First time

How exciting!!!! We are seasoned DL veterans! So feel free to ask me specifics! Yes, John Wayne is the only airport we will fly into. It’s smaller and super easy to navigate! It’s also usually just a 20 minute drive, versus 45+ minutes to LAX and way less traffic! We just prebook a super Shuttle! For two of us it was less than $40 with tip (which you can pre-pay). There are coupon codes on the internet that you can usually save 10-15% too! There is a Disney bus. But I don’t know how many stops they make. October is fantastic at DL as long as you avoid Columbus Day weekend, you should have lower crowds. The weather is usually beautiful! Pack for layers. It’s usually warm enough for shorts and t-shirts, but the evenings might require jeans and light jackets. Get the hopper option. It’s literally a one minute walk across the promenade! DL has the superior Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain. Indiana Jones is just amazing! But heads up, once you get inside the building, it’s seriously over 1/4 mile to board the ride! Radiator Springs Racers is a must do!!!!! You must get a FP right at opening. Heads up, if it’s not running at opening, they do no distribute FP’s until it’s running. If it’s raining, it doesn’t run. Matterhorn is unique to DL but is a bumpy ride. Their Small World and Pirates are longer than WDW. They still have Toontown! Mickey and the Magical Map is a great show! They just brought the Main Street Electrical Parade back. And they will sometimes do the Paint the Night Parade (my favorite parade)! World of Color is amazing! You need a FP for your standing area but it doesn’t effect you getting other FP’s. Remember, they are still on the paper FP method. Toy Story does not have a FP. Typical wait can be 30-60 minutes. 45 is pretty common. Their Soarin Around the World has a different ending than WDW’s. Favorite places to eat are The Plaza for fried chicken (it’s three pieces and my hubby and I can share it for $18). It’s a character breakfast but a quick service buffeteria for lunch and dinner. French Market has great New Orlean’s style food and a great roasted chicken! You can get beniets at the Mint Julep Bar right next door, so good! I love the soup in sour dough bread bowls on the Pier in California Adventure. Flo’s V8 Cafe has great food too! The monorail tends to have a long line. You must always disembark in Tomorrowland, it stops at Downtown Disney but you don’t have to get off there. You must have a park ticket to ride from DTD. You can still ride up front! If you can, I would recommend at least 3-4 days at the parks. Even though they are small, there is a lot to see and do. They’ve brought back a lot of live musical performances in DL! The new Frozen Musical in CA is a great show! We miss Aladdin though. I recommend sitting up just a little higher, either the elevated back section on the ground floor or the first balcony. Don’t get in line if they only have the upper balcony, you are crazy high and it’s hard to see some of the effects. Even if you aren’t Frozen fans, this is a great one! Elsa’s dress transformation scene is amazing! Be at rope drop ALWAYS! If you do stay on property, I believe you get 1 hour early entry at a designated park. They keep changing it, so I don’t know the specifics. You will get the most accomplished in the first 2-3 hours. Be prepared for a baby castle. It’s shocking for WDW visitors to see how small it is. But it’s still beautiful! On the back side of the castle, you can walk up and in the castle to see the story unfold for Sleepjng Besuty! So cool! So that was a lot of info, but I can share even more! Let me know how else I can help!

How many days are you planning? John Wayne is the way to go. For the most part, DLR can be done effectively in 3 days. Longer doesnt hurt. Unlike WDW, it is not an all encompassing experience. Walt learned a lot with DLR and it shows in WDW. You will save a ton of money if you stay in a good neighbor hotel. Unlike WDW, there isnt much you can do resort wise at DLR. That being said, you can search good neighbor and check across the street. Literally, you walk across the street and youre there.

DLR doesnt have the extensive food options as WDW. But, it does have a few that are incredible, if you have the budget. Blue Bayou at lunch has the Monte Cristo. This is a deep fried Ham Sammy that was rated among the best in the country. It also is inside the ride of the PotC. Boats ride past you as you eat. At CA, the Trattoria is a good choice (already said). I have yet to eat at Carthay.

If youre looking to economize, There is a Target about half a mile away. You can buy lunch fixens and most hotels have continental breakfast. Then just eat your main meals in the parks.

I highly recommend the Walk in Walts footsteps tour. Remember, DLR is the only park Walt walked in and it is a sentimental look at the park though his eyes.

I agree with dngnb8 with staying at a good neighbor hotel. We did this once and the parking there was free. ( we rented a car). By having a car, we did other tourist stuff like Santa Monica pier, Hollywood and we went to see a taping of The Price Is Right ( that was fun)

I agree with pretty much everything @dngnb8 said. If you want at least one nice sit down meal, make a reservation. They do day of reservations too, but those go real quick. You can do all of this through their website as well.

One thing I feel like I must stress to people who have only experienced WDW and never DL is be prepared for everything to be MUCH smaller. Our castle is tiny compared to yours. The property is tiny. But, I find it makes everything feel much more intimate, which I like.

Disneyland was my first park so it tends to be my favorite. I agree that Blue Bayou is a must do. Carnation Cafe is very good as well. I’m in love with the quaintness of the park and the storybook feel it has. There’s something about the trees and vegetation in the park that makes it feel so different from the concrete feel of MK. You probably won’t be overly impressed with California Adventure. It’s a half day park for me and many of the rides are nothing more than your usual theme park type rides. They miss the mark on theming in this park IMO. Radiator Springs is impressive but as a whole I could skip this park. The one thing that will feel weird is how the parks are just plopped right in the middle of town. Town actually grew around the parks but you’ll see the entrance and think, “really? that’s it?” lol Enjoy it for what it is. Oh and it’s ALWAYS crowded and there is ALWAYS construction and rides down. That’s my major gripe about this park. They don’t seem to take great care of it. If you ask me, they would do well to shut down for a year and do a complete refurb. It’s not the well oiled machine that is the MK.