Thank you guys! 1st visit was a success -feeback inside

[Darkhaund]

I want to thank EACH AND EVERYONE of you guys who took time to answer my questions and clear my doubts. Our may 2018 trip was a total success and we will definitely come back TO DLR. The tips provides here were pure gold, and after all this time I feel at "home" in the sub forum, I think I will become a regular here in the California section of the forums.

Here are some quick thoughts (I will develop later)

The park overall is amazing. Beautiful and full of life and magic. My wife as Wowed and my now 3year old son was having the time of his life. We had our 1st experience with him not wanting -not understanding- that once a ride was over, we had to get off and do the line again.

+ The park, while obviously smaller, has a magic and mystique of its own, we felt totally immersed on it
+ Most (if not all) of the CMs were nice and on character
+ The park was overall clean and the restrooms were decent. I did bump into one by hungry bear that was dirty.
+ Very noticeable the lack of restrooms and I was even more surprised that a decent restaurant like the River bell terrace had no restrooms... I had to walk all the way to the Zocalo in the middle of our lunch and so did my wife to change both kids diapers (not convenient)
+ I did notice less "happy birthdays" from over all CMs compared to WDW
+ Less celebration or my birthday, wearing a pin on my dinner as well.
+ The ease to park hop (just as many of you insisted) is amazing and very very convenient, especially for families like us to had 2 strollers etc. It would have been much more difficult to do this in WDW with all the buses.
+ Paint the Night was everything I hoped for and more.... it was amazing
+ Together forever was good, but I have seen better.

We are so pleased and go happy, that we will most likely some back very soon.,

That is it for now.

 

[HydroGuy]

Glad you want to come back as you really need to see World of Color. IMO the best Disney show anytime anywhere.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

So glad your trip went well! Come on back with any questions when you're ready to plan your next visit!

General tip: skip the RDZ restrooms if you can make it to the Adventureland restrooms. The AL restrooms were refurbed recently and are bigger, nicer, and the lines move much faster now. The RDZ restrooms are small, and any lines don't move that quickly. AL restrooms are closer to RBT, too -- just go back toward the Tiki Room, follow the path around by the shops going toward Frontierland -- they'll be on your left.

 

[Darkhaund]

I did get a bit sad that we could not ride pirates.. and well we also wanted to try the incredi coaster.
We will most likely be back NEXT YEAR... but this time.. i am thinking in starying at a non disney hotel.. a close one

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...We will most likely be back NEXT YEAR... but this time.. i am thinking in starying at a non disney hotel.. a close one

You'll love being on Harbor -- some of the hotels at the crosswalk are a shorter walk to the gates than the PPH!

 

[Darkhaund]

Yes..i did notice that.. whicho hotels fo you recommend? lol.. im crazy planning this now.. and i just got back

 

[hootey]

Happy to hear you are wanting to come back! We enjoy the DLR every chance we get

 

[maleficent55]

we love the Best Western Park Place Inn. It's AT the crosswalk to the turnstiles. We might try the Candy Cane Inn this time though, it gets rave reviews here and is a 10 minute walk, but has it's own private shuttle if you don't want to walk. We have also stayed at the Camelot Inn right across the street as well, and it was fine

 

[chickapin parterre]

thank you for your time in writing back.....surprised to read about the hungry bear restroom, that is one that is typically clean and empty, though with splash close by, as well as the island, it could be the go to for washing off the dirt and rubbing out the water. I find that NOS restroom is the worst....anyhow, in case you enter a trivia contest....restrooms where the last facilities add to Disneyland....due to a plumber strike........that is what I tell folks about the exposed sewer pipe on Main street, plumbers had the last word!!!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Yes..i did notice that.. whicho hotels fo you recommend? lol.. im crazy planning this now.. and i just got back

