List your Top 5 Disneyland and Top 5 California Adventures Not-to-Miss!

[sprmom]

This is great information, I may be convinced to try some of these, and there are some on these lists that I wouldn't have considered before. I love DL, it's my favourite park of all to know that Walt walked those streets. I also love the idea of seeing the new-to-me parts of DL that aren't at WDW. Keep the great ideas going, and thanks!

 

[sprdad]

Will let you know when we get back....

 

[snowybelle]

First DLR trip coming up in May... following...

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are WDW vets and only have 1 family vacation under our belts, unless you count the over night trip that DH and I did while visiting Las Vegas (Adult's Only Trip), however we are returning for our second family trip in June and this is the list of attractions that we are most excited to be seeing/riding again...

DL Park:
1) Mr. Toad's Wild Ride....this was always my favorite ride growing up while going to WDW, unfortunately it was replaced by Winnie the Pooh and I have missed it ever since, so glad it is still in DLR.
2) Pirate of the Caribbean...love the DL version much better then the WDW version and POTC is my favorite ride in Disney
3) Hyper Space Mountain...again love DL version of Space Mountain much more then WDW's version, I just hope that Hyper Space Mountain is still running in June
4) Alice in Wonderland ride....loved it the first time and can't wait to see the enhancements that they made since our last trip
5) Autopia...WDW has the Indy Motor Speedway which is just meh to me, however I absolutely love Autopia because I like the scenery that surrounds it and it is much longer.

DCA Park:
1) Radiator Springs Racers....love, love, love that ride...WDW has Test Track but it is nothing compared to RSR.
2) Californian Screamin...yep, my family could ride that ride all day if I allowed it
3) Silly Symphony Swings....I love any sort of swing ride at any amusement park or fair, I wish WDW would get their own version.
4) Soarin....Favorite ride in Epcot in WDW, can't wait to see what the new version is all about.
5) Grizzly River Run...Like the fact that there are 2 drops compared to WDW's Kali River Rapids, I also like the scenery more.

 

[Disney127]

Our list:

DL:
Indy
Space
IASW
BTMR
PTN parade

We also like seeing the fireworks as often as we can during our trips, we always get all emotional and teary! LOL
A picture in front of the Partners Statue and a picture of DD in front of the railings near IASW - fun to see her grow up thru the years

DCA:
Screamin' - always our first ride at the park
RSR
Soarin'
Little Mermaid
King Triton's Carousel

We never miss the Pixar parade - DD is a big fan of Toy Story

 

[skier_pete]

WDW Vet (many, many trips) heading out for our third DL visit in February. We played this game in the car over the holidays while traveling, and I'll give you my list. I won't include Fantasmic since it's closed for the next year plus - and I didn't include Paint the Night/Disneyland Forever because I haven't seen them. What I am looking at is as a WDW regular - what makes Disneyland special. For example, Haunted Mansion is one of my all-time favorites, but it is not significantly different at DLR vs WDW (unless you are going when Haunted Mansion Holiday is going on) - so if you missed riding it you wouldn't be missing much.

DLR
1) Pirates of the Carribean - the only problem with riding it here is that the WDW version will never seem quite as nice as it did.
2) Indiana Jones - way better than Dinosaur. WAAAY better.
3) Space Mountain - Completely different from the MK one - and way better.
4) Matterhorn - Not the greatest roller coaster ever - I like BTMRR better - but it's the ORIGINAL Disney coaster and should NOT be missed.
5) The Fantasyland Dark rides (Alice in Wonderland / Mr. Toad / Snow White / Pinocchio / Peter Pan) - Only Peter Pan has a match at MK and is still worth a ride. The other 4 are now unique to DLR and so classic.

DCA
1) Radiator Spring Racers / Carsland - OK I'm already cheating with my #1. Experiencing Carsland is an important part of that park - but the ride is a must-do. It is my favorite ride in a US Disney Park - period.
2) World Of Color - this show is so amazing. Best show in a US Disney Park. Just so you know - these two experiences alone justify to me a first-time trip to DLR.
DCA drops off a LOT after these two...even with all the improvements there - but to get to 5.
3) Grizzly River Run - SOOOO much better than Kali it isn't even funny. Prepare to be wet though.
4) California Screamin' - an honest-to-goodness THRILL coaster in a Disney Park. It's so great - but you better like coasters.
5) Clarabelle's for a hand-made ice cream bar with your choice of toppings. DW reminded me of this when we were listing favorite foods. Since I couldn't come up with 5 attractions in DCA worthy of ranking this high.

 

[jammyjam25]

In no particular order...

Disneyland:
1) Jungle Cruise - always our first ride when we enter the park (unless we have a MM/EMH), so timeless and the jokes get me every time.
2) Big Thunder Railroad
3) Splash Mountain
4) Paint the Night/Disneyland Forever fireworks
5) Haunted Mansion (original or holiday overlay)

DCA:
1) Radiator Springs Racers
2) California Screaming
3) Ariel's Undersea Adventure - The Little Mermaid was my first and forever favorite Disney movie so this one has major sentimental value for me.
4) Heimlich's Chew-Chew Train in Bug's Land
5) The Animation Academy - love watching all the movie scenes on the big screens and then taking a drawing class. So fun!

