WDW CM overwhelmed by DLR planning!

[SunnyP4Disney]

Thank you for the very honest opinions. Yes, I cringed at a few comments, but I understand. I wasn't criticizing DL at all, it's just I work reservations for WDW, so I am well versed in everything we have to offer and know nothing about DL. It's intimidating! My DH is military so we have a very small window to put this trip together and I want to make it perfect for him and DS. I went for my 16th birthday and still have wonderful memories. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and I remember it was going through some renovations at the time so they upgraded us. My brother had worked at DL for a while back in the day to help open BTMRR before he was transferred back to WDW. He is an expert, but unfortunately is unable to be my tour guide.

My nephew and his new wife are there right now for their honeymoon. I anticipate getting a lot of advice and tips from them and what are the must dos. I think I just pride myself as having had Disney as a huge part of my life. All my brothers and sisters have worked there (one has for almost 30 years), my nephew is a former CM and I am one now. I want this to be as perfect and magical as it can be! That's why I feel staying at DGCH is a must. Now, if I could only find someone to get me into Club 33, lol!

 

[JonKPest]

Sometimes, the Backstage Magic Tour includes Breakfast at Club 33. Read some of the trip reports!

JonK

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

Sometimes, the Backstage Magic Tour includes Breakfast at Club 33. Read some of the trip reports!

JonK

Oooo! Thank you! I think my nephew is doing that one along with Walk in Walt's Footsteps...

 

[HydroGuy]

Thank you for the very honest opinions. Yes, I cringed at a few comments, but I understand. I wasn't criticizing DL at all, it's just I work reservations for WDW, so I am well versed in everything we have to offer and know nothing about DL. It's intimidating! My DH is military so we have a very small window to put this trip together and I want to make it perfect for him and DS. I went for my 16th birthday and still have wonderful memories. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and I remember it was going through some renovations at the time so they upgraded us. My brother had worked at DL for a while back in the day to help open BTMRR before he was transferred back to WDW. He is an expert, but unfortunately is unable to be my tour guide.

My nephew and his new wife are there right now for their honeymoon. I anticipate getting a lot of advice and tips from them and what are the must dos. I think I just pride myself as having had Disney as a huge part of my life. All my brothers and sisters have worked there (one has for almost 30 years), my nephew is a former CM and I am one now. I want this to be as perfect and magical as it can be! That's why I feel staying at DGCH is a must. Now, if I could only find someone to get me into Club 33, lol!

I hope you have a great trip full of Disney magic!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I just want to find out the best way to increase my chances of a great discount at one of the DLR properties Dont think I am getting in at VGC at 7 mths

You would be amazed at the ability to get a studio here at 7 months out or LESS! I can usually get one within a month's notice, so I wouldn't stress. The one and two BRs go the quickest since there are so few of them. Just keep in mind, too, that for the same amount of points, it is EXTREMELY easy to get a room at the DLH or PPH. Especially the PPH.

Also, I heartily recommend waitlisting and then calling after the 30-day mark, since that's the holding deadline. Within 7 days is good, too.

Good luck! I need a studio for the night before the Tinkerbell, but with only 3 weeks left, I might have a touch of concern.... (did I mention that I haven't even started trying yet?)

 

[nunzia]

I am in the process of reading it but it was started in 2006 and is ginormous. I understand GCH is the equivalent of GF, but Ive never seen GF Theme Park View Club Level that high at CM rate. I am wondering if anyone could add anything helpful to me as a CM going as a guest.

Did you say you were looking at Concierge Suite? That price is not surprising. It seems to me like the hotel rates are really skyrocketing for 2012 and with all the new things coming don't think they'll be much in the way of specials. I was shocked to find DLH at $400 a night in August and although I'll watch prices I've adjusted my savings rate to compensate.
As you probably know, Dining Plan at DLH is nothing like the plan at WDW and is really not a value and not used much. It's easy to decide where you want to eat and when and you'll only need reservations at a very few places.
I think 4 full days would work fine unless you are there during spring break time, then you may want to add a day. If you are doing Sea World in San Diego, consider doing that for 2 days. We did backstage tours and such and would have been very rushed to get it all done in a day. Also, if this is a big hoopla trip, consider the new day trip that is like a mini ABD Backstage Magic trip where you go to the studios, Hollywood, etc.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

You would be amazed at the ability to get a studio here at 7 months out or LESS! I can usually get one within a month's notice, so I wouldn't stress. The one and two BRs go the quickest since there are so few of them. Just keep in mind, too, that for the same amount of points, it is EXTREMELY easy to get a room at the DLH or PPH. Especially the PPH.

Also, I heartily recommend waitlisting and then calling after the 30-day mark, since that's the holding deadline. Within 7 days is good, too.

Good luck! I need a studio for the night before the Tinkerbell, but with only 3 weeks left, I might have a touch of concern.... (did I mention that I haven't even started trying yet?)

Thanks for the info and hope! Did you make that call yet?! lol Hope you get it!

 

[starshine514]

- Rarely need to think about weather (I have never even thought about bringing a rain poncho to DLR)

I must catch it at strange times. In the 4 trips I made last year (mid-May, early August, early November, mid-December) it rained for at least one day during all of them except the August trip. That's my only experience to draw on, though...my previous trip to the May one was in 1986!

Anyway, bottom line is, we take our ponchos!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

I got a GCV studio at 5 months... it can happen!!! Get on the waitlist too!!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I got a GCV studio at 5 months... it can happen!!! Get on the waitlist too!!

Thanks! Great wedding photo too!!

