WDW veteran going to DL/DCA for the first time

[ivan.spartan]

It's our first trip to Disneyland/DCA!

The amount of information here is almost overwhelming.

What we have - hotel, airline, transportation.

What we don't have - dining, game plan (not yet, anyway).

Our park days will be October 09, 10, 11 (and possibly Halloween on the 12th).

I really want to see World of Color. I'm willing to buy the dining plan, but do you think it will be necessary that time of year?


Thanks to everyone on this board. The government sends me to countries where people don't like us much, so getting to plan our DL vacation is a welcome distraction.

 

[dapoteete]

Disneyland is much more layed back and take it as it comes. Dining is an eat where and when you want. Hit the Jazz Kitchen in DTD for Beignets.
As for WOC, it is a must. We did the dining plan at Ariel's Grotto, loved it. However, because we were on scooters, we were escorted to the disability viewing section. This was about two sections from the water and not the best viewing. Find out where the viewing area is or show up early to get a better spot.
Fantasmic at Disneyland is so up close and personal, but again you need to get a spot early.
Enjoy!

 

[TeddiBarra]

By "buying the dining plan" I think you mean the WOC reserved viewing fast passes, right?

No, I don't think it will be necessary by any means to be assured to SEE WOC, however, for your first time, and to reduce overall wait time and have a good meal (it's good, but not fabulous IMO. last went in Ariel's which was actually our best meal there ever) I think the dining package is a good idea. HEY - keep in mind they may offer Carthay dining packages with the WOC viewing passes, so if they do- I'd put that on the itinerary for sure. Carthay is supposed to be by far the best food in DCA once it opens. Now THAT would be a "worth it" for sure (esp. to try for the first time).

Other than that here's dining suggestions. Odds are that in Oct you should be able to do any of the character meals on a walk-up basis if you wanted do. Even Minnie's (in DL) during busy times, we've been able to walk up. Now I am not encouraging that, I'd recommend ressies if you know what you want on a certain day, I just mention it because at DLR unlike WDW you have good odds of being able to do same-day, fly by the seat of your pants plans.
The two places you might get out-of-luck: Blue Bayou (when it rests. get full, this is almost always the one to get full first, and then Cafe Orleans. In the morning time, Carnation Cafe can also get full (basically breakfast hours are the real issue, however they are expanding this when it reopens in a week and they may alleviate the problem, or not!).

Dining suggestions DCA: Fancy - Carthay, def. on the bucket list to get to next visit. A bit over priced and not always worth it, but worth trying once: Ariel's. Had very good/and not so good experiences Wine Country Tratt.
Good fast service: Pacific Garden Grill (mediterranean skewers, etc) YUMMY! Taste Pilots Grill (good burgers and chicken sandwich), Boardwalk Pizza&Pasta - good selections. Not as good: Lucky Fortune Cockery & Cocina Cucamonga. Flo's has been reviewed well so far so keep checking back on that.

DLR: My favs for breakfast: Minnie's and Carnation Cafe. Other places we consistently like are Bengal BBQ, Cafe Orleans, Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, Redd Rockets (the pasta and salad, not the pizza!), Rancho Del Zocalo, Plaza Inn (the chicken meal is so big is can be split), French Market, Hungry Bear.

DTD and the hotels also have good dining options. We like to do character breakfast at Storyteller's, and Goofy's always had an excellent buffet.

 

[DisneytheKid]

Hi Ivan.Spartan,

One of the posters to disboards, Hydroguy, has put out alot of information. Below is a link to a compilation he made of his posts. In it you will find information for WDW vets who are first timers. Hope this helps!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

It's our first trip to Disneyland/DCA!

The amount of information here is almost overwhelming.

What we have - hotel, airline, transportation.

What we don't have - dining, game plan (not yet, anyway).

Our park days will be October 09, 10, 11 (and possibly Halloween on the 12th).

I really want to see World of Color. I'm willing to buy the dining plan, but do you think it will be necessary that time of year?


Thanks to everyone on this board. The government sends me to countries where people don't like us much, so getting to plan our DL vacation is a welcome distraction.

 

[KateDrake]

We'll be there at the same time! We always go in October, and it is great because the crowds are much smaller.
Disneyland really is so much easier to handle than WDW. I always have our dining reservations made 180 days out, which park which day, etc. when we hit WDW. But for Disneyland, you can pretty much just show up and see everything if you have a few days. It will be a little more complicated now with Cars Land, but other than that, it shouldn't be rough.
As for dining, we do mostly QS at Disneyland, just because there aren't as many TS restaurants and they aren't as much of a "destination," if that makes sense. Carthay Circle does look great, and Blue Bayou is just a special experience, since you don't often get to dine IN an attraction! So make a ressie or two for those when your window opens, and maybe a World of Color package, but otherwise there are a ton of great QS spots, especially a bunch of the newer ones in DCA!
You're sure to have a great trip! One more note, the Halloween Party is very similar to WDW, but SO MUCH MORE CROWDED!!!! All the locals come, and it is a mad house. If you've done it at WDW, I would skip it in Disneyland, because it just isn't as much fun.