TIPS for specific rides!

[Brady's Mom]

I feel like I've been on Soarin' a lot. (Not really, I just feel like that!) So, if I am not sitting next to one of my littles, I always check out the mechanisms. How high up I am, how the ride moves up that high, how cool it is to see the seats sort of tilt and sway, checking out everyone's shoes on the floor. I marvel at the engineering of that ride! Man, I am such a geek!

If I am sitting next to my littlest DS (4 ) I talk about what we are seeing and totally get immersed in the ride with him. That was really fun to be able to go on it with all of my family in March, we took up a whole row ourselves. Before my Nathan wasn't tall enough and he was always really sad not to go - now it is his favorite ride!

 

[Gisele]

I do look at the goat, for quite a bit, I cannot say that I had noticed anything, other than the fact I love to look at the goat, because he is so life like, does he blow up or something? I am thinking not. he he!
Bumbershoot, I agree, regarding the Indy ride, that if one goes with the motion to a certain degree, like a human strut, otherwise it could be painful, transversely if one holds on with too tight of a grip, then like wise your body will become more jarred instead of a lot less. I prefer the front seat, then the middle, for I find the back seat to be like riding rickshaw over pot holes, no matter how I ride it, so far anyway.

 

[Gisele]

Please no flash pictures on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride attraction, that is the policy of Disneyland, and the pirates as well! and please do not argue with me on the ride, when I tell you politely that no flash pictures are allowed, take my word for it!
For it disrupts and disturbs the other guests, and can cause problems with the sensors on the ride.

 

[yunique4u]

I agree with some of the posters about BTMRR, when they say sit in the back! The back totally gets pulled by the momentum of the front. Plus, check it out at night. The darkness makes some turns unpredictable.

On Soarin', don't forget to keep your sense of smell open. Like, you can smell the orange groves as you soar over them.

The matterhorn- the Fantasyland side gets you two views of the Abominable Snowman, while on the Tomorrowland side you pass him once.

For my preference on Splash, I usually put belongings, like purse or backpack, on the seat with me (in front of me). Putting your stuff on the floor of the logs will get them wet. And for that matter, I usually lift of my feet at any sign of oncoming splash.

Lastly- I'm not sure if this is a tip but, on Honey I shrunk the audience, and on It's Tough to be a Bug, I sat in seats that didn't fully have all the effects. On Honey- I didn't get any running mice, and on Bug, I didn't get any effects from the bees. It sort of ruined the experience for me and I was almost at tears. Sad how those things can get me emotional.

 

[Mugglemama]

Also try to sit on the first row, no feet will be hanging over covering some of the view!!!

good advice! we've only made it onto the top level of Soarin' once, but it was DEFINITELY the best experience we've ever had on it. (it's not easy to get these seats, lol, we'd probably ridden this ride 40+ times over the years before being seated in the row that ends up at the top). any suggestions for how to get in these seats? the CM's direct you to certain rows, so it doesn't seem we have any control over it.

 

[BramsKT]

any suggestions for how to get in these seats? the CM's direct you to certain rows, so it doesn't seem we have any control over it.

I have always just told the CM that we would like to wait for the front row and they have had us stand to the side and wait till the ride they are filling is done and then when they start with a fresh group, they direct us to the line for the front row.

(btw - we always go in low season, I don't know that this would go over quite so well when it's busy)

 

[disneydreamerbelle]

The matterhorn- the Fantasyland side gets you two views of the Abominable Snowman, while on the Tomorrowland side you pass him once.

Do you know which is the faster of the two sides - I was told once, but can't recall?

 

[Corpsebride]

Please no flash pictures on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride attraction, that is the policy of Disneyland, and the pirates as well! and please do not argue with me on the ride, when I tell you politely that no flash pictures are allowed, take my word for it!
For it disrupts and disturbs the other guests, and can cause problems with the sensors on the ride.

To Err is human , To ARRRRR!! is Pirate!!!
I totally agree!! It is so distracting when the flashes are going off!! When I was a kid, I think I remember them saying it in Japanese and Spanish and English. Now they just say it in English.
No FLASH Pictures! I think they should add pictures with the big red slash through it!

