Little (or big) things we shouldn't miss or forget to do

[Princess Jes]

Tell me your little, or big, things that you always do/enjoy/see/eat/drink or things that are easily missed or forgotten, both at the parks, in the hotels and even close proximity off site.

I want to make a list of things to tick off as we go of things I've heard on podcasts and sen on the boards, but of course, as soon as you try to make a list, your mind goes completely blank.

We are there for 5 days, half of one of those days will be spent at Knotts (a thursday from lunchtime) and we are doing the Walking in Walt's footsteps tour (12:30pm) and Fantasmic premium dining package (both on arrival day, which is a Tuesday)

We also will be going to Trader Sam's one afternoon, and have some dining booked, as well as wanting to eat at some places offsite (eg. Cheesecake factory.... dont try to talk me out of it, i know it's a chain, but we don't have them in Australia and i NEED to go there! lol)

We have never visited DLR and may not get back, ever, or at least for a long time.
I know we cant see and do everything, but i just want your suggestions so that we have a list to refer to at times.
Thanks!!

 

[azdisneylover]

After a morning in DCA, we like to pop into Whitewater Snacks (in DGC - entrance across from Grizzly Rapids exit) and have a bit to eat, relax and regroup. We usually sit on the patio and I peek through the fence into DCA. Such a calming place with something to eat for everyone. Prices are decent too. If you can, lunch at Carnation Cafe on Main Street. If the weather is nice, ask to sit outside and watch the hustle and bustle on Main St. while you dine. Try the fried pickles here and their french fries too. Pressed pennies are fun to collect and are cheap too. Ask for a map as to where the machines are located. Ride the monorail and train at least once. Take your time when you go through the parks, especially Disneyland. The level of craftmanship is remarkable, especially since many of the details have been there for decades. If you scrapbook, remember to save items to scrapbook later. Try the dill popcorn and pear-o-dice drink from the Cozy Cones. Great to have while the lights get turned on. Share a Mickey's Kitchen Sink from Clarabelles next to Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe. This sundae is made in a Mickey Mouse sink! Great souvenir. Check out the schedule for Animation Academy and draw the characters. Fun to do and a great way to beat the heat and the crowds. Make a list of things you did not get to ride, do, try, taste, etc so you can start planning for another trip!

 

[chickapin parterre]

* buy a history book/facts and fun book to read
* visit other disney sites, there is one currently running a thread about all the details that regular visitors by pass
* with the exception of food, 4 days should cover everything, especially if taking the tour
* ....now to ease your pain, don't worry about the quilted details woven into the park...... recently, videos were posted an hour after the newest addition to Disneyland...and % wise, only one out of 20 visitors stopped, touched, photographed,.... or cried at the newly released frontierland path. Folks just don't care about the details......and for me that was healing....because I also over look the details and small events....why I just found out about the little man who lives in Disneyland.....and I have been visiting since 1964....there is just way too much.....so relax....enjoy the pageant you are going to partake.....because not one of the 10 regular visitors to Disneyland at my disney theme birthday party.....not one could describe the seven dwarfs kitchen.

 

[Keels]

* Watch the neons come on as the sun goes down in Radiator Springs.

* Enjoy a midday glass of wine or a beer at Sonoma Tasting Terrace - it's right by the bustle of CarsLand and Pacific Wharf, but man ... it's so relaxing and quiet. Also, shady and plenty of seats!

* Lobster nachos at Cove Bar

* Have a meal at Carthay Circle, or a drink in the lounge - the classic photos throughout the venue are amazing

 

[Princess Jes]

Thanks guys!!
I'm adding things to the list!

Keep em' coming!!

 

[Aurora_Australis]

We also will be going to Trader Sam's one afternoon, and have some dining booked, as well as wanting to eat at some places offsite (eg. Cheesecake factory.... dont try to talk me out of it, i know it's a chain, but we don't have them in Australia and i NEED to go there! lol)

We have never visited DLR and may not get back, ever, or at least for a long time.
I know we cant see and do everything, but i just want your suggestions so that we have a list to refer to at times.
Thanks!!

Haha, every trip we eat at the Cheesecake Factory at the Grove and go to an IHOP. This trip we added In-n-out burger (more than once!) and PF Changs at the Garden Walk. I love all the fast food and chains! All the random snacks at the supermarkets too. I spent so much on chocolates!

 

[cruisehopeful]

If you like Sangrias, the best ones are in the lobby at Grand Californian. They also have a very nice cheese plate there.

The gift shop at the Disneyland Hotel often has stuff that you don't see in other shops, such as Trader Sam's merchandise.

