Tips for First Time Disneyland-er?

[PJesse25]

Hi, All.

I go to WDW every year (sometimes more than once), but will be going to Disneyland in May for the first time since I was a kid 30 years ago. Any and all advice would be appreciated. I've done a lot of reading (laughingplace.com and Birnbaum's) and am really excited to be going. I am a little upset that Fantasmic won't be playing and It's A Small World and Splash Mountain will be closed, but I don't choose to dwell on what's not available.

Questions: Are the "WDW clone" rides worth doing here? Are there any differences from their Florida versions? Any suggestions on places to eat (mostly interested in cheap to moderate places)? Does anybody know if there are/will be new shows in the Fantasyland and Hyperion Theatres at that time? Lastly, how much time should we allow? I am hoping to do DL Friday afternoon and evening (arrival day), DCA on Saturday, finish DL on Sunday, then Universal on Monday and leave on Tuesday. Does this seem reasonable? What size crowds should we expect?

Again, any and all feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[JenniBarra]

As far as rides go, many of the attractions share similar concepts, but may look very different. For example, DL's Space Mountain has on-board music, which makes for a very different experience. (The seating is also very different.) PotC at DL is a far longer and more detailed attraction. Attractions that are similar enough to be skipped would be "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" and Dumbo.

As for places to eat, there are many counter service restaurants. Where to go specifically? It probably just depends on your personal preferences. For example, if you enjoy pizza, then you can go to the pizza place in Tomorrowland. Some people enjoy chowder or gumbo so they get 'em in a bread bowl at a little place in New Orleans Square.

I don't know how soon the Fantasyland Theater will have a new show, but Blast! is currently playing at the Hyperion. I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard it's very popular.

With the time frame you've set, you'll be able to do quite a bit, I would think. If you had an extra day, it would probably even be better. Personally, I'm really into soaking up the atmosphere, so I like to take my time checking things out.

 

[WDWfanatic288]

they are all the same idea but some are worse and so me are better

PotC is 10000000 billion times better at DL, Splash is worse(but thast nto open so nevermind!), Space is faster at DL,I like BTMRR at WDW better


I could go on and on forever! i did a post awhile back comparing to the parks...you could search for it

a good place to eat is Red rocketts pizza port in tomorrowland..it has pizza and pasta

also Club Buzz(or something like that) has good food...think Cosmic Rays that is outside

thats great time! we usualyl do a friday at DL,saturday at DCA and sunday at DL and then leave and we get almost everything done