WDW Vets/DLR Newbies Unite!

[Melynny]

I hated using my points for DLH, but even though I got a great conference rate it still seemed so expensive. I am planning on checking out the models, but I doubt we will be adding on, esp. out there. I see most of you are only at the DLH or a near hotel for 4 or so nights.. we will be there 9 nights.. Is that way too many.. I have 5 nights for the conference and then we will have 4 that I will take care of?

I am planning to get a 5 day park hopper and fill in the evenings and our travel days with DTD and hotel exploration/pool time? What do you guys think? We are flying from St Louis, so we leave stl around 8:30 am and we arrive at SNA-John wayne at 3:00, so that day will be all travel with a nice dinner, then on the day we leave we depart around 3 :30 pm. get home around 10:30 pm. Is a 5 day park hopper enough? Too much? Remember that I do have 2 all day training courses and 2 partial days of "conference stuff". Thanks for any input!

 

[Sing4MeMickey]

My family goes to WDW 3-5 times a year (from Texas) and am completely satisfied spending every penny of vacation money there. However, my husband was just awarded a trip to any Ritz-carlton in the US for his sales with RSC. We chose Laguna Niguel which is about 30 miles south of DL. Sooooo, we are going. We are very excited (no kids are going), but a little nervous we will be disappointed and clueless. Any pointers? Which park first?

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We are DVC members too - we are going to check out the models as a break from the heat. We can't wait to see what they look like!

I'm going to be photographing them for a future DIS Unplugged blog entry this weekend, so they'll be posted up eventually.
We saw them before Christmas and they are even better than the normal hotel rooms.

 

[meegs]

I also am headed to DLR for the first time, as a previous WDW regular! My friend and I have a conference in Anaheim, so we are excited to check out DLR! We went to WDW together during our intern year and had a blast- I am sure we will this year too!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Lots of us in TX! Guess we are between the two parks, so it is easy to hit both! How lucky are we!!!!!!

Welcome fellow Texans!

It really is a beautiful day here today. Feels like Spring has sprung. I grew up in MA. I have been living in Texas for fifteen years. I do NOT miss shoveling snow or de-icing my car in the morning. However, one good snow a year would be nice for the kids. We had two ice days a few weeks ago. Where's the snow??????

I agree, living in Texas is perfect for a trip to DLR or WDW. When I mapped DLR from home (We live in the Lake Cities area - south of Denton, north of Lewisville Lake), it was a few hours further to DLR than WDW. We drive to WDW at least two times a year. So, adding a few hours should be bearable for the family. Also, we're stopping off in San Diego on our way to Anaheim. It will give DH a few days to relax before the chaos called Disneyland.

Jennifer

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Did you meet with Pete while he was in CA (or is he still there?)?

I did meet with both Pete and Walter. Very wonderful gentlemen! Had a lovely dinner and conversation with them, Mary Jo, and the other two correspondents.

It seems more and more die-hard WDW guests are venturing west to the original park. A WDW - DLR comparison would be great. Does Hydroguy have something like that? I've seen his name on the Disneyland California boards quite often. I am totally comfortable planning a WDW trip. But, DLR has been all new to me. How come they don't call things the same thing (ie: Magic Mornings (EMH), Priority Seating (ADR), etc ...). Being consistent among ALL Disney parks and resorts would make planning a little easier.

Jennifer

Jen - We are working on plans to do a show like this. It may take some time, but we would all like to get it on the air this year. Hydroguy has been wonderful in doing all of his FAQs for the DL Board. I think the biggest difference in how they do things between both parks is due to size. WDW outgrew the PS (used to be called that in the late 80s early 90s - ADRs are a relatively "new" term for WDW). Same with MM - Extra Magic Hours refers to before and after normal park hours. DL doesn't have "After Hours" openings.

 

[Disney Princess]

I'm going to be photographing them for a future DIS Unplugged blog entry this weekend, so they'll be posted up eventually.
We saw them before Christmas and they are even better than the normal hotel rooms.

Wahoo!! I can't wait.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I have been on the DISboards for a few years now. I mostly lurk on the Theme Parks and Attraction section under WDW. I have posted a little on the DIS Unplugged Podcast section. Also, when close to cruise time I hop onto the Disney Cruise Line threads.

