Disneyland Top 10

[SD33]

Simple question: What are the top 10 things you are looking forward to on your next Disneyland Trip? Get excited while helping newbies learn how we do Disney on the West Coast!

Here are mine in no particular order:

1. Using a fastpass to bypass the 60+ minute wait for Splash Mountain in the hottest part of the day. Man, it feels good walking past that line.
2. Big Thunder Mountain at Night. Such a completely different beast at night.
3. Seeing the look on my friend's face when he gets off Space Mountain for the first time. He's in his 20's, never been to Disneyland before, and can't comprehend the awesomeness that awaits.
4. Enjoying a rootbeer float on a warm evening while watching the brand new 60th Anniversary Fireworks.
5. The final drop of Grizzly River Rapids. You just never know who's going to really eat it.
6. Tower of Terror and all it entails. The queue, the build up as the tension mounts, the long ride to the top, followed by the frantic drops as the elevator malfunctions.
7. Enjoying a well-crafted Tiki drink at Trader Sam's on our first night while relaxing to live Hawaiian music.
8. Front rail. Wet zone. World of Color. If you haven't watched from the front, you are missing out. Takes the whole experience up about 50 notches. Worth the 90 minute wait.
9. Dinner and craft cocktails at Carthay Circle. Is it true they are putting diamond ice cubes in their manhattans? If so, to quote a hobit, "I'm getting one!"
10. Radiator Springs Racers. Maybe the greatest theme park ride ever created. Ride it once in the morning, first thing, then get a FP to ride it again at night.

 

[Imdboss]

Ok I'll play along, I like this one!

No particular order:
1. The first moment walking through the gates, I love that magical feeling I get as I come out from under the train tracks
2. Watching my kids pin trade and helping them scout out new pins they are looking for
3. Riding RSR, both day and night, the ride is so amazing I feel like I'm in the movie (in fact all of Carsland makes me feel that way)
4. Eat a corn dog (or 3)
5. Dinner at Monte Cristo
6. Watching the new parade
7. Splash Mtn and debating who's sitting where as to avoid getting soaked when we all know it really doesn't matter, you never know what seat it'll be!
8. Enjoying a giant Gibson Girl ice cream sundae and people watching
9. My mom and stepdad are joining us on this trip and I love watching them with my kids, such wonderful memories for all of us
10. I love our walk/ART trip to the park each morning when we are all fresh and excited for our day and talk about what we want to do

 

[Micahisgood54]

10. Radiator spring racers one of my favorite rides
9. pineapple whip!!!!!!
8. all of the Disney 60 stuff
7. new world of color
6. matterhorn at night during fireworks
5. Indiana Jones at night too!
4. my first ride every time Pirates
3. new electric light parade
2. Screamin California/ tower of terror
1. A mojito from Mad hatter tea party! especially when its warm


these are the things I am most excited for when I go next month!

 

[Disney127]

1. Walking thru the gates of DL and feeling like we 'home' again
2. The sounds and smells of Main Street
3. Seeing our first character - even better if there is a short line!
4. Riding Screamin' over and over again
5. PTN and fireworks - the music always gets to us
6. Walking down Route 66 towards RSR and still not believing how well everything is themed
7. Hearing Matter's voice - always cracks us up
8. Getting our first of many churros during the trip
9. Pixar Parade - DD is a big fan of Toy Story
10. Grabbing a snack and sitting on a bench at the hub and just watching the world go by

 

[riostoker]

I'm a newbie, but can I play anyway? We have our first trip scheduled for September. These are the things I'm looking forward to:

1. RSR - can't wait to ride this. Hoping to get to do it morning and evening.
2. Indiana Jones - don't have this at WDW, so I'm anxious to try it.
3. getting a snack at the Cozy Cone Motel... just think the theming there looks so cute!
4. Carsland - everything else there.
5. trying one of these famous corn dogs
6. World of Color
7. 60th anniversary goodies at Poor Corner Bakery
8. Toy Story Mania - one of my favorites at WDW
9. a character breakfast - thinking about Surf's Up, but might do Plaza
10. Halloween party... _IF_ Disney would ever announce the dates so I can figure out if we can go!!!

 

[LALA8971]

1. Walking into the park and seeing the "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy" plaque
2. First view of the castle
3. Heading towards Critter Country for that first ride on Splash Mountain
4. Churros!
5. Lunch at Cafe Orleans
6. The look on my DS's face when we are about to launch on California Screamin
7. Walking through Cars Land and taking in the theming
8. Getting Tigger Tails at Pooh Corner
9. World of Color
10. Taking a break in the hub next to the partner's statue.

