I promise, I'm actually going to DLR this time!

Disneyland
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Hey!

This is my new thread for my upcoming trip. If you followed along with my December TR you’ll know my plans.

I’ve been planning a trip to DLR since 2019! I’ve gone back through my old posts and found the original threads where I asked for help!

After years of delays and postponements I’ve put everything in place to go to DLR for the very first time.

Based on input from many Liners, I’ve choses to go two weeks after Easter. It will be the first week of May when schools are still in session.

I’ll be at DLR Tues. - Thursday. I’m going to Knott’s on Friday. Knott’s closes at 6pm during the week, but is open until 10pm on Friday.

Is three days at DLR going to be enough for a first time / solo visit? I will have G+ / LLMP.

Is Knott’s worth skipping an extra day at DLR? I like big coasters and rides. Plus, Knott’s is theme park history. If you HAD to choose between a fourth day at DLR or one day at Knott’s what would you do?

With only 3 days at DLR I really need to make some food decisions!!

There are so many QS food & snacks I’ve wanted to try for years! Are any of the TS places worth it? I don’t need to sit in the Blue Bayou just for the atmosphere if the food is mediocre. (Which is what I’ve heard!)

I’ll be solo and I love to eat most things! I will go somewhere upscale if the food is sincerely delicious and not just “fancy” or “an experience”.

Realistically, I can probably only eat two TS meals over three days.

What are your favorite TS places?? Should I go to Trader Sam’s? Are the hotels worth making time to see?

Now, that I’ve put down my deposit and booked my flight I am ready to start planning!

For DLR veterans, tell me all the stuff you wish you’d known on your first time and what truly is “can’t miss”!

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So happy you are going! I found sitting solo at the outside bar at Lamplight Lounge, after dark, with a plate of lobster nachos to be a very satisfying experience.

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Those sound so good! I had to go look them up! Yum!

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I think so. Four would be better if it’s your “once-in-a-lifetime” trip, but not necessary. You can see pretty much everything in 2 days and a third day will let you do repeats and let your time breathe a little more. That said, you might want to focus mostly on what is new or different at DLR vs. WDW, just in case.

I think you will appreciate it based on what you like. I would not personally (having done it a few times), and I definitely wouldn’t use my last day for it (I like to save the best for last), but again, knowing you, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

I like Hungry Bear, the new Tiana’s Palace, Flo’s, and corn dogs from Corn Dog Castle or Red Wagon. I’ve never tried Pym test kitchen but it is cool. I would avoid Docking Bay 7 and do that one at WDW instead (much better quality in FL, IME). Also I like Black Tap in Downtown Disney.

Cafe Orleans, Wine Country Trattoria, Lamplight Lounge are among my favorites. Storyteller Cafe in GCH is also nice if it’s not out of your budget (character buffet breakfast or non-character buffet dinner).

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Lamplighter and Cafe Orleans are on my tentative plans.

I’m already feeling the “pinch” of just three days! :rofl:

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I forgot to get a Blue Bayou ADR for Feb 3, and we’re two weeks in, and they were gone. I checked just now, and everything after 6:00 pm just opened up. Disneyland is screwy! :person_shrugging:

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Yay!

I’m so happy for you.

I agree with the above posters that as a solo traveler with foreknowledge, you should be ok with three. Being intentional will help. I wonder about fireworks though? Will they have them Tues-Thurs?

For me - I’d include Lamplight outdoor seating, and Pym’s for sure.

I didn’t eat anywhere “special” (it was all special!) at DL

The brunch at GCH with Mickey and friends was a super fun treat, but I don’t know that it will fit into your trip.

Where are you staying?

We did visit the GCH and Disneyland Hotel, but only because we were there so many days and Tab is not a gung-ho Disney-Phile. We needed variety. You have to go through security to return to park each time you go to a hotel BTW. Pack light.

I am so happy for you.
I think I will be there again January 2026 with Marie when she graduates.

Look for fun desserts. They are not always prominent.

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Yay! Can’t wait to follow along. I miss Disneyland :two_hearts:

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I don’t know either! I do enjoy fireworks, but are rarely a “must-do” for me. won’t camp out for them or buy dining packages. However, if I’m still in a park about 20 minutes before a show and I can find a viewing spot that isn’t to crowded I’ll stop and watch.

IMHO - I would rather watch a parade than fireworks. I get to see the characters up close and it’s generally easier to watch

Across the street at the Fairfield Inn. I planned on DLH and evem GCH in the past. However, that was to make my DW more comfortable. If it’s just me, I only need a bed and a shower. I’ll be in the parks from RD - close if the weather is as nice as everyone says.

This is what I did a couple weeks ago at WDW! I don’t want to go back to the room unless it’s a emergency or something. So getting a room at DLH or GCH isn’t a value for me.

I was making my “plans” for fun yesterday. I really could use that fourth day though. With three days it feels like I get one full day at each and then a final day to repeat or check off the remaining rides.

I’m already “cutting” rides that I’ve done recently at WDW!