If you like an afternoon tea, Disneyland Hotel has one on the weekends that you have to reserve in advance. It has all you can drink tea and some sandwiches and desserts. If you want to pay a little more, you can a glass of sparkling wine and a salad. It's a nice service.

World of Color dessert party is a great way to watch the show, especially if you have been on your feet all day.

I've had first class service the two times I've eaten at Carthay Circle and recommend it.

What month are you going? There are some seasonal things throughout the area depending on when you will be there.

 

[rentayenta]

Mickey and the Magical Map. Its so fun!

Cove Bar; get in line early. Same with Trader Sam's; don't go starving and prepare to wait. Service is hit and miss. If you have to choose between the Cove Bar and Trader Sam's, I'd do the Cove Bar.

Draw at the Animation building in DCA.

Carsland at dusk.

 

[pblack]

I always have to get a soft serve swirled cone in DCA. You can find these either at the cozy cones, or the little ice cream stand across from cove bar. If you're a coffee drinker there's a local place called Roasting Water that is supposed to be phenomenal. I have yet to go, but all my co-workers rave about it. My husband's must do would be to get a churro. The French Market n NOS has great food, big quantities, for not so much money. The stagedoor cafe has good chicken strips (fries so-so), but you can also get one of the corn dogs here with fries instead of chips (at the red wagon). I apparently really like food when we go to Disney.

I also always do pressed pennies when we are there. It's always fun to see if anything new has been added. The hotels also have pressed penny machines so don't forget to look there if it's something you're into. I love going into the little theater on main street to watch steamboat willie. It's a nice, cool, shady place to relax for a few. I'm sure there's others, but that's what I can think of for now.

 

[Pamela M]

I think most adults avoid most of the rides in Fantasyland but I always try and get on the Storybook Canal Boats at night. That was a little gem I found about 5 years ago.

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

Tell me your little, or big, things that you always do/enjoy/see/eat/drink or things that are easily missed or forgotten, both at the parks, in the hotels and even close proximity off site.

I want to make a list of things to tick off as we go of things I've heard on podcasts and sen on the boards, but of course, as soon as you try to make a list, your mind goes completely blank.

We are there for 5 days, half of one of those days will be spent at Knotts (a thursday from lunchtime) and we are doing the Walking in Walt's footsteps tour (12:30pm) and Fantasmic premium dining package (both on arrival day, which is a Tuesday)

We also will be going to Trader Sam's one afternoon, and have some dining booked, as well as wanting to eat at some places offsite (eg. Cheesecake factory.... dont try to talk me out of it, i know it's a chain, but we don't have them in Australia and i NEED to go there! lol)

We have never visited DLR and may not get back, ever, or at least for a long time.
I know we cant see and do everything, but i just want your suggestions so that we have a list to refer to at times.
Thanks!!

Hi there ... here's 2 small things:

Offsite: Krispy Kreme Donuts ... love the original glazed donuts! Not sure about the other flavours as we always get the original glazed. It was fun watching the donuts being made in the shop. Where I'm from in Canada, it's a 90 minute drive to the "one" Krispy Kreme shop in our vicinity. Therefore, when there's a Krispy Kreme fundraiser I always spend $20 on donuts (beats the 90 minute drive). Unfortunately, I don't know if there's a Krispy Kreme near you during your visit but I recommend googling it to see if there's one near you.

Onsite (California Adventure): Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Cream from the Paradise Pier Ice Cream shop. Yum!! Super Yum! Here's a link:

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disney-california-adventure/paradise-pier-ice-cream/menus/

I know that they sell ice cream everywhere but anytime we want ice cream we always wait until we can get to this shop. The vanilla soft serve is so creamy and probably one of the best value snacks in any of the 2 Parks! We will get several of the large cones and share ... it's that big! We had our kids hold the cones up beside their heads and took photos! LOL!

We love the Dole Whip and Dole Whip floats also but I think that the creaminess and value of this vanilla soft serve makes this our favourite cold treat.

Have fun with your list!

 

[Lm3js]

These are things we have to do every time we are there!!
1. Walkthrough the castle to see the Sleeping Beauty Story
2. Try to pull the sword out of the stone, touch the poison apple, find the witch in the window, and pull the cord at Indy
3. Look at all the window scenes at the Emporium on main street
4. Ride the teacups at night and take picture of the Matterhorn through the Chinese Lanterns
5. Try to find the hidden Mickeys
6. Walk through the backside of Radiator Springs Racers and watch the cars go by while having a Bayside Brew
7. The Beast's Library/Sorcerers workshop in DCA
8. Listen to Mariachi and other bands in the little garden near Paradise Garden Grill in DCA. Also a good place to grab a beer/wine and charge your phone at the secret plug.. I also like the Mariachis that play in DL (cucamonga)
9. Find the Club 33 door and take a picture (pretend you are rich and famous)
10. If you have time, see the show at the Golden Horseshoe (it is funny), Great Moments with Lincoln, View the concept drawings in the Disney Gallery (we usually do this as we are about to leave the park..one more thing, one more thing...)
11. Dole whip from the Tiki room patio to watch the tiki head mini-show. I am not a big fan of the whole tiki room, but the outside is short and cute

