WDW Vet returns to DL - quick observations

[ckb_nc]

Third time tfor me, second time for both DDs. I was out for work early in the week and the DDs met from college, one in grad school and one in undergrad flew in on Thursday to meet me. 3 nights with 2 days at DLR. We stayed in an AirBnB in Orange that was incredible aka the Tiny House. 15 minutes door to door to the Toy Story lot.

We used the Toy Story lot exclusively as younger DD needs a wheelchair due to some lingering ankle issues. This dropped us off close to the wheelchair rental side and we got spots close to the bus terminal every time. Part of the ocer dose of Pixie Dust we had.

Some crazy moments:

1. Scoring a RoR boarding group first day while riding Space Mountain. We were pulling into the Space Mountain station after riding before 8am on Friday I got us into BG 71.
2. Max Pass was incredible. We got tons of FPs first day and we literally waited for nothing day one, some because of the wheelchair as well. I love MaxPass but it would not work well at WDW. The proximity of the two parks make it feasible at DLR>
3. FP+ at WDW is increasingly becoming a pain. We are going in March (younger DD and I) and could not get a decent FP at 65 days out for Slinky Dog. Crazy town while we scored great FP that day at DLR. I miss the old FP system.
4. Characters - just hanging out, mingling like no business. Younger DD has a shoulder tattoo of To Die would be an awfully big adventure" and got to scroll through DL with Peter.

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5. So man rides better at DLR than WDW - Buzz is better by far, the overlay of Nightmare before Christmas on HM was incredible. We all love Tower but the Guardians version at DCA is amazing. My son might never leave - he would literally want to just stand in the queue.
6. We liked the food in the parks - we ate at the Plaza Inn for late brunch on Friday, Carnation Cafe for lunch Saturday (Note: eating by the exit watching Main Street was super cool, getting a hair in my patty melt was clearly not) and Cafe New Orleans Saturday night. Of the 3, Cafe New Orleans was the least favorite but we scored a reservation the day before. Trust me, that would never happen at WDW.
7. We forgot how small every thing is, especially the queues. Saturday the line for Pirates spilled out into park - but was only a 30 minute wait. If that happened at WDW, more like 75 minutes. The only queues that compare are Indy, and the new rides at Galaxy's Edge.
8. We went and had dinner in Downtown Disney Friday night - very pleasant meal at Naples. Again, it was a pleasant stroll from DL. Able to walk up and be seated in 15 minutes. That would never happen at Disney Springs on a holiday weekend.

Now to the real highlights - Peter Pan was amazing experience, right out of some Disney ad.

We got Boarding Groups both days to Rise and rose it twice with zero hiccups or problems. Given some of the reports, that was an incredible blessing of major Pixie dust. The second morning we were in the main square by the flag pole. Right at 8 am the quiet turned into a road as people scored BGs - it was surreal and I was literally shaking as it was like being at a major sporting event. Younger DD scored group 36.

The First day was just crazy - the group behind us in line had the woman who designed the ride vehicles She had done the trackless vehicles at Luigi's and now Rise. That'r right - she designed part of the ride. And her husband started asking my daughter questions about Physical Therapy, as older DD is in grad school for PT while the younger is going to be a nurse. Proud papa moment right there. And when we got off, Randomland was right there and I made his video. In fact the next day we rode at the same time as Daps. It's the second time we have opened a ride at Disney, as we did 24 hours of Disney at MK when they opened Mine Train.

Rise is just amazing. We ran into the Imagineer we met in line that evening after dinner and I thanked her for the experience. Pretty amazing to be able to thank someone like that.

We did so much the first day that day 2 was about a few things. But I got to cross off a huge bucket list item. We started day 1 with Space then double Buzz. We finished day 2 with double Buzz and a final FP on Space. And we got to ride Space in the light - it broke down mid-ride (https://www.instagram.com/p/B7fRNqUJQwF/). They pushed us and we rode into the station - and then rode in the dark. Wow = just major cool Disney nerd moment.

People complain about traffic in LA. I spent a lot time in it as my business meetings were in Irvine and I flew into LAX. Took almost 2 hours to get to hotel Monday evening. Getting the girls from LAX on Thursday night - took an hour to go a mile right at the terminal as all of LA wanted to park in the Terminal 4 lot. BUT everyone uses turn signals, is courteous and for the most part chill. I went running and was never a target. So yeah the traffic is terrible but driving was a not a full contact sport.

As WDW family, DLR is a blast. It is small, intimate and fun. Last minute planning is easy. The locals enjoy the parks and don't stress too much if they cant ride X or y as they will be back soon. It's their park, and part of their culture.

WDW is increasingly frustrating as its all about the 180 day, 60 day windows or for DVC right at the 7 month cut off. It takes some of the magic out of it.

Thanks DLR, it was 2 days of sheer joy. A ton of Pixie dust, laughs, great pics and memories that will last forever.

 

[VandVsmama]

Every time we are in Fantasyland early in the morning, we see Peter Pan. He's so great!!

 

[katyringo]

We are planning our first WDW trip after 3 amazing disneyland trips and your post just gives me the feels.. I hope I don’t just miss disneyland while there. We love disneyland.

 

[ckb_nc]

We are planning our first WDW trip after 3 amazing disneyland trips and your post just gives me the feels.. I hope I don’t just miss disneyland while there. We love disneyland.

I think most DL folks need to realize is the sheer enormity of WDW - getting from say Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom is a real undertaking. Heck going from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain is a big walk. The rides hold much more people, and are built to accommodate bigger crowds. The park food at DL is far more diverse and better than MK, while WDW has resorts with tons of options for food. Disney Springs now is a major place unto itself. In fact, food food planning at WDW is a whole thing unto itself.

DLR is a 2 to 3 day undertaking max. WDW - Anything less than 4 days means leaving something significant out. My middle daughter and I have 5 days in mid-March, and we both know we will miss some things. The water parks are pretty amazing, and my son and I had a balst last October at Typhoon Lagoon. We have done a week and it felt about right.

The other biggie is weather - the heat and humidity in Florida are really game changers. Last October it was 99 degrees one day - and we have swam comfortably in December. I went in July as a kid and it was just brutal.