various questions i have

[enyaj40]

1. are three full days sufficient to see both parks?

2. if dh wants to ride a ride i can't (motion sickness), can i wait with him in line and then step aside?

3. is the meal plan worth the money?

4. what is the best airport to fly into?

5. what is the best way to get to our hotel (planning a good neighbor stay) from the airport since i'm not interested in renting a car?

 

[DangerMouse]

1. are three full days sufficient to see both parks?

During off season, yes. During peak season, no.

2. if dh wants to ride a ride i can't (motion sickness), can i wait with him in line and then step aside?

Yes, you can.

3. is the meal plan worth the money?

No, not at DLR.

4. what is the best airport to fly into?

SNA (Orange County) or Long Beach

5. what is the best way to get to our hotel (planning a good neighbor stay) from the airport since i'm not interested in renting a car?

From SNA or Long Beach, a taxi can run you between $35-$40 each way. Or Super Shuttle is also an option.


HTH!

 

[DLR29]

1. are three full days sufficient to see both parks?

During off season, yes. During peak season, no.

2. if dh wants to ride a ride i can't (motion sickness), can i wait with him in line and then step aside?

Yes, you can.

3. is the meal plan worth the money?

No, not at DLR.

4. what is the best airport to fly into?

SNA (Orange County) or Long Beach

5. what is the best way to get to our hotel (planning a good neighbor stay) from the airport since i'm not interested in renting a car?

From SNA or Long Beach, a taxi can run you between $35-$40 each way. Or Super Shuttle is also an option.


HTH!

Ditto to everything. For the first one, 3 days is alright during some peak seasons if you are going from park opening to closing. I have not gone on a DLR trip longer than 3 days (including Spring Break, President's Week, Summer, and week before Christmas) and we manage to get everything done.

 

[bradk]

Greyhound's Disneyland Express is also an option from SNA and should be the cheapest option.

the full order of airports in order of geographical preference is SNA, LGB, ONT, LAX and BUR

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i only have to stand up for the meal plan becouse it worked well for us, next time we wont use it but only becouse im not doing a package, I would have a ap.
I had a grate time being able to just hand the coupons out in stead of money, but I belive at DW it would be better

 

[bradk]

the reason why it's not good at DL is because if your meal costs more, you pay the difference. if it costs less, you don't get the change.

 

[bumbershoot]

Greyhound's Disneyland Express is also an option from SNA and should be the cheapest option.

Gray Line. Normally wouldn't correct you but for googling purposes it's best to have it right.

Eh, don't google... http://graylineanaheim.com/

(I only pay attention to the bus company b/c my dad drove for Greyhound and I spent every other weekend on the Greyhound going from Santa Cruz to somewhere...second nature)

 

[bradk]

thanks for the correction. at least i got the color right

when going directly to anaheim, i've only flown into LGB (jetblue). the added expense/time to end up at SNA never seemed worth it to me.

 

[enyaj40]

1. are three full days sufficient to see both parks?

During off season, yes. During peak season, no.

would september 12th-september 16th be considered off season?

2. if dh wants to ride a ride i can't (motion sickness), can i wait with him in line and then step aside?

Yes, you can.

3. is the meal plan worth the money?

No, not at DLR.

4. what is the best airport to fly into?

SNA (Orange County) or Long Beach

5. what is the best way to get to our hotel (planning a good neighbor stay) from the airport since i'm not interested in renting a car?

From SNA or Long Beach, a taxi can run you between $35-$40 each way. Or Super Shuttle is also an option.


HTH!

and thank you very much for all the other information, too. it did help!

 

[bradk]

anytime kids are normally in school is off season, so sounds right.

 

[enyaj40]

Ditto to everything. For the first one, 3 days is alright during some peak seasons if you are going from park opening to closing. I have not gone on a DLR trip longer than 3 days (including Spring Break, President's Week, Summer, and week before Christmas) and we manage to get everything done.

yep, i'm an open to close kinda person with a break mid-afternoonish

thank you for responding to my questions

 

[enyaj40]

Greyhound's Disneyland Express is also an option from SNA and should be the cheapest option.

the full order of airports in order of geographical preference is SNA, LGB, ONT, LAX and BUR

thanks for the help...i very much appreciate it

 

[enyaj40]

i only have to stand up for the meal plan becouse it worked well for us, next time we wont use it but only becouse im not doing a package, I would have a ap.
I had a grate time being able to just hand the coupons out in stead of money, but I belive at DW it would be better

approximately how much would you budget for meals for 2 adults wanting one sit down meal a day and one character meal during the trip...probably breakfast on departure day? wdw restaurants, for me, are part of the disney experience. is it like that at dlr?

