Any DISNEYLAND experts out there?

[♫♥MickeyManda♥♫]

Hi everyone, i am already starting to plan next years vacation, which will be to california (woohooo!) and im most likely staying at disneyland for a few days.

just to get a head start on planning, what are some must-do attractions & activities there?? i may know a lot about WDW but ive neva been to DL so any input would be great thanks!

 

[CAbryan]

Starting in the spring I believe the World Of Color show is opening, which makes DL an easy choice for 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjGDqRRv3PU

Some rides off the top of my head that are not at WDW. These you will want to put on the Must Ride list

Mr Toads Wild Ride
Indiana Jones
Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin
Screamin (DCA)
Monsters Inc (DCA)
Aladdin Show (DCA)

I believe HydroGuy has a good thread about the differences of certain rides...

Also, depending on how much time you have you can get the citypass which is a combo ticket type deal allowing you to go to Sea World/ Universal/ SD Zoo (well worth the visit).

 

[PigletGurl]

omg yesss i go to disneyland every year, ive been there about 10 trips. pm me and i will answer

 

[imabrat]

Some of the definitely must rides:
Indiana Jones.
All of the mountains, they're soooooo different from the ones at WDW.
It's A Small World. (I didn't get to do it because it was closed. )
Storybook Land. (It's just too cute!)
All of Paradise Pier.
Soarin and TOT for the queues, although the ride itself is essentially the same.

I don't really have too much opinion on the food, the sit-down restaurants we did were in the hotels and Downtown Disney. We only had 3 days. Definitely go to Downtown Disney. I think it's a lot better than the one in Florida. If you're from the east coast like me and not too good with "real" Mexican food, stay away from Tortilla Jo's and Cucina Cocamonga. I thought it was the nastiest Mexican food on the place of the planet, but I'm used to the fake Don Pablo's/Taco Bell stuff.

Universal Studios is pretty much only good for one day with the front of the line pass. It's mostly just sit down rides/shows, no real "thrill" stuff. No roller coasters, I think the "thrilling-est" ride was The Simpsons ride.

 

[WDWtraveler27]

ok must do restaurants are blue bayou, napa rose and goofy's kitchen (its character dining)

 

[imabrat]

ok must do restaurants are blue bayou, napa rose and goofy's kitchen (its character dining)

Yeah, GK's is pretty much only for the characters. The food is expensive and not very good. My mom was piiiiiiiiiiissssssssed when the bill came out to $200 for the four of us, but we still did it.

 

[WDWtraveler27]

i like tht they have super random characters...but everytime tht i go there its only two people so its not so bad for us

 

[Ms.Squeakers]

Alright.

So, Disneyland is WAY better then Dinseyworld. Thats my opinion.

Walt loved it SO much that he lived there. (Yup, it's true). I mean, he died before WDW opened. So, for me, it just seems more magical in DL.

So things you have to do :

Go on Haunted Mansion.

You will NOT be disappointed. It's more...Green...then at Disney World. It has like a yard, and a gate...and it just seems way better.

Indy. Ya gotta do it. Indiana Jones...whew!
What else... Oh! Storybook land ride.

I dunno why, but that ride gives me the warm fuzzies ♥ and sometimes, it's REALLY funny because the tour guide will TOTALLY not be into their job and talk in COMPLETE monotone. It's HILARIOUS.

"and..on...your *yawn* right you'll see j=Jafar taking away the kingdom...and Aladdin saves the day....." xD but it's amazing.


I would suggest going on the submarine voyage, but when I was there a few years ago (maybe that was because it JUST opened) the line was 3 hours long, so I never got to do it.

MATTERHORN.

OH

AND Pirates of the Caribbean
Especially because it's right in the middle of New Orleans square, and the ride goes through the Blue Bayou..and it's just a very very pretty scene and a fun (cool) ride (because it can be BLISTERING hot outside).

 

[WDWtraveler27]

Alright.

So, Disneyland is WAY better then Dinseyworld. Thats my opinion.

Walt loved it SO much that he lived there. (Yup, it's true). I mean, he died before WDW opened. So, for me, it just seems more magical in DL.

So things you have to do :

Go on Haunted Mansion.

You will NOT be disappointed. It's more...Green...then at Disney World. It has like a yard, and a gate...and it just seems way better.

Indy. Ya gotta do it. Indiana Jones...whew!
What else... Oh! Storybook land ride.

I dunno why, but that ride gives me the warm fuzzies ♥ and sometimes, it's REALLY funny because the tour guide will TOTALLY not be into their job and talk in COMPLETE monotone. It's HILARIOUS.

"and..on...your *yawn* right you'll see j=Jafar taking away the kingdom...and Aladdin saves the day....." xD but it's amazing.


I would suggest going on the submarine voyage, but when I was there a few years ago (maybe that was because it JUST opened) the line was 3 hours long, so I never got to do it.

MATTERHORN.

OH

AND Pirates of the Caribbean
Especially because it's right in the middle of New Orleans square, and the ride goes through the Blue Bayou..and it's just a very very pretty scene and a fun (cool) ride (because it can be BLISTERING hot outside).

150% correct

 

[♫♥MickeyManda♥♫]

thanks for the great tips guys!!
now i reaaaaallly wana go lol
any body have some reviews & tips on the DL hotels (Grand Californian, Paradise Pier, and Disneyland Hotel??)

thanks again guyss! your input is greaaat!

 

[imabrat]

I stayed at the Paradise Pier. I went for my Make A Wish trip and the only thing I asked was to stay on-site, and thankfully I got that. (And sooo much more. People really underate Disney, but they did soooooo much more for me than most of Make a Wish!) The Grand Californian was by far my favorite. It's closer to both the parks and DTD, it has better resteraunts, and it has sooooo much more to do. It's much bigger and it's theming is way better. It's also the most expensive.

I think anywhere on-site will work for you, but they're about the price of the moderate/deluxe at WDW. No values.

 

[tinkerbelle22]

I love Disneyland. My family usually switches off pretty much every year, from DL to WDW. We went to DL last August, and stayed at the Disneyland Hotel (a classic, and really fun to stay at), then stayed in a house in Laguna, and then went back and stayed at the Grand Californian (more upscale, but also really fun and the entrance to DCA is literally right outside) I'm going to WDW in October this year, and while I do love WDW a tad bit better, I'm really going to miss a lot of things about DL. I just love how magical it is! There's just more of the "Disney magic" feeling there. You can't describe it. And yeah, the Matterhorn, Indy (which better come to WDW eventually!), Storybook Land, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Mr. Toad, Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin, Splash Mountain (much better in DL), Pirates and Haunted Mansion (also better), and pretty much all of California Adventure are all so great. Hope you have fun!

 

[♫♥MickeyManda♥♫]

this place sounds amazing.....i cant wait!
thanks for your help
ill probably be staying at the DL Hotel, so im looking forward to that

 

[MadHatterLexi]

i recomend going to the lilo and stich breakfest! there is like nobody there and when i got to go i got to have a dancing contest with stich. so thats how empty its is!

 

[dapoteete]

Blue Bayou is a must! You can't beat the at-mouse-pher.
Beignet’s in the French Quarter for Breakfast is another must.
Boudine’s at California Adventures is also a must. They do Sourdough bread like nobody's businessCheck out Boudine.com. OH oh oh, the twinkle lights in the trees at Disneyland are the MAGIC. That is what I miss at WDW