DL Trip Planning/Crowd Levels?

[The MaD Hatter]

I've been to WDW several times and know a lot of the in's and out's of planning a trip there (in fact we just finished planning a big trip to WDW for this December). However, I've never been to DL and would like to take my family there sometime next year.

Does anyone know of a site like www.touringplans.com that provides travel plans and crowd level calanders for DL? Do the crowd levels at DL follow that same trends as WDW? Also, can anyone recommend a good offsite hotel that is close to DL and provides a shuttle service to the parks?

Any other tips for planning a DL vacation would be much appreciated as well. Thanks.

 

[ScrapIron]

The majority of DL patrons are local, while in WDW it's more travellers. So while Sat-Sun are travel days for those visiting WDW, they are busier in DL. While I don't know a site like touringplans, I'd suggest spending time at the discussion forums at www.miceage.com, which are the most active ones I know of for DL. You can also use www.ridemax.com, which sells a downloadable program that lets you imput date, times, rides desired, and it will spit out a plan; costs less than $20. If you understand the pricipals at work as far as crowd patterns, ride capacity, fastpass, etc., you're already in good shape.

Most multi-day tickets will include one early entry to DL; EE days are M, T, Th, Sat. If you want to ride the rides in FL, this is the day to do it as none have FP. I've heard DCA sometimes, if not usually opens Soarin' 30 minutes before opening. Busy times DL opens at 8 and DCA at 10. One strategy on an EE day is do the FL rides (only other part of the park open is Space and Buzz BTW), then go to the west side at park opening, then be at DCA at 10, which allows you to beat the crowds 3 times in one morning! FPs are accepted late like at WDW. Roger Rabbit and Grizzly River Run's FP machines are not connected to any others, so you can always have one for those regardless of any others you may have/get. Star Tours' line gets pretty short at night. Single rider can usually be found at Splash, Maliboomer, GRR and Soarin', possibly the coasters in DCA.

I've stayed in several off site hotels, and have always walked to the parks. There are several that are a 10 minute stroll to the main gates; less if you're lucky with the light. I assume you know the 2 parks gates are about 30 seconds apart. We're staying a third time at the Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites in 2 weeks. It's not a Hilton, but it's not a Motel 6 either. It is the closest with suites, though, and is clean. There are also Suites at the Carousel Inn nearly as close. A lot of people swear by the Candy Cane. I believe the Best Western Park Place Inn is the one on the crosswalk.

Cheers.