send this newbie your top 3 DLR tips

[june@imsarc.com]

Going for the first time with family (hubby, 20yo, 16yo, 11yo) during the first 9 days in July 2012, staying at GC. Send me your top 3 tips for the parks, please!

 

[Tiny Little Seed]

1) Park hop! The two parks are much closer to each other than the parks at WDW, so you can hop back and forth multiple times in a single day.

2) Enjoy the rides that are unique to DL, like Indy, Matterhorn, Storybookland, and Alice. Oh, and don't miss DL's Fantasmic!

3) If you can splurge on the food budget, go to Napa Rose for one of your dinners. It's soooooo good.

 

[cmwade77]

Here are tips from an annual pass holder:

1. Do not buy bottles of water, ask for cups of water from anywhere that serves fountain drinks. (Hint: Always ask for a large cup of water, otherwise you will most likely get a kids cup of water, but be prepared, some places will give the largest cup of water when you do this). This saves a lot of money and the water is filtered (it's the same water that would be used to make the iced tea or lemonade).
2. Use Parkhopping and FPs to your advantage. The two parks are not connected, so you could hold one FP from each park at the same time.
3. Do not miss World of Color.

 

[skiingfast]

1. When you are in the HM queue, it divides right as you get to the mansion itself. Go to the right, hardly anyone else does this.

2. One time you are going to Fantasyland, take the path from the far side of the hub that goes to the right, instead of through the Castle.

3. If you have the chance, ride BTMRR and the Storyboo Land Canal Boats during the fireworks.

For bigger ones.

1. Ride in the front of end of the monorial.

2. Ride in the Lilly Belle or Tender on the railroad, ask at Main Street Station in the morning.

3. Ride in the Mark Twain's wheel house, ask on the dock.

 

[Eeee-va]

1. Get to the park at park opening. The first hour or two are magical, with few crowds.

2. Read all the tricks and tips on Fastpasses, if you haven't already.

3. With all the rushing to go from ride to ride, try to stop to take some time to enjoy the ambiance.

 

[kkmcan]

1) Get there for park opening
2) Collect fastpasses throughout day and save them for evening
3) Take an afternoon rest time and return to park after dinner.

 

[Butterfly123]

Here are my tips:

1. Read the stickies with the information and tips at the top of the "threads" page. Have your kids read them, too! There is so much really good information in them.

2. Don't miss the Aladdin show at DCA.

3. It bears repeating...get to the parks early!

 

[june@imsarc.com]

Awesome, thanks so much!

 

[ter-moo]

I'm with Eeee-va and kkmcan--GET TO THE PARKS EARLY IN THE MORNING! Use your Magic Morning days. Be there BEFORE or when the park opens (particularly for Disneyland) and go on the Fantasyland rides and other non Fastpass rides while the crowds are low. Collect fastpasses for the more popular rides throughout the morning.

Remember that you don't have to use the Fastpasses during the hour printed. You can use them anytime AFTER that, too, so collect as many as you can to use later in the day. You can get another fastpass with your ticket as soon as a previous one's first time slotted has passed.

Enjoy shows/parades/quieter stuff in the afternoons. Don't miss gems like the flag-lowering, Dixieland bands in New Orleans Square, and Billy Hill and the Hillbillies.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

#1 tip: read Hydroguys tips for WDW vets!!

 

[june@imsarc.com]

Thanks, all you positive people!

Exactly the kinds of things I was looking for. I know I always love to share my tried and true tips with people going to WDW for the first time.

 

[igomezkailua]

Well first off I'm assuming you have a decent amount of money, since you are staying @ DGC for 9 days. Which totals too alot, since we do the same.

Since people pretty much said my tips..here are some practical suggestions.

First tip

1.) Stay at neighborhood hotels, saves you alot more money. Also some decent places to stay nonetheless.

2.) Go to DL in the morning, take a break during afternoon hours, comeback during the evening. I notice I have way more energy @ night if I take a quick power nap.

3.) Be courteous even though their are lines, honestly I hate people who are disrespectful. Don't worry you will be able to go on the ride..just be patient.

4.) Iphone 4s, best camera for travel period...no you don't need to bring your DSLR...to much weight.. Camera+ (Best app)

5.) Bring a bag that is small enough to fit in the ride compartment.

6.) When watching fireworks, either watch it at the best place possible (if you want to wait)....if not watch it near the entrance of a particular Land...Ala Adventure land, that way when the fireworks end you are not stuck in the middle of thousands of people...you can just sneak out to the entrance of a land.

7.) Plan out your day...before hand.

