Please,Post your Best DL Tips!!

[tink2dw]

I would like to see All your Best DL tips!! There are tons for WDW but I need Disneyland Tips,Please??? For food,touring,sun blocks,parade watching areas,free things to do??

 

[LuvTigger]

I'm not sure if it's open to non-guests, but GC has a great hotel tour in the afternoon that lasts about an hour. Also, when I was there last year, I asked if they had a Hidden Mickey Clue List like WL has, and they said, "not yet" but they might be working on it. Might be worth asking again.

For Fantasmic! it's not in a stadium with seating like MGM. You need to find a spot on the ground or sidewalk, so if you want to get a good spot, claim it early!

 

[Bob O]

One tip that is the same for all parks is get there EARLY!!!!! The early bird does get the worm and the ability to avoid lines early in the morning on the busiest/slowest loading attractions. Also find out what rides are on the fast pass system and what rides are offf the system. Thanks to a great tip here i was made aware that POTC wasnt on the fast pass system so i was able to have fastpasses for that ride and another at the same time and that saves time.
And lastly find out what rides have single rider lines!!!! If you dont mind your party being broken up ask to go on a single rider line. I used that at Indiana Jones and just walked on the ride with no wait while the standby line was 1 hour to 1/2 hours long. It works great. Also used it on Splash Mountain!!

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

You can get a free pressed penny at the bank on Main Street. They'll even give you a penny to press along with a little card to hold it.

 

[TheLionKing]

If you have small children do Fantasyland early in the morning when the lines are shorter.

The Blue Bayou is a better deal for lunch than dinner.

If there are two parades that day, the first starts at IASW and ends at Main Street and the second begins at Main Street and ends at IASW.

If you can stay in the park for the second showing of fantasmic, I recommend doing Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion during the first show and then find a good spot for the second. MOst of the crowd will be exitting and you will be able to get a seat on the river or in the second tier standing and only wait 45 minutes.

If you are going for 4 days or more, it might be worthwhile to buy one premium pass because you will get a discount at some of the restuarants in Downtown Disney, Blue Bayou and also on merchandise bought both in the park and in the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney.

 

[Charlieanna]

Tips:
Plan on using the train to avoid crowds in getting to other lands and save on leg and feet wear. (Do note that getting BACK on the train at Toon Town Station is the busiest/hardest to do, so maybe only get OFF there.)

Take the monorail from Tommorowland and get off in Downtown Disney. Have dinner at Rainforest Cafe or go to ESPN, then work your way back out of there and hit DCA, or go back to do the front part of DL park. (or you can do this in reverse and go through DTD and get on the monorail to travel to Tomorrowland, with your park ticket of course).

The second Fantasmic show is the only way to go. People can't stake out spots so far in advance, plus there's less people.

Read up on trivia so you can look for fun stuff while there and educate everyone else. (I think there is a web site about hidden mickeys somewhere too.) Look through the art gallery above Pirates of the Caribean.

Listen carefully to sounds in various places. One of the better spots is in NOS, near the bathrooms and behind the shops and restaurants. You can hear chimes, music, and talking (like it would sound in the old French Quarter) supposedly coming from upper balconies.

Don't bother with those walkie talkie things (my opinion). Everyone has them and you can't get away from picking up other peoples calls/conversations, or having teenagers butt into your conversations, say rude or inappropriate things, etc., Plus it is often so noisy someone in your group won't hear it ring. Use your cell phone if you absolutely have to, but try to do without and just enjoy the park leisurely.

Watch parades in DL from the town square/main street area. This is also helpful if you are going to head out of the park immediately afterward. The views are just as good there and it tends to be less crowded too.

Watch the ELP in DCA near the front of the park from the seating area of the train car bakery place. Get a seat a bit early and have dinner from around the corner at the Taste Pilots burger place (awesome burgers and fries too BTW).

Take lots of film too, there's lots of good photo opportunities you'll want to remember

 

[scduckman]

Bump

 

[Grog]

(Do note that getting BACK on the train at Toon Town Station is the busiest/hardest to do, so maybe only get OFF there.)

Just wanted to agree with this post. The longest wait I had during the entire three days of my last trip was waiting for the train at the Toon town station. I think we had to wait about 45 minutes until we got a train with some room on it. No one seemed to want to get off in Toontown.

 

[Sonya in Boise]

White water snacks in the GC is a gem. It's the pool cafe that is open to anyone. Great prices and very filling food.

Fantasyland first thing Saturday morning is the only way to go. It was walk on's until 10am

Firstaid station for a cool drink of water

Bank for a free pressed penny. You crank the machine.

Feed the ducks popcorn. Very enjoyable for the kids and parents get to sit and relax.

SLOW DOWN....Take naps, lots of film, bring in your own water and snacks. and SLOW DOWN. Enjoy the sights. Stop to meed all the characters. Especially the face ones. They are very nice and make the trip very memorable.

 

[Rodrigo]

I went in August and got a great tip from this boards. I don't know if you still can do this.

There was some Fastpass rides which are not connected to the FP System (so you can take FP's for these rides at the same time that you get FP's for other rides, don't need to use them or wait 2 hours to get another FP).

The rides were:
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Grizzlie river rapids (DCA)

Hope some expert can confirm this.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Grab a treat at Marceline's Confectionery in Downtown Disney and catch some live music and people watch.

Watch for Drew Tretick near the World of Disney Store - he's an absolute "do-not-miss" if he's playing. Check his schedule at
goviolin.com

Go off property during extended stays. Knott's is a great place to visit for a change of pace and scenery.

 

[tink2dw]

We were at DL during New Years week so the hours were till midnight!! That last hour in fantasyland was pure magic we rode peter pan 2x,snow white,pinocchio 2x,mr. toad's wild ride,and the line was so tiny at Dumbo we even rode it!

 

[Julia M]

Check out the Koi feeding schedule at DL hotel....usually it's in the morning and afternoon. All the kids get a chance to feed them. it's quite a sight, seeing all those fish going for the food!