Top tips

[Skyegirl1999]

Ok. A friend texts you and says, “Going to Disneyland next week! Any tips?”

How do you respond?

*I’m suggesting a “top three tips” limit since I know many of us can write novels about this. (Like me! )

Mine are currently as follows:
1. Review restaurant menus in advance since many are still unusual/limited/not open - make sure you have some food plans and mobile order any must-haves early in the day.
2. Know the boarding group procedure in advance (and ideally practice) if riding ROTR or Webslingers is important to you.
3. Be prepared to be flexible as procedures are changing literally daily at this point.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

1) know & understand the boarding group information

2) stay hydrated!

3) pack your patience. Know your own ability with crowds and plan accordingly. Go in knowing it will be different than past trips.

 

[edhmom]

1. Get the Disneyland app and familiarize yourself with it.
2. Get a button if appropriate (birthday, celebration, etc)
3. Wear comfy shoes

 

[evilmommie]

1. Remember the magic and the "why" regarding your love for Disneyland resort. Don't set crazy expectations about what rides you're going to accomplish.
2. Appreciate the details of the park atmosphere
3. Slow down and enjoy the sights and sounds of Main Street by having a macaroon and coffee from Jolly Holiday> Bonus: People watching!!!

 

[edhmom]

3. Slow down and enjoy the sights and sounds of Main Street by having a macaroon and coffee from Jolly Holiday> Bonus: People watching!!!

When I went the beginning of May my service dog needed to rest so I took a break next to the train station. We sat for a little over an hour on a bench in the shade and watched the people and the character interactions on the train station. It was fabulous! I'm sure we'll do the same when we're back next week.

 

[Piglet99645]

When I went the beginning of May my service dog needed to rest so I took a break next to the train station. We sat for a little over an hour on a bench in the shade and watched the people and the character interactions on the train station. It was fabulous! I'm sure we'll do the same when we're back next week.

I’ve done this. Minus the dog. It’s a delight.

My 3:

1. Update the Disney app and check Ride and food stuff while you stand in line for rides. Plan your next move before you get on the ride, not after.
2. Put a portable phone charger in your bag.
3. Take a midday break.

 

[SeaDis]

This is gonna sound awful, but it seems like most of the texts I get are "we are leaving tomorrow morning!" or even..."we are at the airport-- what are your best tips?"

1) Get there early.
2) Text me three months before next trip; IF you even want to go back.
3) "Have a magical day."

Said very tongue in cheek.-- it's my imaginary reply. I love to help. But C'mon friends!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Love this idea!

I will add some that haven’t already been said.

1. Don’t go expecting “low crowds” due to “capacity limits.” Do go expecting moderate crowds that might feel heavier in certain places and lighter in other places.

2. Make restaurant reservations as far in advance as you can if you wish to eat at TS restaurants. Mobile order your QS meals and any must-do snacks or treats first thing in the morning for later in the day (you can cancel or adjust the order windows later if necessary) . I saw many disappointed people at the Mint Julip Bar who wanted Mickey beignets at 11am and were turned away as they were only accepting mobile orders there and now the next mobile order window was an hour out.

3. Check with CMs at the actual attraction to confirm app wait times. On Thursday the actual waits were often much less than the listed times in the app and even the time on the sign at the attraction itself.

 

[dorchrislen]

1. Don’t make A Ressie for a sit down meal until about 1 when the park starts to get busy, Because you’ll miss valuable time when lines are shorter.

2. Don’t stand in line to get into avengers campus if you have a boarding group (can go in directly) or if you don’t have a BG and don’t want to waste the time that you could be doing other rides. Wait until later in the evening when the line is faster if you don’t have a boarding group.

3. Visit galaxies edge after dark or at sundown. The atmosphere is beautiful and energetic.

 

[BayGirl22]

This is gonna sound awful, but it seems like most of the texts I get are "we are leaving tomorrow morning!" or even..."we are at the airport-- what are your best tips?"

1) Get there early.
2) Text me three months before next trip; IF you even want to go back.
3) "Have a magical day."

Said very tongue in cheek.-- it's my imaginary reply. I love to help. But C'mon friends!

I know right?!?!
I have a long spreadsheet of tips for DLR with kids I used to send to friends when they were planning. I got lots of compliments after the trip because it saved them a lot of stress in the park and they did some cool things. (95% of it was stuff I picked up from the DIS)

If people are not planners they are probably not going to ask me, my friends know this about me by now.

 

[Zerzura]

3. Visit galaxies edge after dark or at sundown. The atmosphere is beautiful and energetic.

Second this. My favorite time of day there. Magical.

 

[wishing4PA]

1. Don’t make A Ressie for a sit down meal until about 1 when the park starts to get busy, Because you’ll miss valuable time when lines are shorter.
3. Visit galaxies edge after dark or at sundown. The atmosphere is beautiful and energetic.

We'll definitely do #3. I've seen pictures and it looks amazing!
I'm violating rule #1 though. We have several days and have never been there, so we can absorb some atmosphere in lines. But the main reason I'm violating rule #1 is we're on Eastern time and school starts up the week after our trip, so I'm hoping by eating 11:00-11:30ish and 5:00-5:30ish that we won't get too far off our EDT schedule. I really should make ressies at 9AM and 3PM to really stay on EDT, but there's no way we're giving up 9-10:30ish wait times!

 

[Winnowill]

1. Midday breaks
2. Pack two different pairs of comfortable shoes (NOT two different pairs of the same model of shoe). When you take your midday break, change your shoes. Makes a HUGE difference.
3. (Not that this applies now) Learn how to use the Fastpass/Maxpass systems effectively.

 

[OneThree]

1. Pack your patience
2. Wear good, comfortable shoes
3. Don’t run for Peter Pan (or any ride). It encourages others

 

[Elleinthecity]

Ok. A friend texts you and says, “Going to Disneyland next week! Any tips?”

How do you respond?

*I’m suggesting a “top three tips” limit since I know many of us can write novels about this. (Like me! )

Mine are currently as follows:
1. Review restaurant menus in advance since many are still unusual/limited/not open - make sure you have some food plans and mobile order any must-haves early in the day.
2. Know the boarding group procedure in advance (and ideally practice) if riding ROTR or Webslingers is important to you.
3. Be prepared to be flexible as procedures are changing literally daily at this point.

Make a plan but be flexible! Have a map to refer to. Leave at midday when crowds are bad.

It's sort of like the person who goes to WDW for the first time with no plan. GO WITH GOD, CHILD.

 

[Elleinthecity]

This is gonna sound awful, but it seems like most of the texts I get are "we are leaving tomorrow morning!" or even..."we are at the airport-- what are your best tips?"

I send back the GIF of the blinky guy or just ignore them. I CANNOT HELP THOSE WHO O NOT HELP THEMSELVES.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

If they message me with a bit more than a week lead time, I would go with these three:
1. check out disboards!
2. use the disney app and practice doing boarding groups if you want to ride web slingers or rotr
3. get park hoppers

If the trip is just too close, the good thing with DLR is you can have a pretty great trip even without too much planning.
1. wear comfy shoes
2. check your preferred dining spots for any last minute openings & snag reservations
3. soak up the experience, and if you get stressed take a timeout in the closest shady spot and enjoy some cold water and a nice snack