WDW vet fears he is too lazy in planning for first visit to DL/DCA

[Fargoman2]

So I have done a fair amount of perusing this board in an effort to discover how best to experience our inaugural visit to DL/DCA. That includes some wonderfully descriptive accounts of the similarities and differences these parks have with WDW--our "home park" of some 13 annual visits.

What I could use now is a tidier, more concise attack plan that will help me best navigate my 3 days there in late July. It's 4 of us--me, DW, DD (22) and DS (16) staying at the GCH Villas.

I've not done a good job of distilling down the great tips presented all throughout these threads and the lazy, "I just don't want to think that hard about planning these trips any more" part of me just wants a really down and dirty cheat sheet. My fear is that I've become too complacent, if not downright cocky, about my ability to essentially wing it and make it work. I could be headed for trouble unless a) I get more focused and do the work of authoring a plan or b) one of you just gives me or points me to the best, most concise answers

thanks in advance for not judging my laziness

 

[figment_jii]

HydroGuy as a lost of tip lists...some of those will probably help you, but you'll still have come up with your plans.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

I think whether or not you need a plan will largely depend on how much you want to accomplish and how willing you are to wing things.

I would probably start by deciding whether you want TS or CS meals. If you want TS meals, pick the locations and see if you can get an ADR. That will help save some time in case the walk-up wait times are long.

The next big planning component (to me) is deciding on shows. Which daytime and nighttime shows do you want to see. Those are usually time sinks (in a good way), but it does mean you need to plan them into your schedule.

Finally, I would work in the rides you most want to see.

 

[HydroGuy]

Here is your best bet - since I will be there in late July with my DS22 and DS18, just tag along with us!

More seriously, I agree with Figment. So here is a quick cheat sheet for a three day trip:

1. Shows and parades - How much do you take in shows at WDW? Illuminations? FOTLK? Nemo? Fireworks? Fantasmic?

If you avoid shows at WDW then you will probably want to avoid them at DLR. If you like shows, then here are the two I would recommend most for someone like you in July:

A. World of Color at DCA
B. Aladdin at DCA

Before any others pile on about how Fantasmic is better than WOC - which is true for a majority of people - the OP may have seen Fantasmic at WDW so I am trying to point him to things that he can't see at WDW.

If you like Fantasmic at WDW, it is better at DLR and you will probably like it too. Is it worth spending time to see a show at DLR that is similar to one at WDW? Hard to say. If you think so then plan to see Fantasmic one evening.

Personally I would skip the fireworks at DL unless you are really into Disney fireworks shows.

Other shows and parades worth seeing IMO

- Soundsational at DL
- Mickey and the Magical Map at DL


2. Dining - Figment gave good advice here. Depending on how you like to dine we can give you a short list that will work. If you ask where to dine, you will likely get overwhelmed with different opinions just like you would at WDW.


3. Extra Morning Hours - They work much like those at WDW. Use them if you can get everyone up. At DL most folks head for Peter Pan first. At DCA, RSR or TSMM.


4. Smartphone app - If you use a smartphone, then maybe get an app for DLR? MouseWait is free. Lines from touringplans.com comes with a subscription and is one I like.

 

[conniehar90]

We are in the same situation. Read through Hydroguys post - it is really helpful.

I also subscribed to Ridemax which has helped me create a great touring plan for DL. They also have a lot of good tips in short concise pages. I am still struggling with my DCA touring plan, but I am sure I will be able to make it work.

 

[DDhunter]

I have never been to WDW but based on reports from my sister and her family, they planned every second like it was a military mission.

At Disneyland we mostly just "wing" it. There are only 2 things we ever plan at Disneyland and that is reservations for any sit down meals we want and fast pass plan of attack, usually grabbing either Space Mountain or Indiana Jones the second we get in the park (or in DCA the Racers in Cars Land). Then getting new fast passes the second we are allowed.

