sell me on it!

[moesy4]

We have a trip to the world booked for the end of October....three kids six and under plus my mom. Staying off site for space, just parks...this trip is my "baby". We went to the parks for two days two years ago with friends who organized it post cruise and it was fun but not well organized and I want to go back and do it right. Dh doesn't care for crowds, heat, or lines, but he will definitely go and have a good time.

Anyway, we had seriously considered Disneyland before...love the compactness and walkability of the parks, the fact that we could go to the beach or mountains for a couple days since the parks wouldn't take the entire week, and my husband really wants to go out west. We eventually shot it down because of pricey flights and the time change (3 hours).
Well, I just found a really good flight deal into lax. This is putting Disneyland back on the table, but since I have been researching Disneyworld for the last six months I am feeling a little overwhelmed.
Can you give me some pros and cons, something that would be a deal breaker either way, or costs I am not thinking of? Any other tips?

 

[nikkislaght]

As you said DisneyLAND is compact. and easy to do both parks in a day...
its the original park where Walt walked.
Ive read a lot of people prefer the rides at DL.
if you have a Cars lover , there is Radiator Springs Racers.. which is not at WDW.

In April we will be doing our 6th trip to DL,, I have done WDW and really didnt care for it.. too many parks.. the only thing I really enjoyed at WDW was the Epcot Center ..
once you get to DL, a lot of the hotels are within walking distance.. or they have the ART .

I Think the weather in Cal is a little more stable and therefore more user friendly year round... we usually go in April and even though its still on the cooler side for me.. my family love the weather in April .. coming from WA anything is warmer ..

depending on the time of year, you dont have to be the crazy planner at DL that you need to be at WDW. no magic bands. or fastpass + so you dont have to make your FP resi, 6 months in advance. you have the luxury of going at a slower pace...
you can make dinning reservations the night before. and in fact we made some that morning before we left for the park.. In WDW again you have to make them so far in advance , crazy..!

You will get a number of different answers from all kinds of folks.. if you read Hydroguys info that should help you alot ...

http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/


no matter where you end up .. hope you have a great trip..

 

[Nevada Jen]

3 kids 6 and under and a hubby who doesn't like heat? I think Disneyland makes more sense. The temp will almost certainly be better. And I think a lot of the things that make World better to me (Epcot and all the greenery) wouldn't be of interest to the 6 and under crowd. There are a couple of nearby hotels with family suites and good pool areas for littles. Plus, your kids are a good age for LEGOLAND and SeaWorld. Finally, for those who are no where near it, California holds a certain allure that Florida just doesn't. The hidden cost might be a car rental for the days you want to go to the beach or the mountains (plus carseat issues). Maybe bag fees for the airline

 

[courtneybeth]

I see a timetable of October for WDW - but would this be the same for Disneyland? September and October are the HOTTEST months at Disneyland and we have the Halloween Party that shuts down one park at 6 or 7pm nearly every night in October.

If it's October, I'd stick to the World. If you're looking at a different time table for Disneyland then YES YES YES. Come here and enjoy the ambiance of our little park

 

[Niltiac]

I don't think it would be unpleasantly hot at the end of October. I'm not familiar with Florida weather to compare though. And I don't see the halloween parties as being that much of a problem either - it's only about three nights a week, DCA is still open, plus with three kids under 6 and and 3-hour time change OP might not be staying late in the parks anyway. Doesn't WDW also have halloween parties?

That said, I'm not really sure where you should go and I've never been to WDW so I'm not the most qualified person to answer. Expense-wise, I think WDW is usually more expensive because it would probably be a longer trip, but if you were planning on driving to WDW then you might have to consider a rental car or other transportation with DL (you don't need a rental car while you're at the parks because there are so many close hotels, but for other outings). It seems to me that once you're there, there would be less hassle at DL since everything is walk-able, and you could take the kids back to the hotel to rest or split up if one of them needs a nap more easily I imagine. One of the big draws to WDW seems to be staying on-site and staying in "the bubble", but you mentioned you were planning to stay off-site anyway, so I think I would lean toward Disneyland unless you are specifically looking forward to Epcot or something else that is WDW-specific. I wouldn't worry about having to re-plan because you have plenty of time. If you decide to go with DL, just sort out your hotel and flights right away to save money, and everything else can be planned at your leisure.

 

[dancin'bec]

Another vote for Disneyland here. I'm planning my third trip there next month. The planning is so much less stress for me. I like the easy park hopping, paper fast passes, being able to walk back to my hotel, and not having to make reservations so far out. I love both DL and WDW, but with the ages of your kids, and as a parent whose taken kids that young, I'd choose DL.

