Surprise!

[Fairywings]

So, with all my previous trips, I've always known they were coming.

But today, I was told that my dad has business in California, and my mom and I could tagalong and spend a couple days in Disneyland. I'll be missing Homecoming dance and one day at school, but frankly, as long as I go to Senior Prom who cares about Homecoming, and I'll miss one day of class, but I don't think it will kill my grade, I'll just have to take exams for that day's classes.

So, I'm going to Disneyland!

We'll be in Cali from November 1st to November 3rd. Not sure which days are at which parks and which day will be the business day in San Diego. It will depend on the weather.

I've only been once, and it was literally the week before Carsland opened. So I'll be excited to see that. Matterhorn and one ride I can't remember the name of but it was the water raft ride with the bear rock thing in California Adventure were closed for repairs last time, but should be open now. And I'm very excited to see World of Color again, that was awesome!

So, any tips? Do you think the Halloween decorations will still be up? Must see rides/shows? Best restaurants?

Also, I made a packing list but is there anything that you think is necessary to add?

Thank you!

Perry

 

[Orreed]

Yay!!! That's exciting. And homecoming isn't that great, I agree prom will be better. I haven't been since 2010, so I probably aren't the best for advice. But have a magical time! Ride Indiana Jones a million time that ride is so much fun. And I've heard San Diego is gorgeous. I have friends who live there. The ride is Grizzly River Run which is way better than Kali River in my opinion.

 

[Fairywings]

Yeah the Indiana Jones ride is fabulous. I've been to San Diego once, my first trip to California, and I agree it's nice. Ah, Grizzly River Run, that's what its called. Nice to know.

 

[ColdNeverBotheredMe]

That is so awesome!!!! Surprise trips are the BEST! Last spring break I was surprised with a trip too, literally woken up at five in the morning and told to get in the car; we were going to Disneyland. I had no idea!
Anyway. We were there just a month ago, and though I've never been at Halloween time (lucky!), hope you have as awesome a time as we did!

So must do rides (at least in my opinion) are:
-Indiana Jones (yes, I agree, do this a billion times, it's so worth it and each ride experience is a little different!)
- Radiator Springs Racers... it's so popular for a reason!
- Cars Land in general
- All the "mountains", if they're up
- Pirates of the Caribbean (never been to WDW but I hear the DL version is longer)
- California Screamin'!!!!! My fav rollercoaster!!!
- We always enjoy doing the Paradise Pier rides, especially at night. A non swinging gondola on Mickey's Fun Wheel is great, you can see the whole park! Also, Silly Symphony Swings and the Golden Zephyr are SO underrated, but we find them to be really fun and always have super short waits (usually walk-ons, or like five minutes)
- Grizzly River Run is fantastic!
- Soarin' is good too!

For shows...

-If you have not seen Fantasmic, it's SPECTACULAR! My mom likes it better than WoC. I don't actually know if it's showing right now during this season, but if so, definitely see it. If there are two showings, do the second one.
- If you like Aladdin at all, the Aladdin show in Hollywood Land in CA is phenomenal! It's like a mini Broadway show, there are always plenty of seats, it's cool, and a nice break.
- And WoC. Of course. Best show ever.

And then for food...

Our family favorites are Hungry Bear (next to Splash Mountain), Cafe Orleans (get the Monte Christo, everyone talks about it, but it is just so delicious, and the pommes frites are good too!), Blue Bayou (same food as Cafe Orleans but the atmosphere can't really be beat...like ever... although it is very expensive), Carnation Cafe on Main street, Red Rockett's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland, and Flo's Cafe in CarsLand (the mashed potatoes are so good!) For desserts, Dole Whips of course, Ghirardelli's, which is in Pacific Wharf...they give free chocolate samples and the sundaes are amazing, and the ice cream at the Cozy Cone is pretty good too.

Sorry for spouting a ton of stuff....I've been suffering from Disney withdrawls lately, (our spring break trip cannot come fast enough!) but I'm glad you get to go!!! Have a ton of fun!!!!

 

[disneyanney]

I haven't been to Disneyland in a good long while, so I can't help with much except give my excellence on their options of sour dough bread bowls. From what I've heard, I believe they begin transitioning over into Christmas decorations as soon as November hits, but I've never experienced the turnover myself. Also, check the weather before you go - a December trip of ours called for coats!
Have fun!

 

[Fairywings]

lol, no problem, actually very helpful, thank you.

Yeah, Fantasmic is great, I've seen it at WDW and the one trip to DL I mentioned.

