First Time At Disneyland

[Hunter182]

I have two weeks to go until I leave for the Disneyland Resort for the first time. I am EXTREMELY excited. I am a Walt Disney World veteran, or so I like to think. I know my way around the parks without a map, what times to do certain things, and all the little details in the parks we all know and love so much.

But this is something new. My first time inside of the park where Walt walked! What he built! As a bit of a Disney addict this thought alone excites me. But naturally being a first time visitor, I have a few questions.

What are the essential things to do while in Disneyland? (3 days in Disneyland, 1 over in California Adventure) I am an 18 year old guy, so any attraction is open. No particular fears that will keep me off a ride. I'll try any attraction at least once.

What are the things I should make a point to do, or attractions to ride? (Totally already looking forward to the original POTC, Indiana Jones, The Matterhorn and Space Mountain.) But what else should I make a particular point to see?

Any special details I should look out for? (Certain hidden Mickey's, off the beaten path areas, just anything unique.)

Any and all comments and suggestions are appreciated.

 

[GrandBob]

Congratulations! You're in for a treat.

We get your question quite often on this board, and the answer is always the same. Check out Hydroguy's most excellent treatise on the subject:

A DLR Guide for WDW Vets

 

[skiingfast]

Any special details I should look out for? (Certain hidden Mickey's, off the beaten path areas, just anything unique.)

Sometime threads about this pop up. This link is to a fairly long one. Though because it's old, some things aren't current.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=989311&highlight=secrets

 

[Brady's Mom]

Don't limit yourself to 1 park, 1 day. HOP, HOP, HOP. Hydryguy has an excellent sticky about it that GrandBob referenced. DCA is a fun place to be and limiting it to one day just limits some of your fun!

 

[newmouse82]

I don't know what the show schedule is like when you are there but Fantasmic rocks, if you are going to watch it though hit Pirates and haunted mansion after 8:30 pm, we just stayed there for 6 days and we did both rides about 10 times each and never waited once, where as the daytime lines were over an hour long. Have a great time walking in Walt's footsteps.

 

[DisMike]

You're in for a treat. The time you are going shouldn't be very crowded. The weather should be great if not raining.

One thing though that a lot of WDW vets don't understand about DLR. This is NOT WDW. You don't have to keep to 1 park/day. The parks at DLR are about 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide, combined. Bounce around to your heart's content. It's a 15 minute walk from the far end of DLR to the far end of DCA (ok maybe 20 barring crowds).

Now, go have fun.

 

[Hound 109]

Don't limit yourself to 1 park, 1 day. HOP, HOP, HOP. Hydryguy has an excellent sticky about it that GrandBob referenced. DCA is a fun place to be and limiting it to one day just limits some of your fun!

Very much agree. 1 park, 1 day is a WDW mindset.

Start each day (or all but one day) at DL.....then hop to DCA each day.....then finish most days (using the FPs you picked up in the morning)..... in DL. I would plan your first 2 hours of each day & one "event" & one meal each day.

You're going to have a blast. I am a WDW vet who now much prefers Walt's park (& the rest of DLR) over WDW. A few DLR things not often discussed that i enjoy:

- Pinocchio, Storybookland & Alice...none in WDW & all help make FL so magical in DL. (along with the Matterhorn & the grounds of IASW)

- Fliks ride area. The details are great & Heimlich is a guilty pleasure kid ride for all ages.

- The Golden Zephyr...not sure why i like it so much...i just do.

- Pooh Corner Bakery at the Winnie ride dump. No crowds & amazing bakery.

- Detachable guns on BLAB.

- Pirates (formerly known as Tom Sawyer's) Island. Lots of detail....cool place to spend an hour one afternoon.

- Davey's Canoes.

- Ride Screamin' multiple times (dozens of times) using Single Rider.

- Slip into the GCH (from the DCA side entrance). Spend 20 minutes poking around this great hotel (or take a nice 20 min. rest in the beautiful lobby).

- Eat lots of corny dogs, mickey bars & churros.

- Ride Griz Rapids multiple times using single rider prior to your afternoon break.

Lots more.


Here's what i posted to a similar DLR newbie poster (lots of links to read...some duplicates from above):

If you are a WDW veteran, then here is your primer.....a must read!!:

HydroGuy's DLR for the WDW veteran tip thread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699


Also, lots of good info for the WDW vet in Mary Jo's tip thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084



Regarding touring DLR....the two most important things to remember is to:

- Get to the parks BEFORE opening &
- Know how to use FP at DLR.


Being very near the front of the turnstiles at opening is important (to me) so that:

- For MM one should be first on Peter Pan...if i'm first on PP then the rest of MM flows easily. & even if i'm not doing PP, i would want to be first on Matterhorn...or SM (or whatever) during MM.

