DLR Newbie questions

[sweetpee_1993]

We struggle making time for meals if we do the 'we'll just find something..' we end up waiting too late, can't find something decent and end up at CS again, etc.

One thing I would mention tho is.. don't defer on seeing F! or Fireworks. Fireworks especially get canceled frequently due to winds.. so plan to see them early in your trip in case of cancellations. WoC doesn't have the same issue.. and F! less worrisome for technical glitches.. but same.. you want to do F! early in your trip.

AP discounts for food and merch are much better in DLR.

Good tips! Thank you!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Oh, and if you can afford it, do the Disneyland Hotel. It's fantastic! If you stay elsewhere, still go check it out! The lobbies alone are worth the trip (outside of Adventure Tower, which is where I stayed)

DLH is where we're booking. Since the remodel I'm just itching to stay there!

 

[englanddg]

DLH is where we're booking. Since the remodel I'm just itching to stay there!

You won't regret it!

 

[Cosmic Commando]

In the same vein as the nighttime shows, I would try to see Aladdin on your first day in DCA. The Genie gives the show more repeatability than your average show, so you may want to see it again... and you'll want to leave yourself more than one day to squeeze in that hypothetical second viewing. I myself went through four weeks' worth of vacation over three trips before I saw Aladdin... big mistake!

 

[Cosmic Commando]

This. This is what I am in search of. I want parks but without the over planning and stress. I want to be relaxed and take-it-as-I-go. Don't want to feel penalized or like I short-changed myself because I didn't jump into commando-planning 6 months ahead of time. I want to show up and enjoy. That simple. Yes, this is for me.

That's pretty much what you'll get. The most planning you really have to do (I can't speak for table service although I hear good things) is getting in line for that RSR FP or getting the FP for World of Color. Even then, your family is all old enough to do single rider... a great option for Racers because of the ride system. There may be better times to do certain things, but it's pretty much just do whatever the heck you want all day!

 

[mcstensrud]

We made reassies at Naples (same as via Napoli) and Steakhouse 55 before we left just to have something booked. Both were well worth it.
We also booked a WOC dinner pkg at Ariel's grotto(big mistake).
We did the 5 day and ended up doing a one day! Don't know why we couldn't just ad on one ? Oh well we were on vacation.
The only issue that we had was that the parks close so much earlier than WDW parks and downtown is not quite like DTD.
We went into DCA just to go to Ghiardellis for an ice cream one evening!

 

[SplashDuck]

How many entrances to the Disney Land area are there? I am planing on staying off site, and I notice on Google Earth it looks like there are 4 "entrance roads" onto the grounds, but I keep seeing reviews for some hotels that people say they had to walk to the other side to get in.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

How many entrances to the Disney Land area are there? I am planing on staying off site, and I notice on Google Earth it looks like there are 4 "entrance roads" onto the grounds, but I keep seeing reviews for some hotels that people say they had to walk to the other side to get in.

As a pedestrian, you can only enter from Harbor Blvd. Theoretically you could walk up/down Disneyland Drive to Downtown Disney from Ball or Katella, but that would be a long walk indeed.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

As a pedestrian, you can only enter from Harbor Blvd. Theoretically you could walk up/down Disneyland Drive to Downtown Disney from Ball or Katella, but that would be a long walk indeed.

I have heard of people making that walk up Disneyland Drive through the Grand Californian and into the DtD, but it didn't sound like fun. Honestly @SplashDuck , if I were looking for a hotel, I would only look at the dozen or so hotels directly east of the Resort on Harbor Blvd. There is a nice price range available from that group, and all of the hotels seem to match their quality with their price fairly well. Wikimapia is the easiest way to check them all out. Anything on Harbor south of I-5 and north of Katella is a closer walk than the Contemporary is to the MK.

 

[mcstensrud]

You can hop on the monorail at downtown if you are going to DLP,but it drops you off inside the park!

 

[flynnibus]

From dl drive you have to either cut through parking and backside entrances to DTD (no curb entrance) or walk into the grand calif. Which also is not clear from the street.

We would do the DTD entrance walk frequently.. But I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[SplashDuck]

Does Disneyland have a store that sells just Christmas items, kinda like how MK or DTD in Orlando have christmas stores?

 

[JillC LI]

Glad to see how this thread took off after I started it. I've been quiet for awhile because March didn't pan out, but now we are looking at a few days AFTER Memorial Day weekend. Is that a good time? (putting aside that F! isn't shown mid-week) I was surprised to discover that you can only make ADRs at DLR 60 days out. Interesting. If I want to do a WOC package, would you recommend Wine Country Trattoria or Carthay Circle? Is the WOC package on the Dining Plan? If so, for how many credits? Thanks again!

 

[flynnibus]

@JillC LI - don't think of dining plan credits - completely forget all ideas about the wdw dining plan.

Then, completely ignore the dlr dining plan and don't use buy it . Just pay for meals directly - there is no benefit to the meal plan.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Glad to see how this thread took off after I started it. I've been quiet for awhile because March didn't pan out, but now we are looking at a few days AFTER Memorial Day weekend. Is that a good time? (putting aside that F! isn't shown mid-week) I was surprised to discover that you can only make ADRs at DLR 60 days out. Interesting. If I want to do a WOC package, would you recommend Wine Country Trattoria or Carthay Circle? Is the WOC package on the Dining Plan? If so, for how many credits? Thanks again!

You are actually guaranteed to lose money with DL's "Dining Plan." Avoid it like the plague.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Glad to see how this thread took off after I started it. I've been quiet for awhile because March didn't pan out, but now we are looking at a few days AFTER Memorial Day weekend. Is that a good time? (putting aside that F! isn't shown mid-week) I was surprised to discover that you can only make ADRs at DLR 60 days out. Interesting. If I want to do a WOC package, would you recommend Wine Country Trattoria or Carthay Circle? Is the WOC package on the Dining Plan? If so, for how many credits? Thanks again!

They are both well-liked. I ate at Wine Country Trattoria years ago, and it was good FWIW. Whichever menu and price range suits you is the right one.