WDW expert going to DL for the 1st time... Help!

[frozengurl]

So I know the ends and outs of WDW~ I know all the sites to go to for advice etc. But when it comes to DL... I don't know ANYTHING!
I have some questions and am hoping for some advice~ any wisdom you are willing to share is greatly appreciated!
~I will be going to DL for the half marathon weekend in September... How crowded are the parks going to be? It is also Labor Day weekend!
~I've heard park hopping is easy at DL... Is it worth it though? I will only have 2 days and my plan was to spend one day at each park. Which park needs the most time?
~I will only be in the parks for one nighttime show? Which firework show should I go to? Can you see one outside the parks? I could catch one outside the parks on a different night.
~fast pass help!!! Where do I go first to get my FP's? In other words "which rides at DL are the "TSMM & 7DMT rides" I know there isn't a magic band system but I'm curious where I need to sprint to first to get a FP? Do they run out quickly like TSMM did?
~must do's and must see's?
*Any tips, advice, must try restaurants, best counter service restaurants, snacks, or ANYTHING you want to share about the magic of Disneyland is greatly appreciated!

Thank you

 

[larryz]

Relax! DLR is so much more intimate and laid-back than WDW, and you don't need to plan out every minute of your day.

We were just there in October, mid-week, so some of this might not apply.

We found rope drop crowds started gathering in earnest a half-hour before the gates opened. This meant forming in line at the security checkpoint about 15 minutes before that. Rope drop on low crowd days means you get the kind of access you'd expect at WDW. For example, we literally walked on to Matterhorn. But even being there early didn't help on Peter Pan -- they had an opening glitch and we spent 15 minutes of our early access waiting for them to clear it. Rope drop on busy days will fill the plaza between the parks a half-hour before gates open.

Park hopping IS easy! If you hit your "must do's" in DL, I'd recommend swapping to DCA to hit your secondaries, then go back to DCA at rope drop for the must do's on day two. Then swap back to DL to hit your secondaries when the crowd thins toward closing.

Definitely take advantage of single rider lines. RSR has one, and it'll save you a half-hour over stand-by. RSR is one of those definite FP rides (to tell the truth, we spent 3 days in the parks and didn't use one FP. But we were mid week (Tue-Thur)).

Definitely try Trader Sam's in the courtyard enclosed by the Disneyland Hotel towers. Order a Krakatoa. Watch the tikis on the poles. Don't forget to scream.

I recommend trying the Blue Bayou for lunch. Make your ADR 60 days out.

Oh, and I also recommend staying on property for the early entry and sheer convenience of walking everywhere.

And check out this thread... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599&highlight=wdw

I'll let others chime in...

 

[frozengurl]

Thank you for your reply and for the link! It's greatly appreciated!

 

[HydroGuy]

~I will be going to DL for the half marathon weekend in September... How crowded are the parks going to be? It is also Labor Day weekend!

Most weekends are busy at LR year round because so many locals go. But in general Labor Day does not get reports of being mobbed. Just brisk.

~I've heard park hopping is easy at DL... Is it worth it though? I will only have 2 days and my plan was to spend one day at each park. Which park needs the most time?

Parkhopping IS easy at DLR. But with only two days IMO it is NOT worth it. There is plenty to do at each park for a day so just give focus to one park per day.

IMO parkhopping holds greater value at DLR when you have a longer trip (at least 3-4 days) and/or are going in off-season partly mid-week and partly weekends.

In general DL needs 50% more time than DCA if you have more time and are trying to experience as much as possible.

~I will only be in the parks for one nighttime show? Which firework show should I go to? Can you see one outside the parks? I could catch one outside the parks on a different night.

This is really hard to say because two major night time shows at DLR will be all new come this May - World of Color and the an all new fireworks shows. Plus a new night time parade. Fantasmic! is the only thing that will remain in its former state.

World of Color should be considered strongly for your one show because there is nothing like it at WDW. WDW already has Fantasmic! (albeit not as good) as well as parade and fireworks.

Check back here this summer to get opinions after the new WOC, parade and fireworks are unveiled.

You can see fireworks and WOC from outside the parks, and if staying at a DLR hotel you can get the soundtrack in your room, but in general seeing these from outside the parks is a poor (very poor) comparison to seeing them up close.

~fast pass help!!! Where do I go first to get my FP's? In other words "which rides at DL are the "TSMM & 7DMT rides" I know there isn't a magic band system but I'm curious where I need to sprint to first to get a FP? Do they run out quickly like TSMM did?

No Magic Band or FP+ (yet). Just legacy FP. The most popular by far is Radiator Springs Racers. No TSMM FP. After RSR all FP are easy to get. Next most popular is probably Space Mtn.

No need to sprint. But do pay special attention to RSR.

~must do's and must see's?

I have a list in the WDW Vets thread linked by the PP.