Other than those two things I think Disneyland/DCA is a great place to just wing it.

Our very first day there we hit every single major ride and most of the smaller ones too, had a sit-down dinner and caught the parade and fireworks. I don't think it requires the military precision that WDW does.

 

[momof2n2]

Subbing!!

 

[GatorChris]

Coming from a WDW vet who lives in CA and just did a DL trip, welcome to the state where the lazy are accepted and quite normal.

Here's what I can tell. First, you're lucky because you found this place before your trip. I didn't and missed a few cool things. Just peruse the posts here and get some ideas. I will say that I treated my November trip like when went to WDW for the first time in 2002. We went there and knew nothing. Luckily, it was before the Dining Plan took hold and we were able to get dining reservations at places like the Crystal Palace the morning of.

First, make sure you're there for about 4 days. That way you can hit both parks twice. That's how I do it at WDW and it works well for DLR resort as well. DL doesn't have a lot of great table service places like FL does, but it has a few. Take a look at what you'd like to try. If this is a once in a lifetime/10years trip to DL, plug in the Blue Bayou. Yes, the prices are high and the food is just OK, but to be able to eat on the rivers of Pirates is a pretty cool deal.

As for rides, think of DL as the MK plus. It just about everything the MK is, plus Star Tours, Indiana Jones, the Matterhorn (bring a neck brace), and the Submarines. Hit what you'd want to hit at MK first and don't expect fireworks every night unless you're there in the summer or during a holiday.

For DCA, go to Cars Land. It's amazing. The rest of the park is like MGM meets a touch of Epcot meets the Boardwalk. WOC is definitely a must see for a WDW regular. But you'll be missing a place to sit by the end of the show.

You'll also be missing Disney resorts. There's only three. If you have the cash, stay at one of them. If you don't, make sure you stay at a hotel across the street from the main entrance.

 

[Fargoman2]

Here is your best bet - since I will be there in late July with my DS22 and DS18, just tag along with us!

More seriously, I agree with Figment. So here is a quick cheat sheet for a three day trip:

1. Shows and parades - How much do you take in shows at WDW? Illuminations? FOTLK? Nemo? Fireworks? Fantasmic?

If you avoid shows at WDW then you will probably want to avoid them at DLR. If you like shows, then here are the two I would recommend most for someone like you in July:

A. World of Color at DCA
B. Aladdin at DCA

Before any others pile on about how Fantasmic is better than WOC - which is true for a majority of people - the OP may have seen Fantasmic at WDW so I am trying to point him to things that he can't see at WDW.

If you like Fantasmic at WDW, it is better at DLR and you will probably like it too. Is it worth spending time to see a show at DLR that is similar to one at WDW? Hard to say. If you think so then plan to see Fantasmic one evening.

Personally I would skip the fireworks at DL unless you are really into Disney fireworks shows.

Other shows and parades worth seeing IMO

- Soundsational at DL
- Mickey and the Magical Map at DL


2. Dining - Figment gave good advice here. Depending on how you like to dine we can give you a short list that will work. If you ask where to dine, you will likely get overwhelmed with different opinions just like you would at WDW.


3. Extra Morning Hours - They work much like those at WDW. Use them if you can get everyone up. At DL most folks head for Peter Pan first. At DCA, RSR or TSMM.


4. Smartphone app - If you use a smartphone, then maybe get an app for DLR? MouseWait is free. Lines from touringplans.com comes with a subscription and is one I like.

HYDROGUY ET AL..Brilliant! Each of you responders provided pithy, poignant insights that cut to the chase. Feeling better and all the more excited for our trip. Thanks so much!!

As for the restaurants, I think we will be mostly looking for good CS, but may want to splurge once at a good TS. Should it be Blue Bayou?

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Aladora]

HYDROGUY ET AL..Brilliant! Each of you responders provided pithy, poignant insights that cut to the chase. Feeling better and all the more excited for our trip. Thanks so much!!