 

[tlovesdis]

DL Must Do's:

1. Paint The Night Parade
2. Space Mountain
3. Thunder Mountain
4. Lunch or dinner at Cafe Orleans for the 3 cheese monte cristo and pomme frittes
5. Indiana Jones

DCA Must Do's:

1. Radiator Springs Racers
2. Tower of Terror
3. Toy Story
4. lunch at Corn Dog Castle for the cheese on a stick
5. California Screamin'

 

[GatorChris]

I really do love these types of posts. Makes me want to get back!

DL:
#1 - Splash Mt (my fave at DL or WDW)
#2 - Star Tours
#3 - Space Mt (so much better than the WDW version)
#4 - Pirates (again, better than the WDW version)
#5 - Big Thunder Mt (we can do this one all day long)

DCA:
#1 - Radiator Springs Racers (it's what you go to this park for)
#2 - Screamin' (an outdoor RnRC)
#3 - Soarin'
#4 - Mater's Junkyard Jamboree (my fave to do with the kids)
#5 - Heimlich's Chew Chew train....even as my kids get older, we all think this ride captures the "Disney" way of doing rides, even if it's just a slow kiddie ride.

Tower of Terror is something we always do, but it just missed the list because it's not as good as the WDW version.

 

[skier_pete]

#5 - Heimlich's Chew Chew train....even as my kids get older, we all think this ride captures the "Disney" way of doing rides, even if it's just a slow kiddie ride..

It is amazing how opinions can differ. (And please don't take what I say below personally - this is just one persons opinion and is no better than yours.)

When we were there the first time with our DD who was 9, she liked this ride so much we had to ride it several times. The second time around I absolutely wanted to beat myself into unconsciousness with giant a candy corn. DW actually liked it as well - so maybe I am the cracked one here - but I am hoping at 12 now she will consider it "lame" or at least she won't want to ride it more than once.

 

[disneyobsessed808]

DL:
Splash Mountain
Hyperspace Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Carribean
Big Thunder Mountain

DCA:
Radiator Springs Racers
Toy Story Midway Mania
Mater's Junkyard Jamboree
Tower of Terror
Grizzly River Run

 

[GatorChris]

The second time around I absolutely wanted to beat myself into unconsciousness with giant a candy corn. - so maybe I am the cracked one here - but I am hoping at 12 now she will consider it "lame" or at least she won't want to ride it more than once.

Blasphemy!!!!

 

[corinne76]

So there's a parked train at the main street station? Ds loves trains so he'd love that! I'm bummed the RR won't be running when we go in April.

 

[chickapin parterre]

or may....or June......or July.....or August.....or September.....or October.....or Nov.... or December......and not really sure about 2017

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Disneyland:

• Pirates
• Haunted Mansion
• Hyperspace Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Tiki Room

California Adventure

• Radiator Springs Racers
• Soarin'
• Toy Story Madness
• Tower of Terror
• California Screamin'

But, I also wouldn't miss

• Mickey & the Magical Map - DL
• Soundsational Parade - DL
• Flag Retreat - DL
• Paint the Night Parade - DL
• Fireworks - DL
• Newsies show outside Carthay Circle - DCA
• Pixar Play Parade - DCA

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

So there's a parked train at the main street station? Ds loves trains so he'd love that! I'm bummed the RR won't be running when we go in April.

There is a train at Main Street and New Orleans Square. In addition, you can cross the tracks at New Orleans Square and see the original train station building when it was the Frontierland station.

 

[corinne76]

There is a train at Main Street and New Orleans Square. In addition, you can cross the tracks at New Orleans Square and see the original train station building when it was the Frontierland station.

Fantastic! He absolutely loves trains. I live in Hawaii, we don't have actual running railroads so he will be thrilled to see a real train.

 

[skier_pete]

Blasphemy!!!!

 

[chickapin parterre]

....so skier pete...is that an empty bag of Watermelon fragrance spray???

 

[Angel Ariel]

Hi there, as a WDW Vet and with a few DL stays under my belt, I was fortunate to get a week of work in LA so of course I had to extend my work trip by one day into the weekend to see the holiday decorations at DL/DCA. Although I had been there before, it was just so crowded I wasn't able to prioritize my attractions. So now I'm off to Anaheim for a full on family vacation with a 5 day park hopper pass mid March. Please help us prioritize our Must See Attractions, list your top 5 here! Thanks!

Top 5 for Disneyland

1. Hyperspace Mountain
2. Indiana Jones
3. Paint the Night
4. Disneyland Forever
5. Musical Chairs w/Alice and Peter Pan @ Coke Corner
6. (added as it's not an "attraction" per se, but not to be missed! Minnie & Friends Breakfast at the Plaza! I'd put this tied with Paint the Night as an awesome experience)

Top 5 for California Adventure

1. Radiator Springs Racers
2. World of Color
3. Toy Story Mania
4. Tower of Terror
5. California Screamin'
6. (also not an "attraction", but the streetmosphere performances in DCA are top notch. Definitely make time to see some of them!)