"Critique of MM/EE" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671


- Even on a non MM day, I want to be one of the first few thru the turnstiles so i can get to SM (or Indy) FP machine first (to start the FP collection clock). Then we'll hop on our first ride a minute or two later & begin the important first 90-120 min. of the day at DLR.



KNOW THESE FP THREADS:

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

"FastPass for Dummies and Smarties - A Photographic Explanation" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186052

"Which Fast Pass First?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107718

"Strategies For Using DL and DCA Opening Time Differences to Collect More Fastpasses"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1553197


"Why I Park Hop" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961


Get to the Security Tent 35-45 min. prior to general admission (or MM) opening.....in other words... 5-15 min before SECURITY opens.


My trip report linked below might also be a useful read. Read all of the links provided (some of them twice) & post back.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's park.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

A couple of things that might not be on the list are the Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through and the Mark Twain (they redid the ROA a year ago so it has a more Jungle Cruise feel with going to different parts of the US).
Be sure to ride Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, if only for the nostalgia factor (one of my favorite things on my one trip to MK was the Swiss Family Treehouse because I loved it as a kid and it's now Tarzan's Treehouse at DL).

Because you can hop between parks with ease, plan, plan, and then plan some more. That way you don't miss out on something (like a parade or a show) because you happened to leave the other park too late.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I have two weeks to go until I leave for the Disneyland Resort for the first time. I am EXTREMELY excited. I am a Walt Disney World veteran, or so I like to think. I know my way around the parks without a map, what times to do certain things, and all the little details in the parks we all know and love so much.

But this is something new. My first time inside of the park where Walt walked! What he built! As a bit of a Disney addict this thought alone excites me. But naturally being a first time visitor, I have a few questions.

What are the essential things to do while in Disneyland? (3 days in Disneyland, 1 over in California Adventure) I am an 18 year old guy, so any attraction is open. No particular fears that will keep me off a ride. I'll try any attraction at least once.

What are the things I should make a point to do, or attractions to ride? (Totally already looking forward to the original POTC, Indiana Jones, The Matterhorn and Space Mountain.) But what else should I make a particular point to see?

Any special details I should look out for? (Certain hidden Mickey's, off the beaten path areas, just anything unique.)

Any and all comments and suggestions are appreciated.

First of all, WELCOME. You can gleen a lot of information by cruising the stickys and what you do not get, ask away.

Jack

 

[Hunter182]

You're in for a treat. The time you are going shouldn't be very crowded. The weather should be great if not raining.

One thing though that a lot of WDW vets don't understand about DLR. This is NOT WDW. You don't have to keep to 1 park/day. The parks at DLR are about 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide, combined. Bounce around to your heart's content. It's a 15 minute walk from the far end of DLR to the far end of DCA (ok maybe 20 barring crowds).

Now, go have fun.

Now all of that excites me. Especially that it won't be that crowded.

I'll just be honest, we weren't really planning on going to DCA a ton. Mainly because I've heard so many negative things about DCA. I am looking forward to forming my own opinion, however. Hopefully all of the negative hype is just people complaining on the internet. (America's favorite past time.) But I plan on seeing the World of Color multiple times!

Correction: We have three day tickets, not four. My bad.

 

[Hunter182]

Very much agree. 1 park, 1 day is a WDW mindset.

That is very true. Transportation is a major hassle.

So, question. How long would it take for me to say, walk from Space Mountain to Indiana Jones? (I'm a fast walker, if that helps. Haha.)

But besides that, thank you for all the wonderful advice! I can't wait!

 

[Hunter182]

First of all, WELCOME. You can gleen a lot of information by cruising the stickys and what you do not get, ask away.

Jack

I have been doing that, actually. Quite enjoying myself, I might add.

And thank you for the welcome! I'm glad to see such a welcoming and helpful community.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

So, question. How long would it take for me to say, walk from Space Mountain to Indiana Jones? (I'm a fast walker, if that helps. Haha.)

Depends on how many strollers you have to hurdle.

That's one nice thing about DL, it's more compact than MK.

As for DCA, it's still in the process of becoming more "Disney." A lot of people complain because it's not as intensively "Disney" as DL is and there isn't as much exclusively geared at little kids. For example, the average little kid will love BTMRR because it still has lots of fun theming throughout the ride itself, but won't love California Screamin' because it's a traditional roller coaster (although it has fabulous park views from the top).

 

[Hunter182]

Depends on how many strollers you have to hurdle.

That's one nice thing about DL, it's more compact than MK.

As for DCA, it's still in the process of becoming more "Disney." A lot of people complain because it's not as intensively "Disney" as DL is and there isn't as much exclusively geared at little kids. For example, the average little kid will love BTMRR because it still has lots of fun theming throughout the ride itself, but won't love California Screamin' because it's a traditional roller coaster (although it has fabulous park views from the top).

I know this is a tiny bit off, but you brought up California Screamin', so...

