Congratulations on your first visit coming up. You'll be arriving as we are departing from the sounds of it. We've done DLR the week before Labor Day the last couple of years and other than the Mansion refurb (which we intentionally arrive before it goes down for 2 days), it's a great time to visit. This year is a bit of a downer since they are only doing 1 WoC show per night as it was great to catch Magical and it each night during the week.
I'm not sure if your long Labor Day weekend means you'll be onsite Friday or into Monday; but, I've been in the parks all day Friday and up to mid day on Saturday. The cool thing about DLR is that other than the streets in Disneyland being packed, you can still get a lot done due to the overall attraction capacity that the resort has in comparision to its Orlando cousins. Remember, there are almost as many rides and in attractions in the 2 parks as there are in all 4 in Orlando.
If your WDW experience is the normal excerise of planning meticously and watching your clock to make sure you get from one reservation to the next, you will likley be very pleasantly surpised that DLR doesn't need to "beaten into submission" like Orlando. If you want to do something, simply walk up and get in line or get a FastPass. Restauants don't really require reservations, but, during the busiest of times, they do help.
At DLR, stroll around and soak up the atmosphere. Be amazed that you will encounter characters seemingly around every corner interacting with guests and not sequestered behind walls with a multihour wait (Frozen not withistanding). Apperciate the hub <pun intended> of activity that Main St USA is with all of the vehicles and performers out - and not just for a few minutes in the morning hours. Stare in wonder at the kinetic motion that is the Rivers of America and how alive it seems in comparison to the MK.
I'm a big believer in using the Fantasmic and WoC packages as a method of saving time and potentially getting better views. Be warned, to get the best of the Fantasmic seats and WoC - you still need to show up early. Carthay is a great restaurant; but, their menu is very seasonal - so be sure to look over their current choices. There is a bit of an unknown rule when it comes to WoC packages and their respective restaurants. Each place has their own zone set aside of it. The thing is that the zones sometimes shift around and the "best" restaurant isn't always the "best" view. The secret part of it (if you talk to the team leads) is that Carthay rules the roost if you want to be seated anywhere - they will let you if you ask. WoC is a very finicky show. It's good virtually anywhere, but to get the full impact (IMO) you need to see the show from the very front and center. Only there do the mist screens line up and you get a seemless presentation. Plus from the front you can see the effects on the waters surface (lasers and fog) and see the reflections. There is also something from the front that you can see anywhere - the individual water droplets take on a luminous quality that is breathtaking. So, in my opinion use your Carthay reservation and ask to go down into the wet zone and park yourself there.
Get ready to enjoy what has become the superior Disney Parks USA experience. Your trips to Orlando won't be the same after you do this (unless TDO gets their act together - but, that will take more than wishing upon a star).
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
