First trip to Disneyland in 5 years (Need tips)

[tinkerbela]

Hi everyone! I am planning my first trip to Disneyland in 5 years and this time, I'm bringing company; my boyfriend. We're very excited about our trip to Disneyland this coming August. We're going not only for the 60th anniversary, but also will be checking out the D23 convention.

So, I need some tips from our trusted experts.

I would love to know some recommended restaurants, in both parks and the hotels, for us to go to so I can make the reservations very soon.

What is the weather like in August in Anaheim?

What is the average wait time for the rides?

That's all I have so far. If I think of other questions, I'll let you all know. Thanks in advance for your help!!

Happy New Year!!

 

[MouseEXP]

I would love to know some recommended restaurants, in both parks and the hotels, for us to go to so I can make the reservations very soon.

What is the weather like in August in Anaheim?

What is the average wait time for the rides?

That's all I have so far. If I think of other questions, I'll let you all know. Thanks in advance for your help!!

Happy New Year!!

Restaurants:
Disneyland:
Corn Dog Cart on Main Street... same Corn Dog is served at the Stage Door Cafe in Frontierland and the line is shorter.
Carnation for breakfast
Plaza Inn for the Chicken Plate
Bengal BBQ for a quick snack
Dole Whip at the Enchanted Tiki Room
Blue Bayou
Cafe Orleans
Big Thunder Ranch for a huge BBQ meal
Redd Rockets for Chicken Pasta and Salads

California Adventure:
Paradise Pier Pizza Pasta for Sun Dried chicken pasta
Ghiradelli for killer ice cream and milk shake

Hotels:
Grand California - White Water Snacks, Napa Rose
Disneyland Hotel - Steakhouse 55 and Trader Sams Enchanted Tiki Bar

Downtown Disney:
Jazz Kitchen ask for the band area

August it will be hot. Probably 90's to 100

With D23 happening it will be even busier. Average wait time would be 45 minutes, but if you get there early you will avoid most of the wait time and be able to get the Fastpasses that you need easily.

 

[DahliaRW]

You can't make dining reservations until 60 days out. I'd say if you can swing it, chef's counter at Napa Rose. A small step down from NR is Carthay Circle (same head chef, both have AMAZING food!)

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Check out the DLR Info Sticky, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276, this has A LOT of useful information and links

Have fun planning,
Kriss

 

[Indiana Scott]

Probably our favorite place to eat is at the Plaza Inn. Not only is the food good but he interior was designed by Walts wife, Lillian and it's a pure joy to have a quiet meal and sit in south glassed in end. Then you can watch all the happy people on Main St.
There are fancier, more popular restaurants but this one is dripping with true original Disney and is just a nice experience overall.
Go early around 4:30~5:00 and you'll almost have the place to yourself.

 

[tinkerbela]

Thanks for your help everyone! I appreciate it!!

 

[tinkerbela]

I just remembered another question I have:

I have a small collection of pins I want to trade. I've never traded pins before. How does that work?

 

[CassieF]

Pin trading can be done with other guests, they have a couple areas where you'll get major collectors set up, but unless you are trading rare/valuable pins you are probably just going to trade with CMs. Some CMs will wear lanyards or hip pouches with pins and you can just approach them, ask to see their pins, and if you find one you want, they will trade with you. You can trade a maximum of 2 pins with each CM. Many stores will also have a pin board with a ton of pins on it that works the same way.

Do be aware that many of the pins are scrapers (fake) if that bothers you.

 

[tinkerbela]

Thanks for the tips on the pin trading. I appreciate it. I'll probably just approach CM's to get authentic pins, since I was unaware of scrapers.

 

[Off to Neverland 7]

Hi everyone! I am planning my first trip to Disneyland in 5 years and this time, I'm bringing company; my boyfriend. We're very excited about our trip to Disneyland this coming August. We're going not only for the 60th anniversary, but also will be checking out the D23 convention.

So, I need some tips from our trusted experts.

I would love to know some recommended restaurants, in both parks and the hotels, for us to go to so I can make the reservations very soon.

What is the weather like in August in Anaheim?

What is the average wait time for the rides?

That's all I have so far. If I think of other questions, I'll let you all know. Thanks in advance for your help!!

Happy New Year!!

I've had a DL AP for 10 years and have lived in Sunny SoCal for 26 years. I hope these answers help

Weather in August is pretty HOT. Not muggy and humid like Orlando weather but you can definitely feel the sun beaming down. Tank/tee and shorts weather during the day, sweater at night would be good.

Restaurants/snacks:

Disneyland:
- Mickey Beignets @ Mint Julep
- Blue Bayou

California Adventure:
- Lobster Nachos @ Cove Bar
- Carthay Circle
- Red Apple Freeze @ Cozy Cone Motel
- Ariel's Grotto

Grand Californian:
- Storytellers Cafe

Downtown Disney:
- Earl of Sandwich
- Oreo Churro's @ California Churros

Disneyland Hotel:
- Goofy's Kitchen

Have fun!!

The average wait times for rides varies. Since you'll be going during D23, expect for there to be large crowds while you're there. Usually the popular rides like Radiator Springs Racers, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Soarin, and Matterhorn have long lines so make sure to get fast passes for those. Some rides have single rider lines which have much shorter wait times and there are times when you luck out to ride the ride with a person you're with. DBF and I have been through radiator springs racers at least 10 times through single rider and we have lucked out with riding together every time except 2.