 

[wench]

I so want to sell you on DLR. DL is the park that owns my heart & always will. But, if your husband hates crowds, it might not be right for you. The crowds at DLR have gotten progressively worse the last couple of years. The pathways, especially entering the lands right off the hub, just weren't built wide enough to accommodate the crowds they get nowadays. There are tips for alternate routes to get around, but it still gets pretty bad. DCA is much easier to get around though as it was built with this in mind. I'd maybe ask your husband what he would rather deal with. Tightly packed crowds with a dry heat or more spaced out crowds with an even worse humid heat?

Sorry that sounds so depressing. I really do love DL! And if you go in October, I would definitely try to do the Halloween Party. Halloween Screams is in my opinion the best fireworks show ever made!

 

[mom2rtk]

I so want to sell you on DLR. DL is the park that owns my heart & always will. But, if your husband hates crowds, it might not be right for you. The crowds at DLR have gotten progressively worse the last couple of years. The pathways, especially entering the lands right off the hub, just weren't built wide enough to accommodate the crowds they get nowadays. There are tips for alternate routes to get around, but it still gets pretty bad. DCA is much easier to get around though as it was built with this in mind. I'd maybe ask your husband what he would rather deal with. Tightly packed crowds with a dry heat or more spaced out crowds with an even worse humid heat?

Sorry that sounds so depressing. I really do love DL! And if you go in October, I would definitely try to do the Halloween Party. Halloween Screams is in my opinion the best fireworks show ever made!

Honestly, if her husband hates crowds, I'm not sure I could recommend either park. October is not a low crowd time any more.

 

[moesy4]

Honestly, if her husband hates crowds, I'm not sure I could recommend either park. October is not a low crowd time any more.

Yes, you are correct, he is fully aware it will probably be packed either place and has made peace with it...it isn't his first choice, but our vacation of choice (cruising) is also very crowded and it doesn't bother him much at all. I think it is more the combo of waiting and crowds and wandering. The two days we went with friends a couple of years ago that they planned, we went on MLK weekend Saturday to Magic Kingdom on a day with EMH...with no Fast Passes (we had a cast member friend that got us in free). So yeah...not the best gauge since I now know you don't go to the busiest park on one of the busiest weekends of the year with EMH when you aren't staying on site. We still had a blast, but yeah, talk about crowds and wandering.

Thanks everyone for your input...I think we are leaning towards the Disneyland trip but am going to sit on it for a few weeks.

Any input on what to do for 3 or so nights after we are done with Disney? Would like to keep it fairly inexpensive (under $200/night) and something with nature, so state park/mountain/beach with trails, etc.

 

[sherilaine]

I don't think anyone should try to sell you on DLR - if it's for you then great - if it's not then be prepared for that to be the outcome. Research is the only way to make the decision.

Right now, I cannot be sold on WDW, too far, too big, too expensive - and we already love DLR - other people would disagree - so that is why these things are very subjective.

 

[VandVsmama]

You should totally go to DL! Here are a few reasons why:

1. Although October can be on the warm side, it is not like Florida "warm." Even a humid day in Anaheim is WAY less humid than in Orlando. Seriously...there is no comparison.
2. October is a very popular time of year for locals to go to DL...and for tourists, too, especially the week of Columbus Day because a lot of schools in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona have that week off from school. It is still better than going to WDW in the middle of summer.
3. The 2 parks @ DL, together, have actually a couple more attractions than the 4 parks at WDW (at least according to a thread I read a few years ago by Hydroguy).
4. Park hopping is totally worth it. You don't have to get on a bus, get off the bus, walk 0.25-0.50 mile to the park entrance, go through security again, and then enter. Once you've gone through security check at the Esplanade, you can hop between DL & DCA without going through security again! It's very convenient and takes MAYBE 5 minutes (depending on lines at the gates, of course).
5. You don't have to stress out about where you all want to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner 6 months ahead of time. You don't have to be on the phone at midnight Eastern time exactly 180 days in advance to book that special character meal. Dining reservations are done 60 days in advance at DL. If it's a special in-park dining package (like a World of Color lunch/dinner package), sometimes you can't book it until 6 weeks before the date because DL doesn't publish their park hours until 6 weeks ahead of time.
6. There is no FP+. No stressing out about planning your day so much that you have to figure out what time of day all of your little ones will be awake & NOT asleep in a stroller so you can go on a particular attraction.
7. Character meet & greets are very plentiful & much more organic at DL. Generally speaking, there are hardly any FP's for character meet & greets. For quite awhile, Anna & Elsa had a FP, but I don't know if they still do. The DL website would be able to tell you for sure.
8. Getting up early & being at DL for rope drop right when the park opens TOTALLY PAYS OFF! None of the locals (even those who live within 5 miles of DL) ever get there before 10-10:30 am at the earliest. If you stay at a motel close by (either walking distance or at an ART stop and take the ART bus), then the lines for the 1st two hours the parks are open are much lower than later in the day. The 1st 2-3 hours of park opening are kind of the golden hours.
9. Every time we've been in Fantasyland within the 1st hour that DL is open, we ALWAYS see Peter Pan & Captain Hook mingling around. We see the Mad Hatter & Alice, too. Without ANY line. Or if there is one, it's only a couple of people long. Your kids would love that. NO FP+ TO BOOK 60 DAYS IN ADVANCE FOR THIS!
10. Every afternoon at Coke Corner on Main Street, the Mad Hatter and Alice play musical chairs. Ask a CM earlier in the day to confirm the time. I've heard it's often in the 2-3pm range. Your kids can play musical chairs with the Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland. NO FP OR FP+ TO BOOK AHEAD OF TIME! YOU JUST SHOW UP! And most park guests don't even know about this entertainment option. I learned about from fellow DIS'ers.

