My DLR Planning thread

[DznyGrlSD]

This is my 1st "official" trip to DLR. I went once, way back in HS with my choir so that doesn't count!

Cast of Characters:
Me, Myself & I - South Dakota girl, Former WDW CP Cast Member. Boarderline obsessive-compulsive planner-aheaderer.
BFF #1 - Marci - Orlando resident, former CM & hasn't been to any Disney parks except WDW. She's along for the ride
BFF #2 - Debi - Pennsylvania girl - goes to WDW 2x a year & hasn't been to any Disney parks except WDW. Not as bad as me, but a planner-aheaderer!
"Mom" - Debi's mom - goes to WDW 2x a year with Debi. Along for the ride. Loves table-service!

When - May 7th - 14th to celebrate Marci's 35th Birthday & Mother's Day

Where - Anaheim Fairfield Inn

Our initial plan of attack:
4 day park-hoppers, 1 day at Universal Studios, 1 day on the LA/Hollywood tour

May 7th (Tuesday) - arrive before noon, get to the hotel, chillax and then go to Downtown Disney & shop/eat - any suggestions?
May 8th (Wednesday) - Marci's Birthday - head to DL/DCA for the day - dinner at Goofy's Kitchen
May 9th - (Thursday) - DL/DCA - Dinner at Ariel's
May 10th (Friday) - Universal Studios (10a-6p)
May 11th (Saturday) - LA/Hollywood Tour
May 12th (Sunday) - Mother's Day - DL/DCA - Dinner at Carnation Cafe
May 13th (Monday) - DL/DCA - Lunch/Dinner at the BBQ Place - Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour
May 14th (Tuesday) - go home Lunch at Downtown Disney - any ideas?

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Advice Needed: We want to see it all. Can I find this info out ahead of time?

What days will Fantasmic! be playing?
World of Color?
Fireworks at DL?
Parades?

 

[DznyGrlSD]

When will park hours for May come out?

 

[Californian Elitist]

Advice Needed: We want to see it all. Can I find this info out ahead of time?

What days will Fantasmic! be playing?
World of Color?
Fireworks at DL?
Parades?

I first want to say that your itinerary sounds great. The only thing I'd sort of alter is your Universal day. Universal Hollywood has SIGNIFICANTLY less amount of things to do in the park. We have a studio tour, which will take about an hour, four rides and some shows. If you arrive by nine in the morning, you will have seen everything by maybe 2:00 or 3:00. It depends on the crowds. If you don't mind repeating attractions, by all means, stay until 8pm! Just in case you decide to leave early, and don't want to go home, there's a very fun City Walk right next door, or Hollywood and Highland, which is about ten minutes away.

Fantasmic! usually plays on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during non-peak seasons, which is when you're going. There are usually two shows per night. It's usually the same for fireworks, too. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Soundsational Parade at Disneyland is shown daily, and I believe the Pixar Parade at California Adventure is daily, too. You should be able to see the fireworks, Fantasmic!, World of Color and the parades during your trip.

When will park hours for May come out?

The park hours for May will most likely be released either February or March.

 

[wild01ride]

I would vote for going to Cove Bar for a lunch if possible - Lobster nachos are awesome!
Also, try to arrange to see World of Color at least twice! No joke! It's a phenomenal show, my favorite of any WDW/DLR show. And...it's something like 25min. long and takes place over a wide span of area, so there are lots of things that you'll miss on the first time through!

Whatever you do, HAVE FUN!
I'm so jealous of how long you get to stay!

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Are you guys really big on character dining? Because Goofy's and Ariel's are VERY expensive and not particularly good. You're better off meeting characters during the day and eating at Napa Rose, Steakhouse 55, Blue Bayou or Cafe Orleans. If I were you, I'd sub out ESPN Zone for the faboo Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen - its far superior.

