First Trip To Disney Land Questions

[Idontwanttogrowup]

As you can see from the title, this will be my first trip to Disney Land. I have questions.

We are only staying for two days because we have plans to see other things around CA too.

We are staying at the Jolly Roger Hotel. What other restaurants are outside of Disney besides IHOP?

Do they also have 1st Time Buttons?

Which room is best to view the fireworks?

Should I ride on all the rides even if WDW has the same ones?

Does the Jolly Roger have a computer on site?

What restaurant in Disney Land/Hotels do you recommend? Right now we are looking at Story Tellers Cafe & PCH Grill.

Has anyone here stayed at the Jolly Roger before? What is it like?

 

[darph nader]

As you can see from the title, this will be my first trip to Disney Land. I have questions.

We are only staying for two days because we have plans to see other things around CA too.

We are staying at the Jolly Roger Hotel. What other restaurants are outside of Disney besides IHOP?

Do they also have 1st Time Buttons?

Which room is best to view the fireworks?

Should I ride on all the rides even if WDW has the same ones?

Does the Jolly Roger have a computer on site?

What restaurant in Disney Land/Hotels do you recommend? Right now we are looking at Story Tellers Cafe & PCH Grill.

Has anyone here stayed at the Jolly Roger before? What is it like?

Other restaurants,Yes.

First time buttons,check at City Hall.

Never stayed at the Jolly Roger,but given it locale,I doubt you can see the fireworks very well.

As far as the 'same' rides,,,,what the heck,go for it.

 

[Idontwanttogrowup]

Also: Are there any pictures on here of the food at the Disney restaurants?

 

[skiingfast]

We are only staying for two days because we have plans to see other things around CA too.

We are staying at the Jolly Roger Hotel. What other restaurants are outside of Disney besides IHOP?

Do they also have 1st Time Buttons?

Which room is best to view the fireworks?

Should I ride on all the rides even if WDW has the same ones?

Does the Jolly Roger have a computer on site?

What restaurant in Disney Land/Hotels do you recommend? Right now we are looking at Story Tellers Cafe & PCH Grill.

Has anyone here stayed at the Jolly Roger before? What is it like?

1. Many places to eat, off the top of my head. McD's, Quizno, Subway, Denny's, Panda express or somthing like that and a pizza place all on harbor across from the parks.

2. Yes button are at guest services in each park. PP said city hall which is DL's.

3. Probably not a good view from the Jolly Roger as was mentioned. Plan to be in the parks. you can ride more after the show as many families will leave.

4.Yes especially POTC becuase the DL version is better. Some have differences as well despite having the same name. Muppets and Bugs Life in DCA are flat out duplicates.

5. Not sure never stayed there.

6. As far as CS I really like Cafe Orleans.

 

[Eeee-va]

For food pictures, try http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1253888 but I would recommend you start from the back. Some of the things available in 2006 (when the thread started) may not be available now.

Since you have only two days at the parks, I would focus on rides and attractions that WDW doesn't have at all (Indiana Jones, Aladdin the musical, the Matterhorn, California Screamin' (if you like scary coasters! I found it way scarier than Rock and Roller Coaster), etc.), and the ones that are almost universally considered to be better in DL than WDW (like PotC and Space Mountain), as well as your favorites.

Soarin', Star Tours, and Toy Story Mania are three more you may not need to do, because they're pretty much identical except for the queue (unless you're going to be visiting before Star Tours goes down for rehab and you need one last fix).

Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror are two that most people think are better in WDW than in DL, for what it's worth, but if those are your favorite in WDW then I'd say check them out in DL. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is often better-reviewed at WDW but I think they're similar.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599 is a guide to DL for WDW vets, though it's not completely updated (I just scrolled down and saw a picture of the pirate show, which no longer exists). I would focus mostly on comparing rides and attractions, unless you think you need a Disneyland primer.

Alternately, Google something along those lines, and you should get a good idea of what you need to see. http://www.disneygeek.com/dland_vs_wdw/wdw_dland_attractions.htm is an OK list; I've seen better but I can't find any right now.

Have a great trip!

