DisneyLAND questions

[stacyleigh1978]

My husband is heading to California in two weeks for a business meeting and asked if DS4 and I would like to tag along. Duh!!! Of course we do! I've never been to DL and would love to get any helpful advice/suggestions from those of you who have been.

We're going to be there for a Friday and Saturday. Friday night we're planning on going to the Halloween party and will probably not go to the park that day. I know we can get in early (4pm) and I hope to get a lot of the rides done that night. If we do get a lot done, should I but the hopper pass for Saturday? I know California Adventure is right across the street so it would be easy to go from the one park to the next.

DW has a lot of great places to meet the characters. Any places to search out in DL? DS really loves Toy Story, Monsters Inc, and Incredibles. Any idea if or where we could meet these characters?

We've been to DW several times and are familiar with the rides and attractions there. Any suggestions for rides/attractions that are unique to Disneyland?

I'm so excited to go but was only given 2 weeks notice! I'm such a planner but I have no idea about DL, so any advice would be appreciated! Thanks so much in advance!

 

[juliebug1997]

If you go to the main page of this Forum, there's a DL Forum. That should help you and you can ask questions about DL there.

click here

 

[GJF323]

While I don't have the link, to paraphrase: "There's a sticky for that" (over on the DL side of the boards). I was also a WDW vet going to DL for the first time, and the sticky was very helpful understanding the considerable differences.

 

[cjnix29]

Disneyland is awesome! We are WDW vets, but went to DL this spring. I fell in love. The nostalgia of being in Walt's Park was big for me. Plus, I honestly, liked Disneyland better than the MK. Never thought I would say that. Gotta ride the matterhorn, and the storybook ride. The space mountain at DL is WAAAAYYYY better than at WDW. It's not as shakey, and it is just better. I'm not a fan at WDW, but I rode it several times at DL. I like DL's Small World better as well. And...Toontown at DL is awesome. Get your camera ready. As far as characters, I can't help you too much, as DS isn't into them anymore. So we didn't go looking for them. It's a lot easier to hop at DL, so I would recommend getting the hoppers. When we were there CA was all torn up, so we didn't spend an entire day there. But don't miss the World of Color show. It was really good. Have a great time! I can't wait to go back, although I don't know if I can get DH there, he didn't go with us this spring, and he is not convinced that it is a worthwhile trip. But I loved it!!!!! There is an awesome thread on the DL board about DL for WDW Vets. Read through that, it was really helpful to us!

 

[GJF323]

But don't miss the World of Color show. It was really good. Have a great time! I can't wait to go back, although I don't know if I can get DH there, he didn't go with us this spring, and he is not convinced that it is a worthwhile trip. But I loved it!!!!! There is an awesome thread on the DL board about DL for WDW Vets. Read through that, it was really helpful to us!

And all Walt's people said "Amen!" Seriously, we can't convey how amazing the World of Color show is. My mom saw the video I downloaded from YouTube and she still can't stop talking about it.

Another tip: "somebody will have put it on YouTube." I didn't worry at all about a good video of World of Color because I knew I could probably download a YouTube copy. And I did - in HD with wide angle. But the video is not a substitute for actually viewing it - it is a souvenir only. Same with the parade. Unless something you see seems unique, "you are not the first to pass this way."

 

[MPwifey]

I wanted to say that if the party is at DCA you can NOT get in early as they close the whole park early and then reopen for the party.

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

My husband is heading to California in two weeks for a business meeting and asked if DS4 and I would like to tag along. Duh!!! Of course we do! I've never been to DL and would love to get any helpful advice/suggestions from those of you who have been.

We're going to be there for a Friday and Saturday. Friday night we're planning on going to the Halloween party and will probably not go to the park that day. I know we can get in early (4pm) and I hope to get a lot of the rides done that night. If we do get a lot done, should I but the hopper pass for Saturday? I know California Adventure is right across the street so it would be easy to go from the one park to the next.

DW has a lot of great places to meet the characters. Any places to search out in DL? DS really loves Toy Story, Monsters Inc, and Incredibles. Any idea if or where we could meet these characters?

We've been to DW several times and are familiar with the rides and attractions there. Any suggestions for rides/attractions that are unique to Disneyland?

I'm so excited to go but was only given 2 weeks notice! I'm such a planner but I have no idea about DL, so any advice would be appreciated! Thanks so much in advance!

Rides to do at Disneyland
Haunted Mansion and Pirates are both considerably longer as they can use more floors due to a lower water table. Mr. Toad's Wild ride, Matterhorn and Storybook land in Fantasyland do not exist in Disneyworld. Buzz can be found in Tomorrowland near Innoventions usually and Woody in front of the Golden Horseshoe(If you can fit it in Billy Hill and The Hillbilies are awesome in the Saloon). I can't think of running into the Incredibles or Monsters Inc. in Disneyland so you will have to parkhop to California Adventure.

 

[Jacie]

All the Pixar characters you seek will be at California Adventures
I love DL soooo much!

