DLR trip

[Scrump520]

Hey everybody :wave: My family and I will be visiting DLR next year. My sister will be participating in Tournament of Roses Parade in California. Therefore, the rest of the fam will be going to DLR. Usually, we take our vacations to WDW, so there are many things we are unsure about. Where do we stay? Where do we make our ressies? How much time do we spend in DCA? Any tips?

 

[Marijil]

Hey Scrump welcome to the boards!

Congrats on your sister.... thats a big honor.....

IMHO at DLR it is not as vital to stay "on property" as many good neighbor hotels offer fantastic amenities

As far as resizes, I assume you mean meal reservations.... I love the steakhouse at the Disneyland Hotel and Ralph Brennans Jazz place in downtown disney

I don't know how long you are staying but three days for two parks i think is plenty

Have fun

 

[Scrump520]

If you stay on site in DLR, you can enter the park before those who don't. with my experience in WDW I know how valuable that time can be. Even though my DD feels that we should try one of those amenities. Thanks for your suggestions & help, marijill

 

[DryCreek]

Check on that...

If you stay on site in DLR, you can enter the park before those who don't. with my experience in WDW I know how valuable that time can be. Even though my DD feels that we should try one of those amenities. Thanks for your suggestions & help, marijill

If you are talking about Magic Morning early entry, you can also get that privilege by booking your tickets (or your entire Good Neighbor Hotel Package) through the Disneyland website. I ordered my 5 day Park Hoppers from them and get one Magic Morning entry.

Check to be sure. I'd post a link but I think that I have learned my lesson after the last scolding about such conduct.....

Anyway here's a quote from their site:

† Magic Morning Early Admission at Disneyland Park

Magic Morning early entry allows admission into selected attractions at Disneyland Park before the Park opens to the public on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.

Only registered Guests at a Disneyland Resort Hotel who have a valid admission ticket, Guests who have purchased select Disneyland Resort Vacation Packages or Guests holding special Disneyland Resort Tickets that include Magic Morning admission benefits may participate.

Each member of your travel party must have a valid theme park admission. To enhance the Magic Morning experience, it is strongly recommended that guests arrive at least one hour and 15 minutes prior to regular park opening. Magic Morning admission is based on availability and does not operate daily. Applicable days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, operation of attractions, entertainment, stores and restaurants and appearances of characters may vary and are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

Only registered Guests at a Disneyland Resort Hotel who have a valid admission ticket, Guests who have purchased select Disneyland Resort Vacation Packages or Guests holding special Disneyland Resort Tickets that include Magic Morning admission benefits may participate. Each member of your travel party must have a valid theme park admission. To enhance the Magic Morning experience, it is strongly recommended that guests arrive at least one hour and 15 minutes prior to regular park opening. Magic Morning admission is based on availability and does not operate daily. Applicable days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, operation of attractions, entertainment, stores and restaurants and appearances of characters may vary and are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

 

[Scrump520]

wow, that is great. that shows you how little i know about disney land rather than disney world. thank you so much, will definitely look into that.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

wow, that is great. that shows you how little i know about disney land rather than disney world. thank you so much, will definitely look into that.

Yeah, I'm on the DL learning curve, too. It's a work in progress with a whoooole lotta reading. If money were no object I'd just go on a recon trip prior to the family trip. LOL!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Yeah, I'm on the DL learning curve, too. It's a work in progress with a whoooole lotta reading. If money were no object I'd just go on a recon trip prior to the family trip. LOL!

Same boat here...decided to buy Birnbaum's official guide today just to help. I think I'm starting to sort it all out, but it's funny many similar things there are compared to the many MANY differences. Funny that someone brought up Ralph Brennan's...I was just looking at that the other day and wondering how it measures up to our NOLA faves. Oh well- at least trip planning is fun, but yea- totally wish I could journey out to Cali next month to decide for myself before bringing the fam along.

 

[DryCreek]

Great Reading

Hey Sweetpee1993, HouCuseChickie and Scrump520 - I PM'ed y'all with some information about planning DL trips. I found it very, very helpful.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

hey drycreek, could you please pm me the info about disneyland too, I'm looking at going this april. thanks!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Same boat here...decided to buy Birnbaum's official guide today just to help. I think I'm starting to sort it all out, but it's funny many similar things there are compared to the many MANY differences. Funny that someone brought up Ralph Brennan's...I was just looking at that the other day and wondering how it measures up to our NOLA faves. Oh well- at least trip planning is fun, but yea- totally wish I could journey out to Cali next month to decide for myself before bringing the fam along.

