Hi Jess. Congrats on your trip to
Disneyland! Here are some ideas I wanted to share with you. I live in California and for most of the last four years, my family and I have had annual passes. We had to let them run out in order to help save for Disneyworld but I want to give you my perspective on what you should do while you are here.
First of all, I think while you will be here for 8 (!) days, you can pretty much do everything you want to do in Disneyland and DCA in about 5 days. Well, not
everything but most stuff you want to accomplish. Here are some suggestions I can think of.
The Mountains in Disneyland are as cool, if not cooler than the ones in WDW. I won't know for sure for a couple of weeks, but I've heard that DL's Space Mountain is the superior one. I doubt you'll find much difference in Big Thunder or Splash but remember, we have another mountain! The Matterhorn is a cool old mountain which had a rickety old roller coaster running through it.
It's the first ever steel roller coaster in the world and was a Walt Disney inspired creation! Also, there's a Yeti inside, he has a name. His name is Harold. Please say hi to Harold as you pass by!
Indiana Jones is a truly awesome ride with great music and awesome effects. This is one that you should get a fastpass for but remember to check out the details in the queue rather than just running through. They are pretty cool.
The Tiki Room here in California was also inspired by Walt Disney himself. You can buy a Dole Whip (I prefer the Dole Whip Floats, btw) and drink/eat it while you watch the show. I find this to be one of the greatest things ever and know that I will miss it when I go to Florida. Also, remember, if you like Dole Whips, always buy it from the dole whip stand
inside the Tiki room waiting area even if you aren't going to see the show. The line is always fairly short inside there.
I'm not a huge fan of Finding Nemo Submarines but a lot of people like them. I have to issue a warning that if you or anyone in your party is claustrophobic, this might be the ride for you. Try to hit the ride first thing in the morning if you decide to do it. It's worth doing once at least.
Fantasyland is just cool all the way around out here:
1) Dark rides that aren't in Florida like Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland are must rides. Alice is especially a great ride.
2) Dark rides that
used to be in Florida are worth riding too. Snow White just got retired, so knock yourself out and Mr. Toad is an absolute must and my personal favorite Dark Ride in all of DLR (maybe tied with Little Mermaid in DCA)
3) Storybook Canal ride is a very quaint little ride with a lot of history. Casey Jr. Circus train goes around the very same area.. and don't forget the castle tour. It's a hidden gem and tells the story behind Sleeping Beauty in a nice way.
4) The Tea Cups are especially pretty to look at at night. They are also slow loaders but if you near them in the evening, it's always a wonderful picture.
5) It's a Small World is technically in Fantasyland but where it actually sits, it's like it's a land unto itself. It's worth checking out the very cool show building and looking for Disney characters inside the ride itself.
Mickey's Toon Town has a ride that you should probably try to ride at least once called Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin. It's a fun ride but it's not worth waiting for 40 minutes or whatever the wait times get on it. I'd try to hit it early in the day or get a fastpass (remember, so far Disneyland is NOT enforcing the end times of the fastpasses, just saying!)
New Orleans Square is a treat unto itself. There is great music throughout the region. The Royal Street Bachelors perform lots of fun old jazz inside the French Quarter. Of course, we have the two best attractions in all of Disneyland here in the Pirates of Carribean and Haunted Mansion. Both of them are a little different outside but probably not much different than you remember inside.
This is also where you have to wait to see Fantasmic. It is worth seeing and I recommend getting a bread bowl (there are two different places to get bread bowels in New Orleans square) while you sit on the hard brick waiting for it. I recommend seeing the second show if possible.
As for Main Street, the two things I would most recommend are Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (the whole experience in the building that houses it is pretty cool) and the movie theatre which plays old Mickey cartoons on all sides. It's a wonderful place for getting out of the heat. I've gone in there numerous times and dozed while the kids enjoyed the cartoons.
that's Disneyland, I'll do DCA and what I know about the rest of the resort on another post.
. That Cinderella pin is awesome, did you buy it or trade for it, I always have my eyes peeled for princesses.
loving the name!
