WDW veteran but new to DL

[momto2]

We have traveled to WDW over a dozen trips. We feel like we know it like the back of our hand. We are excited to make a trip to DL this March.

What I would like to know are those little tips to make the trip easier and magical. The shortcut trails to get places quickly. Your favorite places. There are a large number of boards regarding WDW but not as much covered for DL. We have learned so much from these boards over the years, we are eager to learn more about DL before we leave. Thanks for the help!

 

[chickapin parterre]

1. Disneyland is in a populated metro area, so early to the park, afternoon naps and late night into the park make for a great visit, because you can walk to Disneyland

2. Disneyland is in a strange geology area, especially for 2016, so watch the weather and prepare for the worst and for the best.

3. the only short cut trail has been eliminated, so the park will work like two figure 8s formed into a compass rose and no secrets for moving fast

4. memorize location of bathrooms. disneyland is very compact and was not built to handle needy visitors. Bathrooms are in the far edges and corners.

5. the modern technology in WDW is not available in Disneyland

6. narrow walkways, the most significant problem in Disneyland now

7. a % of visitors do not see Disneyland as a privilege, but an entitlement.

8.Some of the trees have a great history in the development of Disneyland

9. Feral cats are part of the culture.

10.Mass transit close to Disneyland, make it possible to explore other parts of California

 

[ADLFAN]

I bet you'll be oriented and running circles around DL by the first day!

One of my favorite areas is New Orleans Square, there are a few good restaurants like the French Market for counter service and Cafe Orleans for table service, and some cute tiny shops. The scenery is well done, probably the only area close to anything themed like Epcot!

Classic Disneyland snacks include the turkey leg, the delicious churro, the Red Wagon corndog, and the beignets from the little window in New Orleans Square.

DCA is new-ish to everyone, and Cars Land is certainly awesome and not to be missed! If you wait to enter til dusk, the neon lights up and they play the sh-boom song just like in the movie- it's adorable! The Paradise Pier area is very scenic and many of those rides often have really low wait times.

Definitely download the new app that was recently released by Disney. It is called 'Disneyland' and it shows all the wait times for rides, FP availability, and approximate character locations, plus it functions as an awesome map!

Have fun planning!

 

[KCmike]

First tip is to read the sticky at the top of this area entitled Hydroguys thread for Disneyland. It's essential. Once you read that come back to this thread with questions and I can throw in some other tips and hidden things about DL.

We were in shoes back in 2007 and went to DL for the first time and absolutely fell in love with it all. I was a WDW loyalist through and through but now Disneyland is my #1 park. I still love WDW but DL is awesome. It's like a fairytale book that you walk into. Small, quaint, and full of details. One note they are closing several attractions this year to make way for Star Wars land.

Can't wait to hear what questions you have after you read the sticky.

 

[momto2]

THANKS! I can't wait to get reading more and more!

 

[johde]

I've been to WDW many times and Disneyland once. I'm hoping to go back again this December. With Disneyland, expect everything to feel very familiar but just a little bit off. For example, Winnie the Pooh is over by Splash Mountain and on the other side of Splash Mountain is the Haunted Mansion. So, you'll go where you'll think something will be from WDW and you'll find something else.

 

[figment_jii]

As mentioned, I highly recommend checking out HydroGuy's A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. It will help give you a sense of what is similar and what is different between the two resorts.

When are you going in March? I ask because Easter is on March 27 in 2016, so the peak Spring Break Season is likely to be the week before and after Easter. The Spring Break Season Deluxe and SoCal AP Blockout starts on Saturday, March 19. At some point in March (not sure when yet), the parks will go to their Spring Break Season schedule, which means longer operating hours and more entertainment. So in that way, early March will likely be very different from mid-to-late March in terms of crowds and schedule.

I also second the recommendation to download the official Disneyland App. It'll give you wait times, FP return times (if applicable), character schedules, entertainment schedules, etc. I've found it to be fairly reliable and easier to use than calling "Ask Otto" (Disneyland's official phone system that provided much of the same information about wait times and FP return times, but you had to call and could only get information one attraction at a time). The Disneyland App is not the same as the MDE App for WDW; you cannot make FP reservations through the App. Likewise, DLR is not using Magic Bands, nor do they use the biometric scan to link your ticket to you (they take your photo instead).

Other things to note (in no particular order):

• Dining reservations open approximately 60-days in advance. They aren't nearly as hard to come by as they are at WDW. You can often find prime dining reservations with only a week or so to go. I would still recommend making a reservation if you know you want to eat at a specific location or at a specific time. Also, if you check for a reservation right on the 60-day mark and nothing is showing as available, it's more likely that they have not yet loaded it into the system (opposed to being already fully booked). The system rolls somewhere between midnight and 8:00 am Pacific time, but it doesn't seem consistent. Mostly because it's not really necessary to be online exactly when the system opens, no one has really been able to nail down when the system rolls or if there is consistent pattern.
• The operating calendar (e.g., hours) are generally posted about 45-days/6-weeks in advance. The entertainment, daily activities, and more specific information tends to be added closer to the 30-day mark, but it can show up with the hours or not until just a few days in advance. Likewise, DLR rarely announces any refurbishments very far in advance and things can be added or removed from the refurb listings with very little notice. So be sure to check each day because things can change (they post the refurbishments on a sign board just before the security check point).
• DLR is still using the Legacy FP system. This could change at any time, but at this point, they're still using the legacy (paper) FP system. The two parks are "disconnected" from each other, meaning you can get a FP in DL and then hop over and get on in DCA without having to wait. As with the legacy FP system at WDW, you can get your next FP two hours after you pulled your most recent FP or when the time window opens, whichever happens first. Let's say you pulled a FP at 9:00 am with a return time of 10:10 am. You could get your next FP at 10:10 am. If the return time had been 2:00 pm, you would be able to get your next FP at 11:00 am (two hours after you pulled the FP). Currently, the "disconnected" FPs are Buzz Lightyear (the only disconnected attraction FP), WoC, A&E meet and greet (may no longer be used on a consistent basis), and Frozen at the Royal Theater. Also, as long as you ticket has been used to enter one park, you can obtain FPs in either park (although, I don't know if you can do this if you don't have the park hopper option).

 

[DisneyMandC]

I'm also a WDW vet taking my first trip to DL in less than two weeks! Are any of the Diamond Celebration decorations still going to be up? I didn't know how quickly they took them down. Bummed we're going when Haunted Mansion is closed and a few other rides, but it is what it is and I'm just thankful to see DL for the first time!

 

[figment_jii]

Are any of the Diamond Celebration decorations still going to be up?

Disney announced that the Diamond Celebration will run through September 5 (Labor Day), so some of the decor will last through then. For HalloweenTime and the holidays, there was a blend of the seasonal decor and the 60th Anniversary decor, but by the time you go, they'll probably have removed most (if not all) of the holiday decor and only the 60th decor should remain.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Disney announced that the Diamond Celebration will run through September 5 (Labor Day), so some of the decor will last through then. For HalloweenTime and the holidays, there was a blend of the seasonal decor and the 60th Anniversary decor, but by the time you go, they'll probably have removed most (if not all) of the holiday decor and only the 60th decor should remain.

Thanks! Yeah, I figured most of the holiday stuff would be down, which is fine. I'd just like to see the Diamond Celebration decor.

 

[momto2]

Great info. Thanks everyone!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thanks! Yeah, I figured most of the holiday stuff would be down, which is fine. I'd just like to see the Diamond Celebration decor.

You'll see the Diamond Celebration decor and still be able to see the Tribute to Walt at World of Color, Paint the Night parade, the 60th fireworks, and get some merchandise.