Guide to DLR for WDW Veterans!

PiratesMansion

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
SamusAranX said:
I will do my best to convince him. He wants to ride Guardians, Spider-Man, etc and I can’t convince him that the latter is at least not a great attraction. You know how the casuals are! lol
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You have my sympathies. Spider-Man is SO bad.

Has he done the IOA Spider-Man ride? Because if so, he's ridden the better Spider-Man ride by orders of magnitude. Tell him the DCA Spider-Man ride is basically an overglorified Toy Story Mania, because that's basically all it is.
 
dmw

dmw

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
PiratesMansion said:
You have my sympathies. Spider-Man is SO bad.

Has he done the IOA Spider-Man ride? Because if so, he's ridden the better Spider-Man ride by orders of magnitude. Tell him the DCA Spider-Man ride is basically an overglorified Toy Story Mania, because that's basically all it is.
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I really enjoyed Spiderman at DCA! Of course, I LOVE TSMM at HS, too.

I grew up in SoCal and went to DL many times before moving to Georgia, and I've been to WDW many times since we moved here in 1991. I just went back to CA for a visit this month and experienced DCA for the first time and a LOT of changes at DL since my last visit over 30 years ago. It would be hard for me to recommend one park over the other. Both DLR parks have rides found on both coasts, even if there are variations, so it is hard to rule out one park or the other just because of "duplicate" rides. And both DLR parks have unique rides and attractions not available at WDW.

But, Disneyland is the original, and it still has so many of the original attractions (missing COP, of course). So, that might tip my recommendation in favor of DL over DCA.

Oh, and at DL you can ride in the front of the monorail again! Woohoo!
 
PiratesMansion

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
SamusAranX said:
After much convincing I may have won. It will be DL. Any recommendations for best snacks, meals etc? I also plan on using LL for first time. Wonder how that works?
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Snacks-Jolly Holiday is a great place to start for Matterhorn Macarons, etc. I also recommend:
-Mickey Beignets and (non alcoholic) mint julep-Mint Julep Bar (mint juleps can also be ordered, with free refills, at the NOS sitdown restaurants).
-Grey Stuff at Red Rose Tavern (different from WDW'S Grey stuff)
-Cookies from Harbor Galley
-Many MANY people swear by the churros, and the corn dogs from Red Wagon Inn

For meals:
-Fried Chicken at Plaza Inn (one of the few non-sitdowns with free soda refills too!l
-Monte Cristo & Pomme Frites at Cafe Orleans if you want an elite DL sitdown meal (warning: heavy).
 
PiratesMansion

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
SamusAranX said:
I also plan on using LL for first time. Wonder how that works?
Click to expand...
So you'll need the app, and to make sure your ticket and the tickets of your entire party are linked to the app through your Disney account (this was a bit tricky last time I did it a few years ago, but it's very doable. Make sure you do this before you get there). You can start making LL selections once you have entered the park (all party members must be in the park; you can't make LL selections for someone who has not scanned into the turnstiles).

Then, to make a LL selection:
1. Open the app; make sure you're logged in to your Disney account
2. Hit the plus sign in the center, then select "Book Lightning Lane Entry."
3. This will take you to the Tip Board, which will show you wait times for every attraction in the park; I recommend toggling the "view only lightning lane attractions" to make your selection.
4. Choose your desired attraction and select who in your party you will be making the LL for (default is all people in your party).
5. It will give you a one hour return time to come back to the attraction to redeem your LL. This should come up on the first page of the app or the "My Day" portion of the tip board.
6. At the designated time, go to the attraction's LL entrance. Make sure you click redeem on your LL to bring up a barcode.
7. You will see a series of poles with slots to scan tickets on this; go to the nearest available pole and insert your phone. The circular light will rotate and turn green if you have successfully redeemed your lightning lane; scroll to the next ticket by swiping right and scan that as well.
8. You will then officially join the LL queue, and you will be merged with the standby (regular) line shortly.