I've been wondering the same thing about Ralph Brennan's. I'm hesitant to try "New Orleans" fare anywhere other than our favorite haunts back in Louisiana or when our friends from down da bayou cook for us. For the holidays Tracey made his jambalaya twice. As soon as we got home on Sunday I ran out and bought the ingredients for him to make it one more time before the big kettle goes back to storage. I know we'll prob'ly be skipping the character meals at DL since we seem to be not into those so much at WDW anymore. Now I just need to study all our other options. And, of course, I totally wanna do a special evening at Napa Rose. :slurp:

Lemme know if you would really consider a recon trip. Seriously. I think I'd run out there for a couple days on the cheap just to scope some things out ahead of time. Just need to sell a couple dolls and I'm out the door.... LOL!

Hey Sweetpee1993, HouCuseChickie and Scrump520 - I PM'ed y'all with some information about planning DL trips. I found it very, very helpful.

Thanks! :animwink:

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Hey Sweetpee1993, HouCuseChickie and Scrump520 - I PM'ed y'all with some information about planning DL trips. I found it very, very helpful.

Thank you!!! :wave: Looks like it will be very helpful!

I've been wondering the same thing about Ralph Brennan's. I'm hesitant to try "New Orleans" fare anywhere other than our favorite haunts back in Louisiana or when our friends from down da bayou cook for us. For the holidays Tracey made his jambalaya twice. As soon as we got home on Sunday I ran out and bought the ingredients for him to make it one more time before the big kettle goes back to storage. I know we'll prob'ly be skipping the character meals at DL since we seem to be not into those so much at WDW anymore. Now I just need to study all our other options. And, of course, I totally wanna do a special evening at Napa Rose. :slurp:

Lemme know if you would really consider a recon trip. Seriously. I think I'd run out there for a couple days on the cheap just to scope some things out ahead of time. Just need to sell a couple dolls and I'm out the door.... LOL!

I read some bad reviews for Ralph Brennan's and it worried me. I've eaten excellent meals at other Ralph Brennan establishments, but never so far from Louisiana. However, the bulk of the negative reviews for the DLR DTD restaurant seem to be about undercooked beignets...something I don't normally consume unless I'm in Jackson Square and feeling the lure of Cafe Du Monde :slurp: I would love to try Napa Rose and it's on our "maybe" list, but there are a lot of things up in the air right now. We have 2 other parts to the trip I'm planning-so I'm feeling like exciting things are pulling me in a million and one different directions...which is probably a good thing.

Maybe if I can get this cake side business off the ground and sell some larger and/or ornate ones- the $ could help make a recon trip a possiblity. Of course, there are also potential trips to Maui and NOLA that complicate things (along with a non-WDW FL trip and NJ/PA)!~ like that's a bad thing :lol: I'll keep you posted.

 

[DryCreek]

PM Sent

hey drycreek, could you please pm me the info about disneyland too, I'm looking at going this april. thanks!

PM sent - I hope that it helps. It was a lot of reading, but it is written for someone who is familiar with WDW, but wants to visit DL. Lots of great compare/contrast type information.

 

[NikiMouse]

Hey Sweetpee1993, HouCuseChickie and Scrump520 - I PM'ed y'all with some information about planning DL trips. I found it very, very helpful.

Hey Dry Creek - I too would love some insider DisneyLand info. We go to WDW a couple times a year but I am planning our first (with kids) Disneyland trip this year.

 

[DisneyDadof5]

I'm in the same boat. Over 15 WDW trips, 0 DL trips. Would love any info you can share Dry Creek. Thanks! :wave:

Hey Dry Creek - I too would love some insider DisneyLand info. We go to WDW a couple times a year but I am planning our first (with kids) Disneyland trip this year.

 

[Monsterfan99]

Add me as another that would love any info you have Dry Creek. Hundreds of visits to the parks at WDW, never stepped foot in California let alone DL.

 

[Greenkai3000]

If you stay on site in DLR, you can enter the park before those who don't. with my experience in WDW I know how valuable that time can be. Even though my DD feels that we should try one of those amenities. Thanks for your suggestions & help, marijill

I'm with you on this one. I'm a WDW Veteran, and when my family and I went to DLR for the first time, we just had to stay on property. Nothing beats like staying at a Disney Resort, and the perks are great. We booked a room at Paradise Pier, and the staff there were incredible. We were upgraded to a room with a view of DCA, and got the royal treatment everywhere we went because of my Birthday Button I got at the Front Desk. I highly recommend you consider staying there, or at the Grand Californian if you can afford it. A short walk to the parks was another bonus, as was being able to enter DCA from the private entrance at the Grand Californian.

Oh you'll definitely need at least one day at DCA and 2 at DL. While the resort is not as big as WDW, you'll want to take your time riding all the attractions, and seeing all the nice details in the theming each park offers.