Some questions for DLR experts:

[brymolmom]

Hi-

Just wrapping up my planning for our FIRST trip - leaving on Tuesday. DLR- HERE WE COME!

First though, need to finish up some planning details
1) I'm debating on this - we plan to do ONE character meal. Will be going to the parks Wed, Thu and Fri next week. Since Thu is our DCA day and it doesn't open til 10...So I decided to book Goofy's Kitchen at 7:50am. SOOO - How long will it take us to get from HOJO to Goofy's? What is the best way to get there? We will not have a car - Can we walk easily? Should we take a cab? My plan is to be at DCA gates by 9:20 or so - is this doable with this timetable? Can we take the monorail back from Goofy's to the park?
2)My plan is to do single park DL for Wed, single park DCA on Thu and then hop between the two on Friday. I realize that people say 'it's so easy to hop' - but there is SO MUCH to do in both parks that I think we'll be able to stay happy/content seeing things in a single park the first two days. We have non-expiring WDW tickets that we're using - two separate ones - I would like to use our non-hopping (older) tickets for the first two days and only break into our brand new hopping tickets for 1 day. Is this really a very bad idea? Does anyone every stick to one park in a day?
3) Likely going to bring a cooler with some sandwiches on our Goofy's day since we won't be that hungry for lunch anyway - would rather have a smaller sandwich and not spend the extra $. Are there lockers in the parks similar to WDW? Are they within each park or in the area between the two? Food, I am guessing, is the same rule as WDW - no problem bringing it in as long as no glass, alcohol, etc?

I think that's it for now.

Thanks for all the help the last months while I've been planning!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

1. You will walk past the parks, through DTD to the DLH to get to Goofy's Kitchen. I'm not sure how long to allow for travel. They give you 90 minutes for the meal, but we are usually ready to go after about an hour. If you are then heading to DCA, you will walk to the front gate. The monorail will take you to Tomorrowland in DL.

2. I have definitely done just DL or just DCA in a day. We don't tend to park hop too much since there is a lot to do in each park, plus with little ones its just easier for us to stay put sometimes.

3. There are lockers in each park, plus larger ones outside by the picnic area (outside of security check so you CAN bring glass, etc) if you want to bring a larger cooler. You can bring in anything but glass or alcohol into the parks.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

1) The walk is easy enough, imo. It really depends on how old the youngest/oldest member of your group is (like if you have a 3 year old with no stroller, or a not-so-sprightly 90 year old). Like the PP mentioned, you can walk through DTD to get to the hotel (which is at the other end).

2) I personally have tried and failed to do every single thing inside of Disneyland in one day, so, not going at breakneck speed, you should be able to fill your whole day in either park. Also, if you do feel like there's nothing more you want to do for the day, DTD is right there as an excellent time-killer.


3) There are also large-ish lockers inside the park. Snacks are never a problem, and plastic water bottles and the like are generally not a problem either.

 

[skiingfast]

2)My plan is to do single park DL for Wed, single park DCA on Thu and then hop between the two on Friday. I realize that people say 'it's so easy to hop' - but there is SO MUCH to do in both parks that I think we'll be able to stay happy/content seeing things in a single park the first two days. We have non-expiring WDW tickets that we're using - two separate ones - I would like to use our non-hopping (older) tickets for the first two days and only break into our brand new hopping tickets for 1 day. Is this really a very bad idea? Does anyone every stick to one park in a day?

If you really mean you have non expiring WDW tickets. I don't think they will get you into DL or DCA. I believe that until this year there has never been a way to buy a pass that works in both the US resorts.

 

[amamax2]

Think of the whole DL/DCA/DTD area as a capital T. On one side of the crossbar on the T is DL, where the leg meets the crossbar is the Esplanade (where ticket booths and security are), and the other side of the crossbar is DCA. It is a 30 second walk from the entrance to DL across the Esplanade and to the entrance of DCA. The leg is DTD with the DLH at the very bottom of the leg.

Hojos is outside the crossbar. Depending upon your group's make-u, it is about a 7 minute walk to the Esplanade. Another 7 minutes of so walk through DTD to the DLH (longer if this is your first time there as you ooh and aah at everything). You do not need or want a car unless someone is not mobile.

We usually go for three days: first day at DL, second at DCA, third hopping to do all our favorites. We never hop until that last day unless DL gets really crowded and we need to escape. You are going at a good time - it shouldn't be crowded W or Th, may pick up a bit F afternoon. We often bring food, extra clothes with us..lockers in DCA are just inside the entrance on the right-hand side.

Have a great trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

If you really mean you have non expiring WDW tickets. I don't think they will get you into DL or DCA. I believe that until this year there has never been a way to buy a pass that works in both the US resorts.