 

[luvgoing2disney]

We consider WDW our home park, but took our second trip to DLR this summer. I wish I could convey to you how much I LOVE visiting those parks. The nostalgia, the ease of traveling to each of the parks, the lack of necessity for ADR's, I could go on and on. Yep, it is smaller in size but has it's own very real sense of magic. Fantasyland and Main Street have such charm that the WDW versions do not have. I don't mean to say that it has replaced WDW especially since we have to fly across country to visit DLR, but it truly has a magic all its own.

 

[GenGen22]

I am from California and have been to DL many times and going to WDW for the first time this Dec. One site that I use with a lot of info on it is mousesavers.com. They have all the discounts and info you will need. A site I have used many times that has the cheapest hotels/packages is getawaytoday.com. The hotel I suggest is Embassy Suites Anaheim South. They offer free buffet breakfast everyday. When looking for a hotel if offsite (I have never stayed onsite) look for free transportation. Many places offer it. I agree with everyone about World of Color at CA Adventure.

 

[ktlm]

You definitely want the hopper. DL and California Adventure (CA) are basically like one park they are so close together, there is just a plaza between the gates that you can walk across in about 2 minutes. We usually go back and forth all day. Plus, you said your son is a Monster's Inc. fan and there is a Monster's Inc. ride at CA. It is a really cute ride. The Aladdin show at CA is a don't miss it too. It is the best show I have ever seen at any Disney park. TSM is at CA also. I don't know if your DS would care about it, but CA also opened its The Little Mermaid Ride last summer, so you can get a preview of what is coming at WDW.

Your son is most likely going to be too short, but if you get a chance, you and your DH should take turns doing the single rider line at the Indiana Jones ride. It is a great ride!

If you are looking for a character meal, Minnie's Breakfast and Goofy's Kitchen are both good ones. Goofy's Kitchen is in the Disneyland Hotel, so if you really decide not to go to a park until the party Friday night, you could have breakfast there on Friday.

You definitely don't want to miss Pirates at DL. We also love DL's Small World.

In our opinion their Fantasmic is much better than WDW (it has a Peter Pan section) and World of Color is amazing too. With only one full day, you may have a hard time fitting those in, but if you get the chance they are worth it.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our Disneyland board.

 

[tamiandryan]

We took a picture with Buzz in DL just outside of the exit of Space Mtn. The other Toy Story gang (Woody and Jesse) were over by TSM in DCA. And we took a picture with Sully in the Backlot in DCA.

Have fun, you will love it!

 

[GrandBob]

This is the link for you!

A DLR Guide for WDW Vets

 

[Hound 109]

Read HG's tip thread that Grand Bob linked. Essential reading. (then read the rest of HG's tip threads ).

What hotel are you staying at?

& only two days at DLR??

My husband is heading to California in two weeks for a business meeting and asked if DS4 and I would like to tag along. Duh!!! Of course we do! I've never been to DL and would love to get any helpful advice/suggestions from those of you who have been.

We're going to be there for a Friday and Saturday.

Only two days?????

Friday night we're planning on going to the Halloween party and will probably not go to the park that day.

Why on earth not??


I know we can get in early (4pm) and I hope to get a lot of the rides done that night.

If i only had two days, I'd skip the Halloween party & do two FULL days park hopping DLR (& even then you won't see everything there is to see.)


If we do get a lot done, should I but the hopper pass for Saturday? I know California Adventure is right across the street so it would be easy to go from the one park to the next.

Of course. Park Hope each day. & it's across an esplanade.....100 yards away....not a "street".

DW has a lot of great places to meet the characters. Any places to search out in DL? DS really loves Toy Story, Monsters Inc, and Incredibles. Any idea if or where we could meet these characters?

We've been to DW several times and are familiar with the rides and attractions there. Any suggestions for rides/attractions that are unique to Disneyland?

Read the tip threads. And for some reason many don't mention Alice & Pinocchio, which are two of my favorites (along with Indy, Storybookland, Matterhorn, Nemo, Griz Rapids, Screamin', the Flick's playland area & lots of other stuff.

I'm so excited to go but was only given 2 weeks notice! I'm such a planner but I have no idea about DL, so any advice would be appreciated! Thanks so much in advance!

Read all the tip threads, let us know if you're staying onsite & post back. The first 3 hours of each day are the BEST time to be touring (& FP collecting) especially if you're coming from the Central or Eastern Time Zone....no way that I'd wait till 4pm to enter the park. & with only two days, I'd be skipping the Halloween party & enjoying all of DLR....but that's me.

Have a great time at Walt's Park.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Read all the tip threads, let us know if you're staying onsite & post back. The first 3 hours of each day are the BEST time to be touring (& FP collecting) especially if you're coming from the Central or Eastern Time Zone....no way that I'd wait till 4pm to enter the park. & with only two days, I'd be skipping the Halloween party & enjoying all of DLR....but that's me.

I totally agree!

 

[starshine514]

From what I've read, the parties have been very crowded this year, so you probably won't get to ride many rides during the party. I agree with Hound 109 and 3Minnies1Mickey, I would buy 2-day hoppers, be at DL at rope drop on Friday, spend the morning there, take a break and then close out CA instead of the party. Saturday, start at DL again and hop back and forth as needed.

We've seen Monsters, Inc characters out in the vicinity of their ride and Toy Story characters over near King Triton's Carousel - all in CA.