First trip to Disneyland...need tips for teens!

[2minny]

Our family has been to WDW at least 10 times through the years, we love it! This is our first time to visit Disneyland, along with going to other areas of California as tourists We are staying at the Grand Californian (when booking I asked for the Grand Floridian...the lady laughed...that's how much we go to WDW). Anyhow, ANY tips on ADR's for three teen/pre-teen girls, shows, rides to hit first thing, tips on our hotel, etc would be much appreciated. I am beginning my notes and research, I am preparing the family that it will be different than WDW, but also I want to take in all that makes Disneyland special!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Our family has been to WDW at least 10 times through the years, we love it! This is our first time to visit Disneyland, along with going to other areas of California as tourists We are staying at the Grand Californian (when booking I asked for the Grand Floridian...the lady laughed...that's how much we go to WDW). Anyhow, ANY tips on ADR's for three teen/pre-teen girls, shows, rides to hit first thing, tips on our hotel, etc would be much appreciated. I am beginning my notes and research, I am preparing the family that it will be different than WDW, but also I want to take in all that makes Disneyland special!

Here is where you need to start with Hydroguys DLR tips for WDW vets http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Our land is different from your world but it is special. Have fun!

 

[2minny]

Love your response "our land is different than your world...", cute I'm headed to the thread you sent me, thanks for your help!

 

[Princess Row]

I am a teen, im assuming a few years older than your girls because you said pre teen but I go to Disneyland often. I would highly reccomend ALL of the rides because I enjoy 9/10 of them. The only ride I dont care for is Splash Mountain due to the drop.
The Grand Californian hotel is a great hotel and it has a wonderful park access! Right into Cali Adventure!! California adventure is more of an older kid or adult based park so depedning on what kind of rides your girls like they should enjoy it there too!

Character breakfasts I still enjoy at my age so maybe they will to?

I can explain all of those to you if you would like. There is a total of Five. One in each hotel and one in each park.

I recommend the parades and the fireworks, I have heard the Aladdin show is fantastic but I have not yet seen it.

Blue Bayou is a great place to eat at the girls would probably love it. It's located inside Pirates of the Carribean with an amazing view and great surroundings. I have always loved the atmosphere!

Hope this helped! Have any more questions feel free to ask!

 

[HydroGuy]

Our family has been to WDW at least 10 times through the years, we love it! This is our first time to visit Disneyland, along with going to other areas of California as tourists We are staying at the Grand Californian (when booking I asked for the Grand Floridian...the lady laughed...that's how much we go to WDW). Anyhow, ANY tips on ADR's for three teen/pre-teen girls, shows, rides to hit first thing, tips on our hotel, etc would be much appreciated. I am beginning my notes and research, I am preparing the family that it will be different than WDW, but also I want to take in all that makes Disneyland special!

I did DLR with five teens last summer and might have some helpful advice.

ADR's - called Priority Seating at DLR and not nearly as big a deal as at WDW. We had five hungry boys and a teen girl.

All my kids love Blue Bayou because they are Jumbalaya lovers - and the atmosphere.

Rainforest Cafe is one of those love it our hate it and my kids and DW love it. So we always eat there.

Cafe Orleans was liked because of the gumbo.

We had some really good food at Ariel's Grotto for the WOC preferred viewing meal.

My kids like to sleep. I encouraged them to get up early on at least two of our mornings for Magic Morning and then let them sleep on the others if they wanted. When they wanted to sleep I just let them and headed out without them with whoever was awake and interested. On one day DW and I and DS18 and DS18's GF18 went to Princess Fantasy Faire in the morning while everyone else slept and then we met at noon. We hit a few rides before they showed up.

My kids ride everything but can be persuaded to hit some Fantasyland rides. So we did FL and grabbed FPs for the biggies. At DL the biggies are Space Mtn, Splash Mtn and Indiana Jones, with BTMRR and Matterhorn in the next tier.

We also saw World of Color and everyone thought it was awesome (see my WOC review). Plan to see it. Plus see Aladdin at DCA. Teens will love it as the genie ad lib jokes are at a teen level.

 

[c&m]

My kids like to sleep. I encouraged them to get up early on at least two of our mornings for Magic Morning and then let them sleep on the others if they wanted. When they wanted to sleep I just let them and headed out without them with whoever was awake and interested. On one day DW and I and DS18 and DS18's GF18 went to Princess Fantasy Faire in the morning while everyone else slept and then we met at noon. We hit a few rides before they showed up.

That's a very key point that HydroGuy has hit on. Teens do like to sleep. Good thing is you're staying at the GCH, so you can easily meet up if some get up earlier than others.

Our teen and preteen tended to sleep in and we wouldn't hit the parks till around 10:30am at the earliest. That's OK because the teens would have the stamina to keep going till the parks closed. We tended to ride a lot of the Fantasyland rides in the late late evening - mostly when the toddlers and preschoolers were gone - during the day, Fantasyland is packed and the ride lineups are sooo LOOOONNNG. My teens love Indiana Jones, Splash Mtn, Space Mtn, and BTMRR at DL; California Screamin', Toy Story Mania, Grizzly River Rapids, Tower of Terror at CA.

Restaurants our girls like are Whitewater Snacks, Cafe Orleans, Blue Bayou. They also love the pineapple spears and mango slices that are sold on the fruit carts.

