karen1987
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2013
- Messages
- 524
My DFi and I recently finished a 5-day trip to DLR (16 - 21 Oct). We had a 5-day Park Hopper ticket and ordered the tickets from Park Savers. Here’s a round up of our thoughts…
Transportation
We took an UBER from LAX to Anaheim, which took 45 mins and cost $45. We very happy with the service and ease. I had originally booked SuperShuttle, but after reading reviews of the van circling the airport looking for passengers, I decided to cancel and use UBER instead. The price difference from SuperShuttle to Uber was $10 more.
Accommodation
We stayed at Park Vue Inn in a Deluxe Jacuzzi King room. I had requested a preferred room based on TripAdvisor reviews, this was granted, and we were located on the second floor at the back of the complex. We didn’t experience any noise from other guests and only slight traffic noise in the early morning.
The room was very spacious and the complimentary breakfast good and something for everyone. This included scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, mini potatoes, cereal, fruit, boiled eggs, yoghurt, bread, mini bagels and do-it-yourself waffles. However, location was the winner! We were bang opposite the Disneyland entrance, so walking to and from the esplanade only took 5 minutes. We also took full advantage of the Cold Stone Creamery (10% discount to hotel guests), which is based on site.
DL and DCA - In General
- Generally Cast Members were very friendly and helpful, but there were a few who were unenthusiastic and just going through the motions we felt.
- Crowds were much heavier than we expected. We visited Sun – Thurs and knew Sunday would be busy, but it was busy all week. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise before booking that for many this was Fall Break, so that could explain the crowds!
- Wait lines for bag check were long on Sunday, but on other days we moved through them quite quickly, and waited max 20 minutes Mon – Thurs, including on our Magic Morning.
- Paper FP worked well for us as we got a new FP as soon as our window opened again, which sometimes meant me park hopping to get the FP, but this wasn’t an issue for us.
- I think we utilised FP very well and as a result we didn’t wait longer than 25-30 minutes for any ride and this was only on one or two occasions. However, I would still say we prefer FP+ based on the convenience to order multiple ride FP’s on the app/desktop, modify times and get additional FP’s at centralised kiosks. Saying this, I think paper FP makes the system fairer, because you have to physically be by the ride to gain a FP.
- We used Single Rider on Indiana Jones, California Screamin’ and Radiator Springs and were able to save time because of this.
- First world problems, but the shortage of Mickey Bars was frustrating! On several days there was no stock park wide, so getting one on days when there was stock was like gold dust! Apparently this was due to supplier issues.
- The DLR app is just as unstable as the WDW app and would crash at inconvenient times!
DL and DCA - Good
- It was so great to finally visit DL where it all started and where Walt actually set foot. We definitely felt choked up upon entering DL on the first day and after seeing the light on in Walt’s apartment.
- We loved all the rides, especially Indiana Jones and the Haunted Mansion Holiday layover was fantastic! We preferred Pirates of Caribbean and Space Mountain at DL to WDW.
- We made good use of our Magic Morning and arrived at bag check by 7.15 am, at the DL entrance by 7.30 am. and we were let into the park from 7.45 am, but we were held at a rope by Refreshment Corner until 8.00 am. We were able to get a lot done in the first hour, including walking onto Peter Pans Flight as we headed there first.
- We didn’t eat much in the parks, but did have lunchtime reservations for Carnation Café and Café Orleans (Pomme Frites!) and enjoyed our meals at both places. My DFi had the Chicken Fried Chicken at Carnation Café and was very complimentary! We didn’t have room for beignets at Café Orleans, next time!
- Mickey’s Halloween Party was good fun and guests costumes were great! Decorations and theming throughout the park were very good and the Trick or Treat Trails had 4-5 treat stations in each. Unfortunately, the fireworks got cancelled because of high winds, but the parade was good, although a bit short. In general, the park felt slightly quieter so we were able to get onto Space Mountain within 15 minutes, for example.
- Again, we loved all the rides, especially California Screamin’ and Radiator Springs; Cars Land is fantastic!
- Pixar Play Parade in DCA was really good and World of Colour was exceptional! We watched World of Colour three times and a got a FP on two nights (yellow section), which made our view a bit more immersive, but not great as I’m a shorty!
DL and DCA - Not So Good
- Fantasy in the Sky was short and not very inspiring and only scheduled for one night (Sunday, our first day) during our visit.
- Bottle necks and crowding in Frontierland, especially by Tarzans Treehouse, and general crowding in New Orleans Square.
- No negative points at DCA!
Outside DL and DCA
- We visited Trader Sam’s and loved the theming! The drinks were very strong though (but I am a lightweight!) and we walked out a little merry!
- We got a very nice pizza at The Pizza Press, which was based upon recommendations from The DIS, so thanks for this!
Overall
In conclusion, we had a fantastic 5-day trip to DLR and we look forward to visiting again. We were able to see and do everything we wanted and World of Colour was a definite highlight, as was Cars Land. We’ll very likely stay at Park Vue Inn again based on the above points and excellent convenience to the parks.
