Disneyland for beginners

[sleepywaldo]

Definitely take time to read the pinned threads, especially HydroGuy's thread. Going in there armed with knowledge will make it much more enjoyable for you rather than getting frustrated by missing out on things or standing in lines far too long etc and basing your opinion of DLR on that.

I'm sorry, I'm dumb. Which pinned threads? the ones on this Disneyland board tor some other board on the site? I'm struggling with navigating the site.
Thanks in advance.

 

[ClaraOswald]

All of my past Disneyland trips were adults only trips. We go on ALL of the rides. It's not really like a regular amusement park at all. There are a lot of "dark rides" which are basically slow moving vehicles that go by scenes from Disney movies and stuff. They are really cute and shouldn't make you sick at all.

If you're wondering what rides are like there, I'd go to disneyland.com to look at the list and then you can usually find videos of them on youtube.com. That might help you decide what you want to go on.

 

[3monkeys4me]

Thank you. I'm honestly trying to keep an open mind and keep my inner grump at bay, and I apologize if it's leaking out in the posts. I'm really looking forward to watching the kids enjoy the park, but I am struggling to see what there is for adults to enjoy on their own if they're not a fan of the franchises. It may be a 'once you see it you'll understand' thing. I've heard multiple time IRL that you really need to plan the trip, almost to the hour, otherwise you'll miss the attractions you really want to see, and I'm struggling because in looking at the list of attractions I'm just flat out guessing at what the kids will want to do and we don't have anything in particular we want to see as adults. If go with the flow is an acceptable approach, hallelujah.

Having a an is a good idea for DL but you don't need to plan to the hour. We plan the first hour in the morning and then just gave a general plan of what we want to see after that. DH is not a Disney lover at all but even he can find enough to do. We usually go for 4-5 days now. I make sure to plan a few nice lunches outside the park (or in CA) so that he can have a beer or two. He lives ESPN Zone and the Jazz kitchen so we go those every trip. Even if you don't love the movies the ride details are pretty incredible.

We did a 12 day Southern California trip last year. We did 4 days at DLR, Legoland, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, USS Midway and Universal Studios on our way back up to Northern California to visit family. We also had a beach day, walked around Balboa Park and visited some tide pools. It was a great trip. For s 10 day trip I would do most of that again. Legoland was a bit of a dud for us, my older two were too old for almost everything and my youngest was too young to ride on everything. The water park was nice, but we have nice water parks here. If I didn't have time to go both I would just do the zoo or the wild animal park. We loved both for different reasons.

Also, your 8 year old isn't too old to enjoy it. My oldest is 11 and begging to go back. She did the first trip that she remembers at 6 1/2 ( she was a year her first trip) and is not into princesses at all. Except when she is at Disney. Our neighbors took their daughter on her first trip at 7 years 8 months and she too had a great time, though she is one of those girls that loves everything princess.

 

[Epek]

I think you could probably go in there with just the few reservations you are already talking about and no other plan and still leave very happy. Provided you are there for at least 3 days and get park hopper tickets. The people that plan every hour are usually the ones that must see every every show, go on every ride, and experience every experience. That's too stressful for me and sounds like it would be for you, too! Plus, there are some things that if I never saw, I wouldn't care.
A good idea would be to look over a list of rides and show with your group to see if anyone has any must-do's. Especially the kids. Then the must-do's become your plan. It also helps if you look over the map to have an idea where everything is. Then, you kind kind of wander the park and go with the flow. But, it's purposeful wandering and you're not wasting time trying to find stuff. Follow the lead of the ones that want to be there the most. You'll find the magic. It's hard not to!

 

[ClaraOswald]

I don't think planning ever second is necessary at all. I think it's nice to have an idea of what rides you'll want to go on. And to know which rides fill up fast and which rides have fast passes available.

And then if you want any meals at 'nicer' restaurants you'll probably want reservations.

 

[Skimassey]

I'm hoping so too! I'm fully expecting to enjoy watching the little ones be awed by the characters, but I'm a little scared we missed the window for DD8 and she'll just see them as actors in costume. I'm hopeful we can crack through the 'I'm too cool for that' shell once she's there.

I was surprised that my boys were still excited about meeting some of their favorite characters when they were 8 and 9. They completely understand that they are just people in costumes, but there's something fun about the experience of meeting a "celebrity" in that environment. My 8 year old was so excited to "meet" Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Red. My 9 year old actually wanted to track down Duffy to get his picture taken with him because he has a Duffy stuffed animal at home.

