cool family traditions at Disneyland?

[NicksMommy]

My family and I have been going to Disneyland for a while now, I remember as a child going about 3 times a year! I now have my first child and we have been to WDW first time in 2006, then last year went to DLR, with my entire family whom have been going years before I was born... I am 26 years old so thats a long time..

Anyway my point is the last time we went last year, we found so many things that we have never known about and have never done... So my question is what do you and your families do when at DLR? Example of the point I am trying to make... We did every character meal, for each and every meal we ate -- great price for the food you get to chose from. I don't like fast food okay I am lying I like fast food but I dont want to pay 10.00 for a hotdog...

Any cool traditions?

 

[mousemom11]

We always have lunch at a waterside table in BB. Monte cristo sandwich and cookie boat thing for dessert. Yum!

We go back to the hotel pretty much every afternoon for a swim. It refreshes us and gives us the stamina to go the rest of the afternoon/evening in the parks.

 

[Glynis]

Our traditions start before we leave. We always go with my father, all my siblings and their families. HUGE GATHERING!! About 3 weeks before we leave, my sister and I get together with all the kids, and have them design t-shirts to wear. We usually do a simple design with fabric spray paint, or spray bleach.

We do a countdown calendar starting at 30 days out.

The week before we leave, I host a Disneyland party at my house for all the kids. They get their shirts then, I make them travel journals, and coloring pages for the littler ones, we play Haunted Mansion Clue, Disney Scene It, and the Magic Kingdom game. The little ones usually watch "A Day at Disneyland" or Sing Along Songs: Disneyland Fun. I serve some kind of Disney meal (spaghetti and meatballs a la Lady and the Tramp, or an Alice in Wonderland tea party), and my sister, who decorates cakes, makes a castle cake.

When we get to Disneyland, we always have to Grandpa's favorite ride first (Peter Pan's Flight), then Grandma's (POTC).

We always have one character meal together, either breakfast at Goofy's or lunch at Ariel's Grotto.

On one of the afternoons, while the husband's take the kids back to the hotel for a swim, my dad, and sister and I do shopping along Main Street. We end up having Coke Floats at the ice cream parlor.

That's what I can think of right now.

 

[Corpsebride]

We always go straight to the Blue Ribbon Bakery and get 2 coffees and 2 chocolate chip cookies, the we go straight to the HM. Every time no matter what. And in the event that the HM for some reason is down, we go to the Mark Twain River Boat instead. If the HM is open, we do that first and then the MTRB. And then we just go where ever we feel like. That's our little routine.

 

[cheshiregirl]

Since we are AP but live 4.5 hours away from DLR, we tend leave straight from work to get into Anaheim on Friday evening and we ride HM or Holiday HM first every time, and then hit the fireworks before calling it a night.

We also consider Cherry Cokes (or Raspberry Sprites before they got rid of the raspberry syrup) and Mickey shaped pretzels with cheez dip to be another major family tradition.

It is also a tradition for us to take a picture with the Mr. Toad statue in the queue for MTWR.

Another tradition we just started last December when DS got his silhouette done on Main Street. The plan is now to get a new one made during our holiday trip each year.

 

[Dsnylndlvrs]

Here's some of our traditions (I'm sure I'll think of more later! )

The last ride of the last day has to be Pirates. This started when my DS was about 11 and was in very sad tears late on our last night. He just wanted to go on one more ride and wanted it to be Pirates. It's been the last ride ever since.

We also always go back to the hotel for a couple hours for a midday break. It gives us a chance to get a breather fromt he heat and crowds, and pick up some stamina to make it through the night.

On MM mornings, we go do rides for a couple hours and then take our first break by having breakfast at tomorrowland terrace. We always have the same thing and enjoy watching the crowds start to fill the park, knowing that we've already been enjoying the rides for a while!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

One morning during our visit, we try to be the first in line at The Riverbelle for Mickey Mouse pancakes. I have been doing this since I was a kid and have continued the tradition to the chagrin of my DH and DD. The only thing I miss is listening to the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse music while we eat.

Our newest tradition started with my DD during her first trip at 16 months of age. On the morning we eat the Riverbelle, we get a picture of our DD in front of the Mark Twain so we can compare how big she has grown from year to year. She is now 8 years old and 4 ft. 9 inches tall. Its a lot of fun looking at early pictures and see the progression.

 

[NicksMommy]

Since we are AP but live 4.5 hours away from DLR, we tend leave straight from work to get into Anaheim on Friday evening and we ride HM or Holiday HM first every time, and then hit the fireworks before calling it a night.

