Will we be able to see it all? Resort & Food Questions?

[FreeTime]

We have only visited DLR one time and that was for about 6 hours last fall. So this year we are bringing the kids from July 30-August 1. Will we be able to see everything with 3 days in the parks? I can't seem to recall if there were fastpasses, also. Is there anything that we can skip? Our kids will be 6 & 7 and are willing to try anything that they are tall enough for (they love Space Mountain as WDW!)

We are staying at DH also, should we change to the GC?

Does anyone have the contact info for food menus to get allergy info? Also, tell me about the dining plan.

Thanks

 

[hlbtimes2]

You should be able to see the majority of things with 3 days. It will be busy at that time. You'll want to plan on being at the parks early, take a break mid day when its hot, then return in the evening. By staying at the DLH you'll be able to do early entry each day its offered during your stay (mon, tues, thurs and sat). Take advantage of that extra hour!

Dont bother with the dinning plan. Its a great tool for prepaying for meals, but it doesnt save money and can be time consuming to use. Each voucher has to be hand entered and it takes the cm time to do that. And, like I said, its not a money saving tool.

I would skip the sun wheel in DCA. The lines take forever and its a short ride.

 

[kristenhh]

Will we be able to see everything with 3 days in the parks? I can't seem to recall if there were fastpasses, also. Is there anything that we can skip? Our kids will be 6 & 7 and are willing to try anything that they are tall enough for (they love Space Mountain as WDW!)

We are staying at DH also, should we change to the GC?

Does anyone have the contact info for food menus to get allergy info? Also, tell me about the dining plan.

Thanks

In the off-season, 3 days would be enough to see most everything, but during the crowded summer, it will be more difficult. I think the most important thing is to do all the popular rides as soon as the park opens -- No Sleeping in!

There are fastpasses, and those help.

If you have been to WDW frequently, I would skip the rides that are pretty much identical and concentrate on the unique things at Disneyland.

I am sure there are many threads about the differences in rides, but make sure you see:

Indiana Jones
Space Mountain
Storybook Canal rides
Casey Jr. Circus Train
California Screamin

And if time, see some shows. I especially like Aladdin in California Adventure.

Also, if they love Space Mountain at WDW, they will be blown away by the one at Disneyland (in a good way).

The dining plan at Disneyland is not at all similar to the one at WDW and not worth it in my opinion -- I haven't heard anyone praise it.

Have a great time!

 

[pindecisive]

3 Days is good but choose your month wisely. I like the first part of June or January.

I've heard the GC is nicer...buts it's more expensive. I think it's also closer to the entrance.

I went to Cal Adventure and disliked it the first time. I intend to go paroose a bit more this time but to me it was kinda boring. I'm from Cali so maybe this is why

Don't miss
POTC, Haunted mansion, Buzz Lightyear (I could do it again and again), Indiana Jones, Pooh Ride or the Railroad.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We find CA more relaxing and we have enjoyed its qualities the last two years. Nice break in the sometimes hectic days at DL. If you plan we you should be able to get most things done in 3 days..alot depends on the time of the year.

jack

 

[WDWLinda]

You should look into purchasing Ridemax, a downloadable software program that lets you choose what you'd like to go on, and then it creates an itinerary for the day - with the least amount of walking and waiting time (its based on historical data for all the wait times and its taylored to the day you visit). I just bought it, about $15, at ridemax.com, and played around a bit and it looks like it will really work. I plugged in a lot of rides and it still gave me a 3 hour block of free time in the afternoon, but you have to be willing to get there when the park opens. Plus they have a pretty good section for hints and best tips.

Also check out Hydroguy's posts here - he has some very useful tips.

Good luck!

~Linda

 

[cedmonds]

We just came back froma 5 day trip and when you consider one day was check in it was really 4. We are wdw veterans and we loved dl. We stayed at the GC so it was easy entry to the parks. We went during spring break very crowded but I feel we saw it all and then some . We went to DL at early opening 7:00 and we did all the rides used fast pass. Indiana Jones was great (think Dinosaur ) POTC was way better then WDW and the bobsled ride- Matterhorn ( i think) was lots of fun.
DCA was , well strange, they open at 10 and it was more like coney island then disney we only spent one day there. Liked TT, Soarin and Grizzly Rapids,all fast pass and reccomend you use it
Loved the hotel spent lots of time at the pool and the gym
DTD is small but very nice This trip for us was a relaxing vist with the mouse unlike the running around, catching buses, frnatic pace that is wdw. That trip is coming up...memorial day a return to WDW!
If you can go to the Blue Bayou to eat-pricey- but the atmosphere was great get the monte cristo and enjoy!
La Brea at DTD had a nice breakfast as well.
Did not like the buffet dinner at Storyteller's Cafe but it may have been us

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you get to the park at opening, in fact be in line to get in around 30 minutes in advance you should be fine. It will be crowded then but if you arrive early, before the locals that really makes a difference. And definitely do Early Entry each day its offered, as an onsite guest you are paying extra for that perk so use it! I actually prefer the Disneyland Hotel, I like the larger rooms and pool area more than GCH's. However, GCH is a bit more deluxe in feel and amenities and as others have said closer to the main gates. But its so expensive and to me not wortht the difference in price over the DLH. But others feel differently. Check out the sticky on the top of this board that says something like "DLR information, hotels etc" to check out photos of both hotels. The GCH is closer, however, the DLH is still a close, easy 10-15 minute walk and you can also take the monorail to save steps if you so desire. The monorail stops in DTD very close to the DLH and then goes right into Tomorrowland. To get to and from DCA easier, you can cut through the GCH and use their private entrance right into the park.

The good thing about going during the busier times is that the park hours are longer and all the rides and shows are up and running. During the summer typical park hours for Disneyland is 8:00 a.m. to midnight. With EE you can get into DL at 7:00. That leaves a lot of time to get things done even with taking an afternoon swim break which I highly recommend.

Enjoy your trip to DL!

 

[HydroGuy]

Here are some of my tips:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

Three days will be a lot of fun. Whether you will think it is "enough" depends on how dedicated you are to getting an early start each day. You can probably do everything you want, but "seeing everything" will be tight. Maybe. If not, you can see almost everything.

For menus see www.dlresortinfo.com.

 

[cmwilson523]

The choice of hotel really depends on what you are looking for. (Disclaimer: I have never stayed at DLH. My husband has, years ago, so I am working from his information here.)

We love the Grand Californian - absolutely love it! We enjoy the calm atmosphere, with the little quiet nooks tucked here and there where we can read and relax if we aren't spending time in the parks. We also love Mission/Arts and Crafts style architecture, so we love just walking around to look at the touches that the local artisans put into the hotel when it was built.

From walking into the DL Hotel, and from what my husband says it is a nice hotel, but seems more like "just a hotel" to us than the Grand Californian does. We have come to feel that the Grand Californian is our home when we are at DL.

The Grand Californian has a "back" entrance into Disney's California Adventure. It is nice, but I wouldn't say it is the primary (or even close to the primary) reason we stay there. If you are going to DCA, it REALLY cuts down on time to get through security and the entrance, but if you are going to Disneyland park, it doesn't make any difference.

On the other hand, the DL Hotel is close to the Monorail, which is a quick(er, depending on the line there) entrance to the park, since you are dropped off in Tomorrowland.

 

[rentayenta]

Three days might be enough time but you will have to be in the park by rope drop which is fun anyway. My advice would be to purchase RideMax as suggested and eat at off peak times. It will be warm and crowded and midday breaks will be necessary but as long as you take advantage of EE you will be good. I would plan on 2 full days at Disneyland and 1 full day for DCA.