best or worst experience

[old lady]

What was your best or worst experience at disneyland?

 

[kiwitravel]

Best - The Mountains, all of them Splash, Space, BTMRR and Matahorn, just the best rides ever and my kids loved them.

Worse - Line pushers, people who feel they are somehow special and should not have to wait in lines...

 

[jernysgirl]

Worst experience-

Almost two years ago, (the last time DH & I went to DLR), we ate at Redd Rockets for a late lunch/early dinner. We decided to grab a quick piece of pizza there and keep going. I had the cheese and he had pepperoni. Suddenly, within a short while afterwards, he started feeling sick to his stomach and spent most of that night and the next day throwing up in the bathroom at our hotel. We think he got a little food poisoning from the pizza sitting out too long or something.... we don't really know. That had to have been my worst experience at DL. Now, when we go back this spring my DH swears he won't eat at Redd Rockets, he superstitious!!!!!!!

 

[vflipo]

I had a similar experience at the fish n chips place ( i can't remember the name ) at PP in DCA. My step mom got it first and then the rest of our trip (almost 2 whole days) all 5 of us were sick in the hotel :-/ it was sad! but we went back the next week to go for our unused days. We also bought APs that year so I guess it wasn't so bad afterall hehe.

Every time I go to DL is a best experience!! I'm sure this next time will top all the others since it's my honeymoon and I'll probably NEVER forget it

 

[Kayla's Mom]

The best experience was when my daughter (4 at the time) got to ride Gadget's Go Coaster with Pluto!

Oh--and when we got to open Disneyland!

 

[Echie]

Best: Early magic hours in the morning - we got so many rides done and hardly had to wait at all!!!

Worst: The parks on a Saturday afternoon! We said never again on a Saturday!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

My worst experience was our trip in 2004. I was soooo sick. I woke up the morning we were leaving with a terrible sore throat, and it just went down hill from there! I remember trying really hard to enjoy the trip anyway, but really just wanted to stay in bed.

Hard to nail down my best experience, I've got so many wonderful memories.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Worst: 06' April--we were there for spring break, and it turns out everyone else in the world was too! It was so incredibly crowded---I had never seen anything like it. You couldn't even walk, and people were fighting over places to stand for the fireworks. You had to get a place for fireworks and parade hours early, or you just didn't see it (usually we shoot for an hour early at the most). Bad DL hotel view room (even though we paid for premium), hotel room wasn't ready until hours after 3:00 check in (we got there at noon, couldn't get up to our room till after 6:00), grouchy CM's all the way. Lines were so long for every ride, it was just 3 days of standing in lines for hours! On our last night I staked out a place for fireworks for 3 hours ahead to get a good spot, and then they were cancelled.

Another worst--last August when we went for 4 days and they were having record heat wave temps over 100+ every day. We all felt sick from heat exhaustion, and it was really hard to enjoy any of it.

Best: Our most recent trip in December. We had never been at Christmastime, and it was better than we could have ever imagined. Disney does Xmas magic right! The highlight was seeing all of the decorations and the Christmas tour, which I highly recommend! Best vacation ever!

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Worst: 06' April--we were there for spring break, and it turns out everyone else in the world was too! It was so incredibly crowded---I had never seen anything like it. You couldn't even walk, and people were fighting over places to stand for the fireworks. You had to get a place for fireworks and parade hours early, or you just didn't see it (usually we shoot for an hour early at the most). Bad DL hotel view room (even though we paid for premium), hotel room wasn't ready until hours after 3:00 check in (we got there at noon, couldn't get up to our room till after 6:00), grouchy CM's all the way. Lines were so long for every ride, it was just 3 days of standing in lines for hours! On our last night I staked out a place for fireworks for 3 hours ahead to get a good spot, and then they were cancelled.

Another worst--last August when we went for 4 days and they were having record heat wave temps over 100+ every day. We all felt sick from heat exhaustion, and it was really hard to enjoy any of it.

Best: Our most recent trip in December. We had never been at Christmastime, and it was better than we could have ever imagined. Disney does Xmas magic right! The highlight was seeing all of the decorations and the Christmas tour, which I highly recommend! Best vacation ever!

We were there last August...end of the month...when the temps reached 108degrees. HORRIBLE. We've decided only winter trips from now on.

