I'm a newbie and I already love this place!

[tinkermomma]

Hello!

So I have been lurking a little bit and have to say this place is great! It's amazing how much is compiled here! And everyone is SO helpful.

Just to introduce myself, I am hardcore Disney fan for a few reasons:

1. My Mom kissed Walt Disney when she was a child. Shortly after the park opened when Walt was out in the park discussing how the Mickey Mouse Club Circus was going to go in my Mom spotted him. She was actually a naturally shy kid but upon seeing him she just walked right over to him, tugged on his coat, signaled him to bend down and when she did she kissed him on the cheek. He laughed and said, "that is the nicest thing to happen to me all day"
2. When I was about 5 my parents did "the big surprise". They told me we were going to "Uncle Walter's" an Uncle they said I hadn't met yet. I didn't "get it" until we were pulling up to the parking lot. I had been begging if we could go since we were soooo close to DLR during the drive and all they would say is "I don't think we'll have time but we'll see"
3. My husband and I met on Halloween almost 9 years ago, I had taken an old bridesmaids dressed and turned it into the perfect costume. He said he fell for me because I was just as spirited and feisty as the real Tinkerbell.

So, we are hopefully, maybe planning a trip for either my DD's first birthday (probably not that day but right around it in the first week of December) and if we don't have the $$$ saved for that, we might wait until Halloween 2012 so we can dress our little cutie up as a tiny Tink for our 10yr Anniversary.

You all seem super nice and I want get to know you... So, two questions for the board:

When is your very favorite time of the year to visit DLR and why?
What two rides do you absolutely HAVE to ride when you go?

Forgive me if you guys have posted those answers 34325567967552 times already.

 

[skiingfast]

When is your very favorite time of the year to visit DLR and why?
What two rides do you absolutely HAVE to ride when you go?

Early/Mid September. Great weather/low crowds.

Just two? Probably Indy and BTMRR.

 

[RedRosie]

We went Nov 7-10, 2010 and crowds were nothing. Walk on to nearly everything. Amazing. Weather was fine. The only ride closed was Small World getting decorated for Christmas. We saw a little more Christmas popping up each day, which was very cool.

For rides...Soarin' and Soarin'...

 

[Sydnie]

Hi and welcome! I just joined earlier this week and I love it as well.

I think going right around your daughter's birthday is a great idea (as you can see from my ticker we are going 1st week in December as well) as the crowds are low and the weather is still pretty fair. My son had just turned one when we went last month and there was actually a lot there for him to do and see.

When I go to DL I always have to go on Space Mountain. It is hands down my favorite ride

 

[PinkBudgie]

Welcome! What a neat story about your mom! There is a Disneyland Nostalgia thread on the Disneyland Community board you might enjoy.

My favorite time of year to go is July. The parks are open long hours, most everything is up and running, I like the warm weather, Socal APs are blocked, and we have more days to go in the summer than other times of the year.

Must do's are POTC and HM.

 

[tinkermomma]

awww, thanks PinkBudgie! I will check that out...

I love hearing everyone's favorites!

 

[sophies*mom]

Welcome!! I haven't been a member for very long myself and I also love coming here for all the great info! Plus there's something about everyone always being so cheerful and having a common love for Disney!

When is your very favorite time of the year to visit DLR and why?
What two rides do you absolutely HAVE to ride when you go?

I like to visit in the spring (after Spring break but before school gets out for summer) or in the late fall/early winter. Going when the park is decorated for Christmas is so magical! And definitely beautiful

My two must do rides...oh who am I kidding, I can't limit it to just two! My three are Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion

 

[HydroGuy]

Welcome!

Favorite time to visit DLR is summer because I love the long hours, lots of daylight, warm weather and feeling so comfortable in shorts and tees.

Second favorite is holiday season - although I do not get to go that often. DL especially is just so festive!

Favorite off-season time is May - lower crowds, usually lesser refurbs and generally warmer weather.

My two rides would be POTC and Indy.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Hello!

So I have been lurking a little bit and have to say this place is great! It's amazing how much is compiled here! And everyone is SO helpful.

Just to introduce myself, I am hardcore Disney fan for a few reasons:

1. My Mom kissed Walt Disney when she was a child. Shortly after the park opened when Walt was out in the park discussing how the Mickey Mouse Club Circus was going to go in my Mom spotted him. She was actually a naturally shy kid but upon seeing him she just walked right over to him, tugged on his coat, signaled him to bend down and when she did she kissed him on the cheek. He laughed and said, "that is the nicest thing to happen to me all day"
2. When I was about 5 my parents did "the big surprise". They told me we were going to "Uncle Walter's" an Uncle they said I hadn't met yet. I didn't "get it" until we were pulling up to the parking lot. I had been begging if we could go since we were soooo close to DLR during the drive and all they would say is "I don't think we'll have time but we'll see"
3. My husband and I met on Halloween almost 9 years ago, I had taken an old bridesmaids dressed and turned it into the perfect costume. He said he fell for me because I was just as spirited and feisty as the real Tinkerbell.

So, we are hopefully, maybe planning a trip for either my DD's first birthday (probably not that day but right around it in the first week of December) and if we don't have the $$$ saved for that, we might wait until Halloween 2012 so we can dress our little cutie up as a tiny Tink for our 10yr Anniversary.

