Off the Beaten Path Park Experiences

[slpeters]

So we are planning our first trip to DLR. We will have 5 day park hoppers and are really excited. It seems to me that with 5 full days (we may go back in the afternoon for a nap but we're usually open a park, close a park kind of people) we should have plenty of time. So I'm looking for the sort of odd little experiences that you could plan for but generally just kind of happen. I'm looking for things that might be a little more time consuming than a shorter trip would allow, the sort of thing that would probably be a waste of time if someone's first trip was a couple days long but might be really enjoyable if one really just had the time.

I hope that makes sense. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[katyringo]

We took a day just to walk around and find characters and watch the park atmosphere shows like the band. So many wondering characters. It was a blast to just hand around fantasy land for a morning.

You can spend a morning in front of the castle watching the bands. Marry poppins and Bert will come out and then around noon sometime the band does a march down Main Street with characters and if your there you can follow right behind.

The animation building in DCA is also lots of fun. Most just talk about the frozen meet and greet there, but the turtle talk with crush is fun, and there is the beast’s library. Anamaition academy where you draw a character was so cool and a free souvenir.

Pixie hollow does a little light show at night.

Ride the Main Street vehicles.

 

[OneThree]

Explore Tom Sawyer’s Island. Lots of detail and you can find a spot and just watch the ships go by.

Take a ride on the monorail. It’s more of a ride at DL as opposed to transportation in WDW. A good way to see DL, CA and DTD from a different perspective.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Star Wars Launch Bay if you like Star Wars. Meeting Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, Chewie and Rey.

Watching the Pixar shorts in the Sunset Showcase Theater.

Looking at the Disney and other memorabilia in the lobby of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

Looking at the artwork in Disneyana.

Hanging around Fantasyland in the morning for unique roaming character interactions.

Riding the Disneyland Railroad, Columbia and Mark Twain.

Exloring Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyers Island.

Paddling the canoes.

Exploring the shops and wandering the allies in New Orleans Square.

Watching the live shows (Mickey and the Magical Map, Storytelling at the Royal Theater and Frozen Live at the Hyperion (I actually have yet to see Frozen and I’m dying to!).

Walking the path behind Grizzly River Run and exploring the Redwoods Creek Challenge Trail.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

At sunset, they play “Shaboom” and turn on the neon lights in Carsland. It’s pretty cool to watch (I actually had never done this until this past fall, after reading about it here so many times!) You can ask a CM for that day’s exact timing, but it’s usually right around official “sunset.”

There are some character things, like Alice and the Mad Hatter play musical chairs at the refreshment corner at a set time each day (I think it’s at 1:00?), or Peter Pan leads storytelling or “Red Light, Green Light.” Maybe someone here knows more about that, or you could try asking a friendly-looking “Ask Me About Characters” CM.

 

[Malcon10t]

Watching the Pixar shorts in the Sunset Showcase Theater.

They stopped those sometime prior to November. They were showing The Nutcracker preview last. Hoping they put them back.

 

[MrsD.Duck]

On a trip with just the husband and myself we rode the train around the park about 5 times and chatted with the conductor and learned some new fun facts. It gave our feet a rest and a chance to learn stuff.

 

[ParkHopper1]

At sunset, they play “Shaboom” and turn on the neon lights in Carsland. It’s pretty cool to watch. You can ask a CM for that day’s exact timing, but it’s usually right around official “sunset.”.

It happens two minutes after official sunset each day...most Cast Member actually have no idea other then "around sunset"!

 

[chickapin parterre]

The waste of time path in Fantasyland follows like this, ride Snow white three times in a row to gather in the kitchen details, after my reading here for a couple of years, 8 out 10 visitors can't answer simple trivia questions about the Kitchen.

Ride Casey Junior over and over until you have traveled in each car. Then do it all over again at night. ride canal boats and dumbo at night. ride the carousel at night.

Ride peter pan over and over until you can anticipate the moment in the attraction when this quote comes true " I WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO JUMP ON THE WINDS BACK." for me and others, infrequent boarding "MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER...OR FORGETFUL" I always grab the safety bar when the wind jumps on my back....I never see it coming.

Walt's fear was "ONCE YOU ARE GROWN UP, YOU CAN NEVER COME BACK." So he created a wall on the Mad Hatter shop that prevents us from growing up. Go ahead and stand back from that wall and watch the parade of families who measure their lack of growth.

Ride alice for a second time and count the number of lights not working in the flower lamps, yourself becoming a fortunate teller of the decay of Disneyland. Speaking of fortune tellers, do you know where the three are located?

Other waste of time that comes to mind is arriving very, very early in the morning dark so you can have the view of the "First Family" and then when time to do so, go watch the opening of ToonTown, stand in the hub for the lighting of the castle and sit below Main Street station at the assigned time to watch the horses leave Main Street. Guess which one I have not wasted my time doing?