 

[enyaj40]

the reason why it's not good at DL is because if your meal costs more, you pay the difference. if it costs less, you don't get the change.

that's ridiculous!

imo, anyway

thanks for the tip

 

[enyaj40]

anytime kids are normally in school is off season, so sounds right.

cool beanz

i was planning a trip to wdw, but due to dh's odd schedule, a shorter trip seemed a better choice and i still wanted disney magic

i haven't been since i was about to turn 11 and i don't remember much except still needing 'tickets' and a few other things

 

[JadeDarkstar]

well the charcter meals was about 97 for 2 adults and 1 child.
If you were to grab frys for 2.50 i think you would be able to share them. 30 a person for each sit down meal would sound good.
idk hope that helps

 

[enyaj40]

thanks, again

i'll probably go out and buy a guide book like i have for wdw

then i won't have to pester everyone!

 

[bumbershoot]

Guide books are great, and I've used them (I get 'em from the library though), but message boards are a great supplement! The real-life experience over the guidebook writer's talking about experiences is really great.

For food budgeting, I like looking at the menus. I personally am a fan of dl resort info .com (smoosh it together), but others will jump in suggesting allears.net. They both have menus (I find dlresort...to be more updated) and prices (try for the most current or your budget will be off), so you can sort of plan your visit!

If by chance you're thinking of getting an Annual Passport, you can get discounts on most food (the most expensive AP gives 15% discount, and the other APs give a 10% discount), which also helps to budget.

When we're at DL, we just don't find ourselves as hungry as it seems we should. I see some people plan two, even three, actual meals a day, and that's just too much for us while we are there. We'll do one meal, and graze the rest of the day.

Hope that helps!

 

[Hound 109]

yep, i'm an open to close kinda person with a break mid-afternoonish

thank you for responding to my questions

This is an important statement. (You tour like me. ) For DLR it's even more important than WDW, If you:

- use EE (you'll get it at least one day....maybe more),
- tour the first 3 hours, take a mid day break & tour & enjoy the night time.
- collect 3-5 FPs for the evening.
- Avoid Sat.
- Hop to DCA (2-4 hours a day every day) when it gets crowded at DL.

...then you'll zig when others are zagging & get as much done in 3 days as others might in 5. & it's not really going Comando....it's just touring effeciently.

Sure get a book. (but for background info)

But more importantly, follow the advice of all that have posted & check out all the stickys at the top of the first DL page. (Especially HyrdroGuy's). In particular, check out HydroGuy's "how to use FP on a crowded day thread"...it's eye opening how effecient touring makes for a productive yet stress free day.

After you read "a book" & all the stickys & threads at the top of the first page, you'll be posting again with specific questions on specific items & by far you'll get the best real deal info here.

Have fun planning a visit to Walt's park.


(& is Claremore where Will Rogers came from?)

 

[enyaj40]

Guide books are great, and I've used them (I get 'em from the library though), but message boards are a great supplement! The real-life experience over the guidebook writer's talking about experiences is really great.

For food budgeting, I like looking at the menus. I personally am a fan of dl resort info .com (smoosh it together), but others will jump in suggesting allears.net. They both have menus (I find dlresort...to be more updated) and prices (try for the most current or your budget will be off), so you can sort of plan your visit!

If by chance you're thinking of getting an Annual Passport, you can get discounts on most food (the most expensive AP gives 15% discount, and the other APs give a 10% discount), which also helps to budget.

When we're at DL, we just don't find ourselves as hungry as it seems we should. I see some people plan two, even three, actual meals a day, and that's just too much for us while we are there. We'll do one meal, and graze the rest of the day.

Hope that helps!

i'll check out the website and look for the DLR section of allears

thank you