Tips for a Solo First Trip to DLR for a WDW Regular/CM

[t3techcom18]

Any Tips for a Solo First Trip to DLR for a WDW Regular/CM?

Hey there! Long time of the forums/site here! I had some questions for you guys that I believe you will be able to help with.

As the subject says, I'm a local here in Orlando, FL (Been a CM for almost 5 years now actually), going on my first trip to the West Coast this coming July (in time for the 56th). I'll be staying there at the Hojo (I can thank you guys for that tip!). I'll be going there by myself for about 3 days (4 if you count the evening I arrive/early afternoon I leave) and I'll be solo the entire trip.

I have 3 questions:

1) What's the attraction I must first do when I get there? I'll probably be in DL around 5 or so. Everyone keeps recommending Indy as the first to go, but, I'm honestly worried about two things:

One, As much as I want to do Indy first, I've seen that it has a HUGE queue and with that in mind, I want to spend as much as time absorbing all the details and smell the roses, so waiting in a long line there won't necessarily be an issue for me (I have quite a bit of patience). On the side note, in terms of FP, my plan is only to use it if I want to do a repeat of something; otherwise, Standby all the way.

Second, I also just don't want to go to some attraction first and then either get lost or lose track or what I have or haven't done. I'm one of those types who likes to plan everything out or do things in sequence (in this case, by land). I hate it when I'm with guests who want to do something on the other side of the park, to go vice versa after that attraction. -___-

(Just to mention: I won't be doing ToT, Splash, and CS. I like intense stuff but not TOO intense like roller coasters and anything with big drops. I can do Big Thunder, Space, and Dinosaur with no issues though.)

2) What's the best food in the parks/hotels? I don't know much about dining in the hotels or if I'll even have time to visit them, but I do know that the Monte Cristo and the infamous Corn Dog Cart on Main Street are must do's; I just need a weeee bit of guidance here. (Anything goes, TS, QSR, etc.) I don't think I'll be doing any dining at the resorts, mayyybe the Steakhouse at DLH, but that's all I'm thinking about; it's primarily going to be at the parks.

3) Lastly, if any of you know the LA area very well: I'll be there for one day and have everything mostly planned out, but does anyone know a good shuttle service or such? There will be a few times I'll be going around via the Metro system, but some of the places I'm going to don't have that luxury and I don't want to go on something ultra-touristy or such. I won't be driving so rental cars aren't an option.

Thanks for all the help guys!!!

 

[redshoesrock]

Hey there! Long time of the forums/site here! I had some questions for you guys that I believe you will be able to help with.

As the subject says, I'm a local here in Orlando, FL (Been a CM for almost 5 years now actually), going on my first trip to the West Coast this coming July (in time for the 56th). I'll be staying there at the Hojo (I can thank you guys for that tip!). I'll be going there by myself for about 3 days (4 if you count the evening I arrive/early afternoon I leave) and I'll be solo the entire trip.

I have 3 questions:

1) What's the attraction I must first do when I get there? I'll probably be in DL around 5 or so. Everyone keeps recommending Indy as the first to go, but, I'm honestly worried about two things:

One, As much as I want to do Indy first, I've seen that it has a HUGE queue and with that in mind, I want to spend as much as time absorbing all the details and smell the roses, so waiting in a long line there won't necessarily be an issue for me (I have quite a bit of patience). On the side note, in terms of FP, my plan is only to use it if I want to do a repeat of something; otherwise, Standby all the way.

Second, I also just don't want to go to some attraction first and then either get lost or lose track or what I have or haven't done. I'm one of those types who likes to plan everything out or do things in sequence (in this case, by land). I hate it when I'm with guests who want to do something on the other side of the park, to go vice versa after that attraction. -___-

(Just to mention: I won't be doing ToT, Splash, and CS. I like intense stuff but not TOO intense like roller coasters and anything with big drops. I can do Big Thunder, Space, and Dinosaur with no issues though.)

2) What's the best food in the parks/hotels? I don't know much about dining in the hotels or if I'll even have time to visit them, but I do know that the Monte Cristo and the infamous Corn Dog Cart on Main Street are must do's; I just need a weeee bit of guidance here. (Anything goes, TS, QSR, etc.) I don't think I'll be doing any dining at the resorts, mayyybe the Steakhouse at DLH, but that's all I'm thinking about; it's primarily going to be at the parks.

3) Lastly, if any of you know the LA area very well: I'll be there for one day and have everything mostly planned out, but does anyone know a good shuttle service or such? There will be a few times I'll be going around via the Metro system, but some of the places I'm going to don't have that luxury and I don't want to go on something ultra-touristy or such. I won't be driving so rental cars aren't an option.

Thanks for all the help guys!!!

I actually did the same thing several years ago when I was a WDW CM, so here are my suggestions:

I would buy the (not expensive) book, "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland", which you can get at any bookstore chain. It looks like this. The guide will not only let you know about the slight differences between similar rides at DL and WDW, and tell you what restaurants are good or bad, but it will give you touring plans in the back of the book that you really will want. It will tell you specifically when to arrive at the park, what to do first, second, third, etc., when to get a fastpass, everything. I used their basic touring plan, and I literally *flew* around the park so fast that I had done just about everything I wanted to do in DL on day one by late afternoon, so I decided to walk over to DCA and hit some things. Trust me on this one, it'll be the best money you'll spend on your trip.

If you're not going to buy the book, then get to the park an hour before opening (it'll be easy, remember your internal clock will be three hours off everyone else; you'll wake up with the sun and be raring to go), and either run and do the Finding Nemo Subs first (which is the perfect storm of slow loading, incredibly popular, and has no Fastpass), or do Space Mountain first. Foodwise I went everyday to the Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square because they serve stew and clam chowder- in the breadbowls!!! I used to always go to Columbia Harbor House at WDW and get the breadbowl clam chowder which was cheap and filling. I was very upset when WDW got rid of the breadbowls. FYI, DL gives its CMs a discount for quick service AND table service, so always show your ID when you buy food no matter where.

And make sure you bring not only your ID but your other blue card that I can't remember the name of. It's the one you use to get your friends into the parks for free 12 times a year. You need that to get into DL because you have a WDW ID and it won't work with DL's system (don't worry, your entries to DL and DCA don't count towards your 12 times).

Have fun! (And buy that book, seriously.)

 

[Mukta]

If you are arriving in the evening and looking for a first attraction, I recommend going to the Opera House on Main St and watching the movie created for Disneyland's 50th. It gives a great overview of the park and the history.

I am not a big fan of the food. I like Rancho Del Zocalo in Frontierland, French Market in New Orleans Square and Redd Rocket's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. Nothing special, but decent CS food.
In DCA, I like the Fortune Cookery and the Mexican place across from it.
I rarely eat in the TS places. I think the Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans are overpriced so I skip them these days.