Dancing our way over to our happy place - Jan/Feb PTR 2015

Disneyland Resort 1993-2000 & Passholder 2004-2014
Caribbean Beach Resort July 2001
Paradise Pier Resort 2009, November 2014
Grand Californian April 2010
Pop Century Sept 2012 & Sept 2013
Disneyland Hong Kong July 2013
Animal Kingdom Villas & Universal's Cabana Bay Sept 2014
Pop Century & Disney Dream Feb 2015!!

 

[tinkerbela]

Thanks everyone for your recommendations on restaurants and helpful tips. I've chosen, so far, where we're going to have lunch and dinner for the three days we'll be exploring the parks. I'm pleased the the menus and reviews I've read in the unofficial guide to Disneyland 2015 book I recently bought.

I do need some help with airports. Right now, flights are insane for August, and it's only January! I've looked at prices to fly into both Santa Ana and LAX. Which would be preferred? I know Santa Ana is closer but I have found a one stop flight from Newark to LAX for less than $400 and am leaning towards booking those flights.

 

[Keels]

It will likely be very hot (I went this past summer over the end of July/beginning of August and there was a 98-degree day when I was there). And lines will be short right at rope drop, but will consistently get longer and longer as the day progresses.

If it's just the two of you, I would STRONGLY suggest that you prioritize rides you want to do with FP or right at rope drop and then take advantage of Single Rider opportunities as they present themselves. For many rides that offer Single Rider, while the wait time may still be 20-30 minutes and you don't normally get to ride directly with your party, you do spend most of that wait time in the shade or air conditioning - which, in that kind of heat, is huge. I found this helpful especially with RSR, Indiana Jones, Soarin', California Screamin' and Splash Mountain.

It was my first trip and it was just me - I did the whole RideMax subscription and all that, but ended up ditching it in favor of rope drop both days, grabbing FPs for what I really wanted that didn't have Single Rider (ToT, Space, Thunder, RSRs) and then just stopping at any ride that had a short walk-on time. I was able to do every ride at both parks this way - in just two days!

 

[tinkerbela]

It will likely be very hot (I went this past summer over the end of July/beginning of August and there was a 98-degree day when I was there). And lines will be short right at rope drop, but will consistently get longer and longer as the day progresses.

If it's just the two of you, I would STRONGLY suggest that you prioritize rides you want to do with FP or right at rope drop and then take advantage of Single Rider opportunities as they present themselves. For many rides that offer Single Rider, while the wait time may still be 20-30 minutes and you don't normally get to ride directly with your party, you do spend most of that wait time in the shade or air conditioning - which, in that kind of heat, is huge. I found this helpful especially with RSR, Indiana Jones, Soarin', California Screamin' and Splash Mountain.

It was my first trip and it was just me - I did the whole RideMax subscription and all that, but ended up ditching it in favor of rope drop both days, grabbing FPs for what I really wanted that didn't have Single Rider (ToT, Space, Thunder, RSRs) and then just stopping at any ride that had a short walk-on time. I was able to do every ride at both parks this way - in just two days!

Yes, there will be two of us, since my DBF is going to DL with me. I have been reading about getting FP for high priority rides and I intend on doing just that, mainly for his sake so he can experience the rides like I have before.

 

[tinkerbela]

Another question I have: which airport is better to fly into: Santa Ana or LAX? So far, I've seen some pretty decent flight prices going into LAX.

 

[MouseEXP]

Another question I have: which airport is better to fly into: Santa Ana or LAX? So far, I've seen some pretty decent flight prices going into LAX.

Santa Ana aka John Wayne is better for convenience, but it will cost you a bit more than flying into LAX. Try to average flight cost with shuttle/driving expenses to see if it gets closer.

 

[tinkerbela]

Santa Ana aka John Wayne is better for convenience, but it will cost you a bit more than flying into LAX. Try to average flight cost with shuttle/driving expenses to see if it gets closer.

The hotel we're staying at has a shuttle service that's going to pick us up from the airport and take us back at the end of our trip. I did see flights into LAX were half than what it would cost to go into Santa Ana. I am considering flying into LAX for its flight prices. I'll have to check with the hotel if it is possible to pick us up from LAX.

 

[Gisele]

Happy return!

From a previous thread, same subject;


Disneyland tips.....


1. Which happens to be my all time favorite. Look before you sit down somewhere. Because if a seat is damp or wet, butt lol it hasn't been raining think about it!

2. Do not wear open toed shoes at all costs. My Aunt Gert did not heed my warning, and as a result now can get a discount on pedicures. Super scary man!
If anyone is interested in knowing those details, just let me know. All I will add however on that subject, is that it involved a stroller, an angry old man with a cane, hot weather, and a malfunctioning toy. Go figure man.

3. If the mac and cheese looks like a most remarkable shade of biohazard orange don't eat it. Your tummy will thank you!

4. Do not wear high heels. I saw a lady one time wearing such a shoe. And she ended up getting stuck on Main Street in the railway track.

5. Don't make your food server angry. Believe me.... Tip well. Very, very well.

6. Do not attempt to swim across ROA it won't work. Check out YouTube.

7. Do utilize fast passes and single rider lines.

8. Do not anger the Gods or Jose and his fine feathered friends, if you should happen to visit the Tiki Room, because well in the one case, one may end up a toadie. And in the other case, you better cover your hair. An umbrella might be good.

9. Use your MM or EMH if you can get your booty out of bed early enough. I normally cannot. Lol

10. Don't think you can hide out somewhere in the park and be there already in the morning. They will find you man! Again, I shall reference YouTube. Lol