World of Color plays nightly. You'll have to see Fantasmic and Magical (fireworks) on Sunday night unless you rejigger your plan to get another weekend night at DL.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

I first want to say that your itinerary sounds great. The only thing I'd sort of alter is your Universal day. Universal Hollywood has SIGNIFICANTLY less amount of things to do in the park. We have a studio tour, which will take about an hour, four rides and some shows. If you arrive by nine in the morning, you will have seen everything by maybe 2:00 or 3:00. It depends on the crowds. If you don't mind repeating attractions, by all means, stay until 8pm! Just in case you decide to leave early, and don't want to go home, there's a very fun City Walk right next door, or Hollywood and Highland, which is about ten minutes away.

Universal is only open 10a-6p on Friday - I just double checked. Our shuttle picks us up at 6:25p from Uni. so we're there all day. I don't mind repeating rides and whatnot. I'm sure Debi & Marci will miss Potterland

Is CityWalk close just like it is at Universal Orlando?

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Are you guys really big on character dining? Because Goofy's and Ariel's are VERY expensive and not particularly good. You're better off meeting characters during the day and eating at Napa Rose, Steakhouse 55, Blue Bayou or Cafe Orleans. If I were you, I'd sub out ESPN Zone for the faboo Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen - its far superior.

World of Color plays nightly. You'll have to see Fantasmic and Magical (fireworks) on Sunday night unless you rejigger your plan to get another weekend night at DL.

We're big character meal people! Marci wants to do Goofy's for her birthday and all of us love Ariel (Is she AT Ariel's for the character meal?)

I've looked at the menu for Blue Bayou and there's nothing that I'd eat or Mom would eat. I'll check out the menus for the other places today though - thanks for the suggestions!

We're now skipping ESPN Zone & Earl of Sandwich b/c both of those are at WDW.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Question about Fantasmic! is it the same as WDW? I'm not a huge fan of Fantasmic! myself, but the other girls are.

What about Magical - is it like wishes? Also, not having fireworks every night is so odd to me! LOL

 

[WED99]

Goofy's is a must do in my opinion, especially for a birthday! No the DL Fantasmic is fairly different, but also much better. The only problem is the viewing arrangment isn't very organised so you may struggle to see, I'm sure @raven24 has some tips for that but.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Universal is only open 10a-6p on Friday - I just double checked. Our shuttle picks us up at 6:25p from Uni. so we're there all day. I don't mind repeating rides and whatnot. I'm sure Debi & Marci will miss Potterland

Is CityWalk close just like it is at Universal Orlando?

Okay, that's good. You should still have fun. The main difference between Hollywood and Orlando is Universal Hollywood took its movie/television studios and "attached" a small theme park to it. Universal Orlando started from the ground up. Scheduling for films and shows is more important to Universal Hollywood. Clearly quite the opposite in Orlando. City Walk is very close, you walk out of the park, walk a few feet and you're there.

Question about Fantasmic! is it the same as WDW? I'm not a huge fan of Fantasmic! myself, but the other girls are.

What about Magical - is it like wishes? Also, not having fireworks every night is so odd to me! LOL

The concept of Fantasmic! is the same on both coasts, but the executions are different. The main difference would be the setting. Studios' is in a designated theater, as you already know, and Disneyland's is on the Rivers of America. There's no seating for Disneyland's, unless you buy the dessert package. If you get there early enough, you can grab a spot in the front and and sit on the ground. People start arriving around four hours before showtime. About 95% of the audience stands for the show. I don't want to give anything away regarding the show.

Magical! is nothing like Wishes, but Magical! is the summer firework show. The firework show that you most likely will be seeing is Remember... Dreams Come True, which blows both Magical! and Wishes out of the water, in my opinion. Remember is slightly like Wishes but with a different theme. Wishes is about our favorite animated Disney characters making wishes. Remember is a dedication to Walt Disney and Disneyland, and the show goes through each land in the park, spieling our favorite attractions from Disneyland's past to the present. It's a REALLY fun show, not just for Disneyland fanatics, but for all Disney Parks fans. The intro and ending for Remember is exactly like Wishes, though. Other than that, they're different shows.

I know it's weird for WDW vets touring Disneyland for the first time. Don't think of it as a vacation, but more of a really long hangout with your friends That's what the majority of Disneyland guests do... Hang out.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

We're big character meal people! Marci wants to do Goofy's for her birthday and all of us love Ariel (Is she AT Ariel's for the character meal?)

