Things not to miss?

[disneygatorfan]

This will be my first trip to Disneyland, and I can't wait. I have lived in Orlando my whole life, and been going to WDW since I was in diapers (I work there now as well), but now I have a chance to go where it all started!

Anyway, we are going from 10/12-10/16.... Staying in the Grand Californian. What are some of the things we shouldn't miss... Any help or tips are appreciated!

 

[HydroGuy]

This will be my first trip to Disneyland, and I can't wait. I have lived in Orlando my whole life, and been going to WDW since I was in diapers (I work there now as well), but now I have a chance to go where it all started!

Anyway, we are going from 10/12-10/16.... Staying in the Grand Californian. What are some of the things we shouldn't miss... Any help or tips are appreciated!

Sounds like you are not going with kids. I have never been to WDW, but have been going to DL since my diaper days. I hope to go to WDW in February.

So here is my subjective list...

RIDES at DL

Indiana Jones
Space Mtn
Splash Mtn
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
Big Thunder Mtn RR
Matterhorn
Jungle Cruise
Tiki Room
Peter Pan
Alice in Wonderland
StoryBook Land Canal Boats (best at twilight, IMO)
Small World (my wife loves it, I don't)
Mark Twain
Honey I Shrunk the Audience

RIDES at DCA

Soarin Over California
Tower of Terror
Grizzly River Run (only if you do not mind getting wet)
California Screamin (currently closed - hopefully will open again soon)
Animation Studio, especially Turtle Talk with Crush

SHOWS at DL

Fantasmic
Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks (best viewed from the hub - get there at least 30 minutes early, probably more)
Disneyland: First 50 Years

SHOWS at DCA

Aladdin

FASTPASS

My understanding is that DLR FP system works differently than WDW. And it has some idiosyncracies. If it is a busy day and you want to get on more rides, see my FP thesis "Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

RIDEMAX

RideMax works best on busier days. It helps schedule rides for you. It is not for everyone. See my RideMax critique here - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885134

GENERAL

Probably same advice for WDW, but get to the gates 30 minutes early and hit the rides hard during the first couple hours. Then slow down mid-day.

Watch for Early Entry days on Mon/Tue/Thurs/Sat. If you have EE, then use it. If not, FantasyLand can get crowded before you even get into the park.

 

[crazymama]

If you happen to have a little girl in your party, do not miss Princess story time at the Once Upon a Time shop just inside the castle entry. My 5 year old swooned over it!!!!! A different princess does a story 3 times/day with the assistance of a "helper." It is well done and very sweet. Little boys would enjoy it too but the audience was 90% girls.

 

[laura&fam]

Do they post times for the Princess story time ahead of time or do you have to check once you get to the park?

Any tips on convincing my husband that we should do this? My 5 year old DD loves princesses, but I'm having trouble convincing her dad that this is worth our time.

 

[crazymama]

Hi there. The story times ran at 1130, 1230 and 130 daily. We saw Belle one day and Snow White the next. It doesn't take much time. You do want to get there 15 or so minutes early to get a seat on the carpet. It is held at the back of the store and can get crowded. Have your little girl sit on the left hand side of the carpet area (when you are facing front). That is where the line up forms (along the left hand side wall - opposite the book shelf wall) for photos and autographs. If you get near the front the whole thing is pretty quick! The story is pretty entertaining too... even for grownups!

 

[laura&fam]

I don't suppose they tell you ahead of time which princess it will be do they? My daughter has a Snow White costume and a picture with Snow White would be so great!

I'm hoping, but not counting on, Snow White being at AG for lunch when we go.

 

[Ginarella]

Don't miss the Haunted Mansion. It's decorated with Jack Skellington and friends.

Don't miss the parades.

Don't miss the Firework show at 9:30 pm. It will take place behind the castle.

Don't miss Fantasmic. Show is at Rivers of America.

Make sure you get a map and a show listing as you enter the gates. Shows vary and times may change.


Have a great time!!

 

[dvccruiser]

We have been to wdw many times and just made our first trip to dl last week.
The things on my not miss list for you would be
Aladin show (do not miss funniest disney show i have ever seen the genie is great)
The fireworks and fantasmic ( diff from wdw in a few ways)
Space mountain Potc and haunted mansion
Get a fp for splash mountian longest line when we where there
Indian jones was great too another fp ride.
The maliboomer was cool it you can take it if you ride tot you can do this
We love wdw and was not prepared to like dl as much as we did
Smaller yes but it really started to grow on me.
CA was nice smaller but less crowded rode tot and grizzley rapids 3 timed straight 5 min wait.
Have fun see you on the dec 3 magic

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

Thank you for asking, I'm wondering too!

 

[Praise2Him]

Great tips, thanks!