 

[curiouslittleoyster]

Most of your questions have already been answered here, but I have a couple DL restaurant recs. Like the previous poster mentioned, definitely try Cafe Orleans. They have yummy pomme frites(fries with tons of garlic and parmesan----I LOVE these!), Monte Cristo sandwiches(ham, turkey, cheese sandwiches dipped in batter and fried with a light dust of powdered sugar on top served with a berry dipping sauce and fresh fruit), and Mickey Beignets served with 2 dipping sauces--berry and one that taste like melted vanilla bean ice cream...very tasty! I also recommend the Carnation Cafe for the Loaded Baked Potato soup. DH likes their pot pies a lot, too.

 

[Hound 109]

OP, I'm going to provide additional opinions because the title of your thread will attract other WDW veterans who are coming to visit Walt's park for the first time.


First: As Eeeeva suggested, Hydroguy's "WDW VET but DLR newbies" thread is ESSENTIAL reading. All WDW vets who visit DLR recommend it highly:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599 is a guide to DL for WDW vets



Then read the rest of his tip threads.


Here are a few tip threads you may find helpful:


"DLR Abbreviations List" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520784

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599 (linked again because it is essential reading)

"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

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

"HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851

"HydroGuy's How To Avoid Long Lines Rules" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199856

"From DLR to WDW and Back Again: My Challenge With WDW Dining Philosophy at DLR" - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2449979


"Magic Morning (Early Entry) Super Thread" by DLR29 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675403

"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

"Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

"Critique of MM/EE" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671



Other comments below:

As you can see from the title, this will be my first trip to Disney Land. I have questions.

We are only staying for two days because we have plans to see other things around CA too.

If staying two nights....why not THREE days? It's summer....you'll need them.....AND a 3 day park hopper gets you one MM. (The BEST way to see many of DL's magical FantasyLand attractions.)


We are staying at the Jolly Roger Hotel. What other restaurants are outside of Disney besides IHOP?

Lots of restaurants along Harbor Blvd.....which is where you should consider staying.


Do they also have 1st Time Buttons?


Which room is best to view the fireworks?

Watch them in the park.


Should I ride on all the rides even if WDW has the same ones?

As others have mentioned, most are different than WDW...I wouldn't "skip" more than a handful.


Does the Jolly Roger have a computer on site?

Few folks here would know because most folks here stay on Harbor Blvd or "on site".


What restaurant in Disney Land/Hotels do you recommend? Right now we are looking at Story Tellers Cafe & PCH Grill.

I think most would recommend Goofy's in the DLH....but if pressed for time, you might consider Minnies (in DL).

Has anyone here stayed at the Jolly Roger before? What is it like?

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

 

[disneyfanlaura]

As for "outside" restaurants there is also Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels - not cheap but good food for the most part! Personally I think they are much better quality and value than a lot of places in the parks. There is also the anaheim gardenwalk, which is like an outdoor mall, that has CPK, Cheesecake factory, etc.

1st time buttons are available in a lot of places - the wait board CM should have some! And there is no line there whereas there might be at City Hall.

Definitely stay and watch the fireworks in the park

Don't worry about skipping rides - you should have a lot of time to do most everything! Disneyland is much easier to handle than WDW

Haven't stayed at Jolly Roger sorry!

Personally I am a huge fan of Storyteller's Cafe whether during a regular meal or character breakfast but no matter what you can't go wrong!

Have a lovely vacation!!

 

[jlmarr]

As PP mentioned, there are some good restaurants at Gardenwalk, which is relatively near the Jolly Roger. Besides Cheesecake Factory there is PF Changes, Bubba Gump's, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion, Fire & Ice, and others.

We also like Storyteller's for breakfast. A bit pricey since it's a character breakfast, but the food is quite good.

Further north on Harbor Blvd - right about where the Monorail leaves DL - is Mimi's Cafe, another local favorite. Mimi's is right next to HoJo's, from which you can see the fireworks pretty well. Maybe next time.

 

[heatherleigh]

Yes, you can get 1st visit buttons from City Hall. Mimi's is supposed to be located very close and I've heard their food is delicious. If you sign up on their website, for their e-mailing list, they will give you a coupon for a free breakfast. The key is, you have to enter in the Anaheim zip code as well as signing up right before you go on your trip. The coupon is only good for 2 weeks. I have a friend, who is a huge fan of Bubba Gump's Shrimp Factory, but I've never been there personally. BG's is also located close to DL.