 

[JessieD]

I'm new also! I haven't been in 13 years! I was 16 at the time. This will be both my DH and DS first time. This is what I'm most looking forward to...
1. Seeing my sons face as he experiences it all!
2. RSR and Carsland! They weren't there my last trip.
3. WOC...also new to me
4. Goofy's kitchen dinner on my son's 5th birthday! He's going to flip!
5. Hopefully a Halloween Party! Announce the dates already Disney!!!!
6. Character meet and greets with my son.
7. TOT...I'm probably going to have to ride it solo. I think it's too much for a 5 year old, and my husband hates the "free fall" feeling on those types of rides.
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas overlay on HM. It's one of my sons favorite movies!
9. Celebrating DS's birthday in the happiest place on Earth!
10. StarTours and Jedi Training Academy!!!

 

[J9001]

1. That distinctive smell (of bromine) when entering Pirates
2. Hearing the bell on the train for the first time
3. The view down Main Street after walking under the train tracks
4. Cooling off in the Tiki Room in the PM with a Dole whip
5. Seeing the monorail for the first time
6. A corn dog
7. BTMRR at night
8. Visiting with the goats!!
9. Hearing a new bad joke on the Jungle Cruise
10. Watching the fireworks

 

[lorijohnhill]

in no particular order....

1. Spending that special time with my family.
2. Seeing the characters. I become a kid again!
3. All the music playing throughout the parks.
4. Riding RSR. It's my favorite ride!
5. Seeing the smile on my daughter's face as she experiences new and/or exciting things.
6. Popcorn!
7. Entering Disneyland park and the view down Main Street.
8. Sitting at Paradise Pier while my daughter rides Goofy's Sky school repeatedly.
9. Seeing the characters interact with scared children, special needs children, etc. There is just something really special about how they can just get down and connect with these kids.
10. Seeing the excitement on any small child's face the first time they see a favorite character, or when they ride a favorite ride. I was once waiting for my daughter to ride Dumbo near the WC entrance. There was a little girl entering the ride and she was so excited to ride Dumbo. It brought tears to my eyes.

 

[GatorChris]

1. Splash Mountain - it's "our" ride, so this is the moment I look forward to most.
2. 60th Fireworks - we saw it from the F! area last time, so we'll try MS and IASMW areas next.
3. Peter Pan - it's been closed all year so I can't wait to see it refurbed
4. Big Thunder Ranch BBQ - we only do this on long trips, so this is on the agenda
5. Gibson Girl ice cream for dinner. Period.
6. HoJo - oddly enough, I'm looking forward to being at this hotel again. A lot of fun.
7. Beignets at RB Express. Yummmmmmm.
8. Enough time to do FL
9. Enough time to do Tom Sawyer Island
10. Finding a perfect spot for Paint the Night (hope they roll it each night in November)

 

[gmi3804]

Simple question: What are the top 10 things you are looking forward to on your next Disneyland Trip?
9. Dinner and craft cocktails at Carthay Circle. Is it true they are putting diamond ice cubes in their manhattans? If so, to quote a hobit, "I'm getting one!"

Since when does a Manhattan have ice cubes?

 

[CateinPhoenix]

1. Being there at the 60th Anniversary craziness!
2. Paint the Night parade
3. New fireworks show
4. Peter Pan's flight since refurb
5. Dinner at BTRBQQ and running of the goats
6. watching my son do the zipline at Redwood Creek Trail over and over again in the evening when it's completely empty
7. Inevitably being the one that gets soaked on SM and GRR
8. Eating a corndog waiting for WOC
9. Finding the new smashed pennies with our son
10. Arriving back at our room to find the beds turned down and Mickey rice krispie treats

 

[DLmama]

1. Eating at BB for my birthday!
2. Finally trying Big Thunder Ranch BBQ.
3. Actually being at Disneyland ON my birthday!
4. Peter Pan.
5. Dole Whip
6. Shopping! I love wandering through the shops and finding new merchandise.
7. RSR. Such a great ride!
8. PtN. Love this parade!
9. Fantasmic! We're doing the BB dining plan, so I'm looking forward to a great view.
10. Soaking in the magic that is Disneyland. It's my happy place.

