Suggestions for 1st ever ride

[Is This Real]

We will be entering Disneyland for our 1st time ever as a family (kids are 13 and 15) at about 6.00pm on a Thursday night.

I'm after some suggestions for what our kids 1st taste of Disneyland should be.

I am thinking It's a Small World, but open to others opinions.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

When will you be visiting? If the DLRR will be running (rumored to be back up by mid July), that might be a good choice. A ride on the DLRR (take a moment to look at the displays in the station -- you can feel Walt's love of trains) will give you a feel for the expanse of the park and a view of most of it, barring the not-yet-completed SWL. You could exit at the Toot Town Station to ride IASW, then re-board to complete your tour around the park.

 

[Midnightred]

I think I would choose Pirates! Follow that up with Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, then IASW.

Midnightred

 

[mom2rtk]

Have your kids checked out information about the parks online? What do they say they'd like to try first? At 13 and 15 I bet they have some opinions.

 

[Is This Real]

Our 1st day is Thursday 6th July so I don't think DLRR will be running then, which is shame as that is what we would have done.

We are limited in which ride we can go on as a group as I suffer from motion sickness. My daughter will go on everything and my wife and son on most. I will be doing a lot of fast pass collecting over our 5 days. (3 full days and 2 half days)

Splash Mountain would probably be the kids choice, but not sure I want to get wet on 1st ride and be walking around in wet clothes for the rest of the night.

 

[maleficent55]

My vote would be Peter Pan

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Are you able to make Peter Pan your last ride of the night? As long as you all are in line before park closing, the CMs will allow you to ride. It can be magical to exit the ride to a closed park, then take your time going down Main Street (look in windows, shop a little -- stores are open an hour after closing, take lots of photos), look back at Town Square, MS, and the castle before exiting the park.

As for the motion sickness, lots of us suffer from it to varying degrees and still manage to ride a fair amount of rides. Do a search on this forum for threads on motion sickness. There are some very good suggestions. If you find something that will work for you, even a little bit, great! And even if you don't, you'll still have a wonderful time at DLR. There is so much to the parks beyond rides.

Also, download the free DLR app so that you can be monitering wait times before you enter the park. Have a few choices for rides so that you don't get stuck in a long line on your first ride ever at DL. There is also an information kiosk by the entrance to Adventureland that has a ride board with listed wait times. You might change your choice based on the information at the time you enter.

 

[Jedimom]

Another vote for Pirates.

 

[Is This Real]

Are you able to make Peter Pan your last ride of the night? As long as you all are in line before park closing, the CMs will allow you to ride. It can be magical to exit the ride to a closed park, then take your time going down Main Street (look in windows, shop a little -- stores are open an hour after closing, take lots of photos), look back at Town Square, MS, and the castle before exiting the park.

As for the motion sickness, lots of us suffer from it to varying degrees and still manage to ride a fair amount of rides. Do a search on this forum for threads on motion sickness. There are some very good suggestions. If you find something that will work for you, even a little bit, great! And even if you don't, you'll still have a wonderful time at DLR. There is so much to the parks beyond rides.

Also, download the free DLR app so that you can be monitering wait times before you enter the park. Have a few choices for rides so that you don't get stuck in a long line on your first ride ever at DL. There is also an information kiosk by the entrance to Adventureland that has a ride board with listed wait times. You might change your choice based on the information at the time you enter.

Peter Pan as the last ride of the night sounds like a great idea.

I certainly won't be letting my motion sickness effect our trip. I will be going on as many rides as I think my stomach and head can take. It also doesn't worry me not to be able to go on rides. I get just as much enjoyment seeing the smiles on my kids faces and their reactions.
When we go to theme parks in Australia we get there when the gates open and they are kicking us out when it closes (admittedly not as many hours as DL). I may only go on 1 or 2 rides for the day, but I still enjoy myself.

Can't wait.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... Can't wait.

Have a magical first evening in DL and a wonderful trip!

 

[NannyBeBe]

I would let the kids take the lead. Small World is a nice ride but I would think that teens would choose something else to ride first. Pirates would be my choice. As to your motion sickness, I also suffer from extreme motion sickness and am able to ride almost all the rides. I cannot do Star Tours and have not done Screamin because I am sure it would make me sick.

 

[StormyCA]

Another vote for Peter Pan. It's always our first ride of our trip as well as the last. But do be prepared for a line as waits of 40+ are common unless you're there for EMH or MM.

Motion sickness sucks! Mine is 'selective' so I can still do some coaster-type rides. Do you think you'd be able to handle Big Thunder RR or Indiana Jones? If not, I'd try to pick a 'classic' ride, like Jungle Cruise or one of the other FL dark rides. Something that has been there since the '50s for a taste of the 'original' DL

As far as Splash, it's 'iffy'. You don't always get soaked. In July, it can still be warm in the evening. Just don't wear denim and consider wearing flip flops on the ride with shoes stowed in a locker or backpack.

 

[camosun]

I think You should check the app and see what fast passes are available and grab one *before* you hop on your first ride.
Then ride Pirates or Haunted Mansion. They are very "Disney" and quite unique from what other amusement parks have. Very great examples of imagineering. Your choice of IASW is also a good choice full of Disney magic.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I'd also vote Pirates! Maybe Haunted Mansion. You could go in a row and do Pirates, then Haunted Mansion, then Splash Mountain.

I wouldn't do Small World first with teenagers, personally.

 

[YukonMommy]

So many choices!! If your kids know your going I, like others have said would get their input. Its easy to overlook the classic rides (Dumbo, Peter Pan, Snow White, etc) with teenagers, but please try not to. There is just something so special watching your kids embrace the magic that is Disney!
Have a Magical Time!

 

[Elima2015]

I think I would pull a Big Thunder FP upon entering and then go ride Pirates as my first ride, Haunted if the FP return time allows, and then back to BTMM. Then I'd go hit the teacups. I love that ride at night (I get motion sick, too, as long as nobody touches the teacup spinner wheel, I'm 100% fine).

 

[bumbershoot]

Pirates.

Railroad if it's open, and go all the way around.

Then pirates.

 

[chickapin parterre]

* No on the train, your week is part of a larger extended national holiday....and if it is open....there will be historical lines....wanting a peak at the new Disneyland.

*No on small world. It is a long walk and the walk is rather void of themeing, the only introduction to Disneyland, is the walk.

*No Peter Pan. PP is my favorite of them all......but I would never take a guest, who has traveled all day, never been to Disneyland, to the torture chains of waiting for Peter Pan. It is awful, kids swinging, being kicked and looking at all those exhausted folks.....and being from Salem, Oregon, their first response would be....".Huh, this is no different the enchanted forest. "

YES ON PIRATES, turning that corner into Adventureland they will hear the beat of the jungle soundtrack, the area is themed, teaming with people, the smell....truly a first memory. Then when waiting in line, they can look at the River from the extended waiting area, the creep down into the fountain waiting in line area and the up into NOS, then catch the theme music, look at the theming, all the smiles, it is a long, pleasing to the eye....and even has a waterfall drop. All of my first time visitors have truly enjoyed pirates as an introduction to Disneyland.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Pirates, hands-down. As others have said, try to grab a FP for whatever's left before going. BTMRR is a good choice.

Splash can easily be saved for the evening. You can ride it multiple times after dark if you so choose, especially once it gets close to park closing. And while you're in the area, don't skip Pooh. Hardly ever much of a wait and my teens still love it. Get in line for PP right before the park closes if you really want to ride it that day.

 

[aidansmother]

I vote Pirates! You can sit together and the ride is a long one. It is good for all ages.