Other things to do for 3 days outside of DL:

• Listen to some of Mary Jo's DISUnplugged podcasts...the ones that have a title with "Day 6 Adventure" in it. Those podcasts have some great ideas.
• Go to the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.
• Go to the Discovery Cube museum in Orange County. It's just a couple of freeway exits south of DL on I-5.
• Show your kids the space shuttle in Los Angeles at the California Sciences Center.
• Spend a day at the beach.
• Given your children's ages & nap schedules, you could spend 1 day taking it kind of easy, but take the kids to the Santa Ana Zoo. Do that in the morning & swim at your hotel/motel in the afternoon. 1 parent stays in the motel room with sleeping toddlers/babies & other parent takes the older kids to the motel pool. Go to zoo in the morning to wear everybody out before naptime.
• Take your kids to Pump It Up in Anaheim Hills for a couple of hours...preferably in morning, then pool in afternoon.

 

[VandVsmama]

Other suggestions for ensuring that your family has a good time at DL:

1. Have every person in your family pick THE #1 attraction they want to go on. Make sure you go on that on day 1...in case the ride breaks down, you'll have additional days to still try to go on it.
2. 3 day or more park hoppers come with 1 Magic Morning entry. Magic Morning entry is on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at DL only. DLR hotel guests also get EMH at DL on those days (and EMH at DCA on the other days of the week). Schedule day 1 such that you can use your Magic Morning entry on day 1. This is when everybody will be the most well rested.
3. Magic Morning gets you access to JUST Fantasyland (except not the Storybook Land Canal Boats) and Tomorrowland rides. If going on Peter Pan is not a priority and assuming that you're going to skip Matterhorn because of the kids' ages, go to Fantasyland first and do the rides in approximately this order: Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, , Casey Jr Circus Train, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White, Pinocchio, King Arthur's Carousel. Then at regular park opening time (this is when Storybook Land Canal Boats open), go on Storybook Land Canal Boats). Then stop for bathroom breaks, snacks, etc. After that, go and do Autopia, get FP for Buzz Lightyear or go on it right away if there's not much wait (there will probably be hardly any wait at all). For kids who meet the height requirement & want to go on it, get FP for Star Tours.
4. Toon Town usually opens about an hour after regular park opening. The main characters (except for Mickey) will come and open the Toon Town gates. It's really fun. Then make a bee line for Mickey's House and you can meet Mickey with ZERO OR VERY LITTLE LINE! Mickey's meet & greet has no FP.
5. Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin can sometimes be a bit scary for younger kids. Show your kids the Youtube videos and gauge their reactions and decide what works best for you & your kids.
6. Learn where the Baby Care Centers are in both parks.
7. This DISUnplugged podcast is really great because it has all sorts of suggestions for taking kids ages 0-3 to DL.
8. This DISUnplugged podcast covers suggestions for kids ages 4-7 or so.
9. download the Disneyland app to your smart phone. It has ride wait times. It also shows all of the character meet & greets & their locations, plus location & times of all of the entertainment.
10. At certain times of day, the Disneyland band does a cool show in front of Main Street station sometimes with characters who dance. And sometimes the characters will invite kids from the "audience" (aka spectators who are standing there watching) to dance with them. Often when that happens, it's pretty spontaneous and pretty magical. But you can ask at City Hall to confirm the times of day when this Disneyland band show occurs so you don't miss it if you want to see it.
11. If you or your spouse are/were in the military or are just very patriotic in general, don't miss the flag retreat ceremony in Town Square. Ask at City Hall to confirm the time it occurs.
12. go to Carsland just before sunset (confirm with a Carsland CM as to the time, or check sunset time online yourself and get there a few min beforehand) so you can see the brief but very magical neon lights thing that happens in Carsland at dusk. Just line in the movie, they play the "Sh-boom" song as all of the neon signs are turned on. It's really cool!!

