WDW vet-how much planning for DL

[nonzerosum]

I consider myself to be a WDW pro, but we would really like to start going to DL as it is much closer to home. I have read that the strategies required of a successful and melt-down free trip to WDW with kids aren't as necessary of DL (dinner ressies, ride strategies, transportation). Is this really true? I'm very organized and a big planner, so I'd approach this trip the same way, but I would also really welcome not having to make dinner ressies 3 months in advance and building in 2.5+ hours of transportation time every day. I won't be disappointed in DL, right? Could I love it even more than WDW? I've read that one should avoid weekends all year round, which is very good info. Is there a particular month that you like best? I know it's a trade-off between hours of operation/refurbs and crowds, but I thought I'd ask you guys. I wouldn't dream of a summer trip to WDW--way too sticky for us, but is July ok in DL.

 

[Donalyn]

OP - I can't answer your question, but as an other WDW pro who is starting to plan her first trip to DL since 1979, I'm interested in all of the responses. We are going in mid-June 2010.

(This trip to DL is part of a longer trip for a family reunion and will push back our planned return to WDW from November 2010 to maybe November 2011. My parents, sister and her kids will be joining us for part of the time at the parks and it will be their first trip (and likely only trip ever) to a Disney park. So, the planner in me is going crazy trying to learn as much as possible.)

 

[DLR29]

Well DLR does have its planning perks over WDW. Your main mode of transportation is your own two feet. No buses, boats, monorails (unless you want to go from Downtown Disney to Tomorrowland). The two parks at DLR are separated by an esplanade that takes about 2 minutes to walk across.

Also, no ADRs that need to be made 90 days in advance. At DLR they are called PSs (Priority Seating), but the low amount of TS restaurants mean you don't have to be on the phone at 7AM exactly 90 days in advance. Actually, except for character meals, you probably will only want PSs for dinners, assuming you eat TS (which for every dinner would be kinda expensive). The only exception is the Blue Bayou restaurant, located inside the Pirates ride, right on the water.

While we're talking about dining, the DLR dining plan has many more flaws than the WDW one. First, you don't get "meals", you get "money vouchers", and you don't get change if you use these money vouchers. So let's say you buy a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar for $3 or $4 with a $5 voucher. Well, you lose $1 in change. But what happens when you use up all of your $5 vouchers? You either have to pay oop (which defeats the purpose of a dining plan) or use a $10 voucher and lose $6 in change (which can add up fast). You also cannot use the vouchers at Downtown Disney, where most of the TS restaurants are. Stick with counter service places, unless you want a sit down meal or two.

July is not a horrible time to visit the resort. Unlike WDW, there aren't huge tour groups, there aren't giant thunderstorms every day, no muggy weather. There are decent sized crowds, but the crowds in late June and late August are worse. And if you follow the basic touring tips at WDW (Arrive at rope drop, use FP a lot), you can get a lot done. Also, DL has longer hours during the summer. 8-midnight every night and Magic Morning (for onsite guests or those with a 3 or more day park hopper) is an hour before that.

Last, you should read Hydroguy's amazing thread for WDW vets:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[ballarinamom]

Though there are similarities between Dl and MK, there are still differences. As stated, you will still want PS for character meals and Blue Bayou. Unlike WDW, the character meals offer a AAA discount. You also have DTD right there as a supplement to your dining options.
Make yourself familiar with the rides that offer fastpass.
Get there before rope drop. Which will be much easier as the park is so close to all of the hotels. I know on our trip to WDW, we took a cab to and from our Disney hotel because the wait for the bus was too long. Or we would just miss the cutoff to get on the bus. If we wanted to make rope drop, it was our only option. You won't have that problem at DL.
Also keep in mind the rides that have differences from the WDW counterparts. IASW, Pirates, ALL OF TOONTOWN, Space Mountain.... And the exclusives- Alice, Matterhorn, Indy (soooo much better than Dino)....

We live in Texas which is in the middle of the two. We will never go back to WDW as we soooo prefer DL for the convenience, the quaintness...
Hope you grow to love DL as much as we do!

 

[HydroGuy]

I consider myself to be a WDW pro, but we would really like to start going to DL as it is much closer to home. I have read that the strategies required of a successful and melt-down free trip to WDW with kids aren't as necessary of DL (dinner ressies, ride strategies, transportation). Is this really true? I'm very organized and a big planner, so I'd approach this trip the same way, but I would also really welcome not having to make dinner ressies 3 months in advance and building in 2.5+ hours of transportation time every day. I won't be disappointed in DL, right? Could I love it even more than WDW? I've read that one should avoid weekends all year round, which is very good info. Is there a particular month that you like best? I know it's a trade-off between hours of operation/refurbs and crowds, but I thought I'd ask you guys. I wouldn't dream of a summer trip to WDW--way too sticky for us, but is July ok in DL.

