Really need help - Experts please answer

[nicki.momof3]

We (MD, DH, DS9, DS8, DD6) have gone to WDW 2x a year for the last 7 years. We know all about WDW. We stay at POR and love the dining plan. Usually we go on 10 day trips and do the parks everyday.

I was reading the DL website and I am a little confused.

1. Being new to DL I do not know how much time to allow for each park. We like to take everything in and ride everything at least 2x. Would 3-4 days be enough?

2. I am confused about the dining plan. They have a minnie, mickey and so on. I read it and said the minnie includes 3 character dinings, 1 premimum character dining, 1 $15 voucher, and one snack vouncher.
*** Does this meal that we can only eat at character meals. We would be interested in one but would like to go to other places also. Are there other places to eat at DL?

3. Has anyone done the southern california city pass - opinions - did you need a rental car? How does that work?

 

[kailuagirl]

When are you planning on going? I think that might depend alot of the days you will want to spend in the parks.

Personally, 3-4 days are not enough for us. The first time we went with my DD, she just turned 2, we went for 3 1/2 days and didn't get to do everything we wanted, but it was in June. Last Dec. we went for 5 days and loved it! We went early Dec. so low crowds and we still didn't get to do everything we wanted, but we got to do the things we really like several times. It is very easy to park hop, both parks are right across from each other, so you can go back and forth as needed. But there is alot to see and do so the more time, the better.

So I say 5 days, I would love 6.

I've never done the dining plan, so I can't help there, but from what I recall reading here, it's not like the WDW plan and most people suggest not getting it. I'm sure others will give you better answers for this one. There are several places to eat at DL. Check out allears.com for the menus, it really helps out.

have fun!!

 

[Disney Dreams]

As a WDW regular visitor, it is easy to tend to approach DLR with the same plan and style. The thing is, though, DLR is very different than WDW. You cannot approach it in the same way. Take what you know about WDW, keep it in mind because some of it will be very handy, but also be ready to throw some of it away because it does not apply. They are different places and in many ways, are run differently.

We (MD, DH, DS9, DS8, DD6) have gone to WDW 2x a year for the last 7 years. We know all about WDW. We stay at POR and love the dining plan. Usually we go on 10 day trips and do the parks everyday.

I was reading the DL website and I am a little confused.

1. Being new to DL I do not know how much time to allow for each park. We like to take everything in and ride everything at least 2x. Would 3-4 days be enough?

It really depends on your touring style and what you like to do. There is SOOOO much more than just rides. There are all sorts of little tiny details to take in. There are lots of entertainment offerings. There is just the general beauty of the Parks. I think a lot of people miss a lot of this by just checking off rides. For us, no, 3-4 would not be enough, but... it depends on your style and - a huge aspect - when you are going.

2. I am confused about the dining plan. They have a minnie, mickey and so on. I read it and said the minnie includes 3 character dinings, 1 premimum character dining, 1 $15 voucher, and one snack vouncher.
*** Does this meal that we can only eat at character meals. We would be interested in one but would like to go to other places also. Are there other places to eat at DL?

The dining plan at DLR and the dining plan at WDW are COMPLETELY different species. Many people would never ever dream of visiting WDW without a DP. This is not so important at DLR - and many would say to skip it all together. They do not work in the same way. The DLR plan is more sort of a buy now, spend credits later as opposed to vouchers for a certain allotment of food. That is partially why it is confusing. Don't look at it as a version of WDW's, it's not. I personally would advise you to really look at it and see if it meets your needs.

And yes, there are LOTS of other places to eat at DLR other than character meals. I would suggest going to disneyland.com and looking at the dining information to see all the restaurant offerings.

Sorry, being a DLR local, I know nothing about the City Pass beyond the details listed on their website.

HTH,
Dreams

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Here are the DLR menus from allears.net. Hope this helps.

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm#dl

 

[skiingfast]

1. 3-4 might work. I'd suggest at least 3. If going during a weekend or small holiday add 1 for a total of 4. If during a busy time 5 days.

2. All the dining vouchers have a cash value amount that you can apply to any of the Disney locations, not the DTD restaurants. The main draw back is the cost is the face value on the vouchers and you do not get change back. So when you use the $5 voucher for a coke that costs $2.79 you loose the other $2.21 of value the voucher had. But you could use it to buy two cokes at $5.58 and pay the extra .58 in cash.

There are many dining locations but not as many as in WDW. Each of the DL hotels has a CS, and the DLH and GCH have a TS in addition to the character meals location in each hotel.

Each park has a Character Meal and a a few more TS locations. Many CS locations of course.

3. A rental would be advisable to get to USH. To SW and the Zoo it's possible to take a train and cab combo and a sometimes fair tradeoff to using a rental. You can add days to the Disney Park Hopper from Citypass quite easily when at DL. You can find rental cars easily withing walking distance of the resort area hotels. You won't need the car when at DL though.

Please takes a look at DLR guide for WDW vets.