Good places to unwind at DL & DCA when it's crowded & you're getting "theme park fatigue":

• Outside at the French Market while the jazz band is playing - eat some Mickey beignets
• Go see Great Moments with Mr Lincoln on Main Street. Let your kids explore the cool displays in the waiting area
• At DCA - go to the Animation Building. Animation Academy is really fun and you can do it multiple times in a row and learn how to draw a different character each time. Also in this building is Turtle Talk with Crush. And in the general waiting area in the Animation Building, there are all sorts of cool screens & displays...lots of seating to sit down and relax on...it's well air conditioned.
• Go see Mickey & The Magical Map show at the back and of Fantasyland (near It's a Small World).

 

[VandVsmama]

How to use paper FP at DL:
It's just like how WDW used to do it before they started Magic Bands. But DL does enforce FP return times. Here's what our family does...

1. At park opening time, send 1 adult to the FP ride with everybody's tickets. Get FP for everybody who will be riding. Let's assume that at 8am, you grab FP for Star Tours. Return time says 9-10am.
2. At 9:00 am, send 1 adult to another FP ride to get FPs for. Let's say this time, it's for Space Mountain. Return time now says 11am-12pm.
3. Now go on Star Tours using your FP.
4. Do other stuff, go on other rides, etc. until 11 am.
5. At 11 am, your Space Mountain FP return window opens. You also want to go on Indiana Jones. Send 1 adult to Indiana Jones to get FP for that. Even though some of your kids might not be tall enough to go on Indy, if they have a regular ticket (i.e., they're older than age 3), you can get a FP for them and have somebody else use it. The paper FP tickets are such that you can give them to other people. We've done this with FPs that we weren't going to use. But even if you give the FP to somebody else, you can't grab another FP on that park ticket until EITHER the FP window opens or 2 hr have passed, whichever comes first.
6. Now go on Space Mountain.
7. Your Indiana Jones FP window opens up later. Before you go on Indy, go and get FP for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
8. THEN go on Indy.
9. Lather, rinse, repeat.

You can also combine the above with Baby Swap passes to essentially double the # of times that you can go on a ride.

FYI - FP for Radiator Springs Racers (at least LAST October) ran out about 2 hours after park opening.

 

[sherilaine]

How to use paper FP at DL:
It's just like how WDW used to do it before they started Magic Bands. But DL does enforce FP return times. Here's what our family does...

1. At park opening time, send 1 adult to the FP ride with everybody's tickets. Get FP for everybody who will be riding. Let's assume that at 8am, you grab FP for Star Tours. Return time says 9-10am.
2. At 9:00 am, send 1 adult to another FP ride to get FPs for. Let's say this time, it's for Space Mountain. Return time now says 11am-12pm.
3. Now go on Star Tours using your FP.
4. Do other stuff, go on other rides, etc. until 11 am.
5. At 11 am, your Space Mountain FP return window opens. You also want to go on Indiana Jones. Send 1 adult to Indiana Jones to get FP for that. Even though some of your kids might not be tall enough to go on Indy, if they have a regular ticket (i.e., they're older than age 3), you can get a FP for them and have somebody else use it. The paper FP tickets are such that you can give them to other people. We've done this with FPs that we weren't going to use. But even if you give the FP to somebody else, you can't grab another FP on that park ticket until EITHER the FP window opens or 2 hr have passed, whichever comes first.
6. Now go on Space Mountain.
7. Your Indiana Jones FP window opens up later. Before you go on Indy, go and get FP for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
8. THEN go on Indy.
9. Lather, rinse, repeat.

You can also combine the above with Baby Swap passes to essentially double the # of times that you can go on a ride.

FYI - FP for Radiator Springs Racers (at least LAST October) ran out about 2 hours after park opening.

Just to add to this - the fast pass systems are disconnected in both parks - so following the above one could add 1.1 go to DCA and pull RSR fast passes with a return time of later in the day when the party wants to hop over to DCA. Only one person has to do this - take everyone's tickets, hop over to DCA and pull fast passes for all the tickets. However, if you are going to park hop for this purpose only - then check the app before you do to make sure the ride you are going to get fast passes for has not temporarily closed because you won't be able to pull a FP until it comes back up.

Also, if a ride happens to be down during your fast pass return window - a good example of this is Indy - it goes down A LOT! Then you can use that fast pass to return anytime until park closing with that fast pass.