 

[yupikgal]

Hi 2Minny, and welcome to the Wild, Wild West! (kidding) Anyway, I'm in Alaska, but we are big Disney fans, so we are heading down there for our 3rd time in recent years, the last time was last May! Our kids are 18 & 15, and they love DL too, thank goodness! Some of their favorite things to do; Splash Mountain, Soarin', Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Grizzly River Rapids, Screamin', Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Toy Story Mania, Buzz Lightyear, Riding Jungle Cruise at night, and lots more! They even like the Fantasyland ones, we are lucky, they are pretty open to anything!

I love the cozy feel, especially compared to WDW, we haven't been there since our kids were much younger (last there in 2003) we feel very safe in allowing our kids to wander on their own, and they love staying there until it's closed too!

As far as places they might like to eat, Blue Bayou (inside POTC) Dole Whips @ Tiki Juice Bar, Bengal BBQ in Adventureland, Various stands with Mickey Pretzels, and although we didn't do it the last few times, we are going to Goofy's Kitchen this time for a character breakfast!! We did do Lilo & Stitch's breakfast at the Paradise Pier hotel, and it was great, but since then they've changed it to "Surf's Up" with Mickey's & Friends breakfast..we also ate at the character breakfast at Story Teller's Cafe in the Grand Californian area, it's with "Woodland friends" they are all animals like Koda & Kenai (Brother Bears) and Meeko from Pocahontas, Chip & Dale...

You'll have a great time, being in the original park, where it all started!! Make sure and see Fantasmic if you can, it's well worth it! We haven't even seen the World of Color yet, it was starting up after we left last year. I'm hoping & praying that the Little Mermaid ride will be up and running when we are there! Have a GREAT and Magical Journey!

Kelly

 

[maelstrom]

For teenage girls, I would look into the Sephora makeover that is offered to guests of the Grand Californian. It takes place in the morning before the store opens to the public. I think it costs around $45. The girls get a makeover and then are able to have a private shopping session (you get the money you paid for the experience back on a giftcard to use in the store).

 

[yupikgal]

I second Maelstrom's suggestion! We stayed at the Paradise Pier and we got to do this, my daughter and I lucked out, there was NO one else there! We felt like princesses! It was so quiet and nice, and the gals that did our faces were so sweet. They were smart to pamper us so much, we bought a LOT of stuff!!

 

[Zoemakes5]

I have to second most of what was said already.

I grew up with my dad in CA and my grandparents in FL and I typically got to go to both every year of my growing up years. I got confused when I turned a corner intending to go to the bathroom and having it not there! I strongly prefer DL to the Magic Kingdom at WDW. It has a more classic feel, tends to be cleaner, and is smaller. For the most part "ADR's" are not needed, though if you want to do Blue Bayou (which I recommend!), I'd go ahead and get an ADR. One of the great things is that everything is so close within walking distance so you can park hop and go to DtD without wrecking your day.

As you can tell, I have two teenaged boys. They LOVE the Innovations, which is not much like what they have at EPCOT, but they still like to spend time there. They like playing what I think of as "the stupid shooting games", but they love to try that. And, even my very jaded middle child took pictures and commented on how awesome WOC is. They both really liked dinner and game playing at ESPN Zone in DtD. And they both wanted to sleep in in the morning, but were totally open to late nights.

Overall, I'd recommend trying those things that you won't have at WDW, such as Matterhorn, Indy, the cars are different, many of the activities at DCA.

For a great CA beach, I highly recommend Huntington Beach, you can eat at Ruby's out at the end of the pier.

 

[2minny]

Thank you so much for all of these great tips! My girls are 17, 15 and 12, so your suggestions are perfect! We are big wdw fans and in fact my girls wanted to go back there this time, but I convinced them that a change is good! We are planning to do other things in California, so your other suggestions were great! We had planned to rent beach cruisers and have lunch on Huntington beach. And go to Hollywood/Beverly hills and maybe even San Diego Zoo.
Princess Row, I will make Blue Bayou ressies and look into a character breakfast. They still love all that stuff and will love all the rides, except possibly the rafting ride, they don't like to get really wet.
Hydroguy, your tips are so super, thank you! It's tough for me to let them sleep in, but maybe I will let them one day They can sleep in on our non-disney days!
I like the idea of sephora makeover too! We will have a dole whip, for sure, one of our favorite snacks at wdw! I will make a note of the rides you all suggested and we will plan to see Aladdin, fantasmic and world of color. We do plan to hit the fantasy land rides, they still love those ONCE each trip You all are so helpful, thank you!

 

[pinktink83]

Do they like American Girl Dolls? There is a store in Hollywood/LA. Even if they are now "collectors" as opposed to "playing with the dolls" there is still some really neat stuff to do there. You can look it up on the AG website.

There are some wax museums in Hollywood, too. That might be fun for them to get some pics with their fav celeb crushes.

 

[maelstrom]

Do they like American Girl Dolls? There is a store in Hollywood/LA. Even if they are now "collectors" as opposed to "playing with the dolls" there is still some really neat stuff to do there. You can look it up on the AG website.

There are some wax museums in Hollywood, too. That might be fun for them to get some pics with their fav celeb crushes.

The American Girl store is at The Grove, which is attached to the Farmer's Market; a must for any trip to Los Angeles.

 

[2minny]

We love the american girl place, have been to the one in Chicago a few times. With so much to do in California, and being our first visit, we may need to skip AGP this time, but thank you for the suggestions. Please keep your ideas coming!