I definitely plan on going on as many things as I can. And good to hear about the Aladdin show, I'm big into theatre and I'm sure it's awesome. At WDW we make a point of seeing the Beauty and the Beast show, which is comparable to Broadway, just like what you said about Aladdin.

Free chocolate samples? I am so there!

 

[Fairywings]

So I leave in two days, though really less than that. Any last minute ideas/tips?

 

[Silvermist20]

-Get some last minute packing done and make absolute sure that you aren't missing anything (everytime my family goes on any trip, we almost always forget at least one thing)

-If you don't have one already, create a Disney playlist. It might help you get really excited to be in Disneyland while on the way there

-Make a schedule if you haven't already

-Listen to Disney music while doing the above. It'll really get you in the Disney mood. (I suggest some music from Nightmare Before Christmas since it's Halloween.)

I've never been to Disneyland, so I can't give you tips regarding being there, sorry.

 

[ColdNeverBotheredMe]

I'd just say relax and have fun. It's not like WDW (or so I hear) where you have to plan everything, it's all close together and it's really easy to just go with the flow. We usually have a general plan, like scheduled around dinner reservations and what we want to do first but for the most part we usually just wing it and end up doing everything we want to do. Park hopping is really quick by the way, it's not an issue to just go between them several times in one day if you have park hopper tickets.
That's all I can think of other than the stuff I already said. I'm jealous; have fun!

 

[Fairywings]

Did CA today.

I loved Radiator Springs Racers and Aladdin. We're in line for RSR again.

For lunch I had the Cheddar Cgeese Ale soup in a bread bowl at Pacific Wharf Cafe and it was wonderful

 

[disneyanney]

Did CA today. I loved Radiator Springs Racers and Aladdin. We're in line for RSR again. For lunch I had the Cheddar Cgeese Ale soup in a bread bowl at Pacific Wharf Cafe and it was wonderful

I'm so jealous. It does get me excited, though, since we're going as a family for my senior trip. Glad you're having fun!

 

[Fairywings]

Thanks Anney!

In our spots for World of Color

 

[Orreed]

Glad your having a blast Perry. Today must be nice with the time fall back because getting up for the park would be easier.

 

[Fairywings]

Yeah I woke up a bit ago

 

[ColdNeverBotheredMe]

Did CA today.

I loved Radiator Springs Racers and Aladdin. We're in line for RSR again.

For lunch I had the Cheddar Cgeese Ale soup in a bread bowl at Pacific Wharf Cafe and it was wonderful

Isn't Pacific Wharf the best??? Did you go to the Ghirardelli's shop yet? They give free samples and have the best ice cream sundaes I've ever had.
Aladdin is an awesome show! I love the genie, he's so hilarious with all his pop culture references. Did he do the Frozen reference? I died laughing!
Racers is great too. The entire theming of Carsland is just so incredible!
I'm really jealous right now by the way. How are the crowds?

 

[Fairywings]

Isn't Pacific Wharf the best??? Did you go to the Ghirardelli's shop yet? They give free samples and have the best ice cream sundaes I've ever had.
Aladdin is an awesome show! I love the genie, he's so hilarious with all his pop culture references. Did he do the Frozen reference? I died laughing!
Racers is great too. The entire theming of Carsland is just so incredible!
I'm really jealous right now by the way. How are the crowds?

I did not get to go to Ghirardelli

He did not reference Frozen but made several celebrity jokes and a Halloween joke

I agree. It's really pretty at night

Crowds are not bad

 

[Fairywings]

I rode Haunted Mansion Holiday and was not freaked out like norm

 

[Fairywings]

I rode Haunted Mansion Holiday and was not freaked out like normal.

I had a Dole Whip Soft serve, it was good.

They had a big hero six preview where Eo used to be, I'm really excited for that movie.

I took lots of pictures of the Marvel stuff at Innoventions and met Thor and Captain America, both were great.

 

[Fairywings]

I've seen a lot of people wearing Hogwarts uniforms and other house wear. I think I've seen Gryffindor and oddly enough Hufflepuff but there have been multiple representatives of each house. Even saw some Lunas and Hermiones and Death Eaters too. Some people even had wands.

Totally doing this if I ever come back

 

[disneyanney]

I've seen a lot of people wearing Hogwarts uniforms and other house wear. I think I've seen Gryffindor and oddly enough Hufflepuff but there have been multiple representatives of each house. Even saw some Lunas and Hermiones and Death Eaters too. Some people even had wands. Totally doing this if I ever come back

I'm totally that one who would go Hufflepuff.
I did that at WWOHP, but that's a little out of theming, don't you think?