My DD will be 15 when we take our next trip, and she has a list of characters she can't wait to have her pic taken with. She, however, is a huge Disney fan and hopes to work as a character after high school. Plus, my DH told me that I'd better plan time for us to go to Innovations so he and the boys can have their pics taken with Marvel characters.

It's a fun experience, and I expect some of the excitement will rub off on your DD and she won't feel "too cool" to join in on the fun.

 

[Karin1984]

Maybe someone already said it, but what about including your children in planning the days. The 8-year old must be able to tell you for sure what she wants to do and see, the others you can measure by looking together at videos on youtube. Even when she has never showed interest in Disney princesses, it is hard to avoid princess merchandise. It's everywhere.

Look up some videos of families meeting princesses etc., if the children are interested or not. Do the same for rides, shows and parades. Might also be a good indicator of what frightens the young ones. Snow White's ride can really scare (young) kids.

Same for the rides, youtube is filled with all kinds of on-rides. The children might be too young/short for Tower of Terror, but no adult should miss it.

If you plan these days together with the children, you might get an indication how many days you would need. Because of the size of the group, I'd say plan one day extra. If you think you need 2 days, go for 3. If you need 3, go for 4. To make sure you don't have to rush and nobody says afterwards 'I wish we could have done that'.

And if you freak out after watching the videos, leave the kids with the other adults and go to Downtown Disney or the nearby mall yourself. Don't put yourself through the agony if you can't hide it. Not just for yourself, but a lot of children notice or sense when things are off. Then it doesn't really matter anymore if you have 'ticked the box'.

 

[zanzibar138]

I'm hoping I'll be converted once I'm there and I'm really trying to keep an open mind until then. I'm frankly a little stressed at the thought of it right now (it just seems rather overwhelming in terms of sights and sounds and I'm much more accustomed to a low key vacation) My SIL is a 'Disney' person, and we're hoping her spirit rubs off on the rest of curmudgeonly old grumps and we find some enjoyment outside of watching the kids have fun.
I wasn't expecting that any of the adults would want to go on rides unless we were required to go with the kids. My husband and I's stomachs typically flip if we go on rides with the kids at our local amusement park... Are there any particular rides we should consider? Are there 'adult only' rides other than roller coasters and drops? Are the Innovation and Old Hollywood exhibits more adult focused?
We'll definitely reserve the Grotto and either the BBB or Frozen makeover areas come mid december for our February trip. Should we dress the kids up in princess costumes to go, or are tshirt/shorts more appropriate for running around the park?
At a high-level, am I overthinking this whole thing? Do I really need to plan out every day or can we just roll with it? I'm hearing IRL that I need to have a plan for each area we want to see, when we'll see it, what attractions to see and I'm totally overwhelmed at a massive list of attractions with no real direction on what I want to see... Is just showing up, with possibly a character dining and makeover reservation, and letting the rest of the day take us wherever it goes a horrible plan? I just don't want to come home with kids who feel like they didn't 'really' do disney because they didn't see "x".
I really appreciate everyone's patience in answering my questions. This whole vacation is stressing me out (as is probably totally obvious...)

Please don't stress yourself out! DLR is typically quite a relaxed kind of place, especially in times like February when crowds shouldn't be too much of an issue. There are a few things you need to plan. As we've already said, you'll probably want to book your princess makeovers and character dining ASAP. If you want to do any night time shows, you'll need to figure out which nights to see them. If one of those is World of Colour, you'll need to pick up a FP sometime during the day. If you want to meet Anna and Elsa, or ride Radiator Springs Racers, you'll need to prioritise getting your FP. Other than that, just do what you or the kids feel like!

As a PP said, those people who plan every second of every day are often the ones who just race from one attraction to the next, trying to tick off as many as possible. They are often disappointed with their experience because they found it stressful, the kids didn't cope well, and they may very well have missed out on a lot of magical experiences just because they were in too much of a hurry to notice. Don't be one of those people. If your kids want to spend an hour playing in the splash zone, don't hurry them along because you're missing out on 'rides'.

