WDW vets, first time DLR… help for August please :)

[LKing]

Sure! We are going:

Sat Aug 2
Sun Aug 3
Wed Aug 6
Thurs Aug 7

Have blue bayou for Aug 2

We’d actually love to see everything you have listed there!! But don’t know if that is even possible with just 4 nights??

There is absolutely time to do everything.

Make sure you watch the Better Together Parade in DCA on Aug 2 or 3. You don't need to line up early for it. It is a long parade route with plenty of viewing.

Sat Aug 2 - It looks like this might be your only opportunity to see Shadows of Memory. If so, I would plan on watching Fire of the Rising Moon fireworks at 9:35 in SWGE and then stay for Shadows of Memory afterwards. Fireworks should end around 9:50 and Shadows of Memory is at 10:15. If it is indeed the last night, it will be more crowded than usual. Both are in the same location so you won't have to navigate the park at night.

Sun Aug 3 - Paint the Night, fireworks and Tapestry of Happiness in the Small World area. You won't have to navigate the park in the dark. The parade ends and you have time to walk closer to Small World for fireworks and projections. Most people try to stand in the center of Small World but the view is actually better if you are to the right of the Small World sign.

Wed Aug 6 - Fantasmic + fireworks from dining package seating.

Thursday Aug 7 - World of Color

The only thing you would miss would be watching the fireworks from Main Street. If you are used to WDW, DL's view from Main Street is not as good. WDW's castle is larger and elevated so easier to view.

Edit to add: Are you aware that Sunday, August 3 is the CHOC walk? https://www.disboards.com/threads/disneyland-resort-calendar-2025.3963816/

If you are near the front of the castle when the Pearly Band performs, Mary Poppins and Bert often join them in their performance. Check your app for times when the Pearly Band is at Castle Courtyard.

The 12:15 Disneyland Band at Main Street usually includes the characters. They start at the castle, march down Main Street, and stop to perform in front of the train station around 12:25 pm. Stand on the island with the flagpole and face the train station to wait for the band to arrive.

 

[mdmost]

According to the calendar, CHOC Walk only affects California Adventure's opening by 30 minutes. DLR opens at 8am. I'm sure there will be some residual people in the parks but they have to buy a guest ticket to stay after the walk has concluded. Looking at past crowd calendars, CHOC Walk didn't seem to affect the crowd numbers and it was a pretty slow Sunday.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

We are WDW vets and just returned from our first DLR trip.
I would have to agree with mdmost's advice about rope dropping. We were extremely surprised at how much we got done at both DL and DCA at RD (with EE to be fair). We always RD WDW and can't get nearly as much done. I think this is partially because attractions are so much closer together and partially because RD crowds (and EE crowds) are so much lower. We had LLMP with 5 day PH. We went on everything we wanted to, many E tickets multiple times, and also saw Wonderous Journeys, Tapestry, Paint the Night, and WOC. We chose not to see Fantasmic, but easily could have. We watched WJ, Tap, and PTN from a bench in front/side of Small World and I would highly recommend that location. It wasn't crowded or hard to get at all. We could see the projections and the fireworks. I will say WDW has better fireworks. We watched the later version of PTN. WOC we saw the first time with the Dessert Party (2nd showing) and another time (2nd showing) we just walked up to a great spot on the bridge 5 minutes before the preshow. There were plenty of spots.
We were at DLR June 27-July 2. Crowds June 27-30 were very low (in our newbie opinion) July 1 was a little more and July 2 even more, but we were guessing it was because of the upcoming holiday? DL is open later.
Space Mtn is so much different than WDW, with DLR's version much better seating and (seemingly) faster. Buzz guns are hand-held instead of stationary, Pirates is longer at DLR, the RR is much slower but has different scenes, Guardians is Tower of Terror but starts off quicker, RISE and GE are identical, TSMM is the same, MMRR is the same, Tiana's Bayou seating in the log is different and we got soaked, RSR is better than Test Track and Cars Land at night is stunning. Do not miss it.
We did Blue Bayou and loved the atmosphere, food just ok. Storytellers Brunch felt exactly like a WDW character brunch.
My kids (DS23, DD20) loved the Incredicoaster.
My favorite part of DLR was the weather. We always had to go to WDW in August because of school/work schedules and DLR in June/July was like heaven in comparison. Zero humidity. Life changing.
DLR felt much more walkable and it was much easier to take a midday break - no busses, boats, or monorails needed!

