Spending My First Days in DL!

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

I've been to WDW 3 times and am planning a trip to DLR for the first time! I'm spending one day in each park and was wondering if anyone had a good plan of attack or tips to get the most done!

 

[WonkaKid]

Hope these tips don't sound too obvious but I think they make sense.

· Get to the park early -- at least 45 minutes before the posted opening time.

· Use Fast Passes and single-rider lines to your advantage.

· If it’s important to you to ride Peter Pan, do it right at the rope drop. Otherwise the lines simply get too long.

· Also, hit Alice shortly after PP for the same reason. I suggest PP, Mr. Toad (esp since they no longer have that at DW) and then Alice.

· Take advantage of free cups of water at places such as Pizza Port and Rancho Del Zocalo.

· My personal preference would be to spend both days at DL. I like it so much better than CA. But that’s up to you, of course.

Have a great time! I've been to five of the six (up until recently I could say *all* of them) parks and I like DL the best. It's the original; the park that Walt built.

 

[avalon451]

Check the sticky at the top of the forum for first timer's tips, esp. Hydroguy's DL for WDW vets. Very helpful!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The above tips are spot on. Also, pick your must-do's so you don't get sidetracked. We had some friends come out from Spain and I spent the day with them. They didn't pay attention to my "get there at opening" and by 10:30 when they first texted me and I could get their passes, there were no FPs for Tower of Terror or Radiator Springs. I got Soaring, which turned out to be a great pick. We never got on Haunted Mansion (well, I did, but not them) nor Pirates. They still had a great time with the fun attractions we did see. Since you've been to WDW, there are some attractions that are fun to compare: Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates are high on the list, as is Radiator Springs Racers and the Matterhorn, since they don't have that at WDW, and I'm adding it's a Small World (if it's open). Tower of Terror - if you don't get a fastpass, or a line that is 30-45 mins or less, you might want to miss it. Other fun attractions if you have time - Casey Jr, Alice in Wonderland, and Storybook Land Canal Boats - because they're original to Disneyland and don't have them at WDW.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

Hope these tips don't sound too obvious but I think they make sense.

· Get to the park early -- at least 45 minutes before the posted opening time.

· Use Fast Passes and single-rider lines to your advantage.

· If it’s important to you to ride Peter Pan, do it right at the rope drop. Otherwise the lines simply get too long.

· Also, hit Alice shortly after PP for the same reason. I suggest PP, Mr. Toad (esp since they no longer have that at DW) and then Alice.

· Take advantage of free cups of water at places such as Pizza Port and Rancho Del Zocalo.

· My personal preference would be to spend both days at DL. I like it so much better than CA. But that’s up to you, of course.

Have a great time! I've been to five of the six (up until recently I could say *all* of them) parks and I like DL the best. It's the original; the park that Walt built.

No tips are obvious for first timers, I really do appreciate everything. We are planning being there at rope drop, we're not morning people at all and we'll be jet lagged Im assuming (coming from the East coast), but we're making sure to wake up VERY early. I definitely want to hit all the Fantasyland rides, I love the dark rides. And I think Im with you, I could spend every day at the MK, so Im absolutely thrilled for DL. For my first time, I do want to see DCA because there are some rides we missed during our last WDW trip that are at DCA. I've been 3 times to WDW like I said, but they were so spread out, I was young for 2 of them, so Im not a Disney vet by any means and I am still exploring a lot! Thank you!

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

Check the sticky at the top of the forum for first timer's tips, esp. Hydroguy's DL for WDW vets. Very helpful!

I didn't even see that! Thank you! Im still pretty new to the boards.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

The above tips are spot on. Also, pick your must-do's so you don't get sidetracked. We had some friends come out from Spain and I spent the day with them. They didn't pay attention to my "get there at opening" and by 10:30 when they first texted me and I could get their passes, there were no FPs for Tower of Terror or Radiator Springs. I got Soaring, which turned out to be a great pick. We never got on Haunted Mansion (well, I did, but not them) nor Pirates. They still had a great time with the fun attractions we did see. Since you've been to WDW, there are some attractions that are fun to compare: Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates are high on the list, as is Radiator Springs Racers and the Matterhorn, since they don't have that at WDW, and I'm adding it's a Small World (if it's open). Tower of Terror - if you don't get a fastpass, or a line that is 30-45 mins or less, you might want to miss it. Other fun attractions if you have time - Casey Jr, Alice in Wonderland, and Storybook Land Canal Boats - because they're original to Disneyland and don't have them at WDW.

Hi Mary Jo,

I completely forget if I responded to you on another post, but I just want to say it's so nice to talk to you. I've recently started listening to the DL Edition of the DisUnplugged (probably in August) and you guys (along with the Orlando Team) convinced me to want to desperately go to DL. We definitely plan on Rope Dropping (but after that it's up in there, I read possibly Fantasyland first or Tomorrowland for Hyperspace Mountain). Like you said, I cannot wait to compare the rides that are at WDW. I love the dark rides in Fantasyland, so I cannot wait for Alice, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, and Mr Toad (sadly I missed it when it was at WDW). I also really cannot wait for Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Hyperspace Mountain (SM is my absolute favorite), BTMR, Splash Mountain and to finally ride the Matterhorn and Indiana Jones! In DCA, I obviously cannot wait for Radiator Springs Racers too. I know itll be very hard to do everything in just 2 days, but Im going to try. We havent decided on park hoppers (I know in DL they're extremely worth it compared to WDW), but we're thinking it's our first time and we really want to absorb each park and maybe our 2nd trip we'd park hop. Like I said in another post, I could spend probably a week in just the MK, so I know I could spend days in DL just exploring! Thank you for help and I cant wait to see the house that Walt built!