8.) MY BEST TIP, BUT ALOT OF PEOPLE THINK ITS' MEAN......INSTEAD OF THE WHOLE FAMILY GOING TO GET FAST PASSES. GET THE FASTPASSES OF YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY (GET THEIR DISNEY TICKETS) ONE PERSON GET THEM.. LET YOUR OTHER FAMILY GO ON A RIDE THEY LIKE...GET THE FAST PASSES THEN MEET THEM AFTER WHEN THEY END..THAT WAY YOU GET TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Well first off I'm assuming you have a decent amount of money, since you are staying @ DGC for 9 days. Which totals too alot, since we do the same.

Since people pretty much said my tips..here are some practical suggestions.

First tip

1.) Stay at neighborhood hotels, saves you alot more money. Also some decent places to stay nonetheless.

.

Ummm.....they are DVC owners likely staying on points.

 

[ricko19]

1. California Adventure's gates actually open 30 mins prior to the posted park opening time. Not all rides are open though, but Soarin and Little Mermaid are. FP's are available for World of Color during this time as well (que is at Grizzly rapids). Paradise Pier and it's rides are NOT open during this time. They open right at the posted time. I'm not sure if the backlot rides are open during this time though, we always head to Soarin to ride and get FP's for later as well as WOC FP's and to ride LM.

2. There is sort of a secret path around Grizzly rapids. When coming from Paradise Pier and Little Mermaid go to the right at GRR instead of the left to avoid the crowds entering GRR and WOC FP que. You will come out on the other side, just a short distance from Condor Flats (Soarin).

3. For a one of a kind, FREE souvenir visit the Animation Academy in the back lot. It is a 10-15 minute animation class taught by a Disney trained animator. They will teach you (while you draw along on a "DCA" poster size page) to draw one of many Disney characters!
MY DD does it EVERYTIME we go and has a collection of different characters.

4. HAVE AN AWESOME TIME!!

 

[aan1701]

I am going to offers tip here that goes agenst what most have said here. To me, from your post, looks like you will be at the parks for 9 days. No need to get there early. Take your time and enjoy. Since you will be there so long, maybe you should look into one of the tours they do. I think the most importaint thing to help you out here, is pack your pacentice. The parks will be very crowded, espicaly DCA since its redo should be complete. I hope you have a great trip.

 

[june@imsarc.com]

We do not plan to be in the parks each day, we're also going to do some touring of So Cal and hopefully make it up to see the sequoias. I'm thinking that will be a long day in the car, though! Many thanks, again!

 

[KCmike]

Here are three good tips as others have mentioned some awesome ones.

1. Sit stage left or right at Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. So much fun.
2. Get there at rope drop or Magic Mornings. You can ride every fantasyland ride before the park really opens. That's over 9 rides. From that point decide whether to go to Tomorrowland or Splash and ride and get fast passes.
3. Fastpasses for Big Thunder Mtn Railroad are not connected to other fast pass systems. Go and get you some.

Just a few more because I can't resist it...

4. Ride the Lilly Belle
5. Take the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour (I really enjoyed it)
6. Stop and smell the roses. So many nooks and crannies (sp?)
7. Ride in the canoes on the Rivers of America
8. Don't miss Aladdin. See it twice.
9. Free water in Rancho Del Zocalo
10. Plaza Inn has the best bang for your buck meal. Chicken dinner rocks!

 

[Maddysdaddy]

1. Hit a local grocery store as soon as you can. Even if all you stock up on is bottled water and small snacks (granola bars, bananas, etc.) and not on food to prepare easy meals (cereal, sandwiches, etc.) in your unit, you will end up saving a ton of cash.

2. Keep a couple of ziploc sandwich bags in your pocket when you are in the park so you can throw your wallet/phone/camera in them if you decide to go on a "wet" ride - outside of bag gets wet, contents stay dry. Nothing worse than a wet wallet or water logged phone...

3. Go for 3-4 hours in the morning, then head back to the hotel for a swim/nap, then head back later in the afternoon for another 3-4 hour stretch. Helps avoid grumpy kids and midday heat. (admittedly easier to do if you are staying on-site)

 

[MichelleVW]

4.) Iphone 4s, best camera for travel period...no you don't need to bring your DSLR...to much weight.. Camera+ (Best app)

Have to disagree with this one....I don't go ANYWHERE without my DSLR and would seriously have an anxiety attack if I went to Disneyland without it! Seriously makes me short of breath just thinking about it!!

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Have to disagree with this one....I don't go ANYWHERE without my DSLR and would seriously have an anxiety attack if I went to Disneyland without it! Seriously makes me short of breath just thinking about it!!

Only time that would make sense if you go a couple of times a month. If you only go once or twice a year, take your DSLR if you have one.