What are your favorite/fun/unique "non-ride" things to do in one day?

[sacteach]

I'm going to DL/DCA this Friday with a busload of 8th graders! We leave the Sacramento area late Thursday night, drive all night, eat breakfast, hit the parks ALL day Friday (hopper pass), then leave for the drive home Friday night. I did it last year and had a blast! I've been to both parks many times, most recently in October and was hoping to do something different this time.

Any ideas? I was thinking about bringing a better camera and taking more pictures, maybe looking for hidden Mickeys, seeing shows that I've never seen, etc. I'm sure I'll go on some rides with the kids or other teachers, and I want to go on the "new" IASW since it was closed in October, but we'll be at the parks for about 14 hours, so I'm sure that I'll have lots of time. Is it too late to sign up for tours? Are there any good books or websites with "self-guided tours"?

I'm also hoping that the crowds won't be TOO bad on Friday... but I haven't really looked into it at all. With everything going on at work recently (state testing, spring break, etc) this trip kind of snuck up on me and I'm so excited now that it's just a few days away!

 

[BecBennett]

Billy Hill & The Hillbillies is a great show. Very funny, with some great music.

I think if you go to City Hall you can get something to translate the hyrogliphics in the line for Indiana Jones.

However, my favourite thing to do when we're not on rides is eat!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Pirates Lair is fun to see. The first cave there is interactive and has some cool stuff in it.

You can get the Disneyland Hidden Mickeys book and go looking for those.

It is a ride, but I think it is rather overlooked- The Monsters Inc. The line is full of funny jokes if you read the things there carefully. And, it has one of the hardest to find hidden mickeys.

There is also the Animation Studio in DCA full of very cool stuff.

 

[jemilah]

We like to feed the ducks at country bear , but it will be closed this next trip. Eating is our other pastime too!

 

[mybestieismickey]

Aladdin is my all time favorite show. It is a must do for us. Even if it means ditching the people we happen to be touring with.

We really enjoyed the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour. It was a lot of fun and really informative. I just wish our group had been smaller.

And hidden Mickeys is DH's favorite thing to do. He especially loves finding his own that may or may not be hidden Mickeys.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Oh oh! My kind of thread. Disneyland is sooooo not about the rides for us. They are fun, but there is soooooo much more that we enjoy.

- If you like magic: Go to the Magic Shop and ask the magician there if they have any new tricks. They will often do a little mini-show for you.
- Watch the Dapper Dans
- Watch Billy Hill and the Hillbillies
- Ride the Mark Twain full circle - take pictures, enjoy the view, relax. Ask if you can ride in the Wheelhouse before the ship comes in for your group to load.
- Wander aimlessly through the curvy shops in New Orleans Square.
- Stand n the "insets" throughout the shops on Main Street and listen to what is coming from the windows.
- Ride the monorail full circle. Try to sit in the nose if you can.
- Ride the train full circle.
- Go see ASIMO the robot show in Innoventions.
- In DCA, go to the Animation Academy. I cannot draw anything to save my life. I went to a drawing Goofy session. When I showed it to my husband he asked me, "Who drew that? Why do you have someone else's Goofy?" To this day I am not sure I have convinced him I actually drew it!
- Aaddin show as mentioned above.

... just a few ideas.

- Dreams

 

[sacteach]

Thank you so much for the great ideas. I found out today that we are leaving at midnight Friday, not 10:30 like I thought... so it will definitely be a LONG day!

I did the animation "class" at WDW a few years ago and loved it, so that is a great idea and I've printed off all of the other suggestions. I'm sure I'll be very busy and I'm excited to see/do some new things.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

Ride the Columbia (they do 2 fake discharges of the cannons, which can be noisy, but I think it's cool). Ride on the second level of the Omnibus for a "bird's eye" view of Main Street. Watch the penny movies in the Crystal Arcade (some of them really do cost only a penny). Listen to the piano player at Coke Corner.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Play musical Chairs with Alice and the Mad Hatter at 2:30pm every day at Coke Corner.

Catch the country music band that plays outside of Grizzly River Rapids.

Run under the giant hose in Bugs Land - the one in the back, by Tuck and Roll's bumper cars is more discreet for a grown-up to be silly - that one is kind of hidden.

