DLand Tips and Hints list

[Happy99]

I haven't been to DLand in quite a while and there have been a lot of changes and additions since we went last

If your best friend asked you to give them your best hints and tips for Disney Land and California Adventure park what would they be

Thanks for helping

 

[larina]

How old is everyone??? Don't miss Tower of Terror in Ca Adventure!!!

 

[HydroGuy]

You will find a lot of them in the sticky thread at the top of the forum:

* DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!

1. Get to the gates early

2. Learn how to use or work around Magic Mornings

3. Learn how to use Fastpass

4. Take afternoon breaks - especially on days with long park hours

5. Learn which rides are best when other lines get long. These are "filler" rides

 

[Tasscrapper]

Hydroguy do you know if the fastpass rides and single rider lists are up to date? I thought I had read on a thread recently that the Buzz Lightyear ride was no longer doing fastpass.

 

[Tasscrapper]

Never mind about that Buzz question. I just clicked on the link with your thread dedicated to the subject and found the answer.

 

[SacSarah]

HydroGuy....I read that link everytime Im getting ready to go down to Disneyland. I memorize it. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make that thread. It is freakin awesome!!

Happy99....Id say get to the parks early. Try to get the most out of fastpasses. Drink water. Ride Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, and Indy!! But the main thing is to HAVE FUN!! You are at the Happiest Place on Earth!! Enjoy yourself!!

 

[The Mad Planner]

Just back from Annual trip to Disneyland. Here is my top 10 tips. Like Hydroguy I advise,

1) Arrive early
2) Work with/around Early Morning Entry
3) Know how to use and maximize FASTpass

In Addition:

4) If able choose less busy days Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs and/or annual pass block out days.
5) If going during busy times...have a plan, have everybody buy into the plan
6) Ensure that you park hop (maximizing Fastpasses between parks)
7) Don't miss the entertainment (Alladin, Fantasmic, World of Colour, Parades, etc.) Educate yourself on where best to sit and invest the time to get there early to get a good spot for optimal viewing (great tips on this board).
8) Collect Fastpasses early and often (everytime your window comes up) and wait to use them in the afternoon/evening when lines to the e-ticket attractions are long!
9) Money saving tips is travelling with kids...bring water bottles (with single drink-mix packets) and snacks (gronola bars etc.) will save you lots of $ over a 3 day plus trip. Split meals. Three adult meals feeds my family of 4.
10) If you are new to Disneyland invest the time and know the park maps prior to your trip.

Have fun!

 

[Tasscrapper]

If you're fair skinned wear chapstick with sunblock!

 

[Happy99]

Thanks everyone - we have a multi-generational trip going so people traveling are ages 2-70. I have been to Disneyland before but it has been about eight years

We go to WDW often and am familiar with how fastpass works but I seem to recall that in DLand there aren't as many attractions with fastpass

Can anyone go into more detail on this that was posted above?
5. Learn which rides are best when other lines get long. These are "filler" rides

 

[smiles33]

Thanks everyone - we have a multi-generational trip going so people traveling are ages 2-70. I have been to Disneyland before but it has been about eight years

We go to WDW often and am familiar with how fastpass works but I seem to recall that in DLand there aren't as many attractions with fastpass

Can anyone go into more detail on this that was posted above?
5. Learn which rides are best when other lines get long. These are "filler" rides

If you have young kids, filler rides would be places like Bug's Land in DCA, where rides turn over quickly so waits may be walk-on/1 minute - 10 minute at most. Other rides with fast turnover are those where the cars don't stop (e.g., Haunted Mansion), Buzz (it was usually 1-10 minutes during my visit), etc.

HTH!

 

[Princess Row]

Hello there!!

Make the most out of your visit.
Do bigger rides while everyone else is occupied during fireworks or Fantasmic!
We have always done pirates while otehrs are watching Fantasmic! the ride has always been WALK ON.
Try the jungle cruise at night! Its fun!

Stop around the park and take in the beauty of it. I love doing this.....many people simply walk past it.

DONT MISS THE CORNDOGS! They are the best things I have ever had. I literally crave them all the time. I am doing so now.

Character meals are very fun, and nice to sit.
Many people also pass by the Train ride.....I love it. We get on and ride it all the way around the park at least once during the trip. It's nice to just sit and relax for a bit.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[All American]

Use the Baby Care Center for the younger kids--one of the best features of the park. It has high chairs, great changing tables, diapers and food if you run out. There are also small potties for little kids, and you would honestly think that's the best part of the whole trip for some kids. They get so excited over those things.

Another thing I like about the Baby Care Center is that there is a sink with hot water and soap for rinsing out bottles, sippy cups, etc. Added bonus, according to the lady in there, is that the water is filtered.

For the strollers in your group, attach a glow stick or glow bracelet. Makes it easier to find at night.

Pack your patience and take the good with the bad. I've run into some real cranks at Disney but have also met some of the nicest people ever--mostly the latter. Have a great trip!

Oh, and if you like to take pictures make sure you get snapshots of your groups reactions to things. It's nice to see a picture of Mickey in the parade but it's even better to have that photo of your niece's or kid's reaction as well.

ETA: Just one more thing. Rider Swap. Rider Swap. Rider Swap. Allows anyone who has to stay behind with a kid that can't ride something (Soarin, for example) to use the fastpass line. Basically, you go through the stand-by line with two people. Someone stays with Timmy-too-short. When you're done, you stay with Timmy while "Someone" uses the fastpass entrance to ride. Best part is you can save the rider switch pass and use it anytime during the day.

Oh, one more thing. The Soundsational Parade is the best I've seen in years. Don't miss it!

 

[Brady's Mom]

ETA: Just one more thing. Rider Swap. Rider Swap. Rider Swap. Allows anyone who has to stay behind with a kid that can't ride something (Soarin, for example) to use the fastpass line. Basically, you go through the stand-by line with two people. Someone stays with Timmy-too-short. When you're done, you stay with Timmy while "Someone" uses the fastpass entrance to ride. Best part is you can save the rider switch pass and use it anytime during the day.

Oh, one more thing. The Soundsational Parade is the best I've seen in years. Don't miss it!

But - maximize Rider Swap! Get a FP for that ride for everyone who has a ticket, even if they won't be riding it. Go through the FP line with everyone but Timmy-too-short and the person with him. After riding you change with "Someone" and they ride with whomever wants to go again. Rider swap allows the person staying behind to ride and they get to take someone with them. We've used this method quite successfully when our kids were littler. Since we usually used it with FP we were able to use the Rider Swap pass and the Fast Pass to double our ability to ride. For instance - DS 7 was too short for Soarin, but had a ticket at 3, we would get a FP for him anyway. DH would ride with 2 of our kids - DS 9 and DS 15 (when they were younger) - that used 3 FP's - and I would wait for them to be done with DS 7. When they were done I would ride with DS 9 and DS 15 - that used 1 FP and 1 Rider Swap pass. That way the middle DS's got to each ride 2 times instead of 1. It's a good system for people with little ones!