Pretty much what you have heard is right on.

July visits to DLR are way more tolerable than WDW. SoCal does have heat waves so no promises, but here is a weather comparison FYI

"Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

Because of the mix of visitors, proximity of the parks and hotels, and longer park hours (as mentioned by others) then touring DLR especially in the summer has some differences from WDW. I wrote up a thread specifically on this topic:

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

For someone compelled to plan, I found RideMax very helpful on my first trip to WDW. It helped me get a feel for the traffic patterns at the parks. Between RM, TGM and the Unofficial Guide we did pretty well in our first WDW trip in 2006. We never followed a strict RideMax itinerary but did scope our plans for each day around what RM said was possible. RideMax has a DLR version too - see www.ridemax.com.

It is true that DLR does not require the same detailed planning as WDW. No need to choose which parks you want to go to far in advance and work with or around Extra Magic Hours. Most DLR vets parkhop between DL and DCA every day at least once if not two or three times. The whole philosophy of parkhopping at DLR is entirely different from WDW because the parks are so close. Do some level of planning but do not sweat it. Spend some time on this forum and we will have you well prepared!

In answer to your question about favorite months, I like the warmth of the summer months. If you want to avoid crowds but want some warmth then May and early June are good months. Sept and Oct are also pretty warm but have more refurbs than May usually. If you want all the entertainment and limited refurbs, then June- August are fine. I would pick last week of June after the AP blockouts as an optimal time for me.

 

[Donalyn]

For the WDW/Disboard pros out there, it seems that Hydroguy is to DL what Robo is the WDW - very knowledgable, willing to share and on Disboards alot.

 

[tjl1388]

As a WDW vet myself who just got back from a week at DL I will put it in a way that all WDW vets will understand.

We walked out of Blue Bayou (bad dining experience) at 7pm on a Thurs. night. I called Dis. dining walking out the door of BB and had a CHARACTER Dinner at Disneyland Hotel reserved for 8:30 THE SAME NIGHT!!!

We all know that if you tried that at WDW the dining cast member would laugh you off the phone.

People in Cali are so laid back its not even funny. From park opening to around 11a the park is dead and get busier as the day goes on. By nightfall the parks are alive with activity.

They take fireworks and fantasmic WAY more serious than we do. We routinely saw people on blankets waiting for Fantasmic 3 hours before show time. Ummm, no thank you.

Being WDW vets we waaay over planned but that is never a bad thing. The only advance dining that I would worry about 90 days out is Napa Rose and even then only if you want a chefs table.

Any other questions I will do my best. As stated above I would go read Hydroguys tips at the top of the DL page. They are a wealth of knowledge.


Have fun...

 

[Leofoenget]

I have gone end of June 2 years in a row now and it was WONDERFUL, but it was AFTER the So Cal select AP's were blocked out, so NOT that crowded. Weather perfect, crowds very managable. We always stay across the street and walk across the street.


Good site for picking hotels. To stay

http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

 

[nonzerosum]

Thanks everyone! Hydroguy, you rock!!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

All Disneyland dinner reservations can be made 60 days out from your trip. While I wouldn't recommend this, I have been able to land a character meal 2 hours before the meal took place, and have booked character meals on 2 other occasions less than a week out.

DLR planning is nowhere near as complicated as WDW planning, but it's still a very good idea so you learn which rides have FastPass and the best time to experience those that don't. I've found that many touring tips that work at the DLR also work at WDW.

As for the loaded question of "could I love it even more than I love WDW" that all depends. If the MK is what makes WDW special for you, then I think it's possible that you may find yourself wondering why you waited so long to experience Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. If you love WDW for other reasons, then you may well find that you love both about the same for different reasons.

For me, Disneyland is "home" in a way the MK never will be. But Epcot is wonderful, the dining options are tremendous, and the resort experience is incredible. I cannot choose between Disneyland and WDW. I love them both approximately the same for entirely different reasons.

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

I plan for both WDW and DL. What everyone is saying is right. You can do DL without any planning but for me the preplanning makes the trip much more enjoyable.
In July just be prepared for the heat, but it is a dry heat.

Here is a sample schedule I would say the more people you have the more planning you need. I do typically plan the meal which then helps determine which park we will be in.

