WDW vet - not sure about DL?

[dtr_angel]

My husband and I *might* be able to take a little vacation together next May (he just started a new job) and we're looking into alternatives to Disney World since we have a big trip planned for my graduation in January 2012. I just got the idea to look into Disneyland. I've looked before, but it always seemed "too expensive" and never thought more of it. Here are my questions...

how many days do we really need to spend there? There are only 2 parks, right? (Magic Kingdom & California Adventure?) I was thinking 3-4 days max. Where as WDW we always need 7. We are such huge fans of WDW because it's so easy - Disney's Magical Express, the dining plan, etc. Which airport would be fly into, and is renting a car the only way to get to a hotel (I'm assuming we would stay in a disney hotel). What about transportation to and from the park, or downtown disney - is that provided by Disney like in Orlando? Is this dining comparable to WDW?

I have a lot of questions and just wondering if it would work out to take a short trip to Cali to see Disneyland for the first time. Any info is appreciated!

 

[brenda1966]

Just do it!

I'm sure hydroguy will come on here and give you all kinds of good advice. You can fly into a variety of airports (LAX, John Wayne and a few others in S. CA). You can take a shuttle to get the Disney, so you really don't need a car unless you plan to explore other parts of CA (and there are plenty of nice things to see there). Everything is walking distance at DL if you stay onsite!

I think 4 days is a good amount to see and do everything.

 

[HydroGuy]

My husband and I *might* be able to take a little vacation together next May (he just started a new job) and we're looking into alternatives to Disney World since we have a big trip planned for my graduation in January 2012. I just got the idea to look into Disneyland. I've looked before, but it always seemed "too expensive" and never thought more of it. Here are my questions...

IMO May is the best off-season month to visit DLR. However, be careful about off-season dates - see "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

Also, one major ride and a couple mid-level rides are scheduled to open in May or possibly early June - Little Mermaid is one of them. Star Tours 2 is another. So you may miss that if you care.

Finally pay attention to grad nights - "The Scoop on Grad Nights at DLR in May and June" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

how many days do we really need to spend there? There are only 2 parks, right? (Magic Kingdom & California Adventure?) I was thinking 3-4 days max. Where as WDW we always need 7.

3-4 days is right, but be careful about the "only two parks" thing. DL and DCA have a much higher concentration of rides and shows than WDW. The four WDW parks put together have only 10% more rides than DLR's two parks! FYI.

Also, IMO the top three shows at DLR are better than the WDW shows - and World of Color opening on Friday will probably make it four.

Remember Dreams Come True fireworks/laser/special effects is the best fireworks-type show Disney has evern created and usually shows in May. Most people including me think Fantasmic at DL is much better than at DHS. And the Aladdin stage show at DCA is better than any of the WDW stages shows. It is 40 minutes long and you will laugh til it hurts.

Between fireworks, Fantasmic and World of Color you may have three evenings planned right there. Which means four days would be better than three.

Which airport would be fly into, and is renting a car the only way to get to a hotel (I'm assuming we would stay in a disney hotel). What about transportation to and from the park, or downtown disney - is that provided by Disney like in Orlando? Is this dining comparable to WDW?

If it works for you, SNA is the closest and best airport for DLR. Here is a run down of your options:

"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

No Magical Express. The market in SoCal is different (too many airports and not enough people flying to DLR).

God gave you everything you need to get to and from the parks - two feet. Everything is walking distance. Hopping from DL to DCA is a 100 yard walk. DTD is another 100 yards. The Disney hotels and a dozen good neighbors are within a 10 minute walk to the gates.

Dining is one area where DLR falls short of WDW. There are some good options, but for most DLR visitors dining plays a lesser role. Mostly because a much higher majority of DLR visitors are SoCal residents on day trips (like 70%).

I have a lot of questions and just wondering if it would work out to take a short trip to Cali to see Disneyland for the first time. Any info is appreciated!

Check out these links:

* DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!

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

Have a magical visit to DLR! DLR rocks!

 

[HydroGuy]

Just do it!

I'm sure hydroguy will come on here and give you all kinds of good advice. You can fly into a variety of airports (LAX, John Wayne and a few others in S. CA). You can take a shuttle to get the Disney, so you really don't need a car unless you plan to explore other parts of CA (and there are plenty of nice things to see there). Everything is walking distance at DL if you stay onsite!

I think 4 days is a good amount to see and do everything.

Who me?

 

[mrswh]

I have been to both WDW and DLR several times and let me tell you, I will never again refer to anything about WDW as "easy." DLR is downright dreamy when it comes to convenience. If you can get a direct flight into SNA (John Wayne/Orange County), that's the way to go. A beautiful, easy to navigate, small airport. 15-20 minutes to DLR. Easy to rent a car (or take a cab or arrange for a car service if you don't need a car). It is a utopia compared to the chaos of LAX.