Transportation
We took an UBER from LAX to Anaheim, which took 45 mins and cost $45. We very happy with the service and ease. I had originally booked SuperShuttle, but after reading reviews of the van circling the airport looking for passengers, I decided to cancel and use UBER instead. The price difference from SuperShuttle to Uber was $10 more.
Accommodation
We stayed at Park Vue Inn in a Deluxe Jacuzzi King room. I had requested a preferred room based on TripAdvisor reviews, this was granted, and we were located on the second floor at the back of the complex. We didn’t experience any noise from other guests and only slight traffic noise in the early morning.
The room was very spacious and the complimentary breakfast good and something for everyone. This included scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, mini potatoes, cereal, fruit, boiled eggs, yoghurt, bread, mini bagels and do-it-yourself waffles. However, location was the winner! We were bang opposite the Disneyland entrance, so walking to and from the esplanade only took 5 minutes. We also took full advantage of the Cold Stone Creamery (10% discount to hotel guests), which is based on site.
DL and DCA - In General
- Generally Cast Members were very friendly and helpful, but there were a few who were unenthusiastic and just going through the motions we felt.
- Crowds were much heavier than we expected. We visited Sun – Thurs and knew Sunday would be busy, but it was busy all week. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise before booking that for many this was Fall Break, so that could explain the crowds!
- Wait lines for bag check were long on Sunday, but on other days we moved through them quite quickly, and waited max 20 minutes Mon – Thurs, including on our Magic Morning.
- Paper FP worked well for us as we got a new FP as soon as our window opened again, which sometimes meant me park hopping to get the FP, but this wasn’t an issue for us.
- I think we utilised FP very well and as a result we didn’t wait longer than 25-30 minutes for any ride and this was only on one or two occasions. However, I would still say we prefer FP+ based on the convenience to order multiple ride FP’s on the app/desktop, modify times and get additional FP’s at centralised kiosks. Saying this, I think paper FP makes the system fairer, because you have to physically be by the ride to gain a FP.
- We used Single Rider on Indiana Jones, California Screamin’ and Radiator Springs and were able to save time because of this.
- First world problems, but the shortage of Mickey Bars was frustrating! On several days there was no stock park wide, so getting one on days when there was stock was like gold dust! Apparently this was due to supplier issues.
- The DLR app is just as unstable as the WDW app and would crash at inconvenient times!
DL and DCA - Good
- It was so great to finally visit DL where it all started and where Walt actually set foot. We definitely felt choked up upon entering DL on the first day and after seeing the light on in Walt’s apartment.
- We loved all the rides, especially Indiana Jones and the Haunted Mansion Holiday layover was fantastic! We preferred Pirates of Caribbean and Space Mountain at DL to WDW.
- We made good use of our Magic Morning and arrived at bag check by 7.15 am, at the DL entrance by 7.30 am. and we were let into the park from 7.45 am, but we were held at a rope by Refreshment Corner until 8.00 am. We were able to get a lot done in the first hour, including walking onto Peter Pans Flight as we headed there first.
- We didn’t eat much in the parks, but did have lunchtime reservations for Carnation Café and Café Orleans (Pomme Frites!) and enjoyed our meals at both places. My DFi had the Chicken Fried Chicken at Carnation Café and was very complimentary! We didn’t have room for beignets at Café Orleans, next time!
- Mickey’s Halloween Party was good fun and guests costumes were great! Decorations and theming throughout the park were very good and the Trick or Treat Trails had 4-5 treat stations in each. Unfortunately, the fireworks got cancelled because of high winds, but the parade was good, although a bit short. In general, the park felt slightly quieter so we were able to get onto Space Mountain within 15 minutes, for example.
- Again, we loved all the rides, especially California Screamin’ and Radiator Springs; Cars Land is fantastic!
- Pixar Play Parade in DCA was really good and World of Colour was exceptional! We watched World of Colour three times and a got a FP on two nights (yellow section), which made our view a bit more immersive, but not great as I’m a shorty!
DL and DCA - Not So Good
- Fantasy in the Sky was short and not very inspiring and only scheduled for one night (Sunday, our first day) during our visit.
- Bottle necks and crowding in Frontierland, especially by Tarzans Treehouse, and general crowding in New Orleans Square.
- No negative points at DCA!
Outside DL and DCA
- We visited Trader Sam’s and loved the theming! The drinks were very strong though (but I am a lightweight!) and we walked out a little merry!
- We got a very nice pizza at The Pizza Press, which was based upon recommendations from The DIS, so thanks for this!
Overall
In conclusion, we had a fantastic 5-day trip to DLR and we look forward to visiting again. We were able to see and do everything we wanted and World of Colour was a definite highlight, as was Cars Land. We’ll very likely stay at Park Vue Inn again based on the above points and excellent convenience to the parks.