Saturday DLR 8-midnight DCA 10-9 5/3
Leaving at 4
Arrive at 9
Disneyland Park
Princess Fantasy Fair (TT,FL,TL)
Lunch Pizza Port
Break swim (call to check on room) nap 2-5 (AL,NO,CC,FrL)
Dinner Blue Bayou 6:50 (6) Priority seating
Fireworks 9:25 Small world

Sunday DLR 8-11 DCA 10-10 5/4 MM
Disneyland 7-2
Carnation café 10 Priority setting
Break 2-4 (get soaring fast pass)
Snacks at Tortilla Joes
DCA 4-10
Pixar play parade 515
Burr bank ice cream
Dinner at 830 Wine Tatorrina priority seating
Electrical light parade 845
Fantasmic 10:30

Monday DLR 10-8 DCA 10-6 5/5 Cinco de Mayo
Breakfast Arial character 9:40 (main gate DCA at 9:20) priority seating
DCA 10-2
Visa meet and greet by 11:30 by Monster inc
Aladdin Show 1225
DLR 2-8
Dinner Hook's Point 815 priority seating
Check into flight

As you can see not a complex as WDW schedule.
Good luck!!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

DH and I fly from East Coast Cities so WDW is far closer....but we enjoy DL.

There is a quiet magic to the place - I believe it comes from the fact that it's the original.

Yes, the castle is smaller - but you can walk through it and stand on the stones Walt walked on - the gardens surrounding are beautiful.

I have never been a commando and my DH has drifted from the practice over the past few years - even at WDW. We are very --- seat of the pants at DL and love the flexibility. We CAN get reservations the same day and the only ones we book before we leave home is Napa Rose and BB.

Someone earlier said it - they are simply more laid back in California. I did not notice the pushing and rude behavior on our last trip.

We stay at the Grand Cali (our most favorite Disney hotel - hands down) and the quick walk into the park is FABULOUS.

Once we walk through those beautiful front doors of the Grand Cali....we are home and happy.

I wish we lived closer to Anaheim!

Next Disney trip....guess where? DISNEYLAND!

 

[HydroGuy]

For the WDW/Disboard pros out there, it seems that Hydroguy is to DL what Robo is the WDW - very knowledgable, willing to share and on Disboards alot.

I think Robo is about 30,000 posts ahead of me. And a lot funnier too.

 

[jpeka65844]

I would definitely second much of what is already been said. Here's my highlights (even if they're redundant)

1. Do the parks early; they didn't fill up until noon and if you're staying on-property, you'll have an early entry morning. We used it one morning and did a full day's rides (some even twice!) before lunch!

2. Interesting what someone said about Fantasmic and fireworks. We were in DL on July 4th and people were camping out for Fantasmic by noon and by 3 or so in the afternoon, the entire hub in front of the castle looked like a squatter's camp. Surprised Disney allowed that. For Fantasmic, we did the dessert party and while $$$, it was well worth it!

3. While it might be easier to get PS's in D'land, I wouldn't recommend going without them; especially if there's somewhere you really want to eat. We typically ate dinner at about 5:30 and found that most of the restaurants were empty when we showed up but were really full when we left. The only lunch we ate was Blue Bayou and it was packed. So if there's something you have your heart set on, definitely plan for it! This was our first, and only trip for awhile so we wanted to make the most of it and didn't mind planning.

4. I would recommend staying as close to the Disney gate as possible. Yes, you'll be using your feet plenty in the parks. Why add distance and time to your walk AFTER you leave? We stayed at the Grand Californian which was heavenly but if on-property isn't for you, find one as close as you can. Our friends who came with us stayed at the Candy Cane Inn and alternated between using their shuttle and walking.

We LOVED the atmosphere at DL. It makes WDW look a little....tightly wound. I think at WDW, you get more "once-in-a-lifetime" people who are heck-bent on getting it ALL in and the pace can reflect that. DL people are mainly local who've been many many times and prefer to take things slow.

This WDW vet can't WAIT to go back to DL (most likely for Christmas, 2011)!!!!!!

 

[basketballmom]

I think you will love Disneyland! We are going at the end of the week. This will be our 4th trip in 5 years. Last year, DH made us go to WDW instead. While there were lots of things I liked about WDW, it was very stressful to me. (and I am a planner!)

At Disneyland, we follow a very loose plan and just go with the flow. For example, we have to be at the park at opening. We know what days we want to see shows. This next week, Aladdin is on Saturday and Sunday but not on the other days we are there. So we will see it on one of these days. Same with Billy Hill. We have one PS for breakfast at Carnation Cafe on Monday. We know the other places we want to eat, (CS) but won't decide until mealtime where to eat. We will do TTMM on Monday and MM on Tuesday.

That is the extent of our scheduling. We collect fastpasses all morning and use them all evening. We have been known to ride Splash, at the back of DL, and then head to Screamin' at the back of DCA. Looking at past lists, we average well over 15 rides/shows a day, even with a 3-4 hour break at the hotel.