I personally love rollercoasters, but my mum is the most timid ride person out there, and is generally the 'bag minder' at our local amusement parks because there aren't many rides that she can tolerate that aren't too kiddy. That's not the case at DLR. Yes, the dark rides are based on Disney movies, but they're great fun. It's all in the detail. I highly recommend you ride Alice in Wonderland now that it's had its makeover. The other dark rides are fun too - Peter Pan, Mr Toad, Snow White and Pinocchio. Peter Pan does tend to get a long line though and is one that's best to ride straight at opening. The Haunted Mansion is a good non-thrill ride for adults, as is Pirates. There are 2 very small drops in Pirates, but if my mum can handle it, seriously anyone can. She didn't enjoy the drops, but said it was worth going through for the rest of the ride.

I would go in with an opening plan each day (you will want to do rope drop at least once for each park). In DCA, make sure you pick a day that doesn't have early entry for hotel guests. Plan to ride Toy Story Mania first, and any other attractions you're interested in in the area (Mickey's Fun Wheel is a good one for timid adults, just make sure you're in line for the stationary cabins!). The Little Mermaid is a good one too, that everyone can enjoy. Then head over to get your RSR FPs. From there, just do what you feel like for the rest of the day. If you're a fan of the Muppets, make sure you check out the 3D movie. Definitely see Aladdin. It's not just a kids show, it's a Broadway quality full musical (just a little shorter than you'd see on Broadway) with plenty to entertain adults as well as kids. The kids might enjoy a Bug's Land and the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Take the Red Trolley.

In DL, you can use your Magic Morning early entry if it fits in with your plans, otherwise go on a non early entry day. Plan to ride Peter Pan first, then get your FPs for Anna and Elsa (if you want to meet them). Having said that, the Anna and Elsa situation is always changing, so make sure you keep up with the latest there. Then, again just do what you like. If you're interested in history, Great Moments with Mr Lincoln is a more adult oriented show. Also check out the flag retreat ceremony if that's your thing. My dad loved it and saw it at least 3 times during our stay.

On the third day, plan to get your princess makeovers done first thing in the morning, then head over to your character lunch in your princess dresses. Pack some t-shirts and shorts for the kids in a day pack, and you can all decide after the lunch whether you want to change or not. You might find that they're comfortable enough in the dresses as long as they have comfortable shoes on.

If you have a 4th day, you can use that opportunity to have a more relaxed start to the day, do some things you've missed, repeat some favourites, and just soak in the atmosphere one last time. The more days you have there, the more relaxed you can be while still fitting in a lot of things.

I see it a lot on these boards for parents to get their kids involved in planning the trip, picking their must-do rides etc. I would use caution doing this. Make sure you explain that although you will try to do that ride, there is no guarantee that it will be available on your trip. Part of me feels that they would be better off not knowing so there's no disappointment if they're unable to ride it for any reason. But each to their own. Showing them youtube videos is a good way to find out if a ride might be too scary for them etc.

 

[DharmaLou]

I'm sorry, I'm dumb. Which pinned threads? the ones on this Disneyland board tor some other board on the site? I'm struggling with navigating the site.
Thanks in advance.

The ones on this board specifically at the top of the page. There is one that includes HydroGuy's tips (it's in the title) that is particularly helpful.

 

[GenGen22]

I dont think kids outgrow princesses even at 8. I took my daughter for the first time when she was8 & still to this day & she is 18 she wants pictures with Ariel. Disneyland is a place where everyone can be a kid. There are many rides for all ages & styles. Most are not scarry or something you can't take a baby on nust to show you how mellow they are. But they are very intertaining. As far as planning goes reserve a few meals and just take it as it comes to you. I believe your trip will be amazing!

 

[sleepywaldo]

Please don't stress yourself out! DLR is typically quite a relaxed kind of place, especially in times like February when crowds shouldn't be too much of an issue. There are a few things you need to plan. As we've already said, you'll probably want to book your princess makeovers and character dining ASAP. If you want to do any night time shows, you'll need to figure out which nights to see them. If one of those is World of Colour, you'll need to pick up a FP sometime during the day. If you want to meet Anna and Elsa, or ride Radiator Springs Racers, you'll need to prioritise getting your FP. Other than that, just do what you or the kids feel like!

As a PP said, those people who plan every second of every day are often the ones who just race from one attraction to the next, trying to tick off as many as possible. They are often disappointed with their experience because they found it stressful, the kids didn't cope well, and they may very well have missed out on a lot of magical experiences just because they were in too much of a hurry to notice. Don't be one of those people. If your kids want to spend an hour playing in the splash zone, don't hurry them along because you're missing out on 'rides'.

