Guide to DLR for WDW Veterans!

montyz81

Well-Known Member
I am a newbie to DL. I have been to WDW (I can't count how many times), but I have never been to DL. Is there a more up-to-date guide than the one at the beginning of this thread? I am considering going in June, I would love to know the crowd levels, planning thresholds, restaurants for evening events, offsite activities etc. There is so much to learn and plan in six months. I am sure this is a typical request, but I could do it with some links if that makes it easier. Of course, DL veteran input is always welcome.
Strangely, I have been to DL Paris and Tokyo, so I am familiar with the more compact nature of the Disneyland's setups versus WDW.
 

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
generic question for the forum: Besides this thread, what forums in wdwmagic are good sources of information for DLR resort discounts, hotels - on site vs off site, trip planning, fastpass/genie, etc.? We used to live in SoCal, but moved to Georgia in 1991. So, a LOT has changed at Disneyland since we last visited. We are going in April 2025 and I want to learn as much as possible.
To be honest, this is about it on WDWMagic as far as I know. This side of the board is mostly locals without much info for tourists. I like Disney Tourist Blog for general Disneyland information-it's probably the most comprehensive resource that I'm aware of for the topic. Mouse Savers also has a little bit of info about discounts, etc.

The catch 22 is that there's not nearly as much planning needed for Disneyland, but because of that, there's much, much less information out there. One thing I can tell you is that you're generally better off staying offsite unless you have a lot of money onhand to splurge-particularly since many offsite hotels are closer to the actual park gates than two of the three official Disney hotels, and the primary perk the DL hotels offer is 30 minutes of early entry.

Feel free to fire away with specific questions.
I am a newbie to DL. I have been to WDW (I can't count how many times), but I have never been to DL. Is there a more up-to-date guide than the one at the beginning of this thread? I am considering going in June, I would love to know the crowd levels, planning thresholds, restaurants for evening events, offsite activities etc. There is so much to learn and plan in six months. I am sure this is a typical request, but I could do it with some links if that makes it easier. Of course, DL veteran input is always welcome.
Strangely, I have been to DL Paris and Tokyo, so I am familiar with the more compact nature of the Disneyland's setups versus WDW.
I recommend the aforementioned Disney Tourist Blog.

There isn't really much faith in crowd calendars when it comes to DLR; most people at this point will tell you to expect it to be mobbed and be pleasantly surprised if it is not. Thankfully, long park hours and minimal planning (which mostly amounts to basics like staying within walking distance, being at the park at rope drop, mid-day breaks, and not doing something stupid like rope-dropping Adventureland Treehouse) will generally mean that you'll be able to do everything you'll want to do as long as you allow at least three full days for the parks.

It's a bit dated and seldom visited now, but there is the "Explore Southern California" thread that has lots of ideas for things to do close-by: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-official-explore-southern-california-thread.872243/. The blessing and the curse of California is that if you have interests, there's almost certainly a really good example of what you're into within two hours of Disneyland. You'll find plenty to do nearby, just make sure you move lodging between things to do and strategically group activities so as to minimize time wasted in traffic.

I will say that if you're used to Tokyo and WDW, Disneyland is comparatively easy mode when it comes to preparing and executing a successful plan of attack.
 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
I am a newbie to DL. I have been to WDW (I can't count how many times), but I have never been to DL. Is there a more up-to-date guide than the one at the beginning of this thread? I am considering going in June, I would love to know the crowd levels, planning thresholds, restaurants for evening events, offsite activities etc. There is so much to learn and plan in six months. I am sure this is a typical request, but I could do it with some links if that makes it easier. Of course, DL veteran input is always welcome.
Strangely, I have been to DL Paris and Tokyo, so I am familiar with the more compact nature of the Disneyland's setups versus WDW.

Dining reservations open 60 days in advance, 6am pst normally.