 

[jlima]

Worst - New Year's Eve, 1992. Just amazingly crowded. And almost nowhere open to eat by 10 pm. It seemed like every restaurant kept its normal closing time, despite thousands of extra people in the parks. Never again will I go to DL on New Years Eve.

Best - The VMK tour, October 2005. We had to sign up at 8am on a Saturday when the park opened; and got spots for all four of us. I had never been on a guided tour in DL; and we all really enjoyed it.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Worst - New Year's Eve, 1992. Just amazingly crowded. And almost nowhere open to eat by 10 pm. It seemed like every restaurant kept its normal closing time, despite thousands of extra people in the parks. Never again will I go to DL on New Years Eve.

Best - The VMK tour, October 2005. We had to sign up at 8am on a Saturday when the park opened; and got spots for all four of us. I had never been on a guided tour in DL; and we all really enjoyed it.

New Year's Eve a couple years ago...horrible! I mean...it wasn't just the crowds...it was the noise makers that Disneyland thought would be a good idea to hand out. It was only 10pm or something and people were just constantly blowing them. They were so loud! People were blowing them in line for rides and stuff. It was awful. We didn't stay very long.

 

[Miss_Mouse]

Worst: Our trip two summer's ago. That's actually a little misleading, because the trip as a whole was pretty good, it was the day leading up to it that was awful. Everything was going perfectly, we were packed early, ready to go... just had to get through that last day of work before we took off for the happiest place on earth. The night before we were set to leave, my BF started to feel sick. He landscapes, so he thought that maybe he had sunstroke. He kept getting worse and worse, throwing up, etc. Finally, at about 1:30 in the morning he caved and told me to take him to the medi-centre. Just as we're about to walk out the door, I start throwing up. We make it to the emergency, and long story short, found out that we both had the Norwalk Virus. Twelve hours before our flight we were admitted and put on IVs. It was terrible. We were discharged at about 8:00 that morning and dragged ourselves home to change our flights. After a call to our travel agency we found out that our travel insurance didn't cover anything prior to the start of our trip! Somehow we made it to the airport, like zombies, slept through the flight, and made it to DL. We were back to almost 100% in about a day and a half, but man... it was just an awful start to the trip!

Best: Our trip last summer. BF and I went down to DL with his family (his mom, brother, sister-in-law and their two kids aged 2.5 and 5) for our annual trip. After another rocky start (that's a tale for another time!) the trip took a truly magical turn when my BF proposed to me at the castle on the evening of our first day. He had his niece dress up like Belle to bring me a rose and him the ring. We were showered with rose petals, applauded by a crowd and had a private photoshoot with a photopass photographer. It was absolutely amazing. Then, another surprise, when I found out that my parents were there with us! Bf had me make a wish at Snow White's wishing well right after the proposal (knowing that I would wish for them to be there) and when I turned around, there stood my mom and dad!! I have always wanted to share some time in Disneyland with my parents, and had absolutely no idea that they were flying down to join us! Needless to say, it's going to be tough to top that trip!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Best: Getting to see DD2 ride Astro Orbiter with Mickey! Then later that afternoon getting to see DD1 dance down Main Street USA in a parade (see trip report link in my signature).

Worst: I was really disappointed in DLH. It was not worth the money to me, and it just wasn't that magical.

 

[heatherleigh]

The worst was during our last trip. I purchased Fantasmic seating for the show on Saturday in October. It was for my husband, me, and the two boys. I wanted to check in early, so I headed over to that area an hour prior to the show. The parade had just ended, and the streets were totally packed. It took 15 minutes just to walk 10 steps.

When I finally got to the water area, I asked a cast member where to check in. She said to go right in front of the haunted mansion. This was not a long walk, but w/ the crowds and rope diversions it took forever! I walked over there, and was instructed to go back to where I just came from. When I got there, they told me to go back to in front of the haunted mansion. I walked one last time toward the opposite area and was almost in tears. I had used up precious time to check in, and I knew we would have horrible seats. I told the last CM what happened, and that I refused to walk back and forth any longer. I was very upset. He personally walked me back (by this time an hour had passed) to the check in area. Of course all the good seats were gone, and I was stuck in the back. I was crying at this point (not because of the seats, but because of the walking w/ the crowds.) The woman who checked me in created a space for a few chairs so we wouldn't be completely in the back. They still weren't good, but at least they tried. Even leaving, after the show, was a disaster. We could barely get out of that New Orleans area because it was SO crowded. I'm surprised the park wasn't up to capacity that night. I heard other people in the crowd mention that too.