As for the restaurants, I think we will be mostly looking for good CS, but may want to splurge once at a good TS. Should it be Blue Bayou?

Thanks again everyone!

Such a loaded question and one that has sparked quite a few discussions here.

There are those who adore BB, both for the food and the atmosphere.

There are those who love the atmosphere and hate the food.

There are those who love the atmosphere and are indifferent to the food.

I personally fall into the second category, I had my second worst meal in DL at BB just a few months ago. However, I think that it would be a shame to come all the way to CA and not eat a meal in BB, if only for the experience of eating inside POTC. For my money, I will eat elsewhere but if this is going to be your only trip out to the west coast, then I would say that you should experience BB once.

 

[figment_jii]

As for the restaurants, I think we will be mostly looking for good CS, but may want to splurge once at a good TS. Should it be Blue Bayou?

This a tough question. Blue Bayou seems to be one of those places folks really like or they find disappointing. I think overall, the food is good, but folks are expecting a lot more because of the price. To me, BB is the "iconic" restaurant at DLR because it's inside the PotC ride building. If you only going to DLR once or for the first time, I would choose to go to BB, but with the understanding that you're not going to a multi-star venue known for its cuisine. I liked the food and found it to be very yummy, but each person's preferences vary.

 

[HydroGuy]

As for the restaurants, I think we will be mostly looking for good CS, but may want to splurge once at a good TS. Should it be Blue Bayou?

This a tough question. Blue Bayou seems to be one of those places folks really like or they find disappointing. I think overall, the food is good, but folks are expecting a lot more because of the price. To me, BB is the "iconic" restaurant at DLR because it's inside the PotC ride building. If you only going to DLR once or for the first time, I would choose to go to BB, but with the understanding that you're not going to a multi-star venue known for its cuisine. I liked the food and found it to be very yummy, but each person's preferences vary.

Once again, I agree with Figment.

I think BB is a bit of crap shoot. If you like Whispering Canyon at WDW then BTRBBQ may be a more certain bet at DL. Second after that would be Cafe Orleans which has some similar food to BB - Cajun. The advantage would be outside seating and lower expectations.

At DCA your best TS bet would probably be CCR. Like BB it is the signature restaurant and like BB it has a bit of a mixed reputation.

As for CS, I would recommend Flo's Diner in CarsLand and Pacific Wharf Cafe at DCA, and most folks like Plaza Inn at DL.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

For years I was a big BB fan, mostly for the ambiance and the Monte Cristo. But last year we did Cafe Orleans for the first time and we loved it. We ate out on the patio with the view of New Orleans Square and the Rivers of America, and we thought the food was both cheaper and better than at BB. It's our don't-miss ADR now and we'd choose it over BB.

 

[buzznina]

As a WDW vet, I use to plan every detail of our trip but on a last minute trip, we had no plan and totally enjoyed the freedom and have not gone back since. We now go with a general plan of what we want to accomplish and then do the rest as we go. This has made our trips to WDW SO MUCH more enjoyable. This is how we attacked our 1st trip, last month to DL/DCA and it worked well for us. Did we have to stand in a couple of lines longer then if I would have planned everything out? Yes, but we took our time and enjoyed the nooks and crannies that we would have wizzed by with a concise plan. We also did 5 days between the 2 parks, we rode every ride that we wanted to go on at least once, and our list of "must rides" we did at least 3 times We only missed one show, and if we really wanted to, we could have seen it.

 

[ktlm]

WDW vet, with a love of both coasts here. Laziness is allowed at DL/CA. Everything is within walking distance at DL, so you don't have to have a set plan of attack. The items you need a plan for are:

1. World of Color
2. Fantasmic
3. Radiator Springs Racers
4. Anna and Elsa (and the best plan for that right now is to skip them if at all possible)
5. A TS meal or two if you so desire (I will say that while we like and book TS meals, that unlike at WDW where I would go nuts after a day of CS, at DL I could happily live on the CS options and the places you can walk up to and get in without a reservation).