You all seem super nice and I want get to know you... So, two questions for the board:

When is your very favorite time of the year to visit DLR and why?
What two rides do you absolutely HAVE to ride when you go?

Forgive me if you guys have posted those answers 34325567967552 times already.

Looks like your Mom and I had similiar experiences. My uncle worked for Walt for many years, I had the privledge to be there opening day and for many years had the opportunity to have lunch with and tour the studios off and on.

Best of luck,

Jack

 

[LavenderPeach]

Welcome! What a great story about your mom!

My favorite time of year to go to DLR is during Christmas because I love how sparkly and festive everything is and I like the cooler weather. However I also like going in Jan/Feb and May when the crowds are lower.

If DS is with us then we must ride dumbo and casey jr. every time, lol, but if it's just DH and I then we like Indy and Space Mountain.

 

[hugApug]

Hi Tinkermomma!

What a great story about your mom! If you both ever get the chance, the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco is *amazing* for those who love Walt.

2 must-do rides: Pirates of the Caribbean & Peter Pan's Flight.

Favorite time of the year to go: Early June (a bit busy, but there's something great about starting off your summer break with Disney). We're trying late November this year, so I may become a Disney Christmas convert.

 

[specialks]

Hi there & Welcome!

I really like early/mid Sept because we find it worthwhile to have lower crowds in exchange for more ride closures and shorter hours. The shorter hours actually work well for us because our young girls can't go too long and then we don't feel like we are missing out.

My favorite 2 would be SplashM and Matterhorn.

 

[Squirrel!!!]

My favorite time of the year is early Novemeber....my birthday, and low crowds.

Must do rides at DL Space and Toad.

My DD insists upon Indy as well.

DCA we never miss TOT and the animation academy.

 

[Caseystigger]

Hi! Welcome Great story about your mom.

Sept is my fave time, cooler and less crowded. Must ride POTC & Matterhorn

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Just back from my 1st trip to DLR. I would not hesitate to go in late June again. The weather was perfect and the park was open for long hours. The lines weren't really that bad either (in comparison to WDW).

The two rides I would definitely have to ride are Space Mountain and Teacups.

 

[Sherry E]

Welcome! I'm so glad you have introduced yourself.

I love the story about your mom kissing Walt! Your mom kissed one of the biggest icons, one of the biggest groundbreakers and one of the biggest geniuses ever to walk the planet! I wonder how that felt?

My favorite time of year to go is, without question, right smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, when the entire Resort is in the Christmas spirit. It's just - and there's no better way to say it - pure magic. The aromas, the music, the colors, the lights, the treats, IASW Holiday, the Winter Castle, the overall feeling in the air - it's nothing short of fantastic!

I prefer December over November, but at the very least it has to be after Thanksgiving for me because that is when DLR is in full-blown Christmas mode (or "Phase 3" of the DLR holiday transformation, as I call it), including the hotels. The GCH during the holidays is something not to be missed. But the whole Resort's seasonal makeover is very detailed, extensive and all-encompassing. Plus, the weather is much more bearable for me at that time of year.

My runner-up favorite time to go would be Halloween Time (October rather than September), just because it's so fun, whimsical and lively (and I love Halloween). For me, it doesn't hold that same 'awe-inspiring' feeling that you get during the Christmas season, and the parks are not as extensively decorated, but it's definitely a great time of year to go.

The Halloween Round-Up is a particular highlight, full of amazingly intricate, real, carved character pumpkins and other details - some of which change every week and some of which stay there all season long. The character pumpkins above the turnstiles at the DL entrance are very clever - and, actually, I think this is one area where HalloweenTime has the edge over the holiday season at DLR. Those character pumpkins are much more interesting than the boring, bland, above-turnstile snowflake motif you will see in November & December. There's even a Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree in Frontierland which is aglow with orange lights at night.

The 2 rides I could never, ever, ever miss are POTC and TSMM. (But if I were in DCA to ride TSMM, I would still have to stop at Soarin'!)

Be sure to come join us over on the Halloween at DLR Superthread and the Disneyland at Christmas Time Superthread!!

 

[tinkermomma]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

I love hearing the faves... Mine are PP and POTC and I've always gone in the summer but I'm excited to try the winter holidays

@Hydroguy: Love your tips, they have already made my planning so much more fun and easy!

@blackjackdelta: It must have been amazing being around all of that history and wonderfulness as a kid so often. Fun!

@hugA Thanks for reminding me about Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. Last time we were there I totally forgot about it. We are hoping to visit some friends up there before the end of the year an we're going to have to make that a must visit!

@SherryE: You know when you said thought, I realized I hadn't talked to her about it in a long time, so I asked her how it did feel...

I realized I got a couple points a little off. When she went up to him she was actually coming out of the Mickey Mouse Club Circus and Walt was pointing to the Matterhorn area with one of his men.

When she kissed him he said "When I woke up this morning I had no idea something that nice would happen"

She said it's hard to explain exactly how she felt but kind of like a "princess" and felt he was like a "grandpa". She was with her little brownie troop and all the other little girls where also saying hello to him. She was 8 and said I felt "pretty determined to meet him", I guess the other little girls were jealous they hadn't thought of it and her mama was very proud.