if it was only during the summer).

At WDW, we normally don't get park hoppers. At DLR, we always get park hoppers. The walk between DL and DCA only takes a few minutes, and you'll probably find that a refreshing difference to the travel required at WDW (in between parks and resorts. In fact, everything at DLR is within walking distance. We usually go back, and forth, and back again between parks every day we're there, so having park hoppers (for us) is an absolute must.

 

[Carmatts]

If you have never been to Vegas, I would not recommend a day trip. 4 hours is if there is no traffic, but there is traffic a lot of the time. You could spend days there, not gamble a bit and still not do everything.
If you do Vegas, spend a night there, so you have some time to walk around and take it in. With the economy the way it is, Vegas hotels are really cheap.

 

[HydroGuy]

So I am a seasoned WDW vet, but the DW and I are planning our first ever DL trip in October. We decided this Thursday and booked our flights yesterday, which for us is VERY last minute.

So here is my issue, we have flights....But the rest is just completely overwhelming..... I have perused the threads on here which have been helpful and subscribed to a few.... Having said that can anyone suggest specific threads on here that will provide me with some guidance as far as where to stay, eat and play...You know the usual.

We are flying into LAX and renting a car so transportation is not an issue. We plan on being in Anaheim 7 nights. Oct 15-22.

Any thread links would be greatly appreciated!! I feel like a fish out of water Also I can't help but feeling that on some level I am cheating on WDW haha

This thread will help you learn what questions you should be asking:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Here is some transportation info - "Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

 

[metalis4ever]

Thank You all for the advice and links!!!

I am definitely re-thinking the Vegas day trip and researching staying in Vegas 1 night!!

Hydroguy - That link is perfect thank you

It feels like my first WDW trip all over again!!! Hopefully I can hold it together and not cry when I come to the realization that I am walking in the same foot steps as Walt Disney himself....Do you think anyone would notice a 6'4 guy openly weeping on Main Street, U.S.A. ?

 

[emacat]

DL may sound overwhelming, but it really isn't at all. That's actually the reason we prefer DL to WDW.

Hydroguy's tips above are a must we used on our first trip a while back, and they're definately worth noting. But, in 5 days, with FP usage and an idea of what rides to head to early (Finding Nemo, for example!), you'll have time to do it all, enjoy Downtown Disney, and ride some all over again.

I do have to agree with the others on Las Vegas. You may want to try to add a day for that...