Must do list for wdw vets first trip to Disneyland?

[Jennygt]

Planning a 3-4 day Disneyland trip, we are wdw vets but never Disneyland, as a fan what are the must do,s? Thanks

 

[Mr. Mike]

Carsland !!

 

[barb969]

Unless you like be jerked sideways on a rough ride avoid the Matterhorn. My husband who loves big coasters won’t ride it. I had wanted to ride it beginning in 1960. Because of long lines and renovations I never rode it until about 2010. NEVER AGAIN! I am not a coaster fan.

Do Carsland, Haunted Mansion,Tower of Terror ( can’t think of the new name), Nemo, Indiana Jones(only if you like
dinosaur. Same ride just different scenery.), Alice in WL (not a great ride, but not at WDW), and Pirates.

 

[take36]

Planning a 3-4 day Disneyland trip, we are wdw vets but never Disneyland, as a fan what are the must do,s? Thanks

Enjoy the characters just walking around and interacting with guests. Toontown seems to have a character constantly out and about playing with the kids!

Corndog and churros if it fits your palette.

Ride the trolley at DCA.

 

[mdmost]

Do everything that is unique to DLR and that especially includes Matterhorn. It's bumpy but great. It's similar to Space Mountain at WDW but facing outside.

Unique to DLR: Carsland, Avengers Campus, Pixar Pier, Sailing Ship Columbia, Alice, Pinocchio, Snow White, Mr. Toad, Storyland Canal Boats, Casey Jr, Indiana Jones, the better Pirates of the Caribbean, Hatbox Ghost at Haunted Mansion though WDW is getting it soon, the better train experience, Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through, two seater Space Mountain, larger Autopia, Monorail in the park, Finding Nemo subs, Toontown, better Small World. Park hop since it's walking across an Esplanade.

 

[Harmacist]

We are WDW vets going in June, my girlfriends first trip and my first in 7 years. Basically everything is must do for us unless it's a carbon copy at WDW. So basically the Star Wars stuff (Galaxy's Edge, Star Tours) and I think the little mermaid ride are super low priority. I'd say MMRR as well but I really want to see the queue.

Food wise for us it's Blue Bayou and Lamplight Lounge for table service. Otherwise going to eat a lot of churros and whatever catches our fancy.

 

[ottawamom]

We did all the rides that are unique to DL and CA. Then we did favourites that are at both parks. The list (up two posts) is all inclusive. Had a great week.

 

[KalamityJane]

Planning a 3-4 day Disneyland trip, we are wdw vets but never Disneyland, as a fan what are the must do,s? Thanks

If you are going during Christmas season, add in Small World and Haunted Mansion bc they both have awesome holiday overlays that WDW doesn’t get.

 

[crystal1313]

When we went to WDW for the first time, we had a blast checking out similar attractions and then voting which one we liked better at the end. Lol.

For restaurants, we love lamplight lounge, Carthay and since it’s your first trip, I would add blue bayou. Pretty special to eat inside pirates of the Caribbean.

Treats! Churros at Disneyland are awesome and they have tons of different flavors/toppings that change seasonally. Super fun. Tigger tails are fun too and I believe they are only at Disneyland. (I never saw any at WDW, but maybe I missed them?) they’re pretty sweet. My kids love them. Marshmallows on a stick, dipped in caramel and then dipped in chocolate. Mickey beignets are popular and we like them, but we love the beignets at jazz kitchen in DTD. The hand dipped corn dogs are yummy too! They are at the little red wagon on Main Street, stage door cafe in Frontierland and corn dog castle at DCA. If you like cold brew coffee, a lot of the quick service and counter service places sell different flavors that change seasonally too. Diningindisney on instagram posts a lot of great food. Disneyfoodblog too and also foodatdisneyland.

Hope you have a great trip!! I think you will like the walkability of the parks at Disneyland.

 

[bcla]

Unless you like be jerked sideways on a rough ride avoid the Matterhorn. My husband who loves big coasters won’t ride it. I had wanted to ride it beginning in 1960. Because of long lines and renovations I never rode it until about 2010. NEVER AGAIN! I am not a coaster fan.

Do Carsland, Haunted Mansion,Tower of Terror ( can’t think of the new name), Nemo, Indiana Jones(only if you like
dinosaur. Same ride just different scenery.), Alice in WL (not a great ride, but not at WDW), and Pirates.

It’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. There are six different experiences, each featuring a different song.

 

[evilmommie]

Look up at Walt’s apartment and appreciate the fact he built these beautiful parks with his wonderful imagination! Can’t do that at WDW.

 

[crystal1313]

I forgot to add churro toffee is amazing!! Lol.

 

[Timandalicia]

Planning a 3-4 day Disneyland trip, we are wdw vets but never Disneyland, as a fan what are the must do,s? Thanks

Mr. Toad
Pinocchio
Inside the Castle
Storybook Canal Boats
If you let it, it will feel like Mecca

 

[lovethesun12]

Our first time this summer too! We are so excited. Appreciate the question and all of the responses as well

 

[BrianL]

The Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough - it takes you through the story of the movie. A lot of WDW folks don't realize there is even anything IN the castle.

 

[boswelliseinhorn]

I'm a WDW passholder and vet that, over the past two years, has become a gigantic DLR fan. I will be flying there in November for the 2nd year in a row to start a yearly Thanksgiving tradition. Here's my list:

1. Matterhorn- it is rough, but it's a piece of history and something you will miss walking in MK
2. Indiana Jones- DLR people say it was way better before, and probably was, but we love it
3. Fantasyland- We rope drop it one day every trip. You'll have like 6 rides in less than an hour and they're all old school Disney cool, Mr. Toad, Snow White, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad, Storybook Land, Casey Jr., Mr. Toad. We love DLR Fantasyland.
4. DLR Railroad- its old school, its cool and knowing Walt Disney was such a train fan makes it that much cooler
5. Cars Land- It's maybe the best land Disney has built that isn't in Tokyo
6. Avengers Campus- people dog on it, but my son loved it and I have some great memories here, even as a Tower of Terror fan, I really enjoyed Mission Breakout.
7. Incredicoaster- I'm a huge intamin fan, and a huge velocicoaster fan, seeing one of the earlier intamin launch coasters is pretty cool, bonus if you get a adorable snowman parfait afterwards.
8. Pixar Pal Around (aka Mickey's wheel of death)- very fun in the swinging cars, surprisingly so, and if you aren't there during a marine layer month, you will get great views of Los Angeles in the distance on the normal cars. The surrounding terrain is so much more beautiful than WDW with the mountains.
9. Monorail- it's much less utilitarian than WDW but it's a cool way to see all of DLR, and you get to enter Disneyland
10. Quick Service- there are some must do's like churros, pickles, bread bowls, corn dogs, jolly holiday (everything OMG) that should not be missed. The fried chicken at the plaza and Flo's V8 cafe is the best theme park chicken in the planet and everything a lucky fortune cookery is amazing. Don't sleep on the bread samples at Boudin Bakery.
11. Sit downs: Blue Bayou is cool because of the ambiance but the food really sucks, and the price is insulting for how bad the food is. Lamplight Lounge is pretty decent food and the ambiance is really cool. Carnation Cafe has a lot of history, and should probably be on your radar, even if the food is unremarkable.
12. Fantasmic- DLR has the better Fantasmic and it's not even close

There's probably more I'm not thinking of at the moment, but when I land in November this is pretty much the order I will think about things. We also always eat at least one time at In-N-Out because we don't have it and we love it.

 

[DLRExpert]

everything