Question for WDW vets that been at DLR

[soaringirl]

I've been to WDW and I'm familiar with the crowds, touring plans. etc. Now, for my upcoming trip, instead of visiting Disneyland on a weekday, I'll have to go in a weekend:
Friday - Disneyland (arriving mid-morning, driving from San Diego).
Saturday - CA
Sunday - Universal Studios
Monday - DL /CA
and the DL vets say that weekends in low season (September) is like mid-summer weekdays.....
My question is.. does any WDW vet knows what weekends in DLR can compare to WDW?? Like a level 7?
I just spent a Xmas vacation last December, not Xmas itself but close by, and it was prettry crowded, tho we managed it well.
I'll park hope, Disneyland in the morning and CA in the evening, but I'm still unsure of what they're talking about!!

 

[Dobie]

It is probably a 7 or 8 as far as lengths of waits on major rides. But there is a bit of apples and oranges (or Mickeys and Donalds) for the following reasons:

1. DLR is much smaller physically, which means that the rides are closer together. The pathways are much, much more crowded on a busy day, even when the waits are the same length.

2. DLR does not have as many FP rides as WDW.

3. DLR will be catering primarily to locals in September, which means that there will be a LOT of people there Friday and Saturday nights, but the parks will be much, much less crowded Saturday and Sunday mornings. In fact, since many annual passholders will be blocked out on Saturday, you might want to pick that as a Disneyland day.

4. There is not the focus on restaurant reservations, so it will be easier to get preferred seating.

5. Disneyland and California are very close together, so park hopping is a snap and is highly recommended.

6. The weather will be so, so, so much better that you will not be nearly as fatigued and sweaty and will have a supremely magical time.

7. I would strongly encourage you to purchase Ridemax to plot out your activities. It will let you figure out the best ways to integrate Disneyland and DCA into your trip days.

 

[soaringirl]

Thanks Dobie. Do you think it will be wiser then to go to Universal on Friday then? and leave Disney parks for Saturday, Sunday & Monday?

 

[Huff]

Don't plan 1 day at DL and 1 day at CA. Park Hop! Park hopping at DLR is nothing like it is at WDW. At DLR the two parks are a 2 minute walk from one to the other. Its super easy to go back and forth and treat them as if they are one big park.

 

[skiingfast]

First I agree with the PP plan to park hop.

Also the weekend days in September may be fine. AP holders in DLR are a force to recon with. You can check the blockout calendar on various site or www.disneyland.com under buy and annual pass.

Many people report very busy days that aren't blocked out can be followed by very mellow days when the APs aren't there.

 

[soaringirl]

Yes, I plan to park-hop, it was just a guideline, I'm not use to park-hop so I didn't write it down.
I checked the site as PP suggested.. there are 3 levesl (?) for APs, the premium hasn't block-out dates for September, the other 2 levels have the weekend blocked (18th & 19th).. so are those good news'?