Amazing!! Thank you so much for all the details! Sounds like you had a great trip

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

There is absolutely time to do everything.

Make sure you watch the Better Together Parade in DCA on Aug 2 or 3. You don't need to line up early for it. It is a long parade route with plenty of viewing.

Sat Aug 2 - It looks like this might be your only opportunity to see Shadows of Memory. If so, I would plan on watching Fire of the Rising Moon fireworks at 9:35 in SWGE and then stay for Shadows of Memory afterwards. Fireworks should end around 9:50 and Shadows of Memory is at 10:15. If it is indeed the last night, it will be more crowded than usual. Both are in the same location so you won't have to navigate the park at night.

Sun Aug 3 - Paint the Night, fireworks and Tapestry of Happiness in the Small World area. You won't have to navigate the park in the dark. The parade ends and you have time to walk closer to Small World for fireworks and projections. Most people try to stand in the center of Small World but the view is actually better if you are to the right of the Small World sign.

Wed Aug 6 - Fantasmic + fireworks from dining package seating.

Thursday Aug 7 - World of Color

The only thing you would miss would be watching the fireworks from Main Street. If you are used to WDW, DL's view from Main Street is not as good. WDW's castle is larger and elevated so easier to view.

Edit to add: Are you aware that Sunday, August 3 is the CHOC walk? https://www.disboards.com/threads/disneyland-resort-calendar-2025.3963816/

If you are near the front of the castle when the Pearly Band performs, Mary Poppins and Bert often join them in their performance. Check your app for times when the Pearly Band is at Castle Courtyard.

The 12:15 Disneyland Band at Main Street usually includes the characters. They stop and perform in front of the train station around 12:25 pm. Stand on the island with the flagpole and face the train station to wait for the band to arrive.

View attachment 980720 View attachment 980723

Omigosh thank you so much. This is sooooo helpful. Love the pics. So excited to explore and absorb all the magic

Appreciate your advice!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Hey @mom2rtk i remember you from the other Wdw board!! Nice to see you you here

Nice to see you here as well!

The biggest difference between resorts is that everything is so close together here. We never get park hoppers at WDW, but always get them here. It's almost like having one big park.

Our favorite part of the DLR experience is seeing and doing all the classic things unique to DLR. I love rope dropping Fantasyland and just popping from one ride to the next. Snow White, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad, Alice. All those dark rides are amazing. And my favorite DLR attraction is Storybooy Canal. It's just so charming. And don't think the Casey railroad is just for little kids. It's fun to enjoy the view and appreciate how intertwined it is with the Storybook Canal.

Peter Pan is a challenge since there's no LL and it's slow loading. I don't waste rope drop time with it (even though most do). I just watch the app. If it hits 30 minutes at some point, that's when we get in line.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

There is absolutely time to do everything.

Make sure you watch the Better Together Parade in DCA on Aug 2 or 3. You don't need to line up early for it. It is a long parade route with plenty of viewing.

Sat Aug 2 - It looks like this might be your only opportunity to see Shadows of Memory. If so, I would plan on watching Fire of the Rising Moon fireworks at 9:35 in SWGE and then stay for Shadows of Memory afterwards. Fireworks should end around 9:50 and Shadows of Memory is at 10:15. If it is indeed the last night, it will be more crowded than usual. Both are in the same location so you won't have to navigate the park at night.

Sun Aug 3 - Paint the Night, fireworks and Tapestry of Happiness in the Small World area. You won't have to navigate the park in the dark. The parade ends and you have time to walk closer to Small World for fireworks and projections. Most people try to stand in the center of Small World but the view is actually better if you are to the right of the Small World sign.

Wed Aug 6 - Fantasmic + fireworks from dining package seating.

Thursday Aug 7 - World of Color

The only thing you would miss would be watching the fireworks from Main Street. If you are used to WDW, DL's view from Main Street is not as good. WDW's castle is larger and elevated so easier to view.

Edit to add: Are you aware that Sunday, August 3 is the CHOC walk? https://www.disboards.com/threads/disneyland-resort-calendar-2025.3963816/

If you are near the front of the castle when the Pearly Band performs, Mary Poppins and Bert often join them in their performance. Check your app for times when the Pearly Band is at Castle Courtyard.

