Help a Disneyland Newbie out....what are the must see attractions?

3Gsandme · Mar 27, 2015

My husband and I are going on a trip to California without our kids and I insisted on a quick trip to Disneyland. In an effort to compromise, I settled on two days in the park which, of course, I want to split between DCA and DL. We're from the eastern time zone, so I don't think getting up to take advantage of early entry will be too much of a problem.

What are your "must see" attractions at each park? I know I'm not going to be able to do everything, so I want to do the best of the best.

Also, based on my fondness for the nighttime shows, I plan to get both the Fantasmic and World of Color dining packages to save us some time and hassle.

3Gsandme · Mar 27, 2015

Also, which attractions that are duplicated between DLR and WDW are still must sees?

HydroGuy · Mar 27, 2015

3Gsandme said:
Also, which attractions that are duplicated between DLR and WDW are still must sees?

In the Newbies Sticky thread...

"ºoº Attractions Unique to Disneyland & California Adventure from WDW" - http://www.disboards.com/threads/ºo...neyland-california-adventure-from-wdw.802084/

HydroGuy · Mar 27, 2015

3Gsandme said:
My husband and I are going on a trip to California without our kids and I insisted on a quick trip to Disneyland. In an effort to compromise, I settled on two days in the park which, of course, I want to split between DCA and DL. We're from the eastern time zone, so I don't think getting up to take advantage of early entry will be too much of a problem.

What are your "must see" attractions at each park? I know I'm not going to be able to do everything, so I want to do the best of the best.

Also, based on my fondness for the nighttime shows, I plan to get both the Fantasmic and World of Color dining packages to save us some time and hassle.

When are your two days? There are a lot of ride closures right now. Hopefully it will be after May 22.

Chuckers · Mar 27, 2015

Even though they are in the both parks, Space Mountain and Pirates are better in DL (IMHO). Matterhorn is a must & Roger Rabbit's Toon Car Spin is fun. I think Peter Pan is better at DL and people say the revised ending of Big Thunder MRR is better. I think you need to do The Storybook Land Canal Boats at night.. they're really beautiful. DL also has The Indiana Jones ride which is a must do. HM is only a must do if it's during Halloween time, otherwise, it's better MK. DL also has Snow White and Mr. Toad - I still love both. Alice in wonderland is a fun dark ride as well.. I haven't been on it since the updates, but they's supposedly improved the ride.
In DCA, TT is a little different in the preshow department. California Screamin', all of Cars Land, and World Of Color (night time show) are must do's. I like Grizzly River Rapids over Kali River Rapids, but if the weather is not hot, I don't like to get wet

Bengal BBQ (opposite the Indy ride in DL) sells meat on a stick and it's awesome. If you like Monte Cristo Sandwiches, Cafe Orleans has the best ones EVER.

Just my .02 cents

Have a blast!

tasha99 · Mar 27, 2015

ToT, Pirates, California Screamin, Space Mtn, and California Screamin are my favorite DLR rides. Just a warning on the Matterhorn--when I read a yelp review that called it "Abusive" I had to laugh out loud at the truthiness in that. After I finished it, I felt like a CM was going to have to lift me out of it onto a gurney. Old folks, beware (and by "old," I mean over 40). I'm sitting that one out next time!

Oomiak · Mar 27, 2015

Chuckers said:
Even though they are in the both parks, Space Mountain and Pirates are better in DL (IMHO). Matterhorn is a must & Roger Rabbit's Toon Car Spin is fun. I think Peter Pan is better at DL and people say the revised ending of Big Thunder MRR is better. I think you need to do The Storybook Land Canal Boats at night.. they're really beautiful. DL also has The Indiana Jones ride which is a must do. HM is only a must do if it's during Halloween time, otherwise, it's better MK. DL also has Snow White and Mr. Toad - I still love both. Alice in wonderland is a fun dark ride as well.. I haven't been on it since the updates, but they's supposedly improved the ride.
In DCA, TT is a little different in the preshow department. California Screamin', all of Cars Land, and World Of Color (night time show) are must do's. I like Grizzly River Rapids over Kali River Rapids, but if the weather is not hot, I don't like to get wet
Bengal BBQ (opposite the Indy ride in DL) sells meat on a stick and it's awesome. If you like Monte Cristo Sandwiches, Cafe Orleans has the best ones EVER.

Just my .02 cents Have a blast!

I just returned from 4 1/2 days at DLR, it was my first visit. I have been to WDW at least 15 times. I would second everything in the quote above. I can't say how Matterhorn or Peter Pan were because they were closed. Pirates of the Caribbean at DL is MUCH better than it is a WDW, it's a must do. Cars Land is incredible and you have to ride Radiator Springs Racers, it's much better than Test Track. I'm a fan of the old classics and really loved riding the dark rides. I remember riding Mr Toad at WDW when I was a kid. Toad, Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland would be on my must do list. I also enjoyed It's A Small World. I like some aspects of the WDW version better and some of the DL version better. I like the way the Disney characters where placed in the DL version of IASW.

I found the food at DL to be much better than it is a WDW. I thoroughly enjoyed lunch at Carnation Cafe on Main St and Dinner at The Blue Bayou. I did find the cast members to be less enthusiastic about their jobs at DL than WDW.

One of my favorite things we did was grab a scoop of hand dipped ice-cream and then eat it while sitting in a chair on a porch on Main St. DL's Main St is far superior to WDW's Main St. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to DLR!

3Gsandme · Mar 27, 2015

We will be there in early June. It's looking like currently closed attractions should be open.

I'm not a huge Haunted Mansion person, so if it's not better at DL, we can probably skip it.

Im actually considering skipping Space Mountain as I found it abusive on my last ride.

I'll put up with the bobsleds to say I rode them.

3Gsandme · Mar 27, 2015

So much great advice! Thanks! :daisy:

lvdis · Mar 27, 2015

3Gsandme said:
We will be there in early June. It's looking like currently closed attractions should be open.

I'm not a huge Haunted Mansion person, so if it's not better at DL, we can probably skip it.

Im actually considering skipping Space Mountain as I found it abusive on my last ride. I'll put up with the bobsleds to say I rode them.

If you haven't ridden Disneyland's version of Space Mountain you may want to give it a try. We find it's much better at DL! I've gotten to were I don't really care to ride it at WDW, but I love it at DL!

Help a Disneyland Newbie out....what are the must see attractions?

3Gsandme

DIS Veteran

3Gsandme

DIS Veteran

HydroGuy

A Pirate's Life For Me

HydroGuy

A Pirate's Life For Me

Chuckers

Missing My Disneyland Day Trips :(

tasha99

DIS Veteran

Oomiak

Mouseketeer

3Gsandme

DIS Veteran

3Gsandme

DIS Veteran

lvdis

love disney

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