I have 3 hours to spend in Disneyland! What should I see?

[DisneyWagz]

Hi Everyone,
I am an avid WDW fan and have been to the Florida resort multiple times. Unfortunately, I've never been able to visit Disneyland. That is about to change. My work is sending me to Anaheim for 2 days. Actually, I will be on the ground less than 24 hours. My hotel is a few blocks from Disneyland. Being the avid Disney fan that I am, I can't pass up the opportunity to see the original park!

I will have just a few short hours to spend in the park, 9PM - Midnight actually. What are your recommended must do rides for my short window of opportunity?

Thank you!!

 

[DisneyMom2Teens]

Indiana Jones, Pirates and Fantasyland! Have Fun

 

[Porturican]

Hi Everyone,
I am an avid WDW fan and have been to the Florida resort multiple times. Unfortunately, I've never been able to visit Disneyland. That is about to change. My work is sending me to Anaheim for 2 days. Actually, I will be on the ground less than 24 hours. My hotel is a few blocks from Disneyland. Being the avid Disney fan that I am, I can't pass up the opportunity to see the original park!

I will have just a few short hours to spend in the park, 9PM - Midnight actually. What are your recommended must do rides for my short window of opportunity?

Thank you!!

I would definatley ride POC & IASW. Yes WDW has them but they are sooo much better at Disneyland.

Don't miss riding Indiana Jones...use Single Rider and get thru the ride faster.

Also go thru Fantasyland & ride Mr Road, Storybook Canal, Caseys train. Oh yeah and do the walk thru for Sleeping Beauty's Castle. (not just walk thru the entrance from Main St to Fanstasyland LOL there is an actual Sleeping Beauty scene to go thru in the castle)

Have fun!!

 

[Porturican]

I just saw that The Matterhorn is now a single rider attraction as well. Do that one too if you can since WDW doesnt have that either.

 

[Brancaneve]

Certainly Pirates and Indiana Jones as PP suggested. Stroll through New Orleans section of the park since that is charming and not in WDW. I also recommend eating a churro since those are not available in WDW and are quite delicious.

 

[wingednike]

Certainly Pirates and Indiana Jones as PP suggested. Stroll through New Orleans section of the park since that is charming and not in WDW. I also recommend eating a churro since those are not available in WDW and are quite delicious.

Wha..wha..WHAT? There are no churros is WDW? How can this be?

 

[profa]

Matterhorn has single rider. Space mtn w/ FP. You might be able to get in quite a bit at 9 when Fantasmic is going. Have fun.

 

[elgerber]

Wha..wha..WHAT? There are no churros is WDW? How can this be?

I have had Churros multiple times in WDW, in DHS and Epcot?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

any ways to go a day early or a day after? if not im sure pirates isw hm, and indy would be my few picks

 

[NiceOneSimba]

There is no churro like the Disneyland churro, fresh and warm from the cart.

And I agree with the previous posters: I'd focus on rides that are either not at WDW at all, or are markedly different between the two resorts. I think that is you use single riders and fastpass, you will likely be able to fit in most of that list, even in just 2 hours!

Have a great trip!

 

[SplashMo]

I would do a few things before hitting Indy as it can sometimes be a long wait... Single rider line for sure. I agree with previous posters...

 

[S. S. Columbia]

I would recommend getting in a line just before DL's closing time. (They allow you to wait in line, even though DL is closed.) That would work for any attraction, and it would be especially good for Space Mtn. (FP distribution for Space Mtn will probably have ended by 9:00pm.)

DL's Fantasmic is better than DHS's. (The seating/viewing for Fantasmic is a bit chaotic, but the first F! show clears out around 9:55, so the wait for the second F! show would just be a half hour.) Here's a link to the "Fantasmic Superthread" (link) and it wouldn't hurt to know about the "Fantasmic Light Tower Trick" (link).

DL's Buzz Lightyear (BLAB) is better than MK's. At DL they take a photograph of the Space Ranger(s) as they're destroying Zurg's army, and you can usually send the free digital photo to your e-mail account.

I agree about Indiana Jones (Single Rider), Matterhorn (Single Rider), and PotC. I think Storybookland Canal Boat isn't as good at night (too dark), but that's JMHO.

HTH

 

[DLR29]

Realistically you could do Indy and Matterhorn both with the Single Rider line and each would take no more than 10 min. You may even have time to ride them a couple times.

Pirates and Buzz are worthwhile also because they are significantly better than WDW's version and will have very short lines that late.

And even if it's dark, I'd definitely recommend riding either Casey Jr. Circus Train and/or Storybookland Canal Boats.

Definitely ride the Fantasyland rides that WDW doesn't have (Snow White, Pinocchio, Alice, Mr. Toad). Just letting you know, though, that these close during the fireworks (closed between 9 and 10pm approx.), so ride these later in the evening. If you ride these around 11PM, it shouldn't take you more than 30-40 min to get through all 4.

Finish with a ride on Space Mountain. As long as you're in line before midnight, they'll let you ride. Still, shouldn't be more than a 30 min line at closing anyway.

I think you'll be able to do a lot even in such a short period of time!

 

[Disney Dreams]

...Stroll through New Orleans section of the park since that is charming and not in WDW....

This is what I was going to post. It's a wonderful area, especially at night. It's very charming and does not exist at MK at all. Also take a picture of the infamous door and number plaque at 33 in New Orleans Square (the entrance to Club 33).

Pirates at DL is about five minutes longer than that at MK -- and some nice scenes are included in those five minutes. (Skip Jungle Cruise as you walk by it. MK's is superior.)

Go over to it's a small world. You don't have to ride it if you don't want to, but you must see it. It is SOOOO different from the one at MK. It is much more elaborate, detailed, and just special.

- Dreams

 

[Riverrunner]

Yes, they have churros - at least at Epcot. But, they're nowhere near as good as the ones at DL! In fact, my daughter and I had to return ours (at Epcot) for our money back. They were stale and gross and made us sick to our stomachs for the rest of the day. At DL, however, they are the best anywhere! My daughter's idea of a great DL day is to have 3 churros!

 

[jennilouwho]

Any time I have gone, Storybookland Canal Boats is always at least a 20 minute wait if not longer and then the ride takes quite awhile. I think it's a big time eater, all though pretty at night. If I only had 3 hours though I would skip it and do the Casey Junior Train and still see a lot of what's in the Storybookland ride.