Spur of the Moment Disneyland Trip

[Smposchman]

Spur of the moment is not altogether accurate, but we have decided to spend 3 days at DL when we go to CA next month.

I spent 6 months planning our WDW trip this past October - so the thought of planning DL with only a month to go ... nervewracking! Over-planner - Party of 1!

So while I will be heading to the bookstore this weekend to buy all the planning books I can carry, I'd love to know everyone's Must Sees, Tips, Tricks. My husband & I will be taking out Princess/Tinkerbell/Character obsessed 4 year old.

 

[skiingfast]

Skip the bookstore.

This may be far more useful.
DLR guide for WDW vets.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[ArchOwl]

Fortunately, DL is MUCH easier to plan than WDW. Start with the link above and you will be well on your way. You can start making a few dining reservations if you like, but you have plenty of time.

Perhaps for your daughter you would be interested in character meals? Not sure of your dates, but there is a princess breakfast and lunch in California Adventure at Ariel's Grotto. It is going through a refurb April 30-May 3 I believe, but should be open after that. Reports from WDW vets are that DL character meals tend to be better than WDW ones.

Another great character experience is Minnie's Breakfast inside DL park. The more classic characters go there, but it is very well done and you get a lot of interaction.

Tinkerbell can be found at Pixie Hollow with her friends. The line can be long, so if you want to go, I would go earlier in the day for sure.

Disneyland_1951 has great tips on how to find the princesses during the day without waiting in the Princess Fantasy Faire line. See here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2911735&highlight=princesses

Let us know if you have any specific questions and happy planning!

 

[sonnyjane]

Yikes! I agree. Please save your money and skip the books! These boards are far more accurate and recent than any book on shelves currently. Read the "stickies" here and you'll find more than you need to know. The one ski posted is a great start. DL does not require the same OCD planning as WDW, not by a long shot.

 

[disneychrista]

The information on the books will be over a year out of date. They are out of date by the time they hit the shelves.

 

[OhanaNani1975]

I have found that if you work counter clock wise through DLR you can take it in more. I have always done this & was able to ride lots of rides. I would reserve the next day for shows and rides we missed. The best place I found to watch the parade is directly across from the Penny Arcade no one stands infront of you if you get there a hour before the parade starts and get the curb. We always have the best view and get the best pictures. If you plan to take your little princess for a character dining experience I recommend Ariel's Grotto it's princess themed all the princesses come to the table so that you get pictures autographs. We go to DL annually & it was always very busy since it was during cheer competitions. I am 9 days away from leaving for our DL trip and get excited each time.

 

[smiley_face2]

We make spur of the moment trips regularly and even in summer we rarely make any reservations ahead of time, and rarely if ever miss anything we want to see or do. We head to something we want to see or do, and if it's too long of a wait (we consider anything over 30-40 min too long) we come back later, or leave it till the next day. Even this past Christmas, we were there for 7 days with our princess obsessed grand daughters and without any planning involved we managed to ride every single ride and see every show, with only a couple of exceptions by choice. Two things I can suggest are, get to Tinkerbells grotto early, and head over to the Princess Fantasy Fair first thing one morning. We went right there one morning and it was alrealy a 40 minute wait. We more often than not decide where we want to have dinner early in the day, and then will call the Disney dining line to make a reservation. The only time I have made reservations more than a few days out was for New Years Eve. Makes me want to be back there with our princesses NOW!! Lol... we will be there this July with our dear little Prince, our going on 3 Cars obsessed grand son! We will still be eating at Ariels with the princesses, because he likes them too! Lol.... I want to get him a little Prince Charming costume to wear @ the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique.... they do little Prince's there too right fellow DISers??

 

[Gisele]

How exciting for you and your family to be visiting Disneyland and so very soon too.
Don't get bogged down with books, please. Maybe one good planning book would be good.
I take it this will be your first visit to the land? In which case do ask for first visit buttons for all at City Hall, there are other locations as well that have these; Disney hotels, restaurants and many of the shops.

