I didn’t think of this initially (was just thinking of lost vacation time LOL) but that is definitely a pro of the later flight that could outweigh any cons.
4 Likes
Honestly, this is the realest piece here, BUT with a 10am departure vs 5, we can realistically close out the park the first night rather than heading in for an early bedtime. 
4 Likes
DW made the same judgment call for our trip two weeks ago. We arrived around noon (to Orange County) so that we could sleep a normal amount that morning and get the kids off to school, and still felt like we had a full day. We stayed till park close that night.
3 Likes
Ah-mazing!
1 Like
So with the additional evening planned, I’m debating between doing F! the first night and leaving the second night for the fireworks and Fire of the Rising Moons, with the third night for World of Color. That’ll cut down on stress and running around, especially with dining packages.
2 Likes
Since fireworks are often cancelled due to high winds (too many residences in fallout zone), maybe you should see them early enough in your trip that you have backup days to try again. They’ll still show the projections, just not the pyro.
3 Likes
I’m going to try and see Fire of the Rising Moons the first night, along with maybe Paint the Night, and see F! and Tapestry of Happiness the next. I’m still eye the Storytellers package for World of Color the third night.
3 Likes
Nor Cal resident, frequent DL visitor here. I am totally aligned with your desire to hit rides but take things slow enough to soak. My thoughts on your plans:
Unless you hope to get in numerous headliners on your arrival day, which will be late afternoon, I recommend just purchasing LLMP on days 2 and 3, and then decide if you want it on day 4. You can then relax on your first evening, enjoy dinner, and maybe watch the 2 Star Wars shows. If you aren’t jet lagged, catch Tapestry of Happiness, and then the second PtN.
I like your idea of starting at DCA on day 2, and then DL on day 3. Since you don’t list much from DCA, you’d probably do best to make day 4 DL. Keep in mind that hopping is a breeze at DLR; the park entrances are half a block apart, at best. If you don’t see much of interest in DCA, you might reserve DL for day 2, too. You can hop at 11. Sometimes I’m anxious to hop from DCA before 11.
I agree that the WoC Dessert Party sounds pricey “for a cupcake and a chair”, but it is more than that. Your table will have a great view, and they serve alcohol or non- drinks. I’ve only done it once, and it was the only time I enjoyed WoC. Like @daw, I’m short, and crowds are thick. Bring a light jacket; it can feel cold, even in July, near the water. Since it’s an anniversary trip, the DP could feel very special.
Do leave yourself more time than you think you’ll need for your return to LAX; calling LA commute traffic a nightmare is an understatement. Someone on Chat once aptly stated, “It will hurt your soul.”
With LLMP, you will have no trouble getting in all the rides on it from your list each day, and maybe more. I’m not familiar with WDW’s LLMP experience, but I hear it’s much easier here in DLR.
You didn’t ask about dining options, but I like to eat lunch or dinner at Craftsman Bar&Grill in the CA Grand. It’s a peaceful break from the parks, and easy to reserve or even do walk-up, with an easy, no frills menu.
I can’t speak to Tropicana, other than to say it’s a good choice since you likely will drop your car off near there. If you haven’t looked into them, also consider Howard Johnson and Candy Cane Inn. CCI is certainly closer than Tropicana, and I’ve heard many rave about it and it’s included breakfast and shuttle. HoJo has been my home away from home for several years, as I prefer indoor corridors since they are quiet compared to outdoor entrances. Nice, big, quiet pool, too.
I don’t know if you have Casey Jr at WDW, but it"s one of my favorites, especially if you can get the caboose. Very romantic at night, with the lights in Fairytale Land.
And good for you “ditching” the kids for your anniversary!
5 Likes
And if you’ve already purchased LLMP for the 4 days, then I apologize for further discussion on this. You can make use of it all 4 days, though limited on day 1. But I respectfully disagree with @qtw (hope I got that right): You do need LLMP unless you don’t mind long lines, especially if you want plenty of atmosphere time. Don’t waste your anniversary standing in lines for four hours per day, or maybe even more. The $50 kid ticket deal will draw crowds during the summer. Oddly, the parks are more crowded mid-week than weekends in July.
