WDW vet here making his first trip to DLR since childhood.
When we go to WDW, we like to go all out (do splits stays at deluxe resorts and typically eat two TS meals a day, including a lot of character breakfasts and dinners at signature restaurants). We also love the immersive experience that WDW offers and typically spend our entire vacation on Disney property.
So, we're trying to replicte that type of vacation as much as possible at DLR. Planning to stay at DLH for 5 nights with dinners at Blue Bayou (Fantasmic package), Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, Carthay Circle (WOC package), Steakhouse 55, and Napa Rose. Breakfasts at PCH Grill, Storytellers, and Steakhouse 55 (the other two mornings we plan to just grab an early quick bite so as to take full advantage of EMH/MM). We typically just sort of wing it/snack for lunch.
Anyway, here are my sister's (DLR vet who has never done WDW as an adult) criticisms of our plans:
1. We're way overpaying for lodging by staying at DLH when there are other places just as good and just as close that are FAR cheaper.
2. We have too many TS meals scheduled (her take is that CS meals provide much more bang for the buck and take much less time).
3. Character breakfasts are a rip-off.
4. Three of our dinners (Carthay Circle, Steakhouse 55, and Napa Rose) are at places unsuitable for our kids (ages 11 and 5).
Her other criticsm is that we're gong from May 17-22 and will just miss the beginning of the 60th anniversary (we've already purchased our plane tickets). She thinks we would be better off paying to move our flights back a week and then using the savings to stay at a cheaper hotel and not eating as many TS meals.
With regard to her last point, my take is that May 17-22 is still a good time to go because refurbs to all the major attractions (fingers crossed) are supposed to be done by then but it will be less crowded than after the 60th officially starts. So, even though we'll be missing some of the new 60th stuff, I see that week as somewhat of a sweet spot.
I don't know quite what to make of her points about the restaurants because I've only eaten TS at WDW. Are character breakfasts at DLR less worthwhile than at WDW? Are the nicer TS restaurants at DLR more adult-oriented than WDW signatures (we've taken our kids to virtually all of these, except, of course V&A)?
Personally, I think a lot of her beef with our plans has more to do with differing touring styles than DLR versus WDW. At WDW, we only like to stay in the parks from RD until 1-2 pm, then go back to the resort to swim/nap, followed by a nice TS dinner. She, on the other hand, likes to go commando style, ride as many rides as many times as possible, and only use the hotel for sleeping, which is not our style.
In any event, I'm interested to hear others' perspectives on our plans versus my sister's opinions.