Planning help needed!

[KimK2006]

Have been to WDW many times. We are tentatively planning a road trip through CA next summer. If we do, we will definitely make DL part of it. I know NOTHING about DL. (Or CA in general!) How many days should we plan in the parks? Where is a good place to stay? Any major differences from WDW? Is it like WDW and the earlier in the summer you can go, the lower the crowds?

I appreciate any advice you can give! I am a trip over planner and will do some planning. Thought someone could give me a quick overview!

 

[Winnowill]

Well, DL and WDW are very different animals. DL doesn't require anywhere near the level of planning of WDW. For one thing, DL doesn't have FP+, so there is no pre-planning of activities months ahead of time. Dining reservations at DL don't open up until 60 days out, and there is no need to be right online when they open up to get them, even for the most desirable.

To start, most people recommend at least three park days to get most things in that you would like to do. More is better. Get park hoppers - they're kind of a pain at WDW, but at DL, the parks are mere moments away from one another and hopping is easy.

The hotels close by are highly desirable - some are right across the street and just a couple minutes of walking get you to the gates.

 

[KimK2006]

Well, DL and WDW are very different animals. DL doesn't require anywhere near the level of planning of WDW. For one thing, DL doesn't have FP+, so there is no pre-planning of activities months ahead of time. Dining reservations at DL don't open up until 60 days out, and there is no need to be right online when they open up to get them, even for the most desirable.

To start, most people recommend at least three park days to get most things in that you would like to do. More is better. Get park hoppers - they're kind of a pain at WDW, but at DL, the parks are mere moments away from one another and hopping is easy.

The hotels close by are highly desirable - some are right across the street and just a couple minutes of walking get you to the gates.

Thanks! Had no ideal they didn't have FP+! Will definitely do the park hopper. We do at WDW.

 

[Geemo]

Have been to WDW many times. We are tentatively planning a road trip through CA next summer. If we do, we will definitely make DL part of it. I know NOTHING about DL. (Or CA in general!) How many days should we plan in the parks? Where is a good place to stay? Any major differences from WDW? Is it like WDW and the earlier in the summer you can go, the lower the crowds?

I appreciate any advice you can give! I am a trip over planner and will do some planning. Thought someone could give me a quick overview!

The earlier you book an off-site hotel the lower the rate will be.
BOOK NOW many of the hotels have their reservation calendars open.
Depending on when next summer, you might be experiencing Disneyland with the new StarWarsLand OPEN.

 

[figment_jii]

I recommend you take a look at HydroGuy's A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. It'll help give you a sense of the differences (there are a lot of them) and similarities between the two resorts. The biggest difference is that DLR doesn't require (or even allow for) as much planning as WDW.

In terms of the number of days, that depends on what you want to do. I would recommend a minimum of three-days, but you'll need to prioritize which attractions, shows, and characters you'd like to meet. If you wanted to do more (or do things at a more leisurely rate), I'd consider five days.

Where to stay depends a lot on your budget and what kind of place you're looking for. There are three onsite hotels and then several motels nearby (within walking distance). I've stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn, BW Anaheim Inn, Fairfield Inn, and the Courtyard by Marriot (hotel). The Courtyard was the nicest, but it was also the most expensive. The BWPPI is the closest and that's where we usually stay.

Next summer is hard to predict at this point. DLR is slated to open Star Wars Land in the summer, but they haven't said when. Due to the changes in the AP calendar, the guessing is that it's got a target date of sometime in June. If you go after it opens, then the crowds are expected to be huge. If go before it opens, the crowds will probably be okay (still busy, but not insane). So if you're trying to avoid the crowds, I would aim to go as early in the summer as possible (before Memorial Day weekend to be safe).

 

[KimK2006]

I recommend you take a look at HydroGuy's A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. It'll help give you a sense of the differences (there are a lot of them) and similarities between the two resorts. The biggest difference is that DLR doesn't require (or even allow for) as much planning as WDW.

In terms of the number of days, that depends on what you want to do. I would recommend a minimum of three-days, but you'll need to prioritize which attractions, shows, and characters you'd like to meet. If you wanted to do more (or do things at a more leisurely rate), I'd consider five days.

Where to stay depends a lot on your budget and what kind of place you're looking for. There are three onsite hotels and then several motels nearby (within walking distance). I've stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn, BW Anaheim Inn, Fairfield Inn, and the Courtyard by Marriot (hotel). The Courtyard was the nicest, but it was also the most expensive. The BWPPI is the closest and that's where we usually stay.

Next summer is hard to predict at this point. DLR is slated to open Star Wars Land in the summer, but they haven't said when. Due to the changes in the AP calendar, the guessing is that it's got a target date of sometime in June. If you go after it opens, then the crowds are expected to be huge. If go before it opens, the crowds will probably be okay (still busy, but not insane). So if you're trying to avoid the crowds, I would aim to go as early in the summer as possible (before Memorial Day weekend to be safe).

Thanks you! I will check out the guide. I will check out the hotels you noted, too.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Ive writing a trip report of my June 2018 Disneyland and California trip. Check it out, you might find some useful tips
https://www.disboards.com/threads/s...es-i-survived-with-no-maxpass-no-car.3692412/

 

[chickapin parterre]

what are your dates?

 

[KimK2006]

Ive writing a trip report of my June 2018 Disneyland and California trip. Check it out, you might find some useful tips
https://www.disboards.com/threads/s...es-i-survived-with-no-maxpass-no-car.3692412/

Great! This will be a very helpful read!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... when next year were you thinking of visiting? SWGE is scheduled to open at DLR sometime in June (according to popular opinion -- no official opening date yet), and that event will affect crowds and hotel prices/occupancy exponentially.
This thread has lots of helpful information for your trip planning: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets.
This thread has great information, too: https://www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-dlr-area-hotel-for-you.3656512/.

This is from another thread, but the information will be very helpful for your planning.

 

[KimK2006]

This is from another thread, but the information will be very helpful for your planning.

Thank you!