 

[Huff]

I wonder if many way over plan their WDW or DLR trips. The only planning I do for WDW is ADR's because of the need to book so far out or else have few choices. I do a quick check of park hours and show times and plan ADR's such that I have 2 or 3 chances to see each. That allows us some flexibility on where we go each day (we have hoppers).

Disneyland we've been so many times over the decades we do almost no planning and often make last minute trips. We live 6 hours away and have AP's. I do still check here for latest tips and things going on so we don't miss anything new.

 

[undertheradar]

Honestly, the pace of the crowds will be one of the first things that is different. It is a little more "laid back" here at DL compared to WDW. Bring lots of sunscreen, since many of the loading areas are outside here. Once you get into DL mode and realize that except for a few dining options, there is no need to overplan, unlike WDW. DL will feel less "Disney" than WDW, in that you don't have to take a monorail or ferry to get to the MK. You have many choices for hotels that are national chains and within walking distance of the front gates of DL and CA. The first thing we like to do at DL is take a ride around the park on the DL Railroad. This will give you perspective about the size of the park and how special DL is.

 

[Huff]

DL will feel less "Disney" than WDW, in that you don't have to take a monorail or ferry to get to the MK

Not sure thats what makes it feel 'Disney' or not for us. If staying offsite and parking at Mickey and Friends you will ride the shuttle tram to Downtown Disney. If parking at Toy Story lot you'll ride the Disney buses.

 

[HydroGuy]

I wonder if many way over plan their WDW or DLR trips. The only planning I do for WDW is ADR's because of the need to book so far out or else have few choices. I do a quick check of park hours and show times and plan ADR's such that I have 2 or 3 chances to see each. That allows us some flexibility on where we go each day (we have hoppers).

Yah, but WDW kinda forces you into the planning mode. Another dynamic are EMHs and whether you stay onsite and whether your philosophy is to attend or avoid EMHs. So when possible you do need to choose parks and restaurants 6 months in advance. Especially if you have a larger group which makes dining ADRs much harder to get.

FWIW, last March I went to WDW with DS14 for six days and we did not plan it until a month in advance because that is when we decided to go. But that was just two people which made it easier to find canceled ADRs at good time slots. So with a small group you can get away with less advance planning. If I went with the whole crew of 6 (which happened in 2006) it would be really hard to get dining ADRs at that point. For those who do not care about dining then the whole issue is a moot point and advance planning is just not that important at WDW.

 

[undertheradar]

Not sure thats what makes it feel 'Disney' or not for us. If staying offsite and parking at Mickey and Friends you will ride the shuttle tram to Downtown Disney. If parking at Toy Story lot you'll ride the Disney buses.

To me it just isn't the same. At WDW, you are on Disney property long before you are near the parks. At DL, you can see the non-Disney area from the monorail. There is just a different vibe about the area surrounding WDW than there is DL.

 

[HydroGuy]

To me it just isn't the same. At WDW, you are on Disney property long before you are near the parks. At DL, you can see the non-Disney area from the monorail. There is just a different vibe about the area surrounding WDW than there is DL.

I agree with your point but will also point out that there is something specially unique at DLR staying onsite or right across the street on Harbor where you are so close to the parks. Yes you are on Disney property at WDW but you are a lot further from the parks. Taking the monorail to MK or Epcot may be special. But so is walking out the GCH and right into DCA, or staying at BWPPI across the street and being at the DLR gates in five minutes flat.

 

[elaw]

To me it just isn't the same. At WDW, you are on Disney property long before you are near the parks. At DL, you can see the non-Disney area from the monorail. There is just a different vibe about the area surrounding WDW than there is DL.

I agree, but .... WDW doesnt offer a hotel room that's literally in the park ... I tooks these pics from our room last Saturday.

 

[elaw]

And this one is from Sunday Morning

 

[undertheradar]

Nice pics!

My point is that if you experience WDW first and then DL, DL feels like it is packed in to a very small space. The walkways are smaller/narrower, the castle is much smaller, and there is a crowded feel to the surrounding area. At WDW you have more open space and waterways, not the city feel of Anaheim. They are just very different to our family.

 

[HydroGuy]

Nice pics!

My point is that if you experience WDW first and then DL, DL feels like it is packed in to a very small space. The walkways are smaller/narrower, the castle is much smaller, and there is a crowded feel to the surrounding area. At WDW you have more open space and waterways, not the city feel of Anaheim. They are just very different to our family.

When it comes to Disney lovers it is definitely true that the home resort "feels right" and other resorts do not feel quite right. You are entirely correct about DLR's smaller walkways, smaller castle, and more compact layout. It does not surprise me that a WDW would feel that way.

A DLR vet would put things differently however. The effort involved to get to and from and between the parks at WDW (by bus, boat, monorail, tram or whatever) can feel overwhelming and inconvenient to a DLR vet. And how much time is spent (wasted?) on transportation at WDW which is just not required at DLR (which allows more time inside the parks and for hotel breaks)? Parkhopping at WDW (if you attempt it) is very time consuming as well and it is harder to fit in major entertainment as a result.

My point is not that one resort is better than the other or that anyone's observations or feelings are not valid. It is just that one's home resort naturally shapes how one feels about the non-home resort and things that seem natural to one person may appear to be annoying inconveniences to another.

For me, at WDW I do love the larger layout and walkways but (as you might guess) I am not so excited about the transportation.

At DLR I love the proximity of hotels to the parks and greater ride concentration but I agree that overall it does not have the immersive feel one gets at WDW and can feel more congested.