A few rules/caveats:
1. There's really no reason to use a LL before about 10 AM. Unless it's for Space Mountain or maybe Indy, it's unlikely you'll actually be skipping all that much of a line until 10.
2. You can get a new LL 90 minutes after you make a LL selection OR when you redeem a LL within its window, whichever comes first.
3. You cannot reserve an attraction more than once; it looks like you can, but the system will stop you in practice, EXCEPT:
4. If an attraction breaks down, you will be issued a Multi Experience Pass. This will allow you to return to the attraction at any point the rest of the day when it's working, OR you can redeem it at a designated list of other attractions that are at a roughly equivalent level of popularity (so if you reserve a BTMR LL and Big Thunder breaks down during your window, you could probably use it for Haunted Mansion but you will NOT be allowed to use it for Space Mountain or Indy). If you get issued a MEP, you can make another LL reservation for the same ride later IF it's available.
5. Book intelligently. Space Mountain and Indy are the most popular LLs and should be booked first; next tier of popularity is Matterhorn, followed by MMRR and TBA (assuming it's hot). Then it's Big Thunder and honestly from that there's a big drop-off.
6. If you want to change your LL time, try using the modify feature. You might end up with a time more to your liking. That said, you will not get an earlier time for your LL unless someone else cancels their LL that was scheduled earlier in the day.
7. You also get free Photopass with LL, though it's worth noting that Photopass at DL isn't nearly the production that it is at WDW, so don't expect, say, ample photographers to be available everywhere you might want to capture that perfect moment.
8. Remember that Rise of the Resistance isn't included and is a separate charge (Lightning Lane Single Pass).
9. LLMP will not stop you from booking multiple attractions within the same window; it will expect you to keep track of that and reschedule things on your own if you need to.
10. The amount of time LLMP saves is definitely not equal by attraction. If you use LLMP on Roger Rabbit, you're pretty much put on the ride ASAP (skipping entirely the excellently themed queue in the process); with Indy, however, you get to see basically all of the themed queue even with LL, but you can still expect to wait at least 20 minutes from when you scan your LL because of how far back the merge is.

That's everything I could think of with LLMP. It's a bit tricky at first but it gets easier once you have some practice using the system. Let us know if you have other questions.
 
SamusAranX

SamusAranX

Well-Known Member
PiratesMansion said:
So you'll need the app, and to make sure your ticket and the tickets of your entire party are linked to the app through your Disney account (this was a bit tricky last time I did it a few years ago, but it's very doable. Make sure you do this before you get there). You can start making LL selections once you have entered the park (all party members must be in the park; you can't make LL selections for someone who has not scanned into the turnstiles).

Then, to make a LL selection:
1. Open the app; make sure you're logged in to your Disney account
2. Hit the plus sign in the center, then select "Book Lightning Lane Entry."
3. This will take you to the Tip Board, which will show you wait times for every attraction in the park; I recommend toggling the "view only lightning lane attractions" to make your selection.
4. Choose your desired attraction and select who in your party you will be making the LL for (default is all people in your party).
5. It will give you a one hour return time to come back to the attraction to redeem your LL. This should come up on the first page of the app or the "My Day" portion of the tip board.
6. At the designated time, go to the attraction's LL entrance. Make sure you click redeem on your LL to bring up a barcode.
7. You will see a series of poles with slots to scan tickets on this; go to the nearest available pole and insert your phone. The circular light will rotate and turn green if you have successfully redeemed your lightning lane; scroll to the next ticket by swiping right and scan that as well.
8. You will then officially join the LL queue, and you will be merged with the standby (regular) line shortly.

A few rules/caveats:
1. There's really no reason to use a LL before about 10 AM. Unless it's for Space Mountain or maybe Indy, it's unlikely you'll actually be skipping all that much of a line until 10.
2. You can get a new LL 90 minutes after you make a LL selection OR when you redeem a LL within its window, whichever comes first.
3. You cannot reserve an attraction more than once; it looks like you can, but the system will stop you in practice, EXCEPT:
4. If an attraction breaks down, you will be issued a Multi Experience Pass. This will allow you to return to the attraction at any point the rest of the day when it's working, OR you can redeem it at a designated list of other attractions that are at a roughly equivalent level of popularity (so if you reserve a BTMR LL and Big Thunder breaks down during your window, you could probably use it for Haunted Mansion but you will NOT be allowed to use it for Space Mountain or Indy). If you get issued a MEP, you can make another LL reservation for the same ride later IF it's available.
5. Book intelligently. Space Mountain and Indy are the most popular LLs and should be booked first; next tier of popularity is Matterhorn, followed by MMRR and TBA (assuming it's hot). Then it's Big Thunder and honestly from that there's a big drop-off.
6. If you want to change your LL time, try using the modify feature. You might end up with a time more to your liking. That said, you will not get an earlier time for your LL unless someone else cancels their LL that was scheduled earlier in the day.
7. You also get free Photopass with LL, though it's worth noting that Photopass at DL isn't nearly the production that it is at WDW, so don't expect, say, ample photographers to be available everywhere you might want to capture that perfect moment.
8. Remember that Rise of the Resistance isn't included and is a separate charge (Lightning Lane Single Pass).
9. LLMP will not stop you from booking multiple attractions within the same window; it will expect you to keep track of that and reschedule things on your own if you need to.
10. The amount of time LLMP saves is definitely not equal by attraction. If you use LLMP on Roger Rabbit, you're pretty much put on the ride ASAP (skipping entirely the excellently themed queue in the process); with Indy, however, you get to see basically all of the themed queue even with LL, but you can still expect to wait at least 20 minutes from when you scan your LL because of how far back the merge is.

