What is the first thing you do when you enter DL

[darph nader]

First thing we do is forget about the real world

I second the motion. All in favor say "aye".

 

[glavine47]

I have been to WDW a million times. Where is the bus?

The bus , fire truck and horse draw wagon are behind the train station, right after rope drop. They stop offering the rides when it gets crouded.

 

[glavine47]

Well...prior to falling in love with DLR during the Christmas season or becoming enchanted with Halloweentime, I used to go to DLR at "regular" times of year (summer, spring - that sort of thing). If I were still going at regular times of year, what I do when I first enter the gates might be different than what I do during the holiday season. So I will base my answer on the premise that we are talking about the holiday season and your upcoming Christmas trip.

So the first thing I do when I get into DL is head to the gigantic Christmas tree on Main Street for PhotoPass pictures. Actually, if there is a PhotoPass person by the floral Mickey in the front, I will stop there first and then head to the tree. If it happens to be a Magic Morning during Christmastime, I will high-tail it all the way back to the far corner of Fantasyland to get on It's a Small World Holiday before the line gets crazy. Even if it's not a MM, that will be my first stop. While I love to look at IASW Holiday at night, when the breathtaking colored lights come on, I prefer to ride it in the daytime when the lines are not as bad. Something happens at night when they turn on the lights - the colors are so gorgeous in person that they literally seem to attract people from all corners of both parks like moths to a flame, and the area around IASW Holiday at night is absolutely jam-packed with people.

So that's my tip - get on IASW Holiday as early in the morning as you can and experience the ride itself, and then, come nighttime, saunter back by there after dark to soak in the beauty and see the light show that is projected onto the facade.

If I am going into DCA first, for some reason, I high-tail it back to the Paradise Pier area and get on Toy Story Mania before that line gets nutty, stopping for PhotoPass pictures at the DCA tree along the way.

And if we happen to be eating dinner or checking into our hotel first, before entering either park, I will head to the GCH lobby, find a comfy chair or sofa to plunk down in, and listen to the carolers when they come in and perform, watch people get their photos taken with Santa by the giant GCH tree, and soak in the overall Christmasy atmosphere (preferably while munching on a gongerbread man w/ Mouse ears cookie)!!

Sherry E,
Everytime you respond to my questions, my anticipation and excitement for our trip grows. You are great at expressing your love for Disney. Keep it up.

 

[nunzia]

Inhale the DLR smell, hear the music, and smile.

Ditto Molly!! It really isn't about the rides, it's about the place.

 

[nannyz]

Disneyland is my escape from the world. The moment I walk through the gates, I leave the world behind and just rejoice that I am back again. I'm not in a hurry anymore to do the fun things because I know I will have time because we always get a 5-day pass.
The first thing I do is look off to the right because usually there are characters there for my grandkids to greet. That's always fun. Then it's off to Fantasyland.
One of the best things about Disneyland is seeing it through the eyes of a child.

 

[DisneyHeather]

The first thing we usually do is go ride Pirates.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry E,
Everytime you respond to my questions, my anticipation and excitement for our trip grows. You are great at expressing your love for Disney. Keep it up.

Oh good! I'm glad! Thank you for the nice compliment! I will keep trying to respond to things I have answers to or opinions on. If it's something I know absolutely nothing about, I will defer to someone with more expertise!! But I'm so glad I can help build excitement or anticipation for your holiday trip in some way. I know you will have a wonderful time. I don't know of many folks who have visited DLR during the holiday season who have not fallen in love with it. Even if the crowds are a bit daunting at times, and even if certain folks may not celebrate Christmas, there is no denying the overall magic and beauty of the Resort during that time of year. It pretty much captures everyone. While it will be different than holiday time at WDW, I don't think you will be disappointed.

So it's easy to express my love for DLR during the holidays because it just comes naturally. (Now if only I could get Disney to pay me for expressing my love for DLR, that would be even better!)