I personally love rollercoasters, but my mum is the most timid ride person out there, and is generally the 'bag minder' at our local amusement parks because there aren't many rides that she can tolerate that aren't too kiddy. That's not the case at DLR. Yes, the dark rides are based on Disney movies, but they're great fun. It's all in the detail. I highly recommend you ride Alice in Wonderland now that it's had its makeover. The other dark rides are fun too - Peter Pan, Mr Toad, Snow White and Pinocchio. Peter Pan does tend to get a long line though and is one that's best to ride straight at opening. The Haunted Mansion is a good non-thrill ride for adults, as is Pirates. There are 2 very small drops in Pirates, but if my mum can handle it, seriously anyone can. She didn't enjoy the drops, but said it was worth going through for the rest of the ride.

I would go in with an opening plan each day (you will want to do rope drop at least once for each park). In DCA, make sure you pick a day that doesn't have early entry for hotel guests. Plan to ride Toy Story Mania first, and any other attractions you're interested in in the area (Mickey's Fun Wheel is a good one for timid adults, just make sure you're in line for the stationary cabins!). The Little Mermaid is a good one too, that everyone can enjoy. Then head over to get your RSR FPs. From there, just do what you feel like for the rest of the day. If you're a fan of the Muppets, make sure you check out the 3D movie. Definitely see Aladdin. It's not just a kids show, it's a Broadway quality full musical (just a little shorter than you'd see on Broadway) with plenty to entertain adults as well as kids. The kids might enjoy a Bug's Land and the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Take the Red Trolley.

In DL, you can use your Magic Morning early entry if it fits in with your plans, otherwise go on a non early entry day. Plan to ride Peter Pan first, then get your FPs for Anna and Elsa (if you want to meet them). Having said that, the Anna and Elsa situation is always changing, so make sure you keep up with the latest there. Then, again just do what you like. If you're interested in history, Great Moments with Mr Lincoln is a more adult oriented show. Also check out the flag retreat ceremony if that's your thing. My dad loved it and saw it at least 3 times during our stay.

On the third day, plan to get your princess makeovers done first thing in the morning, then head over to your character lunch in your princess dresses. Pack some t-shirts and shorts for the kids in a day pack, and you can all decide after the lunch whether you want to change or not. You might find that they're comfortable enough in the dresses as long as they have comfortable shoes on.

If you have a 4th day, you can use that opportunity to have a more relaxed start to the day, do some things you've missed, repeat some favourites, and just soak in the atmosphere one last time. The more days you have there, the more relaxed you can be while still fitting in a lot of things.

I see it a lot on these boards for parents to get their kids involved in planning the trip, picking their must-do rides etc. I would use caution doing this. Make sure you explain that although you will try to do that ride, there is no guarantee that it will be available on your trip. Part of me feels that they would be better off not knowing so there's no disappointment if they're unable to ride it for any reason. But each to their own. Showing them youtube videos is a good way to find out if a ride might be too scary for them etc.

Thanks. We were hoping to surprise the kids with the trip (either have them not know we're going anywhere, or have them think we're going to visit family, then surprise them the morning of the flights.) My oldest is a little daredevil, so I'm sure she'll be fine on any ride they'll let her on, but I'm more concerned about the "but that's for babies" factor when it comes to the character rides. Fingers crossed that it won't be an issue as others on here have said.
What's a dark ride? and rope drop? Is splash zone a waterpark?
I'm assuming the Magic Morning is a pass? does that come with the standard pass or is it an extra?
Our list of 'to dos' is limited to the character dining and the dress up thing... plus whatever is recommended here. I have absolutely no background or preferences regarding any rides, shows or franchises. (I didn't realize that the Muppets were a disney franchise... that's really good to hear.) My kids like the princesses and they've seen toy story and maybe cars. They know who Mickey and Minnie are. I'm staring at a big blank page of 'must sees' for the most part, but I'm nervous that when they come home and compare notes with their friends, they'll find out they've missed something big.
I'm really hoping the adults get something out of this as so many have said on this. I have visions of three days of 'bag minding' and it didn't seem like a lot of fun for those of us over 10.