Doesn't it have basically the same launch as Rock N' Roller Coaster over here at the Hollywood Studios? I've been wondering this as of lately, haha.

 

[Huff]

That is very true. Transportation is a major hassle.

So, question. How long would it take for me to say, walk from Space Mountain to Indiana Jones? (I'm a fast walker, if that helps. Haha.)

About the same as it takes you to go from Space to Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom. Now if you try going during fireworks then add 30 minutes!! The hub and Mainstreet at Disneyland can get PACKED. They do have walkways to go around the crowd waiting for the show but it can be slow going on some nights.

I haven't heard a lot of negativity towards California Adventure lately. Construction has been a pain for the past 2 years but not bad. When CA first opened there were tons of complaints. Rides broke down often with several being closed on any given day. But thats all in the past. Its getting better every year.

 

[Huff]

I know this is a tiny bit off, but you brought up California Screamin', so...

Doesn't it have basically the same launch as Rock N' Roller Coaster over here at the Hollywood Studios? I've been wondering this as of lately, haha.

Yes it does. Pretty much the same launch. Speakers in car counts down and it launches.

Like Rock'n and Scream'n, Disneylands Space Mountain also has in car sound system which WDW's lacks. Also much smoother and side by side seating makes it a much better version.

 

[Karpkg]

I know this is a tiny bit off, but you brought up California Screamin', so...

Doesn't it have basically the same launch as Rock N' Roller Coaster over here at the Hollywood Studios? I've been wondering this as of lately, haha.

OMG!

I experienced Screamin' before RnRC and I have to say the ride is appropriately named.

It's the same launch but over an extended period of time. Just check out the length of Screamin'! And since it's out in the daylight all you can do is just see, look ahead, and know it's not ending any time soon.

RnRC being in the dark I couldn't anticipate what will happen and just go with the flow, hugely fun but short. Screamin' definitely is worth any length of wait. But it also has FP's, and I think someone mentioned a single rider line?

 

[Hunter182]

Yes it does. Pretty much the same launch. Speakers in car counts down and it launches.

Like Rock'n and Scream'n, Disneylands Space Mountain also has in car sound system which WDW's lacks. Also much smoother and side by side seating makes it a much better version.

So looking forward to Disneyland's version of the classic Space Mountain. Supposedly this one is a bit better then ours. Even with our recent refurb, supposedly you guys still have top billing. (Admittedly, our refurb was a little disappointing. We waited seven months for games in the queue and a slightly darker ride. Where is that on board audio we wanted so bad?!)

For instance, this article.

"I figured that a seven-month refurb closure was too extensive a time for Disney to not add a welcome surprise or two. Sure enough, on-board soundtrack systems are being added that 'includes a pumping musical score and synthesized electronic sounds of space that are sure to immerse you in your otherworldly flight.'"

Such a let down. * Anyways....

Does Disneyland still sometimes use the Dick Dale arrangement on board? Or has it been completely replaced by the new score, from the guy who composed The Incredibles?

(Both are on the Musical History of Disneyland box CD set.)

 

[Hunter182]

OMG!

I experienced Screamin' before RnRC and I have to say the ride is appropriately named.

It's the same launch but over an extended period of time. Just check out the length of Screamin'! And since it's out in the daylight all you can do is just see, look ahead, and know it's not ending any time soon.

RnRC being in the dark I couldn't anticipate what will happen and just go with the flow, hugely fun but short. Screamin' definitely is worth any length of wait. But it also has FP's, and I think someone mentioned a single rider line?

So what's your personal opinion? Is RNRC better then CS? Or vice-versa? Love people's opinions.

 

[Karpkg]

So what's your personal opinion? Is RNRC better then CS? Or vice-versa? Love people's opinions.

Apples to oranges. Screamin' is a longer ride; outside, hanging' on for dear life, music in the ears, smooth, just fantastic, couple g force turns and an upside down or two. Since it's a longer ride, I'm able to catch my breath toward the end and able to get off the ride grinning and intact. (I'm an ex gymnast so this is closest in feeling to my back and front flips and handsprings )

RnRC is great theming- queue line with rock'nroll recording instrument memorabilia, Aerosmith music in the ears, in the dark on simulated LA's freeways. More succinct; I felt more the g force in the tighter turns and upside downs, then finishes quickly. (The gymnast in me loves this part better than Screamin') So you're a little more breathless when you get off the ride. DH was a little green and sweating it when he got off. We hung around the gift shop as he recuperated.

I've found being in line with no FP's or using single rider, the line in Screamin' moves continuously. I'm watching the rides load(the line separates and there are 2 rollercoasters side by side), as it moves on the tracks, anticipating for my turn. For RnRC, the lines were spurts and stops, nothing to look at while waiting to get into the building other than the nearby ToT(one ride lane only).

If both were in the same park, I'd be going equally to both.