A Couple of Things to Remember-

[Mouse Freak]

Tip1.
If you have Park Hopper Tickets and Planning on visiting both sides..Early in the morning, on your first day visiting, go to California Adventures.

Reason:
Early Morning 80% of Disney guests are crowded to enter the Disneyland side and later in the evening they stroll over to California Adventures. So, Do just the opposite and you will see more in a day!

I know it is hard to let Disneyland alone for your first day, but in the long run you will see more with less crowds.

Tip2.
Try not to be in any lines or on any rides at 9:30pm. This is the time when Disneyland's firework display goes on. Quite a Spectacular Show!

Tip3.
If Inside Disneyland:
Try to be in front of Cinderella's Castle for watching the Disneyland Fireworks.

If Outside Disneyland:
Watch the fireworks from the corner of Ball Rd. and Disney Drive.

Reason: Great Views!

I will add more Tips later...

 

[avalon451]

You're kidding, right?

Is this a troll? 3 posts and apparently hasn't seen Hydroguy's sticky tips thread... trying to tell a bunch of DIS'ers to go to CA (which opens later than DL) first?

Hmmm....

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I tend to agree some of your tips, but not tip #1. The first few hours at Disneyland are usually the best! Plus DCA opens later then Disneyland. So technically you could do some rides in DL (Fantasyland!) and then hop over for the opening of DCA if you wanted to.

But I do agree with having an "opposite" plan. It can be helpful, but you'd miss out on a lot if you didn't do the first few hours at DL in the mornings!

 

[nancy drew]

pssssssssssst... cinderella's castle is in florida. you don't want to be there to see the disneyland fireworks. you want to be in front of aurora's castle, which is in disneyland, in california.

 

[DesertBell]

Also. . . WHY would you not want to be in ride lines for the fireworks, if you've seen them before, or don't care for that kind of thing? I LOVE Remember, I think it's the most amazing, awesome, coolest thing ever. . . but I also love walking on to Indy four or five time in a row.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since DCA doesn't really open in "early morning", I'm not sure that tip ever really works.

And the tip, even if you want to do it, depends heavily on if you have access to MM, and if that day is MM. If you have access to it, you would NEVER want to bypass that to sleep in and go to DCA, unless you really dislike Fantasyland and/or Nemo (and Buzz).

As for "Early Morning 80% of Disney guests are crowded to enter the Disneyland side and later in the evening they stroll over to California Adventures. So, Do just the opposite and you will see more in a day!".....people are entering Disneyland All Day Long. You're never going to beat crowds by getting to Disneyland *later*. You want to get into DL as early as you can, and then as crowds build you can choose to jump over to DCA. You'd think others would do it to, but I know the lines I've seen at DL as I'm leaving it and the lines I've seen at DCA after crossing the esplanade, and there's no contest as to which lines are longer...

I really hate to disagree with a newbie, but ignoring early DL for DCA, that opens an hour or two after DL, just doesn't make sense. And I'm a major DCA lover!!!

 

[stacymomof2]

I agree with everyone above. I was reading the tips in the 1st post and was thinking WHAT?! This is everything that I have read, studied, and learned NOT to do!

In reality though, it's your individual trip...so have fun!

 

[VegasMike21]

I tend to agree some of your tips, but not tip #1. The first few hours at Disneyland are usually the best! Plus DCA opens later then Disneyland. So technically you could do some rides in DL (Fantasyland!) and then hop over for the opening of DCA if you wanted to.

But I do agree with having an "opposite" plan. It can be helpful, but you'd miss out on a lot if you didn't do the first few hours at DL in the mornings!

agreed the first couple of hours in DL are the best! No lines for Splash, Pirates, HM, Indiana, Big Thunder in the early morning. Can ride them a bunch of times with minimal wait.

 

[DangerMouse]

Huh?

Tips? As in helpful information? I don't think so.

 

[daisy_77]

interesting advice.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Huh?

Tips? As in helpful information? I don't think so.

I agree, DM. Not so helpful.

 

[ironpig70]

been to disneyland a few times minus the help from here and then i took 1 or 2 tips and used them and my ride wait went down, rides went up and i even left mid day to take a nap. funny how i spent less time in the park but did more. the key was the exact opposite of rule 1 of the poster. i get to the gates at least 30 minutes before hand and stay till lunch or there abouts when dl becomes a zoo. leave for a swim and nap and come back and close it.
i avoid the town center for fireworks i can see them in line. yeah i miss some but if you get in the center it can be awhile to get out.

 

[mystic_path]

I am going to agree with everyone that some of the tips arnt that helpful but thanks for at least trying to give us some pointers... I will agree though that being infront of the castle for the fireworks is prime. Its my favorite spot and although I maybe sitting longer then I need to I will sit there up to an hour and a half before (seat swaping with others I am with so we can all still have a walk around during the wait). The views are totally worth it.

 

[DLovinFam]

Also. . . WHY would you not want to be in ride lines for the fireworks, if you've seen them before, or don't care for that kind of thing? I LOVE Remember, I think it's the most amazing, awesome, coolest thing ever. . . but I also love walking on to Indy four or five time in a row.

Yes, and I *love* riding BTMRR during fireworks! It's so magical to be on a ride and be able to see fireworks at the same time!!

 

[DLovinFam]

been to disneyland a few times minus the help from here and then i took 1 or 2 tips and used them and my ride wait went down, rides went up and i even left mid day to take a nap. funny how i spent less time in the park but did more. the key was the exact opposite of rule 1 of the poster. i get to the gates at least 30 minutes before hand and stay till lunch or there abouts when dl becomes a zoo. leave for a swim and nap and come back and close it.
i avoid the town center for fireworks i can see them in line. yeah i miss some but if you get in the center it can be awhile to get out.

This is pretty much what we would do too. Sometimes we'd hit DCA after DL and before going back for a rest.

 

[IASWAM]

pssssssssssst... cinderella's castle is in florida. you don't want to be there to see the disneyland fireworks. you want to be in front of aurora's castle, which is in disneyland, in california.

I'm picturing someone with their back to Cinderella's Castle waiting for the DL Fireworks to start!

 

[pixiewings71]

Interesting thread......Thanks for "tips" OP. I don't think I agree with them though. I do think that everyone should experience the fireworks from MS but I also love riding rides when they are going on. The coolest was Splash, we went down just as the green stuff went flying. LOL That was the coolest and the first time I had ever kept my eyes open on Splash!! I mean on the drop of course.