Do a wine walk at DCA (or Beer) - through June 6.....

Watch the singing and dancing show across from Monsters in DCA - very sweet medley of songs and inspirations - and a special meet and greet for Cinderella, Mickey and Woody, to boot!

 

[mechurchlady]

Visit Big Thunder Ranch and pet the cow.
Go to Fowler Landing and avoid the main path, it has stairs though.

 

[spacemermaid]

Another vote for the Aladdin show- it's a must-see!

If the doo-wop singers are out & about at CA (they're usually in the "Hollywood Blvd." area), be sure to stop & listen!

When you're in the Golden Horseshoe, look for the SUPER-hidden Mickey!

 

[ArielAdventurer]

Aladdin is my all time favorite show.


I have to vote Aladdin as well..BUT...I also love to go through the area in DCA where Crush talks..they have a place I recently discovered..You can put your voice in a Disney movie..you can find out which character you are most like..I didn't get to go through the whole thing last year..because DCA closed at 7..and..I just discovered it on my last day..(been going to Disney for years..never knew this place existed) You can bet I will be there this May when I go again

 

[Disney Dreams]

Oh, Oh! You are going THIS week!

Go over to DCA and check out the Food and Wine Festival!

 

[ArielAdventurer]

Go over to DCA and check out the Food and Wine Festival!


I usually do not go in May..(I will be in 2 weeks) tell me what one can do at the F&W festival with kids..I am curious..TIA

 

[Dizneydaz]

Another voite for Aladdin and the Animation Academy. DD9 and I really enjoy learning how to draw the characters.

 

[sacteach]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I went on Friday and had a great time. I ended up spending more time with the group and doing rides, but did get some alone time. I went to the Aladdin show - LOVED what I saw (especially the pop culture references), but sadly the lack of sleep on the bus the night before and the dark room caught up with me and I slept through most of the middle of the show

I went to the animation class and drew Tigger. I walked through the Brother Bear trail area (i think that's what it's called) and watched the kids playing. I did the tortilla and bread tours, rode the Toy Story ride for the first time and did some other single rider rides - Soarin and Screamin. It was a fun few hours by myself and very relaxing!

 

[fairykin]

Make a little group scavenger hunt up.
Then have it end with going to city hall for a honorary citizen of the day button.

 

[Minuet888]

I'm going to DL/DCA this Friday with a busload of 8th graders! We leave the Sacramento area late Thursday night, drive all night, eat breakfast, hit the parks ALL day Friday (hopper pass), then leave for the drive home Friday night. I did it last year and had a blast! I've been to both parks many times, most recently in October and was hoping to do something different this time.

Any ideas? I was thinking about bringing a better camera and taking more pictures, maybe looking for hidden Mickeys, seeing shows that I've never seen, etc. I'm sure I'll go on some rides with the kids or other teachers, and I want to go on the "new" IASW since it was closed in October, but we'll be at the parks for about 14 hours, so I'm sure that I'll have lots of time. Is it too late to sign up for tours? Are there any good books or websites with "self-guided tours"?

I'm also hoping that the crowds won't be TOO bad on Friday... but I haven't really looked into it at all. With everything going on at work recently (state testing, spring break, etc) this trip kind of snuck up on me and I'm so excited now that it's just a few days away!

What is IASW?

What type of group of 8th graders (I live right under you in Modesto BTW)
I used to live in the LA area and since I am a music teacher we always did the magic music days which gave us a lot of backstage tours and cool things.
But is this just a graduation thing or for a specific reason?

 

[Stacerita]

What is IASW?

IASW = Its A Small World

 

[Saskiwi]

The whole Animation building at DCA is lots of fun - the Sorcerer's Workshop is great - the room where you can animate your own drawing is beautifully decorated, as is the next room, the Beast's Library where you can find out which Disney character you are most like - my kids loved that! The room itself is a must for an Beauty and the Beast fans - watch the mirror and the rose! The final room, Ursula's Grotto, is where you can record your voice singing or acting on a classic Disney clip, such as the Jungle Book .

We spent about an hour in these three rooms alone - so much fun but I'm sure lots of people don't visit them.