We love the Candy Cane Inn. That's our go-to hotel when we need to be close to the gates. Super nice staff, great customer service, private shuttle that runs on time, generous continental breakfast, clean rooms, nice (small) pool area, etc. We get the premium rooms -- larger rooms, bathrobes, DVD player, small fridge, microwave, amenities basket, breakfast delivered to the room each day. CCI offers a variety of discounts, so check to see if you qualify for something. If you become a return guest, you get a $10 discount code that you can stack on top of another discount, like AAA or AP. And the CCI is right next door to the A Mart (convenience store), the 7-11 is next door to that, and across the street from that is the 24/7 CVS. So easy to get drinks, snacks, simple groceries or any little items you might have forgotten at home.

 

[Princess Katelet]

Choose Candy Cane Inn!!! It's the best!

 

[HydroGuy]

Yes..i did notice that.. whicho hotels fo you recommend? lol.. im crazy planning this now.. and i just got back

This may help: "Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/

Popular choices around here are BWPPI, CCI and Hojo's. But you really have a lot of options.

This map is really cool and I use it all the time: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8092124&lon=-117.9188132&z=19&l=0&m=b

 

[theluckyrabbit]

When choosing a Harbor hotel, take into account how many strollers you'll have (two or a dual? Bigger strollers can be awkward on the TS shuttles) and how many breaks, if any, that you'll be needing each day. Will you be using a locker or leaving stuff at the hotel to bring into the parks later (like jackets and change of shoes)? Will you need pool time? A separate room for naps, thus a suite, or will being in the same room work? Will you need free parking? Will free breakfast help or be a waste because you're not breakfast people? Lots of things to consider in addition to proximity to the gates, especially with two little ones in tow.

 

[BrerMama]

+ Very noticeable the lack of restrooms and I was even more surprised that a decent restaurant like the River bell terrace had no restrooms... I had to walk all the way to the Zocalo in the middle of our lunch and so did my wife to change both kids diapers (not convenient)
+ I did notice less "happy birthdays" from over all CMs compared to WDW

We were there the same time as you and I agree about the lack of restrooms in sit down restaurants. That's just strange and a huge pain, and we had all adults.

Surprised about the Happy Birthdays. My daughter was wearing a Just Graduated pin and by the end of the trip had stopped wearing it because every single CM would say something about it and she was ready to take a break from the attention.

 

[dorchrislen]

You can also check into the Tropicana Inn. It's also right next to the cross walk. I like the pool and hot tub area better than BW PPI, because the hot tub is VERY hot for sore feet in the evening. They don't have breakfast though, but McDonald's is just a short walk down the street. I'd run and grab breakfast there in the morning and we'd take it with us to eat while waiting for rope drop.

 

[Geemo]

I did get a bit sad that we could not ride pirates.. and well we also wanted to try the incredi coaster.
We will most likely be back NEXT YEAR... but this time.. i am thinking in starying at a non disney hotel.. a close one

Many of the places on Harbor open their reservation calendars 12 to 18 months out.
The Sooner You Book, the Better The Rates generally are. So if you're going next year start looking at the rates.

Geemo

 

[Malcon10t]

CCI offers a variety of discounts, so check to see if you qualify for something. If you become a return guest, you get a 10% discount code that you can stack on top of another discount, like AAA or AP.

To clarify, it is a $10 discount, not 10%.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

To clarify, it is a $10 discount...

Thank you! Going to edit now!

 

[momof2n2]

So glad your trip went well! Come on back with any questions when you're ready to plan your next visit!

General tip: skip the RDZ restrooms if you can make it to the Adventureland restrooms. The AL restrooms were refurbed recently and are bigger, nicer, and the lines move much faster now. The RDZ restrooms are small, and any lines don't move that quickly. AL restrooms are closer to RBT, too -- just go back toward the Tiki Room, follow the path around by the shops going toward Frontierland -- they'll be on your left.

You are the restroom authority!

 

[smartlabelprint]

If you can afford it the courtyard marriott theme park entrance is a newer close hotel.