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

*Any tips, advice, must try restaurants, best counter service restaurants, snacks, or ANYTHING you want to share about the magic of Disneyland is greatly appreciated!

Lots of tips in the WDW vets thread. My two cents on snacks...

Hit Pooh Corner and try things that look good. Tigger Tails are a must do for us:
http://www.disunplugged.com/2010/10/02/a-tale-of-two-tails-tigger-tails-that-is

At DCA Flo's V-8 Cafe in Cars Land is a good option for counter service. As is Pacific Wharf Cafe.

At DL, lots of options. Plaza Inn buffeteria is surprisingly good. Jolly Holiday Bakery and Redd Rocketts Pizza Port are pretty decent.

 

[rmgreenesq]

As to crowds on Labor Day weekend, unlike a WDW runDisney event, Disneyland's half marathons tend to draw lots of locals. Since the race entry no longer includes admission, a lot of them leave after the race. The seasonal APs will be blocked out. It will be busy, but not crazy 4th of July level of busy.

 

[Canuck16]

World of Color should be considered strongly for your one show because there is nothing like it at WDW. WDW already has Fantasmic! (albeit not as good) as well as parade and fireworks.

I agree with this......WOC is amazing and since there is nothing like this at WDW this would be a good choice if you only have time for 1 nighttime show at DL.

Have fun!!

 

[Huff]

We always get hopper passes at DLR. The two parks are only a 5 minute walk apart at most. Hoppers allow you to spend the day at one park and enjoy night time shows etc. at the other. Usually CA closes a few hours before DL so its nice to be able to go over to DL and see Fantasmic and fireworks after a day at CA.

Not sure if things have changed but we also enjoyed being able to hold FP's for both CA and DL at the same time. We'd take a break and switch parks midday for lunch, collect another FP then had back to the original park.

Don't forget that Downtown Disney is also next to both parks. Makes it easy to have lunch at DTD and then head back to either park.

Radiator Springs FP's go fast. For CA next would be Soar'n. ToT usually is available all day with a somewhat short return time as is Scream'n.
At DL, Indy and Space Mountain run out quickly and can have very long return times. Space Mountain at DL is far superior than WDW's version. In car sound, sit side by side, smooth track etc. make for a fun ride rather than WDW's bone jarring version.

Splash Mountain can get very long lines during a summer afternoon. However, very late at night or if its overcast there is often little to no line.

Pirates and Haunted Mansion can be very short lines off and on through the day. Long usually only at peak afternoon times. Pirates is far superior than WDW's version. Much longer ride.

 

[frozengurl]

Thanks for all these tips~ I really appreciate it! I'm getting super excited now!! I grew up in FL and have always dreamed of visiting Disneyland... I'm so stinking excited!!!

 

[Filipina]

So I know the ends and outs of WDW~ I know all the sites to go to for advice etc. But when it comes to DL... I don't know ANYTHING!
I have some questions and am hoping for some advice~ any wisdom you are willing to share is greatly appreciated!
~I will be going to DL for the half marathon weekend in September... How crowded are the parks going to be? It is also Labor Day weekend!
~I've heard park hopping is easy at DL... Is it worth it though? I will only have 2 days and my plan was to spend one day at each park. Which park needs the most time?
~I will only be in the parks for one nighttime show? Which firework show should I go to? Can you see one outside the parks? I could catch one outside the parks on a different night.
~fast pass help!!! Where do I go first to get my FP's? In other words "which rides at DL are the "TSMM & 7DMT rides" I know there isn't a magic band system but I'm curious where I need to sprint to first to get a FP? Do they run out quickly like TSMM did?
~must do's and must see's?
*Any tips, advice, must try restaurants, best counter service restaurants, snacks, or ANYTHING you want to share about the magic of Disneyland is greatly appreciated!

Thank you

-I would invest in the Walk in Walts Footsteps Tour... I feel it's worth it and you will appreciate the differences of both parks. Plus, I think it includes lunch as well as you ride I think 2 rides with guide so no line. (double check)
-I think it's easy to Hop so I like the hopper.
-Go early both days. Us locals like to sleep in so it will be definitely more crowded later on in the day. Labor Day weekend is busy because for some school districts, it is the last day before school starts.
-If you can afford to stay at the Disneyland Hotel, I would. It is where the Half marathon Expo is, it's super close to the corral, and you probably will get magic morning hours.
-I like breakfast at Flos V8 Café in Carsland.
-I would ride Space Mountain. Pirates, and Small World even if you have it at WDW because they are different. And rumor has it something different will be added to Haunted Mansion so I would ride that too.
-You will be there during the 60th... I would watch Paint the Night Parade and then the Disneyland Forever Fireworks. I pretty much would plop myself on Main Street and catch both. I went to the media preview on Wednesday... they will be AWESOME!