Our best experience was the first time we brought the kids. My older son was a little scared of the Little Mermaid, but finally decided to see her (she had to coax him over.) We took cute pics and she gave him a kiss on his cheek. He was so proud. She fed my little one popcorn and talked to him. This was before she was so popular, so we got a little time there, and weren't rushed away.

 

[DevilDuckie]

Worst: Panic attack in the middle of the hub (which was then handled with speed, compassion and positivity by the CMs). Runner up, the time we took someone's advice and went to see what HusbandMan calls "Aladdin's Musical Craptacular". I'm *still* getting grief for coaxing him into that one!

Best: Well... we honeymooned there, so that was pretty outstanding- especially when we discovered that we were smack in the middle of Gay Days and were surrounded by happy couples being adorable. Talk about romantic!

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Worst: Panic attack in the middle of the hub (which was then handled with speed, compassion and positivity by the CMs). Runner up, the time we took someone's advice and went to see what HusbandMan calls "Aladdin's Musical Craptacular". I'm *still* getting grief for coaxing him into that one!

Best: Well... we honeymooned there, so that was pretty outstanding- especially when we discovered that we were smack in the middle of Gay Days and were surrounded by happy couples being adorable. Talk about romantic!

I think you might be in a minority about Aladdin. Most people seem love it.

 

[mariezp]

Worst:
Last year we had reservations for Blue Bayou. I hadn't felt well when I got up that morning. Looking back now I should have just cancelled but because we love BB so much I didn't want to disappont the rest of my family. We were seated right away, waterside. By the time our food got there I was so nauseated I was only able to take one bite.... even that seemed quite risky! So silly me, wasted about $30 on prime rib. Worst part was that I didn't get to have my favorite creme brulee. Now that's pretty sick!

Best:
Also from last year, started when my DD participated in the Nestle cookie making class. At the end everyone was given a cookie to take with them. A big Mickey cookie had been made up and my DD said if she could have one of them she would share it with everyone. The chef rewarded her because she wanted to share with a set of Tinkerbell pins, one to keep and one to give to someone else who was doing something nice. I was very proud of my daughter! It proved to be quite a challenge to find a child to bestow the second pin upon. Finally, 2 days later as we were heading out of the park for the night, I spotted a girl deserving of the Tinkerbell pin. She was probably 11or 12 and was walking with her dad, mom, 2 siblings and pushing a double stroller loaded with another 2 siblings. I was watching her as she talked to the ones in the stroller. She had to stop because something got tossed out of the stroller so I eased up to mom & dad who had stopped. I asked them if I could give their daughter something. I proceeded to tell them how we got the pins and how I was supposed to bestow this pin upon someone doing something good. I told her that she must be a good girl to be so helpful with her family. She seemed a little embarrassed but very pleased. Mom said she was a big Tinkerbell fan so apparently I picked the right girl. It really was a magical feeling to get to share our experience with someone and add a little magic to their trip.

 

[DevilDuckie]

I think you might be in a minority about Aladdin. Most people seem love it.

Yes, well, lots of people eat Spam, too.

 

[disneymom8589]

Best - When DD was in the Parade of Dreams parade in 2000 and then DH, DS, and DD were in the same parade the following year. DD got to keep the zebra hat that she wore in 2000.

Worst - When we were at the DLR for Christmas 2006, it was pouring down rain and cold the first night we were there. DD (21) and DS (17) foolishly didn't have coats on and got drenched. The next day they both had a fever and were vomiting all day. It very well may not have been due to the cold and rain, but I'm sure that didn't help!

 

[cuterlt]

Lots of bests....
A couple of my favorites:
1) sitting in front of the castle watching the characters play with the kids while enjoying an ice cream just before the park closes. Minnie comes over and "chats" with me. She was just delightful, and gives me a kiss, and DH a kiss. She made that trip magical.
2) Seeing Dick Van **** speak at the Candlelight processional.
3) Getting on the Soarin ride, sitting next to a little girl, about 5 or 6. We had talked in line and she was kind of scared about flying and going up. As we went up in the air, she grabbed my hand and didn't let go throughout the ride. When we were done, she said I was right, that it was the best ride.

Worst:
Crowd at candlelight processional, and no place to sit, except on the ground.