 

[sleepywaldo]

I just got off my lazy butt and googled dark ride and checked out the youtube video for the Monsters ride. That gives me a much better perspective on the 'rides'... I was trying to understand why people wanted to spend a week on rollercoasters and teacup type rides. I can understand why adults wouldn't get sick on something like that. I'm assuming the other rides would be something like that? Animatronic characters and sound/light? Are any of the rides more interactive (i.e. are there rides/attractions where you're doing something or are you generally sitting back and watching a 3D live version of the movie like the Monsters Inc. one?) I'm reading up on the redwood trail one that was described by someone else and it sounds like the kids get moving/climbing... is that true or is it a simulation of climbing/sliding/etc. ?

 

[Luckymommatoo]

is that true or is it a simulation of climbing/sliding/etc. ?

Oh, the Redwood Trail is awesome fun! It's totally real. Lots of ropes, bridges, etc. We can easily spend an hour there, and my kids are 8 and 11. Pirate's Lair (aka Tom Sawyer's Island) at Disneyland is another great, run-around place with all kinds of cool caves and bridges. Plus you take a (powered) raft to get there!

Dark rides are generally a sit-back-and-relax kind of deal. Which you will appreciate as a break, believe me!

I can't imagine your 8 y.o. being too jaded. My son is 11 -- he stopped believing in Santa at age 4. And he LOVES Disneyland, and all the dark rides. When his sister wants to meet Tinker Bell, he reluctantly goes along, and then always gets sucked in because the characters are so GOOD. Tink will be sassy and funny with him, for instance, and he always walks away with a grin on his face.

I really hope you go on the rides -- I am not a Disney fanatic, but I have been to my share of theme parks, and seriously, NONE of them compare to Disney. Everything is just a notch above, from cleanliness to friendliness to attention to detail.

 

[sleepywaldo]

Oh, the Redwood Trail is awesome fun! It's totally real. Lots of ropes, bridges, etc. We can easily spend an hour there, and my kids are 8 and 11. Pirate's Lair (aka Tom Sawyer's Island) at Disneyland is another great, run-around place with all kinds of cool caves and bridges. Plus you take a (powered) raft to get there!

Dark rides are generally a sit-back-and-relax kind of deal. Which you will appreciate as a break, believe me!

I can't imagine your 8 y.o. being too jaded. My son is 11 -- he stopped believing in Santa at age 4. And he LOVES Disneyland, and all the dark rides. When his sister wants to meet Tinker Bell, he reluctantly goes along, and then always gets sucked in because the characters are so GOOD. Tink will be sassy and funny with him, for instance, and he always walks away with a grin on his face.

I really hope you go on the rides -- I am not a Disney fanatic, but I have been to my share of theme parks, and seriously, NONE of them compare to Disney. Everything is just a notch above, from cleanliness to friendliness to attention to detail.

Great! glad to hear there's somewhere for them to burn some energy off! I'm not adverse to riding any of the rides that are like the Monsters video I watched... It's not my cup of tea, but I'll give it a shot, particularly if doesn't require any extra cost. I definitely beats sitting outside watching the stuff.

 

[sleepywaldo]

One more questions if you still have any patience... I'm seen a bunch of references to a photopass, and when I look it up it seems like a professional photography service. Are cameras not allowed on site? What is the benefit of the service?

 

[krispin41]

Thank you. I'm honestly trying to keep an open mind and keep my inner grump at bay, and I apologize if it's leaking out in the posts. I'm really looking forward to watching the kids enjoy the park, but I am struggling to see what there is for adults to enjoy on their own if they're not a fan of the franchises. It may be a 'once you see it you'll understand' thing.
I've heard multiple time IRL that you really need to plan the trip, almost to the hour, otherwise you'll miss the attractions you really want to see, and I'm struggling because in looking at the list of attractions I'm just flat out guessing at what the kids will want to do and we don't have anything in particular we want to see as adults. If go with the flow is an acceptable approach, hallelujah.

I honestly don't think you need to "plan to the hour." (Although WDW you do need to plan more.) Typically, my trips I usually "plan" one thing major per day, be it a character breakfast or a sit-down restaurant meal. For example, my husband's first trip to Disney: On arrival day, we attended the Halloween Party, next day, we did the Minnie and Friends breakfast then Fantasmic dessert the next night. Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen one night, and lunch at Ariel's Grotto. This was an adult's only trip. My husband did not "get" Disney before we went. He knew we were going to have fun, and we were together, but I couldn't explain that giddy feeling I get when I walk through the gates...seriously...giddy and happiness and tears of joy walking through that tunnel. He let me take the lead on the first night since I knew where stuff was...and then I just followed. He loved the interactions with CMs and Characters, we loved seeing the joy in other people, and the rides are fun. Even those "kiddie" rides in FL. The night we saw WOC, I admit we were a bit tipsy from drinks at the Mad T Party (and lack of solid food, LOL! ) and he walked around talking to people in an Australian accent. We laughed so much. But now...he wants to go back!