 

[avalon451]

Walk on the path behind Harbor Galley across from the Haunted Mansion. There's a seating area and a little walkway that goes back around to more tables. It's usually quite quiet there. Stay on it and stand on the bridge with a perfect view of people coming down the drop on Splash Mountain, then they pass beneath you on their way to the unloading area, usually still hooting and wet.

 

[azdisneylover]

Explore Tom Sawyer’s Island. Lots of detail and you can find a spot and just watch the ships go by.

Take a ride on the monorail. It’s more of a ride at DL as opposed to transportation in WDW. A good way to see DL, CA and DTD from a different perspective.

Yes, ask to ride in the nose/cones, both front and back. I have ridden in the front cone first thing in the morning and it was wonderful! Spend the afternoon hours when you do not want to go back to your room, but want to relax, drawing in the Animation building.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If your visit covers a Saturday evening, plan to stop by PFF for the Royal Swing Ball (usually from 7:30-11:00 pm). There is a different live band each week and lots of swing dancing. You can find the name of the band for each week in that week's entertainment schedule. The swing dancers are a very friendly group and will dance with you if you don't have a partner (just ask someone!) or will teach you to dance (just ask!). The dancing is really fun to watch. Check the entertainment guide for the live bands in DTD (time sets usually run from 6-10:30 pm). Sometimes there is dancing for those bands, too.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Little Man of Disneyland. There’s a book and his house is hidden at the base of a tree in Adventureland.

 

[DnA2010]

If your visit covers a Saturday evening, plan to stop by PFF for the Royal Swing Ball (usually from 7:30-11:00 pm). There is a different live band each week and lots of swing dancing. You can find the name of the band for each week in that week's entertainment schedule. The swing dancers are a very friendly group and will dance with you if you don't have a partner (just ask someone!) or will teach you to dance (just ask!). The dancing is really fun to watch. Check the entertainment guide for the live bands in DTD (time sets usually run from 6-10:30 pm). Sometimes there is dancing for those bands, too.

Omg I didn't know this was still going! DH and I danced at the covered area on our first trip when we were dating like 10 years ago! I never thought to see if it was still going as I just assumed it wasn't!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Omg I didn't know this was still going! DH and I danced at the covered area on our first trip when we were dating like 10 years ago! I never thought to see if it was still going as I just assumed it wasn't!

The dancing is there almost every Saturday unless it's raining. Come on by the next time you're in the parks!

 

[ChrissyLou]

I agree with posters about riding the monorail, the Columbia, Mark Twain, canoes, taking the train all the way around the park, although I really wouldn't consider them a waste of time ever, we just really enjoy them, but usually wait to do so when the park is super busy and we have done all the "attractions" we want to. I also really like the somewhat hidden pathway area near Harbor Galley. Also, sometimes just sitting down on a bench somewhere along Main Street and people/character watch. It can be quite entertaining. We also made a point to watch the Christmas Fantasy parade multiple times, but from different locations.

 

[RecursiveColor]

One of my favorite random encounters is being on the carousel at the same time as the Pearly Band and whoever they happen to be escorting (I've only seen Mary Poppins/Bert or Village Belle, but there could be others). Riding the carousel with live music is one of the most magical things I've experienced; they also let the ride run longer. I've heard it happens every day, but not at predictable times, so your best bet is hanging around Fantasyland and keeping an eye out. Can be a little tough to time the queue properly if the park is busy, but there are a lot of days that the carousel is basically a walk-on.

If it's not cost-prohibitive, you might also consider a guided tour like "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" or "Grand Circle". I'm actually doing one for the first time on my upcoming trip in February, but I've only heard wonderful things about what you get to do and what it's like interacting with the guides. I have a friend that used to be a plaid, and her insider knowledge is top notch.

 

[WonkaKid]

Take a ride on the monorail. It’s more of a ride at DL as opposed to transportation in WDW.

Agree completely. I’ve visited DL for ears — uhm, years ;-) — and then one day realized “Wow, I’ve never been on the Monorail. How’d that happen?” I enjoyed my first trip and now make a point to ride it once a month or so. Definitely worth doing. As are the Main Street vehicles.

One other small thing I enjoy is simply to enjoy a cup of tea as I sit on the wall along the Rivers of America (or on one of the benches that circle the main hub). In both cases aside from people watch, I often pull out the draft of an article and withdraw into my head for a bit and do a read-through or three.

Hope you all have a fantastic time. I go to the park nearly every Sunday and still have a wonderful time.

 

[WonkaKid]

If your visit covers a Saturday evening, plan to stop by PFF for the Royal Swing Ball ... The swing dancers are a very friendly group and will dance with you if you don't have a partner (just ask someone!) or will teach you to dance (just ask!).

Whoa, cool. This is news to me. I’ll gave to get down there one Saturday evening. Honestly, I had no idea.

Incidentally, PFF?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Whoa, cool. This is news to me. I’ll gave to get down there one Saturday evening. Honestly, I had no idea.

Incidentally, PFF?

PFF=Princess Fantasy Faire, aka what used to be Carnation Plaza Gardens. Come on by any Saturday evening, usually from 7:30 pm to 10-ish! You'll be most welcome!