Glad I did and Wished I had on my DL trip

[zukeeper]

I just returned from a too short 10 day trip to DL. I know there has to be someone out there who can relate since no one else seems to think you can spend 10 days in DL. I was watching the 50 Magical Years on my last day practically crying because I didn't want it to end.

Anyway, if anyone has any questions, I did almost everything I could (no Club 33 :sad1: ). We wanted silouettes but left it too late and didn't have time. Didn't make any PS arrangements ahead so couldn't do the popular Character meals. We stayed at Residence Garden Grove, PPH Concierge, and Residence Buena Park (used their shuttle). Ask away if you want any current info.

Some of my plan ahead tools and tips:
Bought trading pins on Ebay and kids traded every day
Printed out a Hidden Mickey list to take for treasure hunt
Smashed pennies - and took a checklist for marking off what we had done
Used my Disney Visa to full advantage
Upgraded one Parkhopper to PAP to use for discounts
Bought bright blue matching shirts from Disney.com for pictures (it was easy to find family members that day too!)
Brought dollar store glow sticks for waiting for parades and fireworks
Waited for the front row in Screamin', Soarin', and Space Mountain 1 time - it really is different!
Waited in line for Peter Pan - it truly embodies the original Disney magic for me but I always skip it because of the line

Wished I had:
Brought my own stroller
Found and brought a cupholder to clip to the DL stroller
Made a PS for Ariels Grotto lunch
Brought energy bars and emergency food for when the line was too long and parade was starting
Brought 2 over the door shoeholders (family of 6 ;) ) for shoes, sunglasses, phones, etc
Told my husband to take his phone out of his pocket before swimming :sad2:
Brought plastic bowls and cutlery for making Easymac in the room micro
Brought my lightchasers from last trip
Brought packets of hot chocolate
Asked for a parade side table when eating at the Wine Country Traittoria (don't be afraid to ask for the table you want - you're in DL!)
Bought more Hot Chocolates in the Commemorative Cup - it is a super cheap souvenier or gift once you wash it!
Videotaped the Electric Light Parade

Anyone else have some helpful bits to add??

[Adi12982]

Welcome Back!! Thanks for yoru tips :)

[XTinabell]

Great tips, thanks for sharing

I liked the idea of dollar store glowsticks and energy bars, something I didn't do my last trip and they're both a good idea. I ended up buying every glowing thing I found at disneyland but had to draw the line when they wanted 20$ for those sparkling/glowing balls on a stick :eek:

[mystic_path]

Welcome back, those tips are really great! Sorry to hear about your husbands phone :lmao: although it is kinda funny the way you put it.

[beckanoah]

Good tips!

[mystic_path]

Oh I was gonna ask, how did the electrical parade turn out? Im trying to figure out my new video camera before I go and tape the show in a few weeks, and I wasnt sure if I should put it on a certain setting.

[bjsmom]

Thanks for sharing :)

[ArielAdventurer]

Printed out a Hidden Mickey list to take for treasure hunt

Where did you find this to print out? I had book but it was for WDW...I have found many hidden Mickeys in my lifetime of going to DL but nothing written to take with me..
P.S.
I love the idea of $ store glow sticks..those things at the park are so expensive..and don't last..One time I got my daughter the light saber..she got it wet...and it leaked all over my trunk...took me forever to get the stuff out...

[lilpixie]

Where do you buy the hot chocolate in the commemorative cup? That would be a fun thing for my family when we go this fall . . .

[MATTERHORN]

Nope, it sounds like a great 10 day trip!! You just have some reasons to go back again now!!

Also I couldn't agree more about bringing your own stroller, I recommend it to everyone that asks!

[princess@heart]

I love the idea of $ store glow sticks..

:idea: Make sure you buy more than you need. I had a few that were duds and barely glowed. So I wish I had bought a few more.

[Amy&Dan]

Where do you buy the hot chocolate in the commemorative cup? That would be a fun thing for my family when we go this fall . . .

I have gotten them several times over the years at the Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street. I am sure there are other places as well.

OP: Glad you had a great trip, we are headed there for 10 days in just four short weeks! Glad to know I am not the only one who loves an extended trip to Disneyland!

[princess@heart]

I have gotten them several times over the years at the Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street. I am sure there are other places as well.

I got mine at the Coffee House at DLH. :thumbsup2

OP: Glad you had a great trip, we are headed there for 10 days in just four short weeks! Glad to know I am not the only one who loves an extended trip to Disneyland!

You know, so many people told me that 4 days would be more than enough compared to WDW. I so wish we could have stayed for a week or longer. :sad1:

[Amy&Dan]

Amber in the end I have yet to leave one Diseny trip (WDW, DL or DCL) not crying! I could probably stay a month and still not be ready to leave. I think for some of us its not a matter of getting it all done but more being in the place we love the most. And who is ever ready to leave that?