Have any WDW DISers noticed the lack of Disney "magic" on the WDW section lately? What is going on? I think being anonymous behind a computer screen has brought out the worst in some people. Just a recent observation. Okay, rant is over. Back to happy Disneyland planning.

Y'all are great over here!

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Nancy - Thank you in advance for the photos and info on the DVC Villas. With all the new DVC properties. Buying into DVC when we did seems like the right move now.

Jennifer

 

[fairycat]

I'm excited, but a bit overwhelmed by the planning. The park-hopping talk is what I can't fathom. I never do it at WDW because of time, but it just seems like I could do more if I stay in one park all day. Hmmm.

I'm a huge Disney fan and though I'm married with three sons, this is a research/fun solo trip for me. Everyone will be in school and dad gets to go play for a few days!

YES to parkhopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It really is as easy as we DL vets say. It is a shorter walk to parkhop then it is from the bus station to the AK gates (by quite a bit). With no lines it takes less then 5 minutes, with lines max 15 minutes. It is so worth the ability to switch back and worth especially when the DL crowds build or to get food in DCA, which I do often since I like some stuff better at DCA.

I made the reverse mistake and thought it was easy at WDW and well I was very wrong. DLR does make hopping so easy, you'll love it!

 

[wdhinn89]

We go to WDW just about every year and got a little burned out during October's trip. Figured we would try California in the summer so we could take a longer vacation and still do Disney but a little different.

5 Nights at the GC and 5 Nights at the Dana on Mission Bay in San Diego.

 

[charmama4]

For us it was the Military deal that came out last month. While I knew we couldn't afford another trip to the world, I thought we could swing one to the land. Being in Colorado helps as we are closer (although I'm still looking for good airfare) Also we hadn't been to the land since 2000 before Ca adventure opened so we"ve never seen it.

Hey! We're taking advantage of the military deal also. We are coming from Wyoming ourselves. Tried to crunch numbers for WDW but it just wasn't in the cards for this family of 6. Enjoy DL.

 

[daisygirl902]

I will never ever give up my opinion that WDW is the best place in the entire world - I would live there if I could...that being said I am travelling to CA in May to see my best friend, who moved there last year....I could not go all the way to CA without seeing DL So we are both going to be celebrating our Birthdays there in May - I am over-the-moon excited, but for some reason she is only mildly so....I'll never understand the people who are not inflicted with "mouse fever"....

 

[tzuhouse]

Because my ds7 wanted to ride the Nemo subs and my DH had never been to California. We spent 10 days in CA, from Yosemite to San Fran to Monterey and down to Anaheim. It was a fun trip and we got to see many things that we'd never seen before. Personally, though, it wasn't a magical trip. Even though we went to DL/DCA for 3 days, got to countdown to open the park, etc. I just felt like there was something missing. Things weren't where they were in my head (because I'm use to WDW). Lines were outside in heat which got really bad one day and I wound up being sick with a migraine for most of the day and night.

I'm thrilled we went, but the next vacation will be back to WDW. I think I like picking a theme for the day and going there. If I want Epcot, we do Epcot and if we want to do a safari and see Devine, then we go to AK.

We've only been to WDW twice, but it has been for a total of 25 days. Not sure how long the 2010 trip will be, but I'm shooting for 14 days like the last one.

Mary

 

[pmama]

Oh, I'm so excited. Didn't realise there were so many of us WDW fanatics visiting DL for the first time! What convinced me was:

1) CHEAP flights. WOW! Literally more than 1/2 the cost of flying to Orlando.
2) Inexpensive hotels in walking distance!
3) Something new!
4) Southern California City Pass (we are visiting San Diego and Coronado as well).
5) DD's birthday, we will be there over her birthday.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...but a little nervous we will be disappointed and clueless. Any pointers? Which park first?

You won't be disappointed IF you come to DLR with the right mindset. So, let me help get you there.

WDW is 4 separate independently enjoyable parks, plus water parks and DtD. The parks are all linked through transportation and one can travel throughout them in about 10-20 minutes (depending upon which Parks). The Resorts are on property and one could easily spend a week a WDW and never leave Disney property.