 

[DizMe]

Well, this probably isn't any new info, but buy some of those rain poncho packets from the dollar store before you go. They come 2 to a package and don't take up much space. We use them on GRR and Splash and throw them out at the end of the day (or when we're done with water rides). We use a new one the next day.

Don't put your purse/backpack on the floor of Mulholland Madness. Mine flew out and they had to shut down the whole ride while I retrieved it I tried desperately not to look at the menacing glares from all those waiting in line. To shut down the whole ride means waiting for every single car to come back in and unload.

Don't be afraid to try Tower of Terror. I skipped it for 2 years because I'm a wimp with heights and dead drops. I also did not realize there is a whole "story" before you get to the ride and it's soooooo cool. I finally decided that if my 4-year-olds could go on it and think it was fun, then by golly, so could I. VERY glad I did as it's now my favorite ride! Well, that and Splash...and BTMRR...and SM...and Indy...and Pirates...LOL.

I don't know how to explain this, but if you sort of unfocus your eyes and let your mind float when you go on SM, the effects are better, especially at the beginning when you go through the light tunnel and blast off. If you can get to the place where your brain thinks you're spinning in the tunnel, that's it!

 

[DizMe]

Oh yeah, I agree about the flash pictures! Even more annoying are those people who insist on videotaping the entire ride with their lighted phones. That happened to us last year in POTC--the guy in front of us was holding his phone up in the air and taping everything, which totally spoiled the effect for those of us behind him. It is also annoying to have someone's arm partially blocking your view. Not really like me, but I told the guy to shut it off (and luckily, he did). Hey, I may be a Meek, but you don't mess with my Disney experience!!!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Here's my tip good for all rides-

If your bag or purse isn't the kind that goes across your shoulder, set it on the floor but put your leg through the strap. This way, it won't fall out AND you won't forget it on the ride. I do this everytime.

 

[Gisele]

My trip last month, on the POTC ride a woman behind me, was taking flash pictures, and I nicely said to her, that flash pictures are not allowed actually on this ride, and she had no problem with it, then a man, sitting with his wife and child behind her, is taking flash pictures, so I told him the same thing, well, this was the first time an argument ensued, he asked me if there are signs anywhere, I said yes, actually apparently there are not any,I thought that there were, o.k. so I was not accurate with that sentiment, however, I most definitely do know, that flash is not allowed, then he asked me if anyone had said that, I told him, yes, the CM's are suppose to tell us that several times, then he put his camera down, but then, his wife chimes in, with he wasn't taking flash, and then I said, I saw a flash, and it is not allowed on this ride, not my rule, (although it would be if I was in charge!) it is the policy of the ride. Then she starts arguing with me, all the while I am trying to enjoy my ride, I spent over nine hours on trains and buses and over prices cabs to arrive at DL! I did not pay too much attention to her, for I was trying to block the B out, then I turn around again, and she stated to the affect of going outside, and I am thinking hey I am at Dl. on one of my most beloved rides of all time, and this B is calling me out? she was not a teenager either, nor am I. then she said something else to me, not sure what it was,but I know it was not flattering, then she told me to mind my own business,then I got tired of hearing her mouth running, so then I turned to her one more time, and told her to shut up! hey hey hey my first shut up to someone at DL. am I proud of it? no, did I feel better? yes! (sigh) then by the time we were all to leave the boat, I thought, omg, how is this woman going to behave? she actually just acted as though, she did not have any ugly words with me, good, for frankly I was looking around for a security guard,I kid thee not. I then told the CM about it, and how it pretty much put a damper on my ride experience, and he asked me if I would like to go again,and I stated emphatically,YES! and I even got my own boat, first time too, who hoo, I was starting to feel better already, and I happened to be in the lead boat too! ah, it was a thing of beauty. I really try to be as happy as any person that works there, but when this sort of thing happens it is hard at the moment to get that feeling back, but then, I got over it really quite quickly for I am not going to let any flash picture taking fool ruin my time at Disneyland, after all,it is suppose to be the happiest place on earth! not the mouthiest!

