Disneyland tips please

[Fantasia Sam]

Hi all - I went and booked another holiday as I was still so distraught at my cancelled New Year trip to WDW sooooo.....

8th to 12th - 4 nights at Disney Grand Californian
12th to 17th - 5 nights at Treasure Island Vegas....woo-hoo!

So do you have any tips on Disneyland, the do's and don't's, favourite places to eat or not so?

For any that don't me, we're a party of 2 adults but we do like the characters, we're kids at heart

Thanks in advance

 

[richard3330]

Hi Sam ,

I hope you have a great time!, The Grand Californian is lovely, the rooms are wonderful (some even overlook Grizzly Peak) and it is so convenient to all of the parks and DTD. The hotel has two pools and a health club which is also very nice, plus a wonderfull grand lobby which is like a mixture of The GF and WL. Since the hotel is near a main road, you may get a room facing the road (which can be noisy) it might me worth asking them for a specific view (they are very friendly and when we visited we asked if it was possible to change rooms and they done it immediately )

Don't Miss -
Disneyland Park-

Indiana Jones Adventure (one of my favourite Disney rides, ever!) You board 4x4 jeeps and race through lots of Indiana Jones Adventures.

Pirates of the Caribbean - A much better version.

Matterhorn Bobsleds - A great rollercoaster, although a little rough.

Fantasmic - IMO, the Californian version is MUCH better than the MGM one! (There is sometimes 2 performances a night, If you can, go to the second one were it is easier to get a place on the grass (there are no benches) )

California Adventure -
There are lots of don't miss rides here but the absolute best has to be -

Soaring over California - This is simply a perfect ride, as I am sure you will find out. It is a hang-glide simulator that offers a wonderful experience of site, feel and smell - you have to ride it to believe it. This ride is just breathtaking (one lady next to us even started crying at the end, she said it was the best experience of her life)

Also Be sure to stay for the Disney Electric Parade, which is scheduled for just before closing.

As for eateries in Disneyland Park we really enjoyed meals at:
Blue Bayou Restaurant (backing pirates of the caribbean!) and we loved having a snack at River Belle Terrace (in Fronteir Land of DL Park) - they have wonderful Mickey Mouse Pancakes! Also, there is wonderful barbecued meats at The Bengal Barbecue.

I seemed to have gone on a bit too much, but its not often I talk about DCA!

Have a great time! If you have any more questions I will hopefully be able to help

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Richard !!!! You ARE a trooper, sweetie. Thank you sooo much for all of this it's great - I've already pre-booked a Theme Park View so I'm thrilled. The hotel sounds to die for and I'm very excited

Now the Soarin' over California ride, you say it's a simulator I always feel sick on the likes of Star Tours and Body Wars is it as bad as them? I guess I can always give it a go and throw up afterwards

What did you think of the food in the hotel itself can you recommend any other restaurants?

Do I have to make PS before I leave the UK or do you think I'm safe to wait until I get there?

This is the most unprepared I've been for a Disney trip in my life, but what can you do when a good rate hits you in the eyes? I got 4 nights for the price of 3 and ofcourse we get the 5 day hopper for the price of a 3 day one so it means that we can enjoy the park when we get there without losing a day on the pass, if you know what I mean.

If you think of anything else you may want to pass onto me make sure and let me know, from reading your posts in the past I know that we have very similar tastes so it'll all be useful to me.


ANYONE else got any tips?

Ta for now

Sam x

 

[richard3330]

Hi Sam

Glad that the info was o.k

I can't remember much about the speed/severity of Soaring over California, but I don't remember it being too bad.

I am not sure whether they have a PS system, as last time we visited we were in a mad rush (last minute booking) and didn't know about PS' (hadn't discovered these boards ). However, I do know that a lot of the park restaurants operate in the same way as Disneyland Paris, by only accepting same-day reservations, at the podium in front of the restaurant (table service only, obviously). Reservations for a restaurant at one of the resorts can be booked up to 2 months in advance, and when we stayed at The Grand Californian the main restaurant there - Napa Rose (I think that's what it was called (?)) had lovely food and a wonderful 'rustic' type of atmosphere, the food and service was great, but it was pretty pricey (the Californian wine list was amazing!) It got very busy, most days, so I would make a reservation. The storytellers cafe was nicely themed and we enjoyed wonderful grilled sandwhiches here and pizzas!

Also, by staying at The Grand you get to use the exclusive entry way in to California Adventure for GC resort guests only

If anything else 'springs' in to mind I'll try and post it!