If you search “Disneyland crowd levels” on google, there are some good resources. I used Disney tourist blog last year to decide my June dates. I recommend towards end of June, to avoid grad nites. At Disneyland weekends are the time to go, slowest day is usually Sunday. Monday, Tuesday can be very busy. We found Wednesday and Thursday very busy last year, Friday a bit more chill, and Saturday very chill.

I got our tickets at undercover tourist, which saved us some money.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Dining reservations open 60 days in advance, 6am pst normally.

If you search “Disneyland crowd levels” on google, there are some good resources. I used Disney tourist blog last year to decide my June dates. I recommend towards end of June, to avoid grad nites. At Disneyland weekends are the time to go, slowest day is usually Sunday. Monday, Tuesday can be very busy. We found Wednesday and Thursday very busy last year, Friday a bit more chill, and Saturday very chill.

I got our tickets at undercover tourist, which saved us some money.
I just posted a question then deleted it when I saw this. So, since I live in Tallahassee, I can start making reservations around 9am Eastern, correct?
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
I am a newbie to DL. I have been to WDW (I can't count how many times), but I have never been to DL. Is there a more up-to-date guide than the one at the beginning of this thread? I am considering going in June, I would love to know the crowd levels, planning thresholds, restaurants for evening events, offsite activities etc. There is so much to learn and plan in six months. I am sure this is a typical request, but I could do it with some links if that makes it easier. Of course, DL veteran input is always welcome.
Strangely, I have been to DL Paris and Tokyo, so I am familiar with the more compact nature of the Disneyland's setups versus WDW.
I'm going May 16-19 which is the start of the 70th Anniversary celebration. Since then, you've probably heard about the $360 deal for 3 day/1 park per day. I'm going to chance it. Since you're going a month later, any "normal" forecasts may change to higher than normal due to 70th anniversary crowds, mostly from the locals probably. Good luck!
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
I believe so, yes! 9am ET, 60 days before the day you want to book. Unless something has changed. I got Trader Sam's that way.
Thanks! I'm not staying on-site due to high costs of DLR resorts, so won't get to do ADRs for the length of my stay. For May 16-18 (yes, 70th anniversary), I'll be making reservations separately on March 17 (DLP May 16), March 18 (DLP May 17), and March 19 (DCA May 18). I've booked an extra day, May 19 for rest before flying back, so could do a dining reservation in Downtown Disney or one of the Disney resorts that day. Recommendations?
 

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
Thanks! I'm not staying on-site due to high costs of DLR resorts, so won't get to do ADRs for the length of my stay. For May 16-18 (yes, 70th anniversary), I'll be making reservations separately on March 17 (DLP May 16), March 18 (DLP May 17), and March 19 (DCA May 18). I've booked an extra day, May 19 for rest before flying back, so could do a dining reservation in Downtown Disney or one of the Disney resorts that day. Recommendations?
ADRs for length of stay isn't a thing at Disneyland anyway.

I've really enjoyed Centrico at Downtown Disney, or really, anything at Grand Californian. You're spoiled for choice there with Craftsmen Bar & Grill (two restaurants that are functionally the same, but Bar is table service and Grill is counter), Napa Rose (fanciest restaurant in the resort), or Heartstone Lounge. I've found all to be great choices. There's also the aforementioned Trader Sam's at DLH.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
ADRs for length of stay isn't a thing at Disneyland anyway.

I've really enjoyed Centrico at Downtown Disney, or really, anything at Grand Californian. You're spoiled for choice there with Craftsmen Bar & Grill (two restaurants that are functionally the same, but Bar is table service and Grill is counter), Napa Rose (fanciest restaurant in the resort), or Heartstone Lounge. I've found all to be great choices. There's also the aforementioned Trader Sam's at DLH.
That's great you can reserve dinimg at DL's Trader Sams, unlike the WDW Poly version.
 

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
That's great you can reserve dinimg at DL's Trader Sams, unlike the WDW Poly version.
With the caveat that the inside area is tiny, and it can be difficult to get reservations unless you get them right at 60 days out.