 

[jory29]

On rides like Tower of Terror and Indy I like to not only put my arms up but also pull your legs up so your feet don't touch the ground. If you are familiar with the rides you can just do it when the elevator drops or the truck lunges... it really makes both rides much more fun!

On Indy it throws you around alot more and on ToT during the drops it really makes you feel like you are falling, not just being pulled down... so much fun!

Ha ha, you're a nut!! My son will LOVE your suggestions, thanks! (I'll tell him to try it for TOT if he would like, but I may hide it from him for IJ - is that safe to do that??)

My tip: Mulholland Madness - GET ON the ride quickly - GET OFF the ride quickly!! I have found that maybe I am too slow, but my feet are still in (usually one foot on the out and one foot still in) while they take off again. I hurt my back for a few days last time because of it. Ouch!!

 

[Disneylvrforever]

Do you know which is the faster of the two sides - I was told once, but can't recall?

The Tomorrowland side (my fave!) is faster. And you can get wet by the waterfalls on this side too bc the track is closer than the other one.

Enchanted Tiki Room- Sit in the back row on any side for a headrest.

POTC- Watch out for water in the back of the seats. Don't want your rear to get wet if it's nice and dry.

HM- Not really a tip for the ride, but I love how the first tree (forgot what it's called) that's on the left corner of the Mansion steps is always in full bloom during Spring/Summer and then is completely bare during the winter. When it's in bloom, it looks like a green umbrella while in the winter, it literally looks like a haunted plant w/ it's weeping bare branches.

Winnie the Pooh- Front row gets extra leg room and the back row gets a headrest. Sorry middle row.

Honey I Shrunk the Audience- Sitting towards the very front gives you a more intense experience like you really did shrink. This was unexpected for me.

California Screamin'- If your stomach feels like it's going to be left up on a hill, make sure your hands are on the top on the handles (not in the middle) and push down hard so your body doesn't leave your stomach behind.

Francis' Ladybug Boogie- A CM told my friend and I that if you sit towards the door of the ride, it'll whip you around more and be less boring.

Mike and Sully to the Rescue- I know this is pretty obvious, but keep your nose peeled for the scent of ginger in Harry Housen's.

Soarin' Over California- Another tip that really doesn't enhance your ride experience, but before you buckle your seatbelt, wait to see if the row infront of you has flashing green lights. When they do, look above your seat and a little bit behind so that when you buckle your seatbelt, you can see your light flash right after. For some reason, this ALWAYS amuses me!

 

[Mililani Mouser]

Sorry to hear about your problems at POTC Gisele. I know what you mean, last time we went there was a lady with a loud mouth at the Alice ride and it ruined my whole day. This was while we were waiting in line, not on the ride itself.

What I would like to know is, which drop on TOT does the camera take a pic? some people make wild poses!

 

[Gisele]

Thank you, Mililani Mouser, and I am sorry that some loud mouth B, ruined your day! I wonder what her mental issues were/are?

I am not sure about the picture taking timing on TOT, I do know that when I saw myself, the first and quite possibly the last time, he he! that I rode it, it was not too flattering, but then film puts @20 pounds on ones booty and everywhere else too! now if film could remove as it were, that same amount of weight, and then if, I only had that to loose (great big sigh, for I am still an expert at re-gaining weight, apparently! ) then sign me up, for I would then look just right!

 

[Gisele]

I was curious Mililani Mouser, why you have a wee bit of a Panda stuck in a jar? I am confused, I hope that he can get out. He He!

 

[Gisele]

I was thinking that your question might be good also to ask on the photography board, that is here, on the Dis boards.

 

[Mililani Mouser]

I've been looking for a new avatar. Haven't found a cute one yet, maybe one of my pugs would like to model for me. They will only take pics if they are "in the mood".

 

[Gisele]

That is funny! those darn pugs! I hope you can get a good picture of them, how many do you have?
Pugs are so cute! I love dogs, I especially love horses, I just thought that I would add that.