 

[Lm3js]

I don't know if Tom Sawyer's island will be reopened when you go, but we also like to explore the caves there and find the treasure

 

[jina]

- animation academy classes (every trip we do at least 2) - check out everything in that animation building, including escape from the heat and just chill in the big room watching the videos
- if you have kids under 10 w/ you: crawl through the tunnels on tom sawyer's island, explore the treehouse and at DCA do the redwood challenge trail
- listen to the quartet on main street (I forget their name)
- if DCA still has it, go to one of the dance parties. so fun. (we haven't been in a couple of years)
- at least one day we book an early table service lunch to escape from the crowds and heat. we usually try for the first seating (11:30ish) at Blue Bayou so we can request waterside and not wait too long
- totally agree w/ wander around carsland at dusk - find a photopass photographer .

 

[SteveMP]

Gee i don't even know where to start, except see it ALL! Offsite personally I think the food is better. There is even a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles not too far now. But I like quite a few options in downtown disney and nearby, like Earl of Sandwich, Ralph Brennan Express for breakfast begneits, Pizza Press across the street.

At Cheesecake Factory, they have some of my favorite chinese food anywhere. Its better than most chinese restaurants i have ever had. And the avocado eggrolls are a MUST try!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

You must try the Oreo Dream Cheesecake at Cheescake Factory. It is amazing!

 

[SteveMP]

You must try the Oreo Dream Cheesecake at Cheescake Factory. It is amazing!

They kind of all are. The Godiva one...magnifico

 

[Princess Jes]

such as Trader Sam's merchandis

Are can coolers/beer cookies a thing over there? We struggled to find ANY at WDW, managed to fine ONE Mickey head one after days pf searching. DH collects them.
I feel like if anywhere was going to have them, it would be trader same?

What month are you going?

August 15-19

Mickey and the Magical Map. Its so fun!

Yes, thats on the list!

If you're a coffee drinker there's a local place called Roasting Water that is supposed to be phenomenal.

Ohh!! thanks for the tip!

I think most adults avoid most of the rides in Fantasyland but I always try and get on the Storybook Canal Boats at night. That was a little gem I found about 5 years ago.

oh no, we will be aiming to get on as many rides as we can, including kiddie rides and FL

Krispy Kreme Donuts

We have KK in Australia, so not a massive draw for me tbh.

We love the Dole Whip and Dole Whip floats

I've only had a dole whip, aiming for a float this time! Can you get them spiked anywhere at DLR?

These are things we have to do every time we are there!!
1. Walkthrough the castle to see the Sleeping Beauty Story
2. Try to pull the sword out of the stone, touch the poison apple, find the witch in the window, and pull the cord at Indy
3. Look at all the window scenes at the Emporium on main street
4. Ride the teacups at night and take picture of the Matterhorn through the Chinese Lanterns
5. Try to find the hidden Mickeys
6. Walk through the backside of Radiator Springs Racers and watch the cars go by while having a Bayside Brew
7. The Beast's Library/Sorcerers workshop in DCA
8. Listen to Mariachi and other bands in the little garden near Paradise Garden Grill in DCA. Also a good place to grab a beer/wine and charge your phone at the secret plug.. I also like the Mariachis that play in DL (cucamonga)
9. Find the Club 33 door and take a picture (pretend you are rich and famous)
10. If you have time, see the show at the Golden Horseshoe (it is funny), Great Moments with Lincoln, View the concept drawings in the Disney Gallery (we usually do this as we are about to leave the park..one more thing, one more thing...)
11. Dole whip from the Tiki room patio to watch the tiki head mini-show. I am not a big fan of the whole tiki room, but the outside is short and cute

These are all fab, thanks

 

[cruisehopeful]

Are can coolers/beer cookies a thing over there?

I haven't seen any.

I've only had a dole whip, aiming for a float this time! Can you get them spiked anywhere at DLR?

There's a little counter service coffee place in the DLH that sells them spiked. However, I watched them make mine and it was truly just a splash of rum. If I get one in the future, I'll buy a dole float there and walk over to Trader Sam's and buy a true shot to dump in my float myself.

 

[StarlitNight05]

If I get one in the future, I'll buy a dole float there and walk over to Trader Sam's and buy a true shot to dump in my float myself.

Genius!