[MATTERHORN]

Amber in the end I have yet to leave one Diseny trip (WDW, DL or DCL) not crying! I could probably stay a month and still not be ready to leave. I think for some of us its not a matter of getting it all done but more being in the place we love the most. And who is ever ready to leave that?


Couldn't agree more! It's not about how much I get to do, it's just the feeling of being there!!

Andrea

[princess@heart]

I agree. I think I did most of what I wanted, but it still would have been nice to do a few things more than once, like Space Mountain.

The CMs are so awesome. I wish people would treat me like that here! :lmao:

[zukeeper]

Oh I was gonna ask, how did the electrical parade turn out? Im trying to figure out my new video camera before I go and tape the show in a few weeks, and I wasnt sure if I should put it on a certain setting.

I find that if you set a camera to any special nighttime setting, it will not film or shoot well with any movement involved. On a camera this is because of shutter speed - I don't know how video works but that "night" setting doesn't provide a good result for me. I just do the auto setting and when it's dark and it doesn't seem like your recording anything, just remember all the ambient sounds of the park you're picking up. I recorded my ride through Peter Pan and it is almost all black with little white dots, but the music from that ride takes me right back.

Where did you find this to print out? I had book but it was for WDW...I have found many hidden Mickeys in my lifetime of going to DL but nothing written to take with me...

I went to the HiddenMickeysGuide.com to get ideas and made notes in a computer file (excel) that I then printed and took with me. You have to really know where to look for some of them! We found more of our own which was great fun! The roses outside the parks grow in clusters of 3 for instance. The kids were always looking for anything they could claim as a Hidden Mickey and then I would take a picture of it for them. If anyone wants a copy of my list, PM me let me know what format you want it in and I will send it. It is in Excel, but I can save it as Word or Wordpad (which is installed with any Windows platform).

Where do you buy the hot chocolate in the commemorative cup? That would be a fun thing for my family when we go this fall . . .

We bought ours at the coffee cart by the Adventureland entrance while waiting for fireworks. They will give you an extra cup so you can cool the cocoa down for little ones. Make sure you ask for the Commemorative Cup and also ask for whipped cream :goodvibes In DCA, you can get it at the coffee cart across from Golden Dreams and sip cocoa while watching the ELP.

[princess@heart]

Just another tip for taking pics of the Electrical Parade. I don't have a camcorder, but I always had trouble taking pictures. If I used the night setting, everything was blurry. If I used normal setting everything was too dark. Finally on our recent trip, I used the normal setting and turned the flash off. The pictures turned out beautiful! Maybe that will help with recording??? :confused3

And I got my commemorative mug at the Coffee House at DL Hotel. :thumbsup2

[moko]

Great thread! I will need to make my own list of things but for now...

Glad I:
Went to Disneyland

Wish I:
Never left!!!! :laughing:

I heard my kids say this morning that they can't believe they aren't in Disneyland anymore and then the 5 year old says that Dad said we could maybe go again next summer. Ahhh!!! So glad the trip was memorable for them.

[hrhlaurie]

I love how this thread began and those are excellent things to do and not forget.

We did pick up an umbrella stroller but I didn't consider a drink holder - brilliant! I bought some of the glowsticks in various colors and a tinkerbell light twirly thing at the Disney outlet a few months ago so I'll be saving a bit there.

I love the commemorative cups and like to start my day with a cup of coffee in one from the Blue Ribbon bakery.

I also usually try to bring in half frozen water bottles to store in the locker so after 3 - 4 hours or so you pick up your chilled water and save a few dollars. We always bring snacks but that doesn't stop us from getting popcorn, churros and ice cream bars!

Any more suggestions - this is a very helpful thread. I pm'd to receive the hidden mickey scavenger hunt - we love hidden mickeys. My favorite ones are the cactus mickeys by BTMR.

I'm at single digits and counting down!!

[hrhlaurie]

I forgot to mention that if you're going to DL in the summer you should pick up a couple of those water bottle fans. They are lifesavers when it gets hot.

[leslie_537]

I just got back from a 4 day trip to DL and DCA and it was enough for us be we had a 21 month old and a 4 1/2 year old and they can really wear you out!

[aashaddy]

Just another tip for taking pics of the Electrical Parade. I don't have a camcorder, but I always had trouble taking pictures. If I used the night setting, everything was blurry. If I used normal setting everything was too dark. Finally on our recent trip, I used the normal setting and turned the flash off. The pictures turned out beautiful! Maybe that will help with recording??? :confused3

And I got my commemorative mug at the Coffee House at DL Hotel. :thumbsup2
Hey Amber, I discovered the same thing about the electrical parade. If you have a photoshop program, you can lighten the dark night time pictures really well.

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Where do you buy the hot chocolate in the commemorative cup? That would be a fun thing for my family when we go this fall . . .

We got ours at a stand in between Matterhorn and Small World. It was $5, you get the cup and the yummy hot chocolate.