 

[krispin41]

One more questions if you still have any patience... I'm seen a bunch of references to a photopass, and when I look it up it seems like a professional photography service. Are cameras not allowed on site? What is the benefit of the service?

Yes, you can bring your camera...but don't be that person taking pics with an iPad on the Jungle Cruise. True story.

The benefits to the PhotoPass is that they have Disney photographers who will scan your cards (the actual photo pass) and then take your picture at the iconic spots around Disneyland and DCA, and with characters! Sometimes it's nice to be in the pictures too rather than always behind the camera.

If you get the PhotoPass+, you get the added benefit of getting all the ride pictures (Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, CA Screamin') as well as the pictures included with your character dining. You pay a flat fee, they send you a voucher and you redeem it in the park, after your trip, you get ALL the pics taken for you (which is a great deal for the ride and meal pics, as those add up!) Photographers can also add "magic" to the photos, I have a cute one of my friend and I holding Tinkerbell in the palm of our hand.

 

[sleepywaldo]

I honestly don't think you need to "plan to the hour." (Although WDW you do need to plan more.) Typically, my trips I usually "plan" one thing major per day, be it a character breakfast or a sit-down restaurant meal. For example, my husband's first trip to Disney: On arrival day, we attended the Halloween Party, next day, we did the Minnie and Friends breakfast then Fantasmic dessert the next night. Dinner at Goofy's Kitchen one night, and lunch at Ariel's Grotto. This was an adult's only trip. My husband did not "get" Disney before we went. He knew we were going to have fun, and we were together, but I couldn't explain that giddy feeling I get when I walk through the gates...seriously...giddy and happiness and tears of joy walking through that tunnel. He let me take the lead on the first night since I knew where stuff was...and then I just followed. He loved the interactions with CMs and Characters, we loved seeing the joy in other people, and the rides are fun. Even those "kiddie" rides in FL. The night we saw WOC, I admit we were a bit tipsy from drinks at the Mad T Party (and lack of solid food, LOL! ) and he walked around talking to people in an Australian accent. We laughed so much. But now...he wants to go back!

We'll have the blind leading the blind unfortunately, so we'll see if we can sort it out based on what I can sort out in here. We'll plan one day around the character meal (the grotto has the princesses, right?) and one around the dress up thing. Last day we'll play it entirely by ear or maybe figure out a must see once we're there? I've been reading up on the attractions mentioned here and surfing the disney attractions site, and nothing is leaping off as a 'must see'?

 

[sleepywaldo]

Yes, you can bring your camera...but don't be that person taking pics with an iPad on the Jungle Cruise. True story.

The benefits to the PhotoPass is that they have Disney photographers who will scan your cards (the actual photo pass) and then take your picture at the iconic spots around Disneyland and DCA, and with characters! Sometimes it's nice to be in the pictures too rather than always behind the camera.

If you get the PhotoPass+, you get the added benefit of getting all the ride pictures (Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, CA Screamin') as well as the pictures included with your character dining. You pay a flat fee, they send you a voucher and you redeem it in the park, after your trip, you get ALL the pics taken for you (which is a great deal for the ride and meal pics, as those add up!) Photographers can also add "magic" to the photos, I have a cute one of my friend and I holding Tinkerbell in the palm of our hand.

What's wrong with iPads? is it a blocking the view thing? or is it concern about wrecking it with water?
Are you not allowed to take pictures in the character dining places? Or is it just an optional paid shot if you want the whole group in the shot or to avoid the 'selfie' look?

 

[sleepywaldo]

I found the Hydroguy threads... very useful so thank you to whoever suggested them! I'm now worried about the accommodations we have (my parents rented a house that can hold all 6 adults and 4 kids) as Google says it's 18 minutes from the park, but if we need to tack on 90 minutes to park/get into the park, life is going to suck. Maybe we'll take cabs as he suggested to minimize the crazy parking time.... Any experience with how to do that with kids in tow? can we store carseats somewhere on the site? I'm assuming there's no shortage of cabs at the exit and that we could book the cabs to pick up in the am from our house...