4 days would be a great trip, and you will see/do as much as you do in 7 at WDW because you don't have to take a tram, monorail, bus and/or boat to get from one place to another. I really can't emphasize enough the beauty of having the two parks and DTD in the same entrance plaza. You can get from one park to the other faster than you can get down main street at MK.

If you stay at a Disney hotel, you don't need transportation. Just bring your two feet. GCH and DLH are right there in DTD. An easy walk to the parks (or you can even take the monorail into Tomorrowland). I'm not sure of the route into the parks from PPH but I am sure it is somewhere in Hydroguy's links/maps. There are a zillion other hotels up and down Harbor that are within walking distance or have frequent, free shuttles to and from the parks. The cost of the "good neighbor" hotels (the aforementioned zillion) is literally 1/3rd of the cost of hotels around WDW.

There is not as much emphasis on dining at DLR as there is at WDW. But with both parks and DTD, there are plenty of dining options all in one place. The DLR hotels do offer a dining plan but it doesn't seem to be all that cost-effective. Maybe it would work better for you than for us.

Check it out - you won't regret it!

 

[Castillo Mom]

I love WDW too and even though we have only two parks in California, there reallly is a lot to see. Fantasmic! out here is better and a different experience than at DHS. I saw WOC on Sunday and the show is spectacular. There will also be night time entertainment once WOC debuts which sounds like a lot of fun from what I've read.

I'd definitely recommend a trip out if you can swing it - I don't think you'll regret it.

 

[CMHusband]

Hydroguy is like a machine! I'm impressed (and dizzy) Great Info!!!
I do think if you can afford the time 4 days would be a minimum. There are plenty of hotels that are not on the DLR property and very reasonably priced, heck - I've heard of people paying $45 per night at some places that are walking distance to the park (depends on time of year) All of California Adventure can be done in one day pretty much - but Hydro is right about nighttime entertainment. There is plenty of it and its all very high quality and I you're coming all the way out here to CA, you'll have to see World of Color - It is a truly phenomenal show.

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

Hydroguy is like a machine! I'm impressed (and dizzy) Great Info!!!

I to bow to Hydro's greatness ........

 

[skiingfast]

I have been to both WDW and DLR several times and let me tell you, I will never again refer to anything about WDW as "easy."

I've never though about is like that but ITA! It's so easy to just go with the flow at DLR. Planning WDW is a PITA, not that I don't like the planning, it's just complex.


OP, consider getting a car for just part of your trip and seeing somemore of SoCal if you haven't been there before. 3or4 days at DLR and 3or4 in LA, SD makes for a very full vacation.

 

[mdsd8700]

I will say that I am not as knowledgable about DLR information as some of the others, but I will chime in by saying that if you have the chance to visit DLR then you should take it. We have been there 3 times and are going back next month (VGC). I always tell people who ask me which I prefer or what I think is better, DLR or WDW that if you are a Disney Lover (which I think most here are) then if the opportunity affords itself you should visit the original Magic Kingdom at least once. I personally love the MK in CA better than in WDW. It is smaller in size so it easier to get from one place to another, but it is Walt's Park and I just love being there. DCA has always been fun but now with the World of Color (can't wait to see it!) it takes it to another level in my opinion. We always do other "California" things while we are there. Last time we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway. WDW has more options (food, actiivites, parks) but DLR is where it all started and I think every Disney Fan should experience it if they can.

 

[IlliniMouse]

We just returned from our first DLR trip a few days ago. If you have an opportunity, go for it! We were able to spend 5 days in the park, and we could have done it in 3-4 for first timers.

Getting around is SO much easier than WDW. You can walk everywhere. If I remember correctly it was 180ish steps from the turnstiles of DL to CA. (Yes, I counted one morning!) No boats, buses, monorails or cars to worry about getting around from park to park at DLR!

We flew into LAX and rented a car. It was easy enough to get around, but then again, we never hit heavy traffic. It was nice to have a car because we went offsite for a day.

Dining isn't nearly as frantic as WDW. I cancelled a PS (Priority Seating at WLR vs ADR's of WDW) for breakfast the night before the reservation and made a different one at a different restaurant for the very next day! We ate off site almost as much as at DLR, so there are close by options.

While we stayed busy at DLR, we weren't totally wiped out like we are when we got to WDW. And it took me til day 6 to get blisters on my feet instead of day 3 like at WDW.

 

[HydroGuy]

I to bow to Hydro's greatness ........

Let's not let this get out of hand now...

 

[Dizneydaz]

PPs are right, dining at DLR is a totally different experience than at WDW. You can get ressies at DLR even the day of (I have called an hour before we wanted lunch at WTC at got PS there ). At DLR you won't feel like you have to have PS everyday day. If there are special restaurants you want to eat at, then by all means make PS there (Ariel's, Goofy, etc.)

Besides the fact that DLR and DCA are only 1-2 minutes apart another added benefit is DTD is just also only a few minutes walk away. We have AP so we don't stay on property but we will usually eat one meal while there (unless it's a 4-5 hour trip-then we eat before or after on the road-Yum-Del Taco!)