I personally love to visit the Enchanted Tiki Room where you will find Jose and his plethora of songster and songstress birdies, flowers and tikis alike belting out a storm, and literally at that, for during the show a thunderstorm with lightning (Not scary) most likely will occur.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/enchanted-tiki-room/

Then moving along to Indy, but I believe your 4 y/o will be not quite tall enough to explore that particular adventure yet, but don't let that stop you from going yourself, then your husband can go afterward.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/indiana-jones-adventure/

One must travel upon the jungle cruise as well, it is also in Adventure land. It is particular fun during the evening.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/jungle-cruise/

There you will find many a wild and dangerous animal, along with head hunters (Not the corporate kind) and eventually you will be able to meet the infamous Trader Sam whom can be seen with his pet baby elephant, not sure of his name, but I like to call him Harry. If someone offers you a bowl of Sam's stew,make sure to ask first where all of his wives are, because word has it, that sometimes the special ingredient is one of them, making it very fresh indeed, but not everyone's cup of tea of course. While upon your excursion you will also be able to take part in the very special event known as seeing the other side of a waterfall. Don't forget to make a purchase at the Tropical Market that is right in front of the boarding area for this excursion into the tropics. In case your wondering about the weather there, it is normally hot and humid (The jungle cruise, not DL) Anyway, by making a purchase at said import store, you will be not only supporting Trader Sam, his wives, and many a child, but also his entire village as well. They thank you from the bottom of their sphere carrying little head hunting hearts, no they really do. Every time that I go perusing this store, I can always sense someone is staring at my neck, maybe it is just my cool looking necklace? For they like those too.
Anyway, then one must set sail with the wildest, craziest group of pirates that could ever set sail upon the seven seas or should I say dare to? While enjoying this pirate adventure, you will see to the right of you near the beginning of your voyage, many a land lubber that is enjoying their grub at the Blue Bayou (T/S reservations needed) but don't let them bother you, for they will be but a fleeting image from your boat.....

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/pirates-of-the-caribbean/

I don't know how your daughter might like the Haunted Mansion, many young children enjoy it, but I have seen older children scared by it. If she likes Halloween I believe she will be fine. You can watch different ride throughs on line with her, to see how she might fare on the actual ride attraction. The Haunted Mansion is one of my most favorite ride attractions of all. There you will be greeted by your host..... a ghost host. As you work your way into the inner sanctum of the mansion, interesting tales will be told, along with a most entertaining gallery of paintings. If it feels like someone is following you with their eyes, that is very possible, but do not be alarmed for they are but harmless?...

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/haunted-mansion/

Your daughter will love Pixie Hollow, where she can meet Tinker Bell and her friends.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/pixie-hollow/

There is the Princess Fantasy Faire

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/disney-princess-fantasy-faire/

Many families and individuals alike very much enjoy the different character meals. Since your daughter especially loves princess's, I would suggest dining at Ariel's Grotto (Located in DCA)

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneys-california-adventure/ariels-grotto/

If you have MM, use it if you can. Remember to collect fast passes (When and where they apply for you) first thing in the a.m. and to continue to collect them throughout the day.

While visiting DTD, make sure to stop by Marcelines Confectionery Shoppe, I love it! Just make sure not to ruin your appetite for dinner.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/shopping/marcelines-confectionery/


http://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/list/

All of the land I am sure that you and your family will immensely enjoy!
And have an awesome and wonderful vacation!

~~ I love you Phil and you will forever be with me! Forever my very best and most special friend! I love you to no end. ~~​

 

[Minuet888]

That isnt' a spur of the moment trip,
our spur of the moment trip (and we have an annual pass and live 2 hours with traffic 90 monutes without traffic away from DLR) was alst Saturday around 4pm we said let's go and say goodbye to Electronica and so we got in the car and left. OUr son thought we were just going to the grocery store as he happily played his Nintendo DS. Around 6:15pm we get to the park and my son finally looks up from the game and not realizing how much time has passed said "This isn't the grocery store!" We never said anything about going to the grocery store it was just an assimption in his cute little brain. Plus his wutism causes him to have a not very good concept of time.

So we said our goodbye's to Electronica, I am still upset they got rid of it and I have seen the concept art for the ALice in Wonderland they are putting in there (do we have a start date for that?) I don't like it personally and it won;'t fit in as well as Electronica did.

(and let me please make the note that this is my personal opinion that I am entitled to have, if you happen to like the ALice in WOnderland theme they have going up or didn't like the Electronica theme, that is your opinion that you are entitled to have and I will respect that......you will just be wrong (just kidding))

 

[skiingfast]

I am still upset they got rid of it and I have seen the concept art for the ALice in Wonderland they are putting in there (do we have a start date for that?)

Mad T Party officially starts on June 15th. A DJ who did ElecTRONica is also booked to dj for the two weekends before that.