Btw, is Small World sometimes closed??

 

[theluckyrabbit]

One important tip: be flexible! Do your research, make the plans that hit your priorities (and have a back up plan, too, just in case), then be prepared to let the magic happen. Sometimes the best part of a trip is doing/seeing/experiencing something that wasn't even on your radar, much less your list. Your trip is going to be so much fun. Be sure to come back with a trip report!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Hi Mary Jo,

I completely forget if I responded to you on another post, but I just want to say it's so nice to talk to you. I've recently started listening to the DL Edition of the DisUnplugged (probably in August) and you guys (along with the Orlando Team) convinced me to want to desperately go to DL. We definitely plan on Rope Dropping (but after that it's up in there, I read possibly Fantasyland first or Tomorrowland for Hyperspace Mountain). Like you said, I cannot wait to compare the rides that are at WDW. I love the dark rides in Fantasyland, so I cannot wait for Alice, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, and Mr Toad (sadly I missed it when it was at WDW). I also really cannot wait for Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Hyperspace Mountain (SM is my absolute favorite), BTMR, Splash Mountain and to finally ride the Matterhorn and Indiana Jones! In DCA, I obviously cannot wait for Radiator Springs Racers too. I know itll be very hard to do everything in just 2 days, but Im going to try. We havent decided on park hoppers (I know in DL they're extremely worth it compared to WDW), but we're thinking it's our first time and we really want to absorb each park and maybe our 2nd trip we'd park hop. Like I said in another post, I could spend probably a week in just the MK, so I know I could spend days in DL just exploring! Thank you for help and I cant wait to see the house that Walt built!

Btw, is Small World sometimes closed??

Thanks for listening to our show.

I think you'll have a great time. If you're going at regular time, then I recommend going to Space Mountain, get a fastpass, then go on Star Tours, then head over to Fantasyland for the dark rides, if that is one of your priorities. Peter Pan will always have a long line, and so will Alice in Wonderland. Pinocchio & Snow White usually have smaller queues. I think you have a good plan to concentrate on one park at a time. Keep in mind that Tower of Terror has really long lines right now since they are going to change it. If you have a chance, go on that early in the day because lines will just be long. Get a fastpass for Radiator Springs Racers, though, and you can ride single rider for California Screamin' if you like coasters (it's one of my favorites). There are a lot of details, so hope you are able to see them.

It's a Small World goes down in October, and this year it looks like it's going down 24 October for them to do their holiday overlay. I'm not sure when it's coming back up, though.

Let me know how your trip goes. Maybe we'll run into each other at the parks... or you'll run in to Tom.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

One important tip: be flexible! Do your research, make the plans that hit your priorities (and have a back up plan, too, just in case), then be prepared to let the magic happen. Sometimes the best part of a trip is doing/seeing/experiencing something that wasn't even on your radar, much less your list. Your trip is going to be so much fun. Be sure to come back with a trip report!

So very true and I definitely plan on it! FULL report I promise!

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

Thanks for listening to our show.

I think you'll have a great time. If you're going at regular time, then I recommend going to Space Mountain, get a fastpass, then go on Star Tours, then head over to Fantasyland for the dark rides, if that is one of your priorities. Peter Pan will always have a long line, and so will Alice in Wonderland. Pinocchio & Snow White usually have smaller queues. I think you have a good plan to concentrate on one park at a time. Keep in mind that Tower of Terror has really long lines right now since they are going to change it. If you have a chance, go on that early in the day because lines will just be long. Get a fastpass for Radiator Springs Racers, though, and you can ride single rider for California Screamin' if you like coasters (it's one of my favorites). There are a lot of details, so hope you are able to see them.

It's a Small World goes down in October, and this year it looks like it's going down 24 October for them to do their holiday overlay. I'm not sure when it's coming back up, though.

Let me know how your trip goes. Maybe we'll run into each other at the parks... or you'll run in to Tom.

I love that plan for Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, sounds great! I cant decide if I am brave enough for California Screamin', I have no issues with Space Mountain/BTMR but Ive always been nervous about Rockin Rollercoaster at WDW and I know they're very similar with the launch. I might have to suck it up! I absolutely cannot wait for Radiator Springs Racers. I know this will be the first trip of many, I have a friend who lives in San Diego now so I have an excuse to go to California more now! I will definitely write up a full report and if I saw you or any of the team that would be so cool! Sadly, this trip wont be until the middle of May, so the anticipation will build...

Btw, I also forgot to ask, I think we decided on staying at the Disneyland Hotel, but we cannot decide what view we want. I think we want the Deluxe view, but is the Premium worth the little bit of extra money? Thanks again Mary Jo!