We also consider Cherry Cokes (or Raspberry Sprites before they got rid of the raspberry syrup) and Mickey shaped pretzels with cheez dip to be another major family tradition.

It is also a tradition for us to take a picture with the Mr. Toad statue in the queue for MTWR.

Another tradition we just started last December when DS got his silhouette done on Main Street. The plan is now to get a new one made during our holiday trip each year.

I have always gotten a silhouette done on Main street, I have started that with my son!!

 

[Keyana]

We always ride the railroad and then POTC and HM. We have multiple locations where we take each child's picture in front of each year. Many of our favorites are in toontown. It is priceless to watch them grow up from infants in arms, to toddlers, to elementary school to teenagers. Our oldest is a senior this year and had her dance team friends take pictures at all the usual spots when they were there for nationals. She says she looks forward to taking her own kids someday!
Keyana

 

[Husker Mickey]

I totally forgot one of our traditions until I read this thread. When we first went to DL with our kids, some 11 years ago, I took their pics in Toontown at the jail. I have taken their pics in jail every time we have gone. Last year they made my day be agreeing to do this again. Hopefully, they will cooperate again this Oct. It really is a treat since we thought that DS wouldn't get to go with us because he will be at college. To our amazement, the new college schedule has him off that week for Fall Break!!!

 

[canadadisney]

We always get a new set of Mickey Mouse ears. We also have a "family rule" that you have to try each ride once.

 

[Zoemakes5]

When we didn't live in So. Cal and go at least once a month, these were our "must do's" for each trip.....

Everyone must have some sort of Disney shirt on.
We took pictures for each trip in with the kids standing on/around the mickey mouse heads that are used for benches in the esplenade. It's great to see them grow each time. I do still do this frequently, but not every time any more.
We used to plan to go to a character meal and the Build a Bear our Wea park day, and it was something to look forward to as we were leaving and something to have/hold when we left.
We go on the storybook ride and DD always asks to be the whale watcher on the front of the boat.
We always try to get in the front of the monorail, though we don't always have success on that one.
On our longer trips, we have always had one lunch or dinner at the princess meal and DD has dressed up as a princess. Of a funny note, DD has dressed as Jasmine, Mulan and Sleeping Beauty, and those are always the one who aren't there for our meal!! Go figure!
We take a picture in front of the castle.
The kids always want to go on Autotopia, and prefer to be in their own cars.
We get a pin each trip.
We sit in front of the castle and watch the fireworks for at least one night of our trip.
We have to go to Red Rockets and DH, DS1 and I have to eat chicken fusilli pasta.

That's all I can think of for right now.

 

[grace249]

Our first ride is always Indiana Jones (since 1995) and we always ask for the front. It's my mom's FAVORITE ride, and this year she's determined to ride it 21 times with me on my 21st birthday (lol..) We also seem to always ask for the front on every ride, even if it means waiting longer. We also always do Goofy's Kitchen for brunch and the Fantasmic dessert buffet on the balcony (I'm not sure if they have it anymore?). And every evening we have drinks and goodies on the balcony of our hotel (Howard Johnson).

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

We always take a pic of my son in front of (or leaning against) the huge "A" in CALIFORNIA (in the esplande in front of DCA).....and my daughter in front of the "R". Their names start with those letters. We have only done that for the last 3 years, but it is fun to see how they have changed. Unfortunately it sounds like this year may be our last.......from what I understand they are removing CALIFORNIA when they redo DCA's entrance. Boohoo.

 

[heatherleigh]

I wouldn't call it a tradition (we've only gone twice as a family) but each time we've went to the Lilo and Stitch character breakfast. The first ride we tend to go to is something in FL. Typically one of the dark ones like Snow White. Last year we started w/ Alice in Wonderland because it was the last day it was open before it went down for refurbishment. We always start out at DL and do CA on the second day. I'd like to get sillhouettes done of the kids. Last year we had their pictures drawn at the stand in Downtown Disney. It's beautiful. I have it hanging in the living room. The artist made the kids wearing their mouse ears.

The kids wear the same mouse ears every year. They plan on continuing to wear them until they outgrow them. My oldest son has golden 50th anniversary ones, so they're special. Hopefully I'll be able to get his name embroidered on them on our trip. i read in someone's trip report that they had to provide a receipt for the ears in order to get them done.

We also like to get new Disneyland apparrel (t-shirts, coats) on each trip. The major one is that we've always stayed on a Disney property. I don't think we'd ever do Disney off campus. It just wouldn't be the same.

