Trip Report First Disneyland Trip in 6 years - some thoughts (September 20-27)

[DizMe]

If MagicBands were less expensive or did more at Disneyland, more people there might buy them. For me personally, for a Disneyland trip I don't think it's worth the money. I would consider getting one for a WDW trip though.

For me, not having to pull out my phone all the time is worth it, LOL! But you're right, I do wish they had more functionality--but then again, I might not be able to figure it out if it did

 

[StarlitNight05]

For me, not having to pull out my phone all the time is worth it, LOL! But you're right, I do wish they had more functionality--but then again, I might not be able to figure it out if it did

LOL! That's hilarious.

I love our magic bands. It makes scanning into LLs so much easier. For some reason with my phone, I always took so long (just to scan in two people, lol) and it almost gave me anxiety trying to do it as quick as possible. Now we set it up in advance and just tap in, often around others fiddling with their phones! Makes me miss the old days of paper fast passes, especially since that was entirely free! I guess I'm a sucker for up charges these days

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Genuinely insane how wet you get on Tiana. A guest on Monster's After Dark told me to wear my flip flops on the ride and I want to thank whoever that was. You saved my sneakers from being ruined The drop where you enter in the former Laughing Place is the worst one. A MASSIVE wave comes over your log and you are obliterated. I actually thought my phone would be ruined, that's how wet you get. I should've known it would be bad when I saw people in the queue tying black garbage bags to their feet LOL

I can't find it at the moment but our Splash Mountain pics from Sep 2019 I was extremely soaked and of course I was in the front lol. I think the front to back is why you get wet so badly so it's more like a log like how Dudley Do Right is over at Universal IOA.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I can't find it at the moment but our Splash Mountain pics from Sep 2019 I was extremely soaked and of course I was in the front lol. I think the front to back is why you get wet so badly so it's more like a log like how Dudley Do Right is over at Universal IOA.

I'm not even kidding but I think you get MORE wet on Tiana in Disneyland than Splash Mountain and Dudley. My entire backpack was soaking wet and I was freaking out afterwards as I thought my phone was ruined but thankfully it was fine. People tying garbage bags around their shoes was kind of genius but also....I don't want to put that much effort into riding a water ride

I do think the ride is 100% better than the WDW version. You can definitely tell Tiana was specifically designed for Disneyland. At least in my ride through I didn't notice anything broken (and that is something I DO typically notice on dark rides).

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Yeah I was ready to be attacked for saying In N Out is mid lol. It really isn't anything special. Reminds me of how east coasters hype up Wawa but that isn't anything great either. It definitely isn't as good as it was like a decade ago.

As a local, I do admit that I love In n Out. But … it’s FAST FOOD. Like, it’s not going to be amazing. I would never recommend people go out of their way to get it, take taxis and take up park time, oh my goodness, no! So you’re not wrong at all to say it’s just mid. But when my kids want it for lunch, I’m not mad.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

That's what happened to my mom - she talked to someone standing off to the side of the tables and was able to do a nice, honest pin trade. She had fairly high value Disneyland Paris pins (over $100 in value) and the people at the tables IMMEDIATELY noticed that and tried to give her pins that were worth maybe $30 MAX. She knew better and said no but it's sad that most people were like that. They're not there to trade. They want to rip off people that don't know what they have.

I am a casual pin trader. My kids wanted to do it so I started doing it. I know enough about pin value and fakes and all that without being hardcore about it. That said, I just really don’t like the pin traders in Frontierland. I’m sure there are some nice people but the vibe has always been negative to me.

I like trading with cast members these days. I’ve gotten some really nice pins. I also like trading with other guests, especially kids. I really only wear pins I’m good with trading so if a kid ever asks me to trade something they have their eye on it’s always a yes regardless of what they have to offer me. It’s all part of the magic.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I am a casual pin trader. My kids wanted to do it so I started doing it. I know enough about pin value and fakes and all that without being hardcore about it. That said, I just really don’t like the pin traders in Frontierland. I’m sure there are some nice people but the vibe has always been negative to me.