DLR is 2 parks, plus DtD. Disneyland is easily the "Main" park with Disney's California Adventure being an enjoyable park as well. They are about a 3 minute walk from one main gate to the other. One can very easily go back and forth between the parks a few times during the day. While there are Disney hotels on-site, there are many, many hotels/motels within walking/shuttle distance from DLR that are NOT on property or Disney run.

Do not attempt to compare WDW to DLR. You WILL be disappointed. Instead, think of Disneyland as the Magic Kingdom, DtD as DtD, and DCA as the 2nd Park at DLR. Within this mindset, I don't think you will be disappointed. In fact, many find Disneyland to have a charm that the MK lacks, as well as appreciate many little details throughout Disneyland that are missing at the MK.

My last "mind-set" comment is in regard to the castles. Cinderella's Castle is HUGE. It is the focal point of the MK. This is NOT how Walt designed Disneyland. Sleeping Beauty's castle is MUCH smaller and was never meant as the center of the park. It is, however, the focal point when walking down Main Street and beautiful to its own right. Again, I find it more magical than Cinderella's castle which just seemed a little bit unnecessarily big to me. However, I know many WDW "regulars" who are disappointed in DL's castle because they find it so small. Knowing ahead of time might avoid this.

I would suggest you read HydroGuy's Guide to DLR for WDW Vets. It is a good guide and will help you with your planning. He also gives you ride comparisons that will help with your expectations. (DL's Pirates ot Caribbean, for example, has much more to it than MK's.)

I hope this helps with not being disappointed. Disneyland is a wonderful, magical, special place. Enjoy it!

- Dreams

 

[GottaLuvMickey]

My husband and I actually met on the College Program at WDW... but we're going to Disneyland this year mostly for financial reasons... We live in Phoenix, so we can drive there easily, plus he works for the Disney Store part time , and we have a couple tickets that we've gotten for free from them... But we're actually going to celebrate our daughters FIRST birthday! Yay!

 

[GottaLuvMickey]

We're squeezing San Diego into our DLR trip too. I can't wait! DH was there last year on business and emailed some photos. It looks beautiful.

Here's our "tentative" itinerary (We're driving. Anyone else having their own "Griswold" vacation too? ):
TX - NM (hotel ?)
NM - San Diego, CA (2 nights @ Hotel del Coronado)
San Diego, CA - Anaheim, CA (4 nights @ Disneyland Hotel)
Anaheim, CA - Las Vegas, NV (2 nights @ Paris hotel and casino)
NV - Grand Canyon, AZ
AZ - NM (hotel ?)
NM - TX (Home!)

Jennifer

Where in NM are you planning on stopping? I'm assuming you're probably taking I-10 and going to stop in Las Cruces? I wouldn't reccomend stopping anywhere else! If so, I used to live in LC and could tell you what hotels are decent there if you'd like... just let me know!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

My last "mind-set" comment is in regard to the castles. Cinderella's Castle is HUGE. It is the focal point of the MK. This is NOT how Walt designed Disneyland. Sleeping Beauty's castle is MUCH smaller and was never meant as the center of the park. It is, however, the focal point when walking down Main Street and beautiful to its own right. Again, I find it more magical than Cinderella's castle which just seemed a little bit unnecessarily big to me. However, I know many WDW "regulars" who are disappointed in DL's castle because they find it so small. Knowing ahead of time might avoid this.
- Dreams

I completely agree with everything you said. I just wanted to add one note about why Disneyland's castle is so small. Please note that in no way is the following to be taken as a criticism in any way of the grandeur of Cinderella Castle. In medevial times, castles were designed to be large and intimdating to the peasant classes. Walt Disney wanted nothing to do with that, so he intentionally designed Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland to be smaller and more intimate.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

There's another reason the castle is small, too. Walt mortgaged everything he had to build that park. The net total spent on it in 1955 was in the ball park of $3,000,000 - a huge sum for that day and age.

He built it as big as he could and in the 1950's, in an area that previously was all orange groves -and didn't have as much replanted vegetation as it does today, that castle was HUGE!

Once you put yourself in that understanding, it's even more magical!!!!