 

[nancy drew]

We have only had 1 DLR trip (plus 3 WDW trips prior) so we don't have DLR traditions set up yet. But I do like to buy a Christmas tree ornament each year. I am Jewish, but I love the whole decorating a Christmas tree (Hanukkah Bush?) thing, and I would rather have a tree full of meaningful ornaments than a tree full of random crap I bought at Target.

At WDW we always go to the Crystal Palace. Its the first meal DD and I went to on our first trip to WDW (I was a single parent, pregnant with my son, my husband had just moved out and I decided to take her to WDW solo).

I can see Tigger Tails and Haunted Mansion playing parts in our DLR traditions in the future. Those are some of the most memorable parts of our DLR trip. And maybe Blue Bayou, too. Both kids were overheated and getting sick when we went last time, but we all loved the atmosphere. Hopefully one day I can talk them into riding Pirates too, which is cheaper than BB .

My kids are young, and I cannot wait to see what traditions we develop over the years.

 

[Mugglemama]

We used to go on POTC first, every single time we went to DL (had AP's for a while so this ended up being over 100 times).

We also have to ride our favorites again at night before we leave....POTC, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland.

Last year things were a little different. We now live out of state, and it was the first time in ten years that we didn't go during the off season. Because we were dealing with MUCH bigger crowds, we had to hit Peter Pan first. We also didn't have the entire park to ourselves at night in freezing cold weather, so it didn't really feel the same as it used to.

When we lived nearby, we would go in the evenings after work a lot (about twice a week on average), and some nights, it really seemed like we were the only ones there. That's what my kids remember most...NOS and FL on those really cold nights, all bundled up in their coats, hats, and gloves, lol. That was the best.

And now, I must mourn the passing of our wonderful AP days living so close to DL by curling up into the fetal position and bawling like the sappy DL fanatic that I am....

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Now that I look at it, everything revolves around food.

When we settle down for fireworks, I always run off and get hot cocoa from Coke Corner or the bakery or Market House (if the line is too long at CC). My 3 year old loves this - we all sit and sip cocoa until the fireworks start! If we don't stay long enough for fireworks, we still get the cocoa and share it while we take the walk path back to the Mickey and Friends garage. This is an every two weeks occurance for us, so you could say the girls are already rooted in this tradition!

Other routine items are splitting a cream cheese pretzel (from CC) while we watch the parade or split a cone from BurrBank - if it's been a DCA day.

I haven't done this is in a while since I'm trying to cut back on sugar as much as I can (I know - I can't kick the hot cocoa habit), but I always used to buy the fresh English Toffee on Saturdays at the Main Street candy shop. They make it on Tuesday and Saturday and it is the best thing in the world when it's fresh!

BK - Before kids - we used to go to the Napa every single visit (biweekly to monthly). We hung out at the counter and sometimes just went for an appetizer and dessert. We also learned to order a split on our meal to save money and our stomachs - huge portions. We tried, but the girls just don't have patience to sit through the long meals, even in the lounge, so we've had to abandon that tradition....

Lately, we've been doing the coffee at Market House when we first get in, so we have the receipt for free refills all day. Then after we get our "last refill for the drive home", I give my receipt to someone else standing in line waiting to buy coffee. Let's them have a free cup at the end of the day, too!

Nancy

 

[BraMax]

I guess our family has a little tradition. On our first visit to the park on each trip the first ride my son wants to go on is Star Tours. I personally don't care for the ride but the other 3 out vote me. The other is we must have Churros on every trip

 

[NicksMommy]

We have only had 1 DLR trip (plus 3 WDW trips prior) so we don't have DLR traditions set up yet. But I do like to buy a Christmas tree ornament each year. I am Jewish, but I love the whole decorating a Christmas tree (Hanukkah Bush?) thing, and I would rather have a tree full of meaningful ornaments than a tree full of random crap I bought at Target.

At WDW we always go to the Crystal Palace. Its the first meal DD and I went to on our first trip to WDW (I was a single parent, pregnant with my son, my husband had just moved out and I decided to take her to WDW solo).

I can see Tigger Tails and Haunted Mansion playing parts in our DLR traditions in the future. Those are some of the most memorable parts of our DLR trip. And maybe Blue Bayou, too. Both kids were overheated and getting sick when we went last time, but we all loved the atmosphere. Hopefully one day I can talk them into riding Pirates too, which is cheaper than BB .

My kids are young, and I cannot wait to see what traditions we develop over the years.

Oh I loved the Crystal Palace breakfast in WDW!! So much fun, they have the same thing in DLR in the restaurant right across the the baby changing center I think its called Plaza Gardens ( I dont know for sure) Its called Breakfast with Minnie. It is so nice and you get a discount if you use your AAA card!!