Richard

 

[#1MMFan]

I was also highly impressed with the Grand Californian. We would stay there next time. We stayed in DLH last time. The parks are fantastic. Disneyland Park has subtle touches that actually make it different, perhaps better (!) than MK. There seem to be more good rides in a smaller area. It's all very manageable and you'll love being so close to the parks - just a walk. I agree Soarin over CA is amazing. The music for this is very Epcot like; pity I can listen to it on my CD player but you can't (yet!!!). It's not rough, or turbulent at all, but it does warn if you don't like heights not to ride. I didn't actually notice being up that high, but basically there are three rows of gliders and the first (nearest the screen) gets hoisted up highest the others following underneath- the top is the best probably and has more of the smell-effects I think. But, all the rows are great. It doesn't affect your actual view (it isn't blocked by people in front).
California Screamin is more fun I think than RnR coaster. We did Maliboomer, but it is fine the first time or so, but not as good as ToT - who cares, they're going to get a ToT in a few years, you can see it being built at the moment!
Also liked Mulholland Madness loads.

Agree with all the Disneyland park attractions. Indiana Jones is awesome - you just have to see the detail they have put into the queueing system. Try pulling/pushing the sticks with the skulls on them - if you get the right one it's worth it for other's reactions!
Space Mountain is different, more twisty, less drops and seats six in each car. Thunder Mt is a little tamer and is funny when you're used to doing the same themed ride in MK - bizarre how it feels familiar yet totally unfamiliar!!!
Pirates is WAY better than MK as is Small World. Didn't get a chance to Matterhorn (closed for rehab).

I think you'd also enjoy Downtown Disney which is right outside the hotel and has quite a lot of shops and restaurants; we preferred it to the Marketplace (although WDW's downtown district is obviously bigger with PI and West Side).

Eat in Storyteller's Cafe for breakfast - it's really nice. The cast members at GC are the nicest on the property I think.

Anything else I can tell you, please PM me, or just reply to this post!

Have a great trip

John

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Thank Richard again

....and John WOW you're descriptions are really adding to my excitement thank you sooo much I really appreciate all the tips and it's good to know who to tap for them

 

[Astrid]

Sam - How Fantastic!!!

What month are you going?!! You never said.

The others have said most of what's best at DCA, I'd reiterate it all, The Matterhorn is a great ride and Space Mountain, I think, better than WDW.

Now, Las Vegas - wow!! Treasure Island is an amazing hotel, you'll love it! The show outside is fantastic. Try and get inside as many of the hotels on The Strip as possible, especially The Mirage - it's indescribable, like being outside when you're not (it'll make sense when you're there!). Anything else you'd like to know on LV just shout.

Can you not take me? ....... please ........ pretty please

Astrid x

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Astrid I'm going in 6 weeks time....March...woo-hoo

 

[squitty]

Wow Sam.

That is fantastic.

I have always wanted to go to DLC. I am not jealous

 

[richard3330]

I didn't read the bit about Las Vegas! - It sounds great!

We did the same on our last trip and split our time between California and Las Vegas/Grand Canyon.

If you enjoyed Cirque in Orlando then you will love 'O' by Cirque Du Soleil at Bellagio. It is a spectacular show which is done all around and in water, it was the best show I have seen in my life - it was incredible. There is also one at Treasure Island, but we didn't see that one, I think it is Mystere.

Also, you must look around all the major hotels - they are amazing. The MGM hotel and Casino has a wonderful theme park, and Circus Circus also has a massive indoor theme park. The water parks and swimming places at Las Vegas are also amazing. Don't miss the pirates show outside Treasure Island, and see the erupting volcano outside Caesers Palace - it looks so real!. Plus the Egyptian theming at The Pyramid Hotel (Luxor?) and also the Eiffel Tower at the Paris hotel. Race for Atlantis is an incredible ride, which is just amazing, it is at Caesars Palace. The Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage is also nice, the dolphins aren't trained, as it is a research habitat and it all looks very natural. There is also a Wet 'n' Wild, although we didn't have time to visit there.

Also visit Bellagio's amazing gardens, and The Venetian has loads to do, especially shopping and gondola rides . A helicopter ride is also a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing and usually flies over Las Vegas and then the Grand Canyon. We went with Papilon as they had a special offer, you can see there website at http://papillon.com

There is so much to do in Las Vegas, I think we could have spent a month there and still not have seen everything - you will have a great time.

 

[TracyK]

Thanks to everyone. This info has proved really useful as I'm doing Los Angeles/Las Vegas at Easter.
Tracy