 

[niffer5150]

1. new parade!
2. haunted mansion overlay gingerbread thing
3. beignets
4. pirates smell
5. churros
6. looking for a new jigsaw puzzle
7. dole float
8. listening to the area loops. i just like the background musics
9. maybe getting dinner at the blue bayou
10. new matterhorn

 

[VandVsmama]

What a fun thread! I'll play! Our next trip is in October. My top 10 things I'm looking forward to are:

1. Skipping down Main Street first thing in the morning with my kids
2. Seeing the look on my daughters' faces when they meet Anna & Elsa for the first time
3. Going on Pirates of the Caribbean multiple times & listening to my kids sing along with the music
4. Taking my 7 yr old on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for the first time. She's decided that she'll be my roller coaster buddy since DH & ODD don't care for roller coasters.
5. Going on the refurbished Matterhorn
6. laughing at the lame jokes on the Jungle Cruise
7. eating Mickey beignets in the outdoor seating area at the French Market in New Orleans Square while a jazz band plays
8. going to Tom Sawyer's Island
9. creating some Disney magic for others - handing out extra glow bracelets to kids sitting near us while we wait for the Paint the Night parade to begin
10. hopefully watching my kids play with Peter Pan in the morning after the park first opens. He's usually hanging around Fantasyland really early and he's just great!

 

[SD33]

Since when does a Manhattan have ice cubes?

Many manhattans are served with one giant piece of ice (almost always an ice sphere). This is how Carthay Circle serves their signature manhattan--only I believe they are now using a large ice diamond, which sounds pretty cool. Helps keep the drink cold without watering it down too much. Pretty common trend around the country from what I've experienced.

 

[LizardQueen8]

For my Avengers Half-Marathon trip, in no particular order:

1. Running (walking, tripping, dying) my first 5K
2. Getting pictures taken with characters on the course of my first 5K
3. Walking around DL wearing my medal after completing my first 5K
4. Riding the re-imagined Peter Pan ride!
5. Eating all the Mickey shaped foods, especially pretzels and ice cream products
6. Character breakfast!
7. All the new nighttime shows
8. Buying ALL the 60th anniversary merchandise, but especially new ears, a pin and a mug
9. Haunted Mansion, since it was closed my last trip, and hopefully getting to experience Nightmare Before Xmas overlay!
10. Riding Big Thunder Mountain at night

 

[707MickeyGirl]

The things that take my breath away/make me happiest:

1. Flying over the Golden Gate Bridge on Soarin'
2. Taking my granddaughter's picture at Rabbit's door
3. Chillin' in the Animation Academy lobby
4. Late night pretzel bites (for me) and churro bites (for my granddaughter) at the Cozy Cone Motel
5. Ghirardelli or Gibson Girl ice cream
6. Haunted Mansion and Pirates as many times as humanly possible
7. Having a meal or snack at Flo's and watching the racers go by
8. The lobby of the Grand Californian
9. Minnie & Friends or Surf's Up breakfast with my granddaughter
10. Meet 'n' greet with Snow White's evil queen. She is always the BEST. We laugh so hard every time!

 

[Pyrotechnictigger]

Good idea!

1. Coming in from 8 hours behind local time, the first few days mean uber early starts. So at the gate an hour before park open and that "Sir, please don't run" shout as we hoover up the park. There's nothing in the world like being the only one in Tomorrow land

2. Leaving the park at 11am having done all the serious stuff seeing hoards of people coming in looking hot and bothered

3. Sitting by the pool in 90 degree heat with a cold beer thinking about the hour long queue for Splash Mountain knowing we've fast passes for Fantasmic and Radiator Springs Races.

4. Getting into Downtown Disney for an early dinner, probably at Catal. Then having a dance with my little girl to one of the most excellent street performers.

5. Standing under my favorite sign on the planet, reading it, turning off my phone and then touching it. My highlight of the holiday. I am leaving today and going AWOL for the evening.

6. Main street, lights, atmosphere. Possibly perfect.

7. Matterhorn at night, can't wait to see the new Yeti!

8. Fireworks. Although Mrs PTT gets grumpy when I point out the miss-fires and blind shells.

9. Tikki room. The best thing in California. Better than the Golden Gate Bridge multiplied by Big Sur, a giant redwood and Hollywood viewed from Tatsu.

10. As per the recent podcast, saying goodbye to Walt as we leave past his personal apartment.

11. Because there's a rock star in all of us, staying up till daft am in the hotel bar talking to Disney fans and trying to get on West Coast time!

12. Sorry, missed one. Loving every second of every moment of the day with Mrs PTT and the Disney mad Jnr PTT. California Screaming again and again and again.

 

[22Tink]

That feeling when you walk through the gates on the first day of your trip

The smells of Soarin'

Big Thunder during the fireworks!! (Or even just at night)

California Screamin' over and over!

Caramel apples

Wearing my ears!

The Diamond Celebration castle

Disney mugs!! I have one or two from every trip!

Pirates

Pacific Wharf Cafe's bread bowl soups and salads!