1 Like
Thanks for all your detailed help! I’m waffling on the dessert party but DW is against, so I suppose that’s settled. We do plan to hit it hard on arrival day
I’m planning to be out of the park by 2pm and driving no later than 3pm for a 6:20 flight. We have pre-check, likely won’t have checked bags but will have a car to return. I’m seeing now that the car rental lot can take 30-45 minutes to get to the terminal. Should I be plotting a 2pm road time?
I get a pretty good partner rate through work, but Tropicana is closer and a smidge cheaper. It’s still an option though! CCI is physically closer to the park, but seems like twice the walking distance to the gate.
I’ve not experienced it… yet!
Oh La La. 
Haven’t gotten tix yet, but I’m looking at convention tickets and the LLMP is an all or nothing deal. Still cheaper to buy them together.
1 Like
It was a nightmare at 4:00AM from Harbor to LAX on a Saturday in May 2024.
2 Likes
I am actually @QwertySC and I stand by my statement. 
I haven’t used LMNOP at any park since 2022 when it was included in our park tickets at WDW. I think we all define “long lines” differently. I have no problem waiting 20-40 minutes to keep the money for other things. My kids are the same way. I realized that about them when we waited 81 minutes for Hagrid’s and no one whined.
With a few exceptions the queues are part of the fun. I love to see the nuances in the details. (Or maybe I have just learned to live on the lower income my family has compared to most Liners.) It is also nice to not spend as much time on the phone on vacation. YMMV 
2 Likes
Totally valid approach.
I think people save less time with LL than they think. If you have to backtrack across the park or stay later than you intended in order to make it LL attraction, you might be even.
Think about Epcot in particular. If you have to cross the park to get to Remy, you are probably burning 30 minutes just getting there and back. Then you wait in a LL line that could be 15-20 min long. If standby is posted 60 minutes, it might be inflated and maybe you’d only wait 45 minutes. You’ve saved zero minutes with LL in that extreme scenario.
That said, if you can line them up at the right place, the right time, and without wasting your day swiping your phone, it can absolutely save time.
5 Likes
Of course! Especially if you have a family and you’d need to purchase multiple LLMPs. The cost gets prohibitive for multiple days with a family. It took me a while to pay for Ride Max when Disney used it to ease us into paying for the once-free Fast Pass. Since OP doesn’t want to do Rope Drop, there is only 2 of them, it’s an anniversary trip, they like to have time to enjoy atmosphere, and he hasn’t been to DL for decades, I just wanted to affirm his plans to get LL and to let him know he could end up in long lines if he doesn’t. It was a comment for the OP, and not intended to be a statement that everyone should buy it.
4 Likes
Yep! If proximity is primo for you, Tropicana is the ticket. You can’t get much closer than that.
3 Likes
Haha! Say no more!
2 Likes
I must admit that I’ve not actually driven that direction at commute hour, but having done too many crawls from the other direction at that time, I personally would be heading there by 2. You may differ, but I’d rather sit an extra hour in the airport than endure the stress of cutting it closer than expected. A cab driver recently told me he got caught in traffic to LAX at commute hour and moved a mile in one hour, resulting in his passenger missing her flight. But you said there are multiple flights out, so if you’ll have options to push your flight out if you get delayed, then an unexpected delay won’t be disastrous for you.
3 Likes
This was an error on my part. I was thinking of Desert Inn Suites, where I believe the Alamo drop off is. Indeed, Tropicana is closer to the entrance than Candy Cane is.
3 Likes
Well… since we’ll be there, and time traveling… we kind probably will rope drop
The booking I have is it drop off at 711 w Katella, which appears to be the address for both National and Alamo. Time to look and see if anyone has a drop off at desert inn!
2 Likes
It looks like that’s the same drop off location. Right next to Desert Palms.
2 Likes