The 12:15 Disneyland Band at Main Street usually includes the characters. They stop and perform in front of the train station around 12:25 pm. Stand on the island with the flagpole and face the train station to wait for the band to arrive.

View attachment 980720 View attachment 980723

Just looked up the CHOC walk… I’ve worked at a different children’s hospital for over 20 years so it must be fate . Also appreciate the heads up about the special events ending so we can squeeze them in!

 

[Bruno33]

According to the calendar, CHOC Walk only affects California Adventure's opening by 30 minutes. DLR opens at 8am. I'm sure there will be some residual people in the parks but they have to buy a guest ticket to stay after the walk has concluded. Looking at past crowd calendars, CHOC Walk didn't seem to affect the crowd numbers and it was a pretty slow Sunday.

The CHOC Walk definitely affects the experience arriving to the park in the morning since tons of people are already there/people are trying to leave the parking lots, etc. Depending where OP is staying/how they’re getting to the parks, it’s a good thing to be aware of, at least.

It usually affects the park hours more. I’m curious how they’re doing it to allow DL to open at 8 this year.

 

[mom2rtk]

Mary and Bert with the Pearly band is a wonderfully unique DLR experience. Another vote to make sure you see it!

 

[mom2rtk]

Fireworks get canceled a lot more frequently than at WDW. Definitely agree to try and see them early in your trip to avoid disappointment.

 

[mdmost]

Perhaps because it may be starting earlier this year and California Adventure is allowing people to enter later for the walk than DLR. There are no Early Entry options for CA that morning.

https://www.chocwalk.org/Static/event-info

Event Schedule

4:00 a.m. | Parking lots open, trams available for guests
Security checkpoints open

4:50 a.m. | Disneyland® park main gates open to CHOC Walk participants

5:15 a.m. | CHOC Walk Opening Moment begins on Main Street U.S.A.®

5:30 a.m. | CHOC Walk steps off on Main Street U.S.A.®

6:45 a.m. | Last walker permitted entry into Disneyland® park

7:25 a.m. | Last walker permitted entry into Disney California Adventure® park

 

[mom2rtk]

Don't overlook the train as an actually helpful mode of transport around the park. That stop in New Orleans Square is really nice when you are trying to cross over from Small World. Also make sure you take the full trip around so you don't miss the dioramas between Tomorrowland and the park entrance.

There is a monorail and be sure you take a ride, but it's not really helpful transportation, unless you want to visit the Disneyland Hotel for some reason. You have to scan your park ticket for entry to even board. And I believe you can still ride in the front car, another difference from WDW.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Nice to see you here as well!

The biggest difference between resorts is that everything is so close together here. We never get park hoppers at WDW, but always get them here. It's almost like having one big park.

Our favorite part of the DLR experience is seeing and doing all the classic things unique to DLR. I love rope dropping Fantasyland and just popping from one ride to the next. Snow White, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad, Alice. All those dark rides are amazing. And my favorite DLR attraction is Storybooy Canal. It's just so charming. And don't think the Casey railroad is just for little kids. It's fun to enjoy the view and appreciate how intertwined it is with the Storybook Canal.

Peter Pan is a challenge since there's no LL and it's slow loading. I don't waste rope drop time with it (even though most do). I just watch the app. If it hits 30 minutes at some point, that's when we get in line.

Storybook canal supposed to be closed when we are there . It looks adorbs and totally up my alley- keeping fingers crossed it may reopen early.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Don't overlook the train as an actually helpful mode of transport around the park. That stop in New Orleans Square is really nice when you are trying to cross over from Small World. Also make sure you take the full trip around so you don't miss the dioramas between Tomorrowland and the park entrance.

There is a monorail and be sure you take a ride, but it's not really helpful transportation, unless you want to visit the Disneyland Hotel for some reason. You have to scan your park ticket for entry to even board. And I believe you can still ride in the front car, another difference from WDW.

Great tips, thank you so much!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Storybook canal supposed to be closed when we are there . It looks adorbs and totally up my alley- keeping fingers crossed it may reopen early.

Oh bummer! Definitely watch the app just in case! Good news is there is SO much else to be charmed by.