Tales from a WDW vet making first trip to DLR

[Mrs~Incredible]

Hi everyone, thank you so much for all of the great tips (special shout out to @LKing)

Wanted to share some highlights of our trip for anyone else planning:

1. It was myself, husband and 14 year old daughter. We’ve done 10 trips to Wdw together. We love love loved the whole DLR experience.

2. To us, DLR has a lot the same but different. Great tips on this board on the specifics, but we really loved it all.

3. Weather was great, even in August. We don’t do heat well and neck fan/cooling towel and lots of free ice water helped tons. Hours are great so we played hard especially after sunset.

4. Evening entertainment was great. Watching my daughter watch Fantasmic made me . Loved paint the night and world of color too. 2nd showing for world of color we watched from the Pixar bridge which was recommended by a cast member and we thought it was a great spot. We also got stuck on small world which happened to be a good thing because when our boat emerged outside, the fireworks were going off right above us

5. Loved the layout- smaller Disney springs and easy hopping between the parks. Loved going through security just once and being able to run all over.

6. Loved the magic and roaming characters. Daughter had a birthday button and soooo many cast members and characters wished her a happy birthday, including a couple from parade floats!

7. Snacks and food were top notch. Favorites were the churros (not even comparable to Florida) and loooooved the lime chips and esquite bowl at Rancho. Beignets and choc chip cookies were also big hits.

8. Very crowded (especially during the week) but we crushed it and did all we wanted to do with multi pass.

9. For off days, we did a backlot tour of Warner brother studios which was incredible and also rented a car one day for a drive down the pacific coast highway which was magnificent.

10. Loved the layout and absolute magic of Disneyland. Exceeded expectations. Wish California Adventure had a little more entertainment/shows like Hollywood studios, but was also fun to check out.

Thanks again everyone for all the tips and tricks!

 

[VandVsmama]

So glad you had such a great time!

 

[LAS2AMS]

Good report and glad you enjoyed your trip!

California Adventure often has the strongest live entertainment program of any Disney park. Most of the shows they’ve put on in the Hyperion Theater have been outstanding, and even “B-side” entertainment like Storytime With Deadpool are crowd favorites. My guess is that much of the h digest is devoted to Disneyland Park at the moment for the 70rh.

 

[mdmost]

Sounds like an incredible trip. Glad the board could help make your trip run smoother.

 

[evilmommie]

Glad y’all had fun!

 

[LKing]

It sounds like you had a great trip. Glad to hear that it all worked out. When will you be returning?

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

It sounds like you had a great trip. Glad to hear that it all worked out. When will you be returning?

We came home 8/8. We want to go back already!! Totally worth the plane ride from the east coast.

 

[OlliePop27]

We came home 8/8. We want to go back already!! Totally worth the plane ride from the east coast.

That's what I always think when first time visitors post that this is their first and only trip because they live on the east coast. Why? If you love it, it's only a few hours extra on a plane!

 

[Pluto468]

I'm so glad your trip went well! I feel the same way about watching my kids while they watch Fantasmic, WOC or parades. It makes me cry to see them so happy

Did you have any especially favorite moments or meals?

 

[mdmost]

We came home 8/8. We want to go back already!! Totally worth the plane ride from the east coast.

You may find later that you've become mostly Disneyland vacationers going forward. It happened to us. We started with WDW as a family in 2015 and I had gone there twice as a kid. Then we went to DLR in 2016 and we've only been back to WDW once. We've gone to DLR 5 more times since that first trip.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I'm so glad your trip went well! I feel the same way about watching my kids while they watch Fantasmic, WOC or parades. It makes me cry to see them so happy

Did you have any especially favorite moments or meals?

We did the Cafe Orleans Fantasmic dinner which was yummy but honestly I enjoyed the snacks the most as DD had curated a list of must-try eats lol! Favorite moments are walking in and hearing that music, seeing the Disneyland statue of Walt and Mickey for the first time, and laughing so hard at how wet we got on Tiana’s- for me, I love the atmosphere so much and try to soak in every second with my hubby and daughter I think the characters mouthing “happy birthday” from the parade floats made us all feel like little kids and very special

You are right- watching my daughter light up year after year and hear her talk about everything is the absolute best and why it will forever be my happy place