I believe much of the seating is unreservable and kept for walk-ins.
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
That's great you can reserve dinimg at DL's Trader Sams, unlike the WDW Poly version.

If you want to try for a Trader Sam's reservation make sure you go for that first thing on the 60 day mark. They go super fast! If you don't get a reservation you can try walk up, most of the time walk ups are for outside but sometimes I've been able to do a walk up for inside.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
If you want to try for a Trader Sam's reservation make sure you go for that first thing on the 60 day mark. They go super fast! If you don't get a reservation you can try walk up, most of the time walk ups are for outside but sometimes I've been able to do a walk up for inside.
Thanks! What about DLP and DCA? My window opens 3/17. I'll be in DLP 5/16 and 5/17 and DCA 5/18.
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
It depends on what dinning you are going for at DL and DCA. I think then only other reservation that goes as fast as Trader Sam’s is the River Belle Terrace premium Fantasmic package. Blue Bayou can book up fairly quick, I’m not a big Blue Bayou fan though. I like Cafe Orleans better.


As for DCA the only reservation that I have made is for the Carthay. There are two different options for the Carthay Circle and I like the menu at the Lounge better than the restaurant upstairs. But even that gets booked at a reasonable pace.
 

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
Thanks! What about DLP and DCA? My window opens 3/17. I'll be in DLP 5/16 and 5/17 and DCA 5/18.
Blue Bayou will go quickly, Carthay will go next, and nothing else in the parks is super close IME (my one blind spot is Lamplight, because I wasn't a fan; that one may also go quicker than I'm imagining). Any dining package paired with entertainment will go quickly. Other in-park restaurants don't book up that quickly for the most part.

The regular (not three cheese) Monte Cristo and Pomme Frites at Cafe Orleans is the only table service menu item that I would consider to be absolutely essential if it ticks your boxes at all. You can certainly have good experiences and good food at other sitdown places, but don't feel like you MUST fill your schedule with table service unless you want to. There are plenty of good counter service options in the parks too.
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
Blue Bayou will go quickly, Carthay will go next, and nothing else in the parks is super close IME (my one blind spot is Lamplight, because I wasn't a fan; that one may also go quicker than I'm imagining). Any dining package paired with entertainment will go quickly. Other in-park restaurants don't book up that quickly for the most part.

The regular (not three cheese) Monte Cristo and Pomme Frites at Cafe Orleans is the only table service menu item that I would consider to be absolutely essential if it ticks your boxes at all. You can certainly have good experiences and good food at other sitdown places, but don't feel like you MUST fill your schedule with table service unless you want to. There are plenty of good counter service options in the parks too.

I forgot about how quick Lamplight goes too, probably because I'm not a huge fan of it either. The drinks are fine, the food though....meh.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
I forgot about how quick Lamplight goes too, probably because I'm not a huge fan of it either. The drinks are fine, the food though....meh.
Although my window hasn't opened yet, I just did a check for May 11 (I won't be there) and Lamplight is still available. Of course, things could change beginning May 16 when the 70th anniversary starts.

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Touchdown

Well-Known Member
If it’s in your price range would recommend a meal at the Grand. Napa Rose is very, very good but with the seasonal menu you never know what you are going to get. Lately I’ve been gravitating more to Hearthstone. Their Strip Steak with maple bourbon glaze and truffle fries are top notch, and the apple cranberry tart Ala mode is divine.
 

JohnD

Well-Known Member
If it’s in your price range would recommend a meal at the Grand. Napa Rose is very, very good but with the seasonal menu you never know what you are going to get. Lately I’ve been gravitating more to Hearthstone. Their Strip Steak with maple bourbon glaze and truffle fries are top notch, and the apple cranberry tart Ala mode is divine.
I've built in a extra day of my trip, 5/19 for rest, DD, etc. before flying home so that one is possible. Thanks.
 

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