I like trading with cast members these days. I’ve gotten some really nice pins. I also like trading with other guests, especially kids. I really only wear pins I’m good with trading so if a kid ever asks me to trade something they have their eye on it’s always a yes regardless of what they have to offer me. It’s all part of the magic.

WDW has pin traders in some locations too such as Epcot near Creations (the main store in the park) but they're not nearly as aggressive and looking to scam you as much as the Frontierland DL traders were. I really didn't like the vibe and I'm not even the one pin trading.

Oh yeah she had great interactions with CMs when trading for pins. Just like WDW, I would say 98% of pins on the boards are scrappers/garbage bootleg pins but she actually did manage to find some real pins. Most of them were ones that were bought at the stores which boggled my mind. I cringed thinking about someone buying a pin to trade for a scrapper.

 

[Smugpugmug]

As a local, I do admit that I love In n Out. But … it’s FAST FOOD. Like, it’s not going to be amazing. I would never recommend people go out of their way to get it, take taxis and take up park time, oh my goodness, no! So you’re not wrong at all to say it’s just mid. But when my kids want it for lunch, I’m not mad.

I just find it funny that people hype it up to be the best restaurant in the world lol. It does remind me a lot of the worship for Wawa over on the east coast. But I don't think I would tell someone who has never been to Wawa to go out of their way for it.

We went over to In N Out after Knott's and we didn't regret it but all of us were like...this is it? This is the most standard burger you could ever have.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I just find it funny that people hype it up to be the best restaurant in the world lol. It does remind me a lot of the worship for Wawa over on the east coast. But I don't think I would tell someone who has never been to Wawa to go out of their way for it.

We went over to In N Out after Knott's and we didn't regret it but all of us were like...this is it? This is the most standard burger you could ever have.

I know my husband tried it a few times while he was in Long Beach for his field assignment and then took me there one of the times I visited him there and the line was much like you'd see at Chick-fil-A where it's a long line of cars but yeah he was like "it's nothing really special". My husband told me he got vilified by his CA coworkers for saying 5 Guys was better

It's just one of those regional places that get a fan following like other places have for theirs.

 

[LKing]

the line was much like you'd see at Chick-fil-A where it's a long line of cars

It's just one of those regional places that get a fan following like other places have for theirs.

Must be regional thing because I don't see long lines for Chick-fil-A.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Must be regional thing because I don't see long lines for Chick-fil-A.

I'm so not going to hijack the trip report for that sort of debate, I think my point is understood regardless of whether you personally see lines there

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am a casual pin trader. My kids wanted to do it so I started doing it. I know enough about pin value and fakes and all that without being hardcore about it. That said, I just really don’t like the pin traders in Frontierland. I’m sure there are some nice people but the vibe has always been negative to me.

I like trading with cast members these days. I’ve gotten some really nice pins. I also like trading with other guests, especially kids. I really only wear pins I’m good with trading so if a kid ever asks me to trade something they have their eye on it’s always a yes regardless of what they have to offer me. It’s all part of the magic.

Do you always wear the pins? Or do you have like a display at home or a specific park bag you bring with you?

I know I've seen people create displays at home (which have always looked so cool) but also have seen specific bags they bring to the parks.

I would be awful at trading as I wouldn't know the value of the pins at all time but appreciate the knowledge that goes into it.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Do you always wear the pins? Or do you have like a display at home or a specific park bag you bring with you?

I know I've seen people create displays at home (which have always looked so cool) but also have seen specific bags they bring to the parks.

I would be awful at trading as I wouldn't know the value of the pins at all time but appreciate the knowledge that goes into it.

My kids and I usually wear pins to the parks for trading. We don’t wear any special pins on our lanyards, though we sometimes bring special pins in carrying cases, mostly just to show friends or something. My niece is pin obsessed and always trying to complete a collection.

At home, we have some boards displaying our pins. It’s fun and I do love the pins—they are little works of art.