Some of our favorite CS are:
Pizza Port in TL
Plaza Inn (end of Main St, entrance to TL) They have some of the best fried chicken and you get a 1/2 chicken. We get double mashed and skip the green beans-they are never any good. This is a meal we share between 2 or 3 people. Really.
White Water Snacks in GC hotel. An easy walk from DCA. Not your standard park food, less crowded.
Jazz Kitchen Express in DTD. Great beignets! Gumbo Ya Ya! Kid's Popcorn Chicken.

Favorite Sit Downs-
WCT in DCA-they have a new menu so haven't tried that yet.
HoB-have recently eaten here using restaurant.com certificates. A new fav!
Cafe Orleans-NOS The Pommes Frites are worth going for.

We haven't done any of the character meals at DLR. We only do those while at WDW.

 

[dtr_angel]

Thank you everyone who replied, you have been SO helpful and now we know we definitely want to try to do this!

It is very up in the air, we have no clue if my husband will be able to take the time off work but we have a plan if he can! We're going to probably stay at a "good neighbor" hotel since it's much cheaper (unless there is a good promotion that comes out) Our biggest expense is probably going to be airfare since we are flying across the country, so hopefully we can save on the hotel.

Thanks again, I'll update if we get to plan the trip after all!

 

[GrandBob]

Our biggest expense is probably going to be airfare since we are flying across the country, so hopefully we can save on the hotel.

Check out Virgin America, Jet Blue, and Southwest.

We just visited NYC and DC, and got round-trip on Virgin America for about $250pp/rt by booking way in advance. Virgin goes from Dulles nonstop to LAX (we flew from SFO).

JetBlue also usually has good fares. They have a nonstop from Dulles to Long Beach, which is even more convenient.

If you book far enough in advance, you may get very good fares.

Enjoy Walt's park!

-Bob

 

[dtr_angel]

Check out Virgin America, Jet Blue, and Southwest.

We just visited NYC and DC, and got round-trip on Virgin America for about $250pp/rt by booking way in advance. Virgin goes from Dulles nonstop to LAX (we flew from SFO).

JetBlue also usually has good fares. They have a nonstop from Dulles to Long Beach, which is even more convenient.

If you book far enough in advance, you may get very good fares.

Enjoy Walt's park!

-Bob

Thanks for the info!
Luckily (or not luckily since we don't have an airport where we live, lol) we have 3 major airports that are 2.5 hours away - BWI, Dulles, and PIT. Dulles to Long Beach sounds amazing non stop!

 

[deejdigsdis]

Not the best picture -- (I was taking a picture of the lack of crowds) -- but you can kind of see the distance between the 2 parks. It was taken from the Disneyland Railroad. You can see the turnstiles for Disneyland in the foreground (covered area). In the middle of the background you can see the "O R N I A" part of the "CALIFORNIA" letters. The turnstiles for DCA are not far beyond that area. Very easy jaunt!

 

[skiingfast]

It is very up in the air, we have no clue if my husband will be able to take the time off work but we have a plan if he can! We're going to probably stay at a "good neighbor" hotel since it's much cheaper (unless there is a good promotion that comes out) Our biggest expense is probably going to be airfare since we are flying across the country, so hopefully we can save on the hotel.

Thanks again, I'll update if we get to plan the trip after all!

When you check airfare search to all 4 area airports. SNA LGB LAX and ONT. They are usually all about the same within 20%, and some airlines only go to some of them. But you never know where will be the best deal at least it will give you flexibility on arrival and departure times.

 

[Tikestoublie]

Jetblue is a nice choice as they are inexpensive one of the last ones that let you take a free bag (checked). Southwest is another good option if available to you and allow 2 checked bags! This can be important when looking at costs to fly out.

Hope you make it out here!

 

[KCmike]

Take it from WDW vet to another:

DL=AMAZING

We have been now four years in a row. We love it. California is amazing. We grew tired of WDW and wanted to do other things. When you can couple disney with the Pacific OCean, San Diego, Monterey, San FRan, Yosemite National Park or just LA it turns out to be wonderful.

DL is so much fun. We enjoyed the smaller park, the nostalgia, the rides so much better, more attention to detail in my opinion and so many more things that are better (Fantasmic!, Aladdin stage show, pirates, space, tiki, etc.).

One thing WDW still has over DL is the food. DL needs better restaurants. It is not an all immersive resort as well but we love it anyway. I love not being on a bus for a half hour. I love not having to walk a mile to get to an attraction. I love that Walt built it for his daughters and wife.

My wife thought we would go to DL one year and get it out of my system to try something else.....ha ha.....we've been back to California ever since and now they keep adding big E ticket attractions....WOC, Little Mermaid and Star Tours 2.0 in 2011 plus the Disney Cruise Line begins, and Carsland in 2012.