 

[dismom73]

We started a tradition a few years back, no matter what time of year, we head straight to Buzz lightyear and ride that first. I think we started it because we have 3 kids and they are all 5 years apart and that was one ride that everybody loves and can go on. Now, it's just tradition.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Well, we take pictures and such on main street as we walk in...but the first real thing we actually do is get a churro! I have to have a churro soon after getting into DL and WDW both...excellent start to the trips, imo

 

[fronkfam]

Disneyland is my escape from the world. The moment I walk through the gates, I leave the world behind and just rejoice that I am back again. I'm not in a hurry anymore to do the fun things because I know I will have time because we always get a 5-day pass.

It is our escape from the world, too! We love being there and taking our kids!

 

[Princess Row]

Usually i love to look around for what characters are out then we head usually not always but for Haunted Mansion and Pirates. On the way I stop at EVERY SINGLE CAST MEMBER wearing a lanyard to search for new pins i have missed within the past few months that ive missed. Friday.....I will do exactly this!

 

[DisneyMax74]

The first thing I do is thank Walt in my mind that I can spend the next week with my family while putting the cell phone, the email, the computers and the clients as far from my mind as possible.

For me just going thru the turnstile is walking into my fantasyland.

 

[disheadz]

run

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

These posts describe it so well! Just add me to the list!!

Inhale the DLR smell, hear the music, and smile.

First thing we do is forget about the real world

I just look around and soak up as much magic as I can, and maybe shed a little tear at the beauty of it

Disneyland is my escape from the world. The moment I walk through the gates, I leave the world behind and just rejoice that I am back again. I'm not in a hurry anymore to do the fun things because I know I will have time because we always get a 5-day pass.
The first thing I do is look off to the right because usually there are characters there for my grandkids to greet. That's always fun. Then it's off to Fantasyland.
One of the best things about Disneyland is seeing it through the eyes of a child.

I think that is what started it all for me! Taking my kids for the first time! Now, we all enjoy it and we share it as often as possible!

Our upcoming trip will be a tearjerker! We're going with our family, our oldest son's best friend since Kindergarten and two other families who we've considered family for years. It will be our last family trip before our son heads off to West Point! We all thought we'd share the Magic with him one more time!

We started a tradition a few years back, no matter what time of year, we head straight to Buzz lightyear and ride that first. I think we started it because we have 3 kids and they are all 5 years apart and that was one ride that everybody loves and can go on. Now, it's just tradition.

We have the same tradition! We ride the Buzz Lightyear ride at least once a day and whoever wins gets to pick dessert!

 

[DisneyJulieZ]

The first thing I do is thank Walt in my mind that I can spend the next week with my family while putting the cell phone, the email, the computers and the clients as far from my mind as possible.

For me just going thru the turnstile is walking into my fantasyland.

I LOVE THIS and feel the EXACT SAME WAY!! The magic "dinging" of the tickets being scanned at the turnstiles is absolute music to my ears...cause mine is going to be one of those beautiful "dings"!!!
And then we walk in, under the tunnels and in to our fabulous fantasyland!!
I say constantly that I am going to move to Main Street, USA and just live there forever....ahhhh.....

We tend to head to Autopia first, for some reason....I guess it's a bit of a tradition (my son LOVES IT) and just enjoy a nice relaxing ride through the trees in the sun-dappled morning air!!

 

[WA Kay]

Cry.

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

Cry.

Happy cry I hope!

 

[Gisele]

As I pass the tissue.....

 

[WA Kay]

Happy cry I hope!

Definitely. Every time I go to Disneyland I swear that I will not cry "this time." Just as soon as I cross under the train tracks my best laid plans go by the way side.

As a child I was just happy to be there and as an adult I understand how lucky I am to go.

As I pass the tissue.....

Thanks for the tissue.

 

[WonkaKid]

... I then just absolutely positively love to visit the Haunted Mansion (Pre HMH, thank you)...

Completely agree with you, Gisele. Not a big fan of HMH. I like my HM old-school.

Rob