 

[Duckfan]

here are a few little things we loved:

At the Snow White ride:
Rub the apple just outside the entrance
Back up and look at the window (the curtains open)

Check out the golden ride vehicles just outside some of the earliest rides and take your picture in them
(the carousel horse, toads car, golden dumbo, golden peter pan ship, etc)

Check out the Small World quarter hour clock show

Ride the train from tomorrowland to the main street station to view the great dioramas

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

At Disneyland, I would recommend getting to rides that WDW doesn’t have, like Matterhorn and Indiana Jones, and those that are a little different than the WDW version like POC and the recently refurbished Space Mountain. I also enjoyed the original Tiki Room (No offense Iago!).

The Snow White show is good, but I believe the theatre is being refurbished. And, I enjoyed Disneyland’s Fantasmic more than WDW’s.

We really enjoyed eating at Blue Bayou. It is INSIDE of POC! Very cool! POC at Disneyland is definitely better than at WDW.

At DCA the Aladdin show is definitely a “can’t miss”. If I had to pick out a couple other attractions in DCA I’d say the Sun Wheel, not a typical ferris wheel, and Grizzly River Run. GRR is very similar to Kali River Rapids, but it’s unique because of the theming.

Have fun!

 

[HydroGuy]

At Disneyland, I would recommend getting to rides that WDW doesn’t have, like Matterhorn and Indiana Jones, and those that are a little different than the WDW version like POC and the recently refurbished Space Mountain. I also enjoyed the original Tiki Room (No offense Iago!).

Hey, how are thing in Minnesota? I have a business trip to Florida in February and am thinking about taking my two youngest and spending 2-3 days at WDW. Any good guide books you would recommend?

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

Hey, how are thing in Minnesota? I have a business trip to Florida in February and am thinking about taking my two youngest and spending 2-3 days at WDW. Any good guide books you would recommend?

Hydroguy--I'm a big fan of the Unofficial Guide to WDW--not the kids one, but the plain old UG. MUCH more informative than the UG to DL. Did you post this on the WDW side, too? Lots of good suggestions to be found over there!

 

[JMouse]

SHOWS at DL
Fantasmic
Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks (best viewed from the hub - get there at least 30 minutes early, probably more)
Disneyland: First 50 Years


I was just wondering what/where "the hub" is to watch the Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks from??
Thank ya

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

Hey, how are thing in Minnesota? I have a business trip to Florida in February and am thinking about taking my two youngest and spending 2-3 days at WDW. Any good guide books you would recommend?

Hey HG!

We're having a beautiful fall in Minnesota! But, I'm still thinking "11 weeks ago right now we were..."

We found "The Unofficial Guide" the most helpful of all the WDW trip planning books we've used. But the earlier suggestion to solicit advice on the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies forum is a good one!

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

Being a WDW vet, you probably already know this DisneyGatorFan, but for others reading this post. . .

Don't burn your park time shopping for souveniers in the parks! My personal strategy is to check out World of Disney at DTD the evening we arrive and do a pretty thorough inventory (I'm nuts! ). This gives me an idea of what I can get there after hours or on a non-park day. That way if I see something in the parks that I just CAN'T live without (and it happens!), I know to buy it right then. Also, I'm just looking for different stuff--I know I saw that Tink collection at WoD, so I'm not going to look at it in Fantasyland (the prices will be exactly the same). Besides, shopping at WoD the night before we hit the parks gets us all extra Disney-fied.

The other thing to keep in mind is the Disney Visa benefit of 10% off $50 or more "at participating shops." Save up that shopping for one big trip! WoD is included in that "participating shops" list.

Just my $.02. Have a great trip!!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hydroguy--I'm a big fan of the Unofficial Guide to WDW--not the kids one, but the plain old UG. MUCH more informative than the UG to DL. Did you post this on the WDW side, too? Lots of good suggestions to be found over there!

I bought the Unofficial Guide to DL by Sehlinger. It as so-so. Is that the same author?

I have not been to the WDW forum yet. I will need to start spending some time there. I have been to DLR many times, but never to WDW.

 

[HydroGuy]

Hey HG!

We're having a beautiful fall in Minnesota! But, I'm still thinking "11 weeks ago right now we were..."

We found "The Unofficial Guide" the most helpful of all the WDW trip planning books we've used. But the earlier suggestion to solicit advice on the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies forum is a good one!

I spent four days in Michigan last week, and it appeared autumn is late this year. I was expecting a more colorful visit in mid-October.

So, is the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies forum the best you have found for WDW? I will start poking my nose in there sometime soon.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

I bought the Unofficial Guide to DL by Sehlinger. It as so-so. Is that the same author? /QUOTE]


Yep, same guy. I LOVE his WDW and Las Vegas UGs, but the DL one is disappointing. You'll find a truckload more info about lodging, attendance curves, etc. in the WDW edition. To be fair, a lot of the examples and info on going to the park and preparation stuff is the same in both books. For my $16, though, it's the best book out there--and I considered them all (color me anal-retentive in my vacation planning). Check it out at your local bookstore and do a side-by-side comparison to the DL edition--it's more than twice the size! (And it ain't just because there are four parks there, either.)

Sorry to get so far off topic on this thread. PM me if you want to talk further about the book.