Tips for a WDW veteran

[jimandami]

Hi all! So, since we received such positive thoughts on a trip in July, we have decided to pull the trigger and visit DL for a time! I am super excited but also a little panicked because although I can plan a trip to WDW like no other, I know nothing about DL!! Obviously, I will research rides, shows, dining, etc....but just thought I would ask the experts. What is the one piece of advice you give a WDW family coming to DL for the first time? What is a not miss attraction or something special? Just for info, there will be myself, DH, DM, DS9, and DD4. We will stay at the DL Hotel (can't beat that conference rate of $174) and will probably stay 7 nights but will do 5 day PH for the kids and DH and I will upgrade to premier APs. Thanks so much!

 

[lsulindy]

Hydroguy's DL tips for WDW vets. Awesome thread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Also, check out his siggy for more of his tips. Great place to start.

 

[Lucille1963]

My once piece of advice is to stop caring about castle size now. Many WDW Vets get caught up on this, let it go now and prepare for an amazing trip!!

 

[heartsy77]

Hi all! So, since we received such positive thoughts on a trip in July, we have decided to pull the trigger and visit DL for a time! I am super excited but also a little panicked because although I can plan a trip to WDW like no other, I know nothing about DL!! Obviously, I will research rides, shows, dining, etc....but just thought I would ask the experts. What is the one piece of advice you give a WDW family coming to DL for the first time? What is a not miss attraction or something special? Just for info, there will be myself, DH, DM, DS9, and DD4. We will stay at the DL Hotel (can't beat that conference rate of $174) and will probably stay 7 nights but will do 5 day PH for the kids and DH and I will upgrade to premier APs. Thanks so much!

We are in the same boat except its only my dh and I on disneymoon 16 years later! IM LOST!

 

[npealer]

My once piece of advice is to stop caring about castle size now. Many WDW Vets get caught up on this, let it go now and prepare for an amazing trip!!

Yes I second this. So many people who have always been WDW people come to DL and complain because they are comparing it to WDW and I don't just mean the castle. If you come with an open mind and not the "Well WDW does this" you will enjoy yourself.

With that said we always try to grab our FP's for Space Mountain first and then Indiana Jones.

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

My once piece of advice is to stop caring about castle size now. Many WDW Vets get caught up on this, let it go now and prepare for an amazing trip!!

Going to DLR first time in 03/13 (been to WDW many times). That is what we intend to do. Go with the anticipation of a truly magical time without a hint of castle envy

 

[jimandami]

Thanks for the replies so far and for the link!! We are definitely aware of the differences and are going to try to embrace DL and not compare it to WDW at all!

 

[longhorns2]

So many people who have always been WDW people come to DL and complain because they are comparing it to WDW and I don't just mean the castle. If you come with an open mind and not the "Well WDW does this" you will enjoy yourself.

I didn't mean to be this way- but boy was I!

My best advice is to realize that the 2 parks may be related, may look a lot alike, but they are run differently in a lot of ways. They just are- so don't expect it to be the same. Throw that thinking out the window and consider it a totally new experience and you will be fine!

It wasn't the size of the castle (that- I LOVED! So pretty!) but the way things are done there that put me off. But that was on me and NOT on DL. I am going back in January and am SO excited about the trip! So much more history and Disney geeking out to do at DL than at WDW.

So much to love about DL--- no buses, no massive planning in advance with ADRs 180 days out (though I secretly love that!) GREAT weather! You may not need parkhoppers like you "need" them at WDW (if you are of a belief that you need them at WDW) but if you do park hop, man is it easy!

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

I didn't mean to be this way- but boy was I!

My best advice is to realize that the 2 parks may be related, may look a lot alike, but they are run differently in a lot of ways. They just are- so don't expect it to be the same. Throw that thinking out the window and consider it a totally new experience and you will be fine!

It wasn't the size of the castle (that- I LOVED! So pretty!) but the way things are done there that put me off. But that was on me and NOT on DL. I am going back in January and am SO excited about the trip! So much more history and Disney geeking out to do at DL than at WDW.

So much to love about DL--- no buses, no massive planning in advance with ADRs 180 days out (though I secretly love that!) GREAT weather! You may not need parkhoppers like you "need" them at WDW (if you are of a belief that you need them at WDW) but if you do park hop, man is it easy!