WDW tix actually do get you in. you have to trade them out for a one day ticket on each day, and of course they have to be non expired (so either get to DLR inside of 14 days of first use at WDW OR use non-expiring option on them), but they can be used!

Doesn't work the other way, though.


Remember you will likely have to go through bag check on the Harbor side, and then back through bag check from the DTD side to get to the gates.

Maybe someone knows if eating at GK allows for the use of the Grand's DCA entrance, or if it is only for guests OR non-guests eating at the Grand... Could be a bit of a help!

The hat marking the start of DLH's property to the center of the Esplanade is around .43 mile. From the sidewalk on Manchester, walking along the Disney side (instead of the hotel side) of harbor, it's about .49 mile to the center of the Esplanade. Add in the walk from the hat to the restaurant and back, and you've got the basic mileage of your breakfast walk.

 

[amamax2]

Maybe someone knows if eating at GK allows for the use of the Grand's DCA entrance, or if it is only for guests OR non-guests eating at the Grand... Could be a bit of a help!

QUOTE]

Sorry, only DLR hotel guests can use that entrance, and they do check your hotel key. For the price you pay for the character meals, that would be a great perk!

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry, only DLR hotel guests can use that entrance, and they do check your hotel key. For the price you pay for the character meals, that would be a great perk!

Plenty of people eating at Storytellers have gotten in showing their receipts. Not just resort guests.

And I know very well that they only care about those things in the first hour or so, or if it's mega-busy. (we've never had them check our keycards after the first hour or so, even over last October's INSANELY busy Columbus Day weekend, even when they were stamping AP holder's hands as they *entered* DCA...)

Therefore, it's not that far off to wonder if someone eating at GK has ever been able to get in.

 

[brymolmom]

Thanks for the replies so far. Forgot to mention that it is dh and I plus ds7 and dd6 - no stroller, but dd is kind of a slacker when it comes to walking. Being first thing in the morning, sounds like we'll just do the walk over to DLH since we'll all be rarin' to go first thing.

I think we will stick to single parks the first two days - sounds like at least some people do it that way and it works out best with the tickets we have.

 

[amamax2]

Plenty of people eating at Storytellers have gotten in showing their receipts. Not just resort guests.

QUOTE]

Good to know bumbershoot!! They've always checked out room keys in the past, but we haven't been for two years, so sounds like they have loosened up. Thanks for the info.

 

[QueenDoOver]

Plenty of people eating at Storytellers have gotten in showing their receipts. Not just resort guests.

QUOTE]

Good to know bumbershoot!! They've always checked out room keys in the past, but we haven't been for two years, so sounds like they have loosened up. Thanks for the info.

Our first family trip was '05 staying at PPH, and we also experienced them not checking for key. Ever. In all our stays, they have only done this once and it was first thing in morning.

 

[tholczer]

We've spent many days in just DL and not gone to DCA at all. But I think your day in DCA might be a bit shorter so maybe you can plan some down time on that day. I think your plan is a good one.

Tracy

 

[brymolmom]

I got a bit lost in a couple of responses - can someone please explain the Grand's DCA entrance? I need to know what it is and WHERE it is if I'm goign to try to use it with my GK receipt!

TIA!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I got a bit lost in a couple of responses - can someone please explain the Grand's DCA entrance? I need to know what it is and WHERE it is if I'm goign to try to use it with my GK receipt!

TIA!

The GCH has its own entrance to DCA. To get to it from DLH you walk through DTD and turn into the GCH by Studio 365. Follow the signs to the lobby and the to the DCA entrance. It will let you into the park by GRR.

 

[HydroGuy]

I got a bit lost in a couple of responses - can someone please explain the Grand's DCA entrance? I need to know what it is and WHERE it is if I'm goign to try to use it with my GK receipt!

TIA!

It tried to center it in this map:

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8077683&lon=-117.9210475&z=19&l=0&m=b

 

[DLtorgo]

I would make sure the CMs at the gate that day would accept your receipt. It sounds like first thing in the morning they are hardcore about checking for your hotel key. You can always line up at the main gate. Crowds have been light this week and next week should be similar.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

The entrance is a little tricky to find, as I discovered after eating at Storytellers. Be sure to follow the signs (which are posted like street signs)!

 

[nana50]

I go through there all the time and have NEVER been asked for my room key, only my entrance ticket.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I go through there all the time and have NEVER been asked for my room key, only my entrance ticket.

I think it depends on when you go. I was only asked for my ticket too (though I had the receipt at the ready), and that was an hour after opening with no line at the entrance.

 

[tholczer]

I go through there all the time and have NEVER been asked for my room key, only my entrance ticket.

They only ask for the room key when you are trying to get in before the park opens.

Tracy