Other than those- no planning is necesesary or required! That's one of the things we love about DL/CA!

I would recommend that you not miss the Aladdin show, the Indiana Jones ride and POTC-- although DL's POTC will ruin you for the WDW version.

We love the Blue Bayou atmosphere- think San Angel at EPCOT. I'm not a fan of the food though and would skip it if DH didn't really like it. DH always gets the Salmon and says it is really good. I'm not a seafood fan. It've had the chicken, and the filet mignon, and I don't think either are worth the price or anything to write home about.

If you are remotely into character meals, my favorite TS at DL/CA is Minnie's Breakfast. It beats all the WDW character meals. We do it around 10:00 a.m. and get park time first. The least amount of characters we have seen are 7, and usually we see more. It is not your typical WDW character meal characters either, and you never know who you are going to see- we've seen Rafiki, Hook, Fairy Godmother, Max, Tweedle Dum, Gepetto, Chip and Dale, Minnie, Mad Hatter, Alice, Brer Fox, Mary Poppins Penguin, Pinnochio Eeyore, Pooh, Tigger, Sleeping Beauty, and more I can't remember.

Have a fun trip!

 

[royalshortness]

For years I was a big BB fan, mostly for the ambiance and the Monte Cristo. But last year we did Cafe Orleans for the first time and we loved it. We ate out on the patio with the view of New Orleans Square and the Rivers of America, and we thought the food was both cheaper and better than at BB. It's our don't-miss ADR now and we'd choose it over BB.

My understanding is that Cafe Orleans also offers the Monte Cristo as well but is much less expensive. That being said, is the portion size the same? My sister and I shared the one at Blue Bayou and was wondering if it we could get away with doing the same at Cafe Orleans.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

My understanding is that Cafe Orleans also offers the Monte Cristo as well but is much less expensive. That being said, is the portion size the same? My sister and I shared the one at Blue Bayou and was wondering if it we could get away with doing the same at Cafe Orleans.

Yep! It's the same sandwich and same size, but with different (fewer) sides, which makes it cheaper. Cafe Orleans also offers a cheese-only version. In fact, one order each of a Monte Cristo, pommes frites, and Mickey beignets is easily enough for two hungry people and is a popular combination on here.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

After doing a few trips to WDW, I've sort of burned out on PLANNING, which is why we enjoy DLR so much! My plan of action for DLR is to read everything I can find on the DIS boards, make a few mental notes of what we want to do ... and then just wing it. I think the casual dining options at DLR are very good, along with the DTD and Garden Walk restaurants so you aren't tied into a schedule of ADRs like you are at WDW.

Have a wonderfully relaxing time at DLR!

 

[BunnieGene]

After doing a few trips to WDW, I've sort of burned out on PLANNING, which is why we enjoy DLR so much! My plan of action for DLR is to read everything I can find on the DIS boards, make a few mental notes of what we want to do ... and then just wing it. I think the casual dining options at DLR are very good, along with the DTD and Garden Walk restaurants so you aren't tied into a schedule of ADRs like you are at WDW.

Have a wonderfully relaxing time at DLR!

We are the same! We have an upcoming MNSSHP trip and I don't even want to think about Fast Pass Plus lol...

 

[chrisaman]

We are spur of the moment kind of people. The only exception would be if we want to eat at the busy disney restaurants like BB, CCR, NR...... Other wise if we see a rid we want to do with a shorter wait, we ride it.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

..... and I don't even want to think about Fast Pass Plus lol...

I hear you! We are also very much seat-of-the-pants visitors, and after having been to DLR, the thought of going to WDW is much less attractive. IMHO, there is a "hum" of frenzied activity at WDW where everyone is rushing to get to an ADR, waiting around at the end of the night for buses back to your resort, hurrying to get a good spot for a parade, etc.