That's everything I could think of with LLMP. It's a bit tricky at first but it gets easier once you have some practice using the system. Let us know if you have other questions.
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This is amazing! Thank you so much!
 
mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
PiratesMansion said:
If you can only visit one park, I would always always always advise Disneyland over DCA, even if you've been to Magic Kingdom and your friend isn't a huge Disney fan. In addition to longer park hours, it's the classic park, it's where it all started, it has more and better attractions (few of which are identical to their WDW counterparts, some/many of which are better than their WDW counterparts), and honestly it's where the California resort shines. Not to say that there's no redeeming value at DCA, but it's a bit like someone going to Orlando for only one day right now and deciding to go to...Universal Studios Florida. Sure, there's some good stuff there, including one great land, but with very few exceptions you're not getting the best stuff. There are NO circumstances in which I would advise someone with only one day to choose DCA over Disneyland. Not one.

While WDW is table service oriented, DLR is counter service oriented, to the point that personally, I wouldn't feel the need to do a sitdown place if you only have one day and are ending the day with a big commute to the airport. There's more than enough good counter service and/or snacking options to go around, and if you're a mobile order pro, you don't even have to wait all that long to get it. Getting counter service would allow you to be more efficient in your day and wouldn't deprive you of great options in any way.
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Agree with all this but damn… not even if they’ve never been to DCA?

I second what @PiratesMansion is saying about the food. None of the table service restaurants at DCA are so great that you need to go out of you re way for it nor is it worth your time on a one day visit. Definitely not Lamplight. Carthay has a nice ambiance and ok menu. The only two table service restaurants I’d say are worth your time are both at Disneyland with Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans and even then I’m not sure it’s the best use of your time on a one day trip. But it also depends on what your goal for the day is. I can understand wanting to have a designated spot where you know you’re going get off your feet for an hour plus and be served.
 
PiratesMansion

PiratesMansion

Well-Known Member
mickEblu said:
Agree with all this but damn… not even if they’ve never been to DCA?

I second what @PiratesMansion is saying about the food. None of the table service restaurants at DCA are so great that you need to go out of you re way for it nor is it worth your time on a one day visit. Definitely not Lamplight. Carthay has a nice ambiance and ok menu. The only two table service restaurants I’d say are worth your time are both at Disneyland with Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans and even then I’m not sure it’s the best use of your time on a one day trip. But it also depends on what your goal for the day is. I can understand wanting to have a designated spot where you know you’re going get off your feet for an hour plus and be served.
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They haven't been to Disneyland either. Are there any circumstances where you'd send someone who'd never been to Disneyland proper to DCA instead?

The way I see it, you have the choice of one of the best parks in the country or a park that is also there. There actually are circumstances where I could conceive of sending someone to WDW but not MK; however, I can't think of a single one where I'd do that in California.
 
mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
PiratesMansion said:
They haven't been to Disneyland either. Are there any circumstances where you'd send someone who'd never been to Disneyland proper to DCA instead?

The way I see it, you have the choice of one of the best parks in the country or a park that is also there. There actually are circumstances where I could conceive of sending someone to WDW but not MK; however, I can't think of a single one where I'd do that in California.
Click to expand...

Oh i missed that part. I thought he had been to Disneyland.
 
Purduevian

Purduevian

Well-Known Member
Unique rides not found at WDW:

DL:
  1. Railroad is different enough to include
  2. Indiana Jones
  3. Columbia
  4. Mr. Toad
  5. Pinocchio
  6. Snow White
  7. Storybook land boats
  8. Casey Jr.
  9. Alice
  10. Matterhorn
  11. Autopia is different enough
  12. Space Mountain is very different
  13. Monorail
  14. Nemo
  15. Davy Crocket
  16. Rodger Rabbit
  17. Go Coaster
DCA Unique rides
  1. Monsters Inc
  2. Mission Breakout
  3. Webslingers
  4. Luigi's
  5. Matters? maybe pretty close to Alien
  6. RSR
  7. Jessie's
  8. Emotional Whirlwind
  9. Incredicoaster
  10. pal around
  11. Zephr
  12. Goofy's
  13. jumping jelly fish
  14. Swings
  15. Grizzly River Run
Most of DCAs are flat rides but still a lot of variety
 

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