I've looked at the menu for Blue Bayou and there's nothing that I'd eat or Mom would eat. I'll check out the menus for the other places today though - thanks for the suggestions!

We're now skipping ESPN Zone & Earl of Sandwich b/c both of those are at WDW.

Ariel is the lobby character at Ariel's Grotto. As long as you're able to overlook the relatively mediocre food, you can have a great time at the character meals. Goofy's is more fun than Ariel's - the princesses have a lot of ground to cover and usually have to move VERY quickly from table to table.

Cafe Orleans is worth a visit just for the Monte Cristo sandwich - it's the most heavenly thing in the world.

Fantasmic is far superior at DLR - I've never met anyone who disagreed. The show, effects and scenes are top-notch. Make sure wherever you sit/stand that you are facing the stage from the center - you don't want to be off to the sides for this one. It's easier to get great seats for the 10:30pm show - just beeline into Frontierland/New Orleans Square after the fireworks and you generally have your pick. People inexplicably camp out hours before the 9pm show in the seating area at the edge of the river - all other viewing areas are standing only.

@raven24, I mentioned Magical because last year it began performances May 4, so if DLR repeats that schedule it will be the fireworks show playing during the visit. Nothing's for sure though until the schedule is posted! I really enjoy Magical - especially when Dumbo flies around the Castle.

 

[Californian Elitist]

@raven24, I mentioned Magical because last year it began performances May 4, so if DLR repeats that schedule it will be the fireworks show playing during the visit. Nothing's for sure though until the schedule is posted! I really enjoy Magical - especially when Dumbo flies around the Castle.

Oh, I didn't know that! Very interesting. Magical! is awesome, too. My favorite parts are the intro, the Pinocchio section, Dumbo (of course) and the finale. Amazing. Think we'll get another firework show for the 60th anniversary?

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Thank you @GiveMeTheMusic and of course @raven24! I think we will scrap Ariel's then but keep Goofy's.

What are your opinions on Big Thunder BBQ?

 

[Californian Elitist]

Big Thunder BBQ is good for groups. The chicken and ribs are really good, as well as the beans. There's usually live entertainment and it really adds to the ambiance. It's not very cheap, but then again, what is at Disney?

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Oh, I didn't know that! Very interesting. Magical! is awesome, too. My favorite parts are the intro, the Pinocchio section, Dumbo (of course) and the finale. Amazing. Think we'll get another firework show for the 60th anniversary?

It'd be nice. I'm ready for an update to Remember.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

Huzzah for the government! Got my tax return today and I paid off my 1/4 of our trip today! Now I can sit back, relax (yeah right!) and countdown 94 days 'til our trip!

 

[DznyGrlSD]

@raven24 - we're scrapping our trip to Universal Studios - I don't think there is enough there to make it THAT much more different than Universal Orlando

So what to do with our free day? Do we add another day to the parks making it 5 days? Should we take another tour of sorts? Rent a car for the day?

Any suggestions welcome

 

[Californian Elitist]

@raven24 - we're scrapping our trip to Universal Studios - I don't think there is enough there to make it THAT much more different than Universal Orlando

So what to do with our free day? Do we add another day to the parks making it 5 days? Should we take another tour of sorts? Rent a car for the day?

Any suggestions welcome

I would either add an extra day for the parks or go sight-seeing. You could rent a car and head to LA or San Diego. I know you're doing a tour in LA but there are many things to see and do on your own in Los Angeles. I could give you a list of things to do. Same goes for San Diego, though it's a far drive (2 hours). San Diego is really pretty. You could go to Santa Barbara, another fun and pretty city.

 

[lego606]

Okay, that's good. You should still have fun. The main difference between Hollywood and Orlando is Universal Hollywood took its movie/television studios and "attached" a small theme park to it.

I haven't been in a while, but didn't they also split it into Upper and Lower, so in the back of the top part of the park there's a series of escalators to bring you down the side of a hill?