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1st time to Disneyland?
- Thread starter valleyfan
- Start date
nemofinder22
Well-Known Member
I think 3 days at DLR is ideal that way you don't have to rush, even more so given the time frame that your going to be there.
DLR only presents its NYE offerings once.
DLR only presents its NYE offerings once.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Wow, the very busiest week of the year. 
I would have to say you won't see much of Disneyland in just one day that week, but you could maybe see most of the stuff you want to do in DCA in one day that week.
It will be crazy, and the turnstiles will be closed due to overcrowding by early afternoon. So unless you are staying in one of Disney's hotels there may be some logistics of working around being locked out or locked in one or both of the parks during the afternoon and early evening hours. It can hamper touring plans greatly by not being able to freely park hop or enter/exit one of the parks.
I would have to say you won't see much of Disneyland in just one day that week, but you could maybe see most of the stuff you want to do in DCA in one day that week.
It will be crazy, and the turnstiles will be closed due to overcrowding by early afternoon. So unless you are staying in one of Disney's hotels there may be some logistics of working around being locked out or locked in one or both of the parks during the afternoon and early evening hours. It can hamper touring plans greatly by not being able to freely park hop or enter/exit one of the parks.
Mrs.PhD
New Member
Can I piggy back on this thread??? Newbie to DL, but done WDW many times.
We are planning our 1st trip to DLR in just a few months (Aug 1st.) We hope to stay at DL hotel, or Grand Californian DVC (but I highly doubt the DVC wait list will come through. We were thinking of doing 2 or 4 days (I think 4, DH think 3.) We don't mind doing things twice, 3 times.......... After that move to a cousins house and will see other parts of LA. We will hope to get to LAX on Monday, and go to the parks, Tues, to Friday (maybe not Friday.)
People who live in LA think we are crazy going in Aug. We have never been to California before. Any ideas? Are they right? I think DL would be much better then WDW in Aug. Been there done that, no more WDW in Aug.
We will be there over my youngest daughters 7th birthday and right before our 18 th wedding anniversary.
I know when we get there a lot will be closed at DCA when we get there this summer, but a lot will have just opened too. I think by the time your Dec trip, even more will be completed.
We are planning our 1st trip to DLR in just a few months (Aug 1st.) We hope to stay at DL hotel, or Grand Californian DVC (but I highly doubt the DVC wait list will come through. We were thinking of doing 2 or 4 days (I think 4, DH think 3.) We don't mind doing things twice, 3 times.......... After that move to a cousins house and will see other parts of LA. We will hope to get to LAX on Monday, and go to the parks, Tues, to Friday (maybe not Friday.)
People who live in LA think we are crazy going in Aug. We have never been to California before. Any ideas? Are they right? I think DL would be much better then WDW in Aug. Been there done that, no more WDW in Aug.
We will be there over my youngest daughters 7th birthday and right before our 18 th wedding anniversary.
I know when we get there a lot will be closed at DCA when we get there this summer, but a lot will have just opened too. I think by the time your Dec trip, even more will be completed.
Rufus T Firefly
Well-Known Member
I don't think you're crazy to go in Aug. But I would strongly advise against using LAX. John Wayne, Long Beach and Ontario are better alternatives.
Mrs.PhD
New Member
I have heard that. We were able to get the airfare today, from Delta. We had some prices issues that caused stress, but in the end we got 4 tickets from DTW (Detroit) non stop to LAX, the dates and times we wanted. $320 per person. Getting from DTW to any other airport in the area is not cost effective, at all. In fact I even had a hard time finding any flights. I was so excited to find the airfare, I was getting concerned we were going to have to put off the trip for another summer. The price kept going up and up, to 505 per person.
We fly in Sunday July 31st at around noon. We plan to head over to DL, stay at the DL hotel (on DVD points.) We are on a wait list for Grand Cal, but I highly doubt that would happen. 4 days in the parks.
We have 2 daughters. One is 10 and the youngest will turn 7 when we are there.
DH's cousin offered to pick us up from LAX, but we might take the shuttle. We will stay at DL from Sunday to Thursday (maybe Friday) and then stay with DH's cousin in Whitter for the rest of the trip. We might try to find a hotel on priceline or something like that near the beach for Sunday night and Monday. I think that would be fun, but not sure where to look.
Thanks for the advice. I am so excited about the trip! I have a lot to read up and learn about.
I don't think you're crazy
I don't think you're crazy to do Disney in August. SO MUCH BETTER THAN FLORIDA IN AUGUST, I know that!!!
I think as long as you arrive at LAX in the frame of mind, you'll be find. Just remember that it is one of the busiest airports IN THE WORLD. So, breathe in, breathe out, and just get through it with your good humor intact!
Sunday is one of their busiest days.
If you end up going with the shuttle, try http://shuttletolax.com. I just checked all of them (Prime Time, Super Shuttle, one of the smaller companies and Shuttle to LAX, and it was definitely the best price, so that is the way to go with that.
