WDW Vets visiting DLR for the first time review

[pmaurer74]

did you book your dvc ressie at 11 months out? is it harder to book since theres only one resort with points? did you rent points? thinking of doing the same..........

Since I had only 1 week to travel, I rented points from a DVC member and had them transferred into my DVC account so I could make the reservation 11 months out and control the reservation.

 

[grannyminnie]

Hydroguy, I think you and I are together in how we have arrived at an equal love for both parks. I am a WDW vet (many years, many trips) and the first time I visited the DLR, I was lost! Even tho the Disney love was there, I didn't like the feeling of not knowing what was where. As I have gone over the last decade or so (once or twice a year, usually just once because we are east-coasters), I am becoming more comfortable with the location of things, so I'm not as focused on finding my way, and more focused on finding the Magic! I find it more charming now, and I do think I (almost) equally love both parks.
WDW being my home park won't change, but as I continue to cross the country to visit Walt's original park, I'll grow more fond of it!
I also think that because I go solo to DLR, I get the chance to find those little details being talked about. I'm not a "park commando" so for me, part of the joy is in stopping to "smell the roses".

 

[PatMcDuck]

I live in NJ, so WDW is my "home park". But, I have gone to DL every year (as well as WDW) the last 8-10 years. I love them both so much. Weighing the pros and cons, I honestly do not prefer one over the other. WDW has size, and variety, it is closer, and way more parks, resorts and restaurants. But for ME, DL has much more charm. The character interactions are so much more natural, fun, unexpected. I love not using a bus, walking park to park to resort. I have stayed in all 3 resort hotels at DL. I like ALL THREE. DL Hotel has obvious history and is wonderful, GC is also spectacular. BUT do not count out Paradise Pier, it is nice, large rooms, and you can book killer guaranteed views of DCA, and it is usually less $$ than the other 2.

ALL WDW guests should try to visit DL, and enjoy the differences. (Same for DL frequent guests, try to head east at least once)

 

[Malcon10t]

no, but it seemed larger than the typical deluxe rooms at WDW. Perhaps it had a lot more storage. I am not sure if I was in a renovated room or not but appreciated the space under the beds to store luggage. I was in the DVC studio are they different in size?

Yes, the studios are about 30% larger than the standard rooms at GCH. They are about the same size as the Paradise Pier standard room.

 

[Texasfan]

We rotate between DL and WDW every other year. I personally prefer DL, but the rest of my family prefers WDW. I just really like how close everything is at DL. Sometimes I feel trapped at the parks at WDW, because of the transportation. It can take forever to get back to your hotel depending on where you are at and what hotel you are staying at. We always stay onsite at both locations, but DL wins hands down with closeness of hotels. The last few trips we have stayed at the Epcot resorts and that has helped me not feel as trapped.

 

[pmaurer74]

We rotate between DL and WDW every other year. I personally prefer DL, but the rest of my family prefers WDW. I just really like how close everything is at DL. Sometimes I feel trapped at the parks at WDW, because of the transportation. It can take forever to get back to your hotel depending on where you are at and what hotel you are staying at. We always stay onsite at both locations, but DL wins hands down with closeness of hotels. The last few trips we have stayed at the Epcot resorts and that has helped me not feel as trapped.

I can see what you mean and the access from the Grand Californian to CA cannot be beat but we ended up walking more at DLR than WDW. I averaged 20,000 steps a day at DLR and a little less at WDW unless it was EPCOT day. That surprised me. I found DLR hard to get around since the lands are not connected to each other and we had to do a lot of back tracking.

 

[pmaurer74]

Yes, the studios are about 30% larger than the standard rooms at GCH. They are about the same size as the Paradise Pier standard room.

good to know. I did not realize there was a difference.

 

[YukonMommy]

Thank you for your trip report. I always enjoy reading other peoples thoughts! Glad you had a magical time.

 

[trishadono]

I agree. I just got back from my 8th trip to WDW. When I went on my first trip it was more of a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip for 10 days. Ooops! Now I have been 8 times in 12 years.

What I did feel at WDW on my first trip was Disney magic. But I did not care for all the planning and buses and boats. Now I just kind of "put on my WDW hat" when going there and "put on my DLR hat" when going to DLR. What I am really after is the Disney magic and both resorts have it.

Up until the trip I went on 2 weeks ago to WDW I would say that DLR still edged WDW for me because the shows were better and, overall, the rides were better. I think WDW has finally closed the gap on rides (and, gasp!, maybe passed DLR) and they have made strides to close the gap on shows but still have not IMO. I am expecting big things from Fantasmic 2. The new fireworks show at MK Happily Ever After (HEA) is frankly as good and maybe better than Disneyland Forever. Remember Dreams Come True holds high nostalgia for me so it will be hard for anything to truly surpass that. But HEA is now competitive with DL fireworks shows.

Not sure why Paint the Night went away but that kills any parade at WDW (and DLR, for that matter).

Nothing can surpass World of Color in my book, and nothing at WDW comes close. With the new Rivers of Light show WDW is making strides. I think DLR still holds the edge in shows, but WDW is catching up.

Overall this was the first trip I have felt that WDW holds an equal pull on me than DLR. DLR will always be home. But WDW really rocks. A single trip you may or may not get there. A second trip may be needed. I felt a lot more comfortable on trip #2 at WDW.

AKL Jambo House and BLT are both beautiful places but kind of at the far ends of WDW. I would suggest you hit AK hard when at Jambo house (at least one day if not two while there) and defer MK until you are at BLT.

I have never made an ADR 6 months in advance at WDW. Usually I do it at 2 months and it has always worked fine for me to get ADRs at good times. But I have never gone at New Years. So if you can do 6 months, do it.

Hope all goes well for you! Let me know if you need any tips! I hope to update my WDW guide for DLR vets some time this summer. It is in bad need of an update!

With nearly 60 resort stays since 1995 at wdw I can tell you that your newbie thread really helped us last year. I never thought I would be back so soon but a quickie weekend fell in our lap(dh and I are going to meet dd who has been in cali for 2 weeks and doing dl for the finale.)

For wdw vets , plan out your must do DLR rides for both parks and be flexible! We filled in gaps waiting for FP times with whatever was available.

Tsmm and soarin would have no wait times often so even though we didn't NEED these rides how can you walk past when you can hop on and ride?

That PP ride is annoying. I think we finally got on one night when line was low but I was NOT going to waste time for that during EMH lol. My family could care less about it anyways. I like the ride but Matterhorn or SM is more our speed.

DD fav was WOC so I booked her the dessert party for grad gift. She loved that too.

As for Disney things the "year of a million dreams" was amazing. We won lots of stuff and that was so fun!