Yea!! :tada: :tada:

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I’m going to make a prediction…you’ll go to DLR, fall in love with it, and then you’ll take DW and DD back for another tour :blush:

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I concur.

I like WDW, but I love DLR.

Fairfield is a great location. It was my second choice with Castle Inn “winning” bc free parking.

Oh I am so excited for you.

I know you like rides, but I’d skip Knotts.
But - you can add the fourth day to your ticket on day three if you want to and skip knotts if you keep it as the end of your trip.

I am reading through my TR from DLR in May. DTD is much much different than DS. It’s so much more managable.

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I hope so!

My “plan” is to take DD23 on a day trip to WDW during HHN, this year, to do GotG and hop another park. Then I’d like her to come with me in December too. I think she’s love Jollywood Nights

I know! It’s such a debate. I don’t feel like I’m going there for anything specific. I’m going there to see all the things I hear about on podcasts and the history of one of America’s first theme parks.

I am interested in the old west stuff!

I’d love to hear from people that have been to Knott’s!

I am a “ride guy”. I love big, tall fast coasters as long as they don’t beat me up!

Conversely, I’ve done sooooo much at Disney - especially over the last year - that I’m finding it hard to get excited. My original plan was to make DLR the place I first saw SW:GE, MMRR, TBA and such…

Now, I’ve done all that at WDW…

I definitely want to go to DLR! I didn’t take any trips from Dec. to Dec. last year. It was really rough on me mentally. (I had an injury that made me miserable too! I can’t blame lack of vacations for everything!)

Right now, I’m focusing on what really are my DLR “must do” items! Thankfully we have 4 months to get it all sorted.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you see me extending the trip by at least one day! :rofl: :crazy_face: :innocent:

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Yeah. I get this.
I think solo you’ll be fine with three days.

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I think this is a great strategy if you want to reserve that last day as a flex where either at the end of that third day you’re extending to add a day at DLR or purchasing your ticket for Knotts the next day.

My vote though is:
Extend the trip by 2 days > get a 5 day ticket to DLR and plan for 4 days there & then 1 day to do mostly Knotts but also be able to go back to Disney that evening for food/entertainment/any rides you just fell in love with. With a 5 day ticket the price difference from the 4 is so minimal that you really only need to spend a few hours in the park to get that value and if you’re wanting to maximize your theme park time, it’s a good way to do it.

But if you go with 3 days at DLR and one day at Knott’s, be prepared to absolutely make @motherofdaughtersthree’s prediction come true by coming back with DW and DD for another tour. DLR is so full of character and charm as the original park Walt built that has for still many decades kept that feel, if you can appreciate that part of it, it becomes so magical.

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Oh and for food, Lamplight is our #1 favorite especially the Lobster Nachos!!

Carnation Cafe is one that we really love too for its simplicity. Great burgers/sandwiches and we love the fried pickle appetizer too and there’s nothing better than a good burger, Coke and fried pickles being in that Main St. ambiance. So it’s one of our simple faves.

Blue Bayou is great. But I definitely feel overhyped and priced. I only like to do it as a Fantasmic! package to get the dinner and reserved show seating (on the ground).

And then for snacks/QS our faves/must do’s are:
Corn dogs (Little Red Wagon or Corn Dog Castle if you like spicy for the hot link dog), Award Weiners, bread bowls (several places sell them at both parks so easy to find), Cocina Cucamonga/Lucky Fortune/Aunt Cass’s for pretty much anything (this all in the new Big Hiro 6 SanFransokyo area), churros, turkey legs, Clarabelle’s ice cream, breakfast Ronto Roasters in GE, the big pretzel or chicken sandwich from Pym’s (but both are a big portion all alone for just one stomach), and my kids love the shawarma in Avengers Campus, both breakfast and lunch varieties.

And going solo (or adults only) I would absolutely hit up Hearthstone Lounge. It is an awesome little lounge in the GCH.

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So excited you are finally are making it out to Disneyland! Definitely Do not miss Knott’s! As much as I love Disneyland I would vote a day at Knotts. I just love everything about Knotts E Camp Snoopy :heart: Their coaster rides are way wilder and crazier than Disneyland’s so I dont ride them :rofl: my daughter loved them though. Also Trader Sam’s here is not to be missed either. Inside is a must.
Food there is pretty good too. Had the Wagu burger and the long beans 2 weeks ago and it was awesome.

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Ride guy = Knotts :rofl: definitely. I will not ride their scary rides. Ghost Rider is good but the others No :rofl: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia has some wild rides too but their guests are just as wild as the rides. Its been years since I’ve been there

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Pictures I took from Knott’s in May. They also have pin trading! :heart::heart:

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My first inverted roller coaster was Montezuma’s Revenge at Knotts! It’s basically like a Hot Wheels loop-the-loop. :rofl:

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:rofl::rofl: I remember when they opened that one!! :rofl:

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Its gone now. :unamused: Short but fun. Many of the Knotts coasters are short but thrilling. I really enjoy Knotts and the western area. Lots of artists to watch.

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