Jetlag & Sleep deprivation will not stop me: a WDW vet does DLR for the first time.

[Figments Friend]

I can say that your assumption is correct, at least in our case. DL is "our" park, since we live 90 minutes away. Last year, we spent part of our road trip at WDW and were absolutely *blown away* by its size. Once there, when we realized just how big it was, we understood that staying on property is absolutely essential. (We were at PopC.) As others have commented in other threads, though, the feeling of parallel universe hit us in two places: the MK and in AK. (Animal Kingdom because of its extreme similarities to "our own" San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal/Safari Park.) The transportation system is incredible. One thing I wished for DL is a monorail stop in DCA.

Donna

Yes, i agree regarding saying *On Property*.
When visiting DL, there is no real incentive to stay at one of their own official hotels. No real *benefits* like their are when you stay at a WDW Resort.

I was always puzzled by this until a friend set me right with a explaination - two completely different animals.

DL caters mostly to locals, WDW mostly to visitors from afar.
Thus the differences in *benefit offerings* between the two Parks Resort Hotels.
DL does not need to offer such *benefits* to it*s Guests.
WDW on the other hand, it is a must for many.
The transportation benefit alone makes it worth it.

One thing i still think DL should consider - having something like Disney*s Magical Express at LAX. THAT would rock.
This would entice people like me to pony up the extra cash to stay *On Property* at DL moreso then now.
With so many other non-Disney hotels so close to the front gates, there is no point to me to pay the premium in lodging....exspecially since there are no real *benefits*.

I like the differences. This is what makes traveling entertaining and enriching on a personal level.

 

[TP2000]

Yes, i agree regarding saying *On Property*.
When visiting DL, there is no real incentive to stay at one of their own official hotels. No real *benefits* like their are when you stay at a WDW Resort.

The only real benefit of staying at the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, or Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the "Magic Morning" benefit given to hotel guests. Each morning the Disney hotel guests are allowed into either DCA or Disneyland one hour before park opening. They alternate which park is doing the Magic Morning throughout the week; Disneyland has three days of the week, and DCA has the other four due to Cars Land popularity.

Multi-day ticket packages from Disney, plus ticket packages from the Auto Club and Japan Travel Bureau also have the Magic Morning thing, but you only get to choose one morning out of your visit to go to Magic Morning that way. If you are staying at a Disney Hotel you can go to Magic Morning every morning of your visit just by showing your room key.

Otherwise, the three Disney Hotels at the Disneyland Resort don't offer much benefit, except for very high room rates and maybe Goofy there to greet you when you check in.

 

[Figments Friend]

Yes, the *Magic Morning* benefit is the sole offering...but when compared to *Extra Magic Hours*...well, it pales in comparison. The evening EMHs in particular are great...two to three hours additonal in the Park after it closes to regular day Guests. At EPCOT and MK, this alone makes staying at a WDW Resort worth it.

A real shame those EMHs are going away.....

I agree ...the DL Resort hotels offer very little.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Yes, the *Magic Morning* benefit is the sole offering...but when compared to *Extra Magic Hours*...well, it pales in comparison. The evening EMHs in particular are great...two to three hours additonal in the Park after it closes to regular day Guests. At EPCOT and MK, this alone makes staying at a WDW Resort worth it.

A real shame those EMHs are going away.....

I agree ...the DL Resort hotels offer very little.

That kind of perk is offered to Disneyland APs. More evidence of the two different types of guests.

 

[atsolomon]

To be fair, while the DLR hotels don't offer the perqs of the WDW resorts, they do offer the opportunity to be more immersed in Disney than staying across the street. I think that does count for something. Whether that's worth the premium price (and just from dropping in on the Grand Californian it looked like a premium experience), it more a matter of budget.

--Adam

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Yes, i agree regarding saying *On Property*.
When visiting DL, there is no real incentive to stay at one of their own official hotels. No real *benefits* like their are when you stay at a WDW Resort.

I was always puzzled by this until a friend set me right with a explaination - two completely different animals.

DL caters mostly to locals, WDW mostly to visitors from afar.
Thus the differences in *benefit offerings* between the two Parks Resort Hotels.
DL does not need to offer such *benefits* to it*s Guests.
WDW on the other hand, it is a must for many.
The transportation benefit alone makes it worth it.

One thing i still think DL should consider - having something like Disney*s Magical Express at LAX. THAT would rock.
This would entice people like me to pony up the extra cash to stay *On Property* at DL moreso then now.
With so many other non-Disney hotels so close to the front gates, there is no point to me to pay the premium in lodging....exspecially since there are no real *benefits*.

I like the differences. This is what makes traveling entertaining and enriching on a personal level.

WDW has 28,000 hotel rooms to fill. That's the difference.

DLR can somewhat skate by just skimming the people that *need* to stay on property off the top of the massive herd that would stay on property at WDW.

 

[Figments Friend]

Very true...thus the differences.

 

[fractal]

Thanks for a very entertaining DLR report! I love you pictures and humor! Your report has taken me back to my brief but wonderful trip to DLR last summer.

 

[asc341]

I gotta say, your TR was an absolute pleasure to read! I even shed a few tears over the story about the girl and Daisy - what put the icing on the cake was that you took pictures from your own camera and sent them to her! Beautiful acts of kindness on both ends.

Also love the perspective of the lone Disney traveler, I've done DLP alone (Disney is even weirder when you don't speak the same language as Mickey!) and my mom is currently at WDW on a spontaneous solo trip. Hands down, we'd rather go with family or friends, but having no one to go with never stopped us before.

Travel on friend!

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

Enjoyed your report and glad you had a good time!

Since I was still feeling quite tired, I decided to walk over to Tomorrowland and catch the monorail. On the way I watched the Jedi training academy wherein Darth Maul scared the heck out of a little kid watching the show. I was also creeped out by younglings taking on Darth Vader. Um, hello, does anyone remember Anakin killing all the younglings in Episode 3? I got on the sleek monorail mark VII, left the station and saw HARBOR BOULEVARD? Yuck! What was that doing there? Seeing the outside world like that was unexpected and jarring.

Our boys haven't watched Episode 3 yet. We believe it's on a need-to-know basis.

 

[bethymouse]

Just read you TR and I love it! Considering a DL trip for New year 2014, and I am really hoping to experience it for the very 1st time ( never been to the West Coast).

 

[Figments Friend]

Hey bethymouse, i am glad you are thinking about visiting DL. You will love it for it's own reasons!
It really is a 'must visit' if you are a big Theme Park fan.

The key is to NOT compare the two properties, but enjoy them both in their own unique ways.
I am sure you will fall under the spell of Disneyland...for sure.

Make the Dream Come True...and go for it !

 

[atsolomon]

Just read you TR and I love it! Considering a DL trip for New year 2014, and I am really hoping to experience it for the very 1st time ( never been to the West Coast).

I'm glad you enjoyed my trip report. Disneyland was a lot of fun. I'd highly recommend it.

I'd also encourage people to write trip reports. I re-read what I wrote and realized how many details I'd forgotten a scant couple of months later.

Regards,

Adam