Priceline is great too ... definitely try that. Just know that if you name your own price, they will try to throw you off. I just booked a rental car in New Jersey today. I bid $12/day for a standard car and this warning popped up and said I wasn't likely to get it and that if I bid $55/day, I had a good chance of getting it. I figured, what the heck, and sent it through at $12/day anway, and guess what? I got it! So don't listen to them. Bid low and allow yourself several days to put in new bids if you don't get it.
I don't think you're crazy to do Disney in August. SO MUCH BETTER THAN FLORIDA IN AUGUST, I know that!!!
I think as long as you arrive at LAX in the frame of mind, you'll be find. Just remember that it is one of the busiest airports IN THE WORLD. So, breathe in, breathe out, and just get through it with your good humor intact!
Sunday is one of their busiest days.If you end up going with the shuttle, try http://shuttletolax.com. I just checked all of them (Prime Time, Super Shuttle, one of the smaller companies and Shuttle to LAX, and it was definitely the best price, so that is the way to go with that.
Priceline is great too ... definitely try that. Just know that if you name your own price, they will try to throw you off. I just booked a rental car in New Jersey today. I bid $12/day for a standard car and this warning popped up and said I wasn't likely to get it and that if I bid $55/day, I had a good chance of getting it. I figured, what the heck, and sent it through at $12/day anway, and guess what? I got it! So don't listen to them. Bid low and allow yourself several days to put in new bids if you don't get it.
Mrs.PhD
New Member
I don't think you're crazy to do Disney in August. SO MUCH BETTER THAN FLORIDA IN AUGUST, I know that!!!
Thank you Zoe! I figure July/Aug is going to be hot almost anywhere (including at even at home.) This spring and winter has been so cold, I could use some HOT right now anyway.
DH doesn't really like crowds and situations where he doesn't know what he doing. On the other hand he LOVES WDW. :shrug: Part of that is the comfort of knowing where we are going. We were in NYC just a few weeks ago. I know it isn't his favorite, but I love it (my brother moved there a few years ago.) I have found planning ahead and having the right tools (often info), really helps ease situation. Having an iphone also makes things easier, as long as you have enough battery power. We also found that the Disney store in times square is in fact the friendliest and happiest place in NYC.
So we are pretty used to crowds and travel. In fact I think going to WDW so many times has really prepared my kids for travel. They know how to do large crowds, airports, lines, public transport. They did learn some new words on the subway that they never heard before at WDW that is for sure. :lookaroun
Mrs. PhD, we will be in DL the week before you. Just finished up making our meal reservations, in fact.
I know the parks will be crowded so we planned 3.5 days in the parks.
One thing I am worried about is park hopping. For example, on July 27 we plan on starting at DCA, having lunch at Ariel's Grotto, and then heading to DL in the afternoon. I am a bit worried, however, that they will close down further entrance to DL due to overcrowding. Can anyone put my mind at ease?
I know the parks will be crowded so we planned 3.5 days in the parks.
One thing I am worried about is park hopping. For example, on July 27 we plan on starting at DCA, having lunch at Ariel's Grotto, and then heading to DL in the afternoon. I am a bit worried, however, that they will close down further entrance to DL due to overcrowding. Can anyone put my mind at ease?
Mrs.PhD
New Member
cdatkins, can I ask where you are eating???? I was thinking about that. I originally wanted to eat at blue bayou, but was reading the New Orlens cafe is cheaper and good. I want to try the beignets.
We will be celebrating DD's birthday and our anniversary, so we might do a few nice meals for that.
Did you have a hard time getting reservations?? I think I should start doing that soon (now that we have our dates set.)
We will be celebrating DD's birthday and our anniversary, so we might do a few nice meals for that.
Did you have a hard time getting reservations?? I think I should start doing that soon (now that we have our dates set.)
On the 27th we are doing lunch at Ariel's Grotto and dinner at Blue Bayou.
On the 28th we are doing lunch somewhere fast in Fantasyland (probably Village Haus) then dinner at Tortilla Jo's in Downtown Disney.
On the 29th we are doing lunch at Cafe Orleans and dinner at Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria.
Had zero problem with reservations, but then again I called for reservations promptly at 10ET exactly 60 days out.
Rufus T Firefly
Well-Known Member
Enter DL first, then exit with a hand stamp before you enter DCA. You will be allowed to re enter DL later in the day because of the hand stamp, no matter how crowded it is.
Mrs.PhD
New Member
Oh that is true, I think we are still over 60 days out (62 I think.) :lol:
Those are all places I was thinking about too. I have heard mixed reviews on Ariels. Are you doing the seating package with it???
I have so much to learn about DL.
No we are not doing the seating package. Just lunch with the princesses. Isn't the seating package just useful if you want to watch an adjacent show like World of Color?
Enter DL first, then exit with a hand stamp before you enter DCA. You will be allowed to re enter DL later in the day because of the hand stamp, no matter how crowded it is.
Good tip...thanks!
So I take it this means that we should be nervous about park hopping on a crowded summer day?
Mrs.PhD
New Member
I think so, I am new to this. Not sure if it is worth the money for it.
Rufus T Firefly
Well-Known Member
Mildly concerned. But just in case, use the hand stamp trick.