What I will enjoy about being at DL is that I will be walking in the same places as Walt Disney. He had already passed away when Roy made his dream come true in Orlando and to be where he first saw his dream come true is going to be truly enjoyable.

 

[longhorns2]

What I will enjoy about being at DL is that I will be walking in the same places as Walt Disney. He had already passed away when Roy made his dream come true in Orlando and to be where he first saw his dream come true is going to be truly enjoyable.

You got it right!

It finally sunk in when my son and niece were given a ride down Main St. in the firetruck--- WALT'S firetruck. The CM driving said it was the vehicle he preferred to drive when he was in the park. That was the moment that I got it.

 

[KCmike]

One know that the scale is much smaller. Get past that fact and realize how nice it is that everything is closer and you will do just fine.

Second know that most rides in DL/DCA are better than their WDW counterparts. Pirates, Space, Tiki Room, IASM, GRR, etc. Fantasyland is just my favorite area all together with New Orleans Square second.

Third know that all parades, fireworks, Fantasmic!, and World of Color are all not to be missed and in my opinion better at the land. Don't miss Aladdin stage show in DCA either!

Fourth, take an extra day of what you've already scheduled to savor the small stuff. Most stuff missed on a given visit include Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, Storybook Canal Boats, Casey JR, riding the Lilly Belle train car (Walt's dedicated car to his wife...you have to ask to ride it), Animation Academy in DCA, ride the train the entire circle around the park, obviously gotta walk into Downtown Disney and check out Grand Californian and DLH (some great old photos of Walt and celebrities in DLH), and if you get the chance do the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour.

There's much more but this is a good starting point.

Feel free to keep asking questions. Congrats on choosing to go to Disneyland. This WDW vet finally went in 2007 and now I consider it my home park.

 

[Keurigirl]

Make sure you do everything that IS NOT at Disneyworld. Definitely see Billy Hill & the Hillbillies!

 

[HydroGuy]

What is the one piece of advice you give a WDW family coming to DL for the first time?

I agree with what other have said on this. It is a bit of a strange process, but many WDW vets want to go to DLR because they have been to WDW many times and want to experience something different. So they go to DLR. And guess what? It is different. And what do some WDW vets then do? They complain!

So know that DLR will be different. Embrace the differences. Keep an open mind. Here is the key - some of the differences will be where DLR falls short of WDW - but some of the differences will be where DLR exceeds WDW. Don't let the areas where DLR falls short blind you into not being able to embrace and enjoy the area where it exceeds.

It is that simple. Really.

What is a not miss attraction or something special?

Probably Indiana Jones and World of Color show. Both experiences unlike anything you have had at WDW.

Don't be fooled into the mindset that DLR's smaller size means a lesser experience. Did you know that DLR's two parks have more rides than WDW's four parks put together? And that DLR's four top shows are better than their counterparts at WDW?

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are WDW vets that will be going to DLR for the first time in June. I have done so much reading up on and research of DLR that I already can see how different DLR is to WDW without taking our first step into the parks. For instance, making reservations for TS meals is much different then that of WDW....you don't have to get up at a god awful hour just to make an ADR for a TS restaurant 180 days out. Instead, you can't even get on the phone to make the reservations for DLR dining until at least 60 days out. Plus, you can walk up to restaurants more then you can at WDW, with only a few exceptions.

I totally agree with the other posters that said to embrace the differences of DLR and don't compare it to WDW. We haven't even gone yet and I and my family already know that there will be differences, and in a good way. Yes we may compare it a bit to WDW, but not by the way DL runs their parks or how much smaller the castle is compared to WDW, but by being able to see some characters that you normally can't see in WDW and riding rides that are not even at the Florida Park or used to be at WDW that are no longer (i.e. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Snow White). We are all very excited to be going to DLR for the first time, the girls are excited because it is something new to them (and they are very excited about Carsland ) while DH and I are more excited about being able to walk down the same Main Street that Walt walked down and ride the rides that Walt had a first hand at making and creating. I hope you and your family have a wonderful trip .

Forgot to add....I highly suggest you read the different HydroGuy's stickies (most importantly the one for WDW vets visiting DLR for the first time) at the top of this thread....they are very informative and they will all answer most if not all of your questions.

 

[jimandami]

Thank you all so much!!! I have gotten about halfway through the sticky so far and it's full of great info! I am getting really excited about the trip. Now if I can just keep from telling the kids....we are gonna surprise them!