Veteran WDWers want to be first-time DLRers

[Reedi]

We would love to visit Disneyland sometime within the next year. However, in recent years we have been limited to school vacation times. This year, Thanksgiving or Christmas seem to be our only choices.

We usually hit WDW during the off-season, but we have been during Thanksgiving week.

Before I get overwhelmed by all of the DL tips and tricks, I am looking for a few bits of advice from other veteran WDWers who have visited DLR during holiday weeks.

1) How do the crowds translate?
2) What length of stay would you suggest?
3) Would you mix-in other sights?
4) Would you endure the holiday crowds now or try again next year for a non-holiday week opportunity?
5) For a choice between holidays or summers, which would you choose?

TIA!

 

[figment_jii]

I haven't been to WDW or DLR during Thanksgiving or Christmas weeks, so I can't really provide you with a direct comparison of what the crowds are like. That being said, both weeks are very popular with DLR crowds. Based on what I've read, Christmas week (week between Christmas and New Years) is probably worse than Thanksgiving week, but both are going to be busy!

2) What length of stay would you suggest?

I would probably go with four or five days. I don't do "commando-style" trips, so more time is better.

4) Would you endure the holiday crowds now or try again next year for a non-holiday week opportunity?

I would probably opt to wait until 2015 and try to go during one of the non-holiday weeks. In past years, the week before Thanksgiving week and the weeks between Thanksgiving and mid-December are often fairly manageable and you still get all of the holiday decorations and entertainment.

5) For a choice between holidays or summers, which would you choose?

Holidays! In truth, DLR is fun any time of the year, but I like the holiday decorations and entertainment. I would also consider going in October to see HalloweenTime. Parts of Disneyland are decorated for Halloween (kind of like how parts of MK are decorated) and there are some fun activities.

 

[HydroGuy]

Before I get overwhelmed by all of the DL tips and tricks, I am looking for a few bits of advice from other veteran WDWers who have visited DLR during holiday weeks.

LOL, I am a DLR vet first but consider fairly knowledgeable about WDW. Hopefully I can help.

1) How do the crowds translate?

This question is actually a bit complicated. DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks. Add to that the smaller size of the DLR parks - especially DL which is like one-third smaller than MK - and you have a strange situation where it feels more crowded at DLR even though lines for rides tend to be significantly shorter (because guests are spread out over more rides).

Further, the visitor mix at DLR is different than WDW where DLR draws much more heavily on SoCal locals on day trips. What that means for guests staying at a local hotel for multiple days, it is easier to work around the crowds at DLR than at WDW because you have a huge advantage over mos other guests that you are right there at DLR each morning while they have to drive in and park.

2) What length of stay would you suggest?

Minimum four days. Five will be a better on a first trip. Think about going to WDW on a first trip - not as a vet but a first trip - and DLR's four days will feel like 7-8 days at WDW. A five day trip to DLR will feel more like 9-10 days at WDW.

3) Would you mix-in other sights?

Definitely. SoCal and the larger Southwest USA has way, way, WAY more to offer than central Florida.

Don't do the classic Orlando thing and go to SoCal and just hit the theme parks. I always cringe when I see people do that. The variety of things to do in the greater vicinity of DLR is staggering.

Check out sections 22 and 23 in this thread for some ideas:
"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

4) Would you endure the holiday crowds now or try again next year for a non-holiday week opportunity?
5) For a choice between holidays or summers, which would you choose?

Both have advantages. I do have some experience with holiday time at DLR but not much. I am a summer visitor at heart and connect nice, warm weather with my DLR visits. I hit holiday time in small doses to see the decor. But I choose summer. The crowds are a bit less, and aside from times like this week where there is a heat wave at DLR the weather on average tends to be wonderful in the summer at DLR.

See "Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

Further, 2015 will be DL's 60th anniversary which will kick in sometime around May-June most likely. It will be a bit of a unique time to visit DL and the festivities will be more than normal. I would be careful about choosing June next year until we know more about the dates for the 60th celebration. June could have a lot of last minute refurbs in prep for the 60th. I doubt it but it could happen. If you choose July or August you should be safe. July 17 will be the actual 60th anniversary and will likely be very crowded that day. I personally would avoid that week.