What is your BEST piece of advice for going to DL??

[jemilah]

I may try that next trip, but we have the tradtional Space Mountian and then Matterhorn .......hmmmm maybe one the first day the other way day 2!

 

[pixiewings71]

Actually we got there late every day and we had no issues with lines. Well, just the "normal" issues I guess. We walked onto almost every ride and grabbed FP's for the ones we could. Then we went places like Pirate Island, watched shows, wandered shops and grabbed whatever rides looked fun. We back later with our FP's and hit all those rides. The last day we were there we FP'd all the rides possible and rode a lot the last 2 hours we were there.

Let's see-
Dole Whip/Tiki Room
Walk through the castle at night
Find the Wishing Well
Character meals are the BEST! Do at least one.

I know there are more but I'm drawing a blank, I'll be back if I can remember them.

 

[Master Mason]

My best advise is remember your on vacation, if you encounter an idiot, let it go, it isn't worth being upset by someone else when your supposed to be enjoying yourself.

One other thing, take the time to look at the subtle stuff, there are amazing details everywhere you look, if your just running from ride to ride, you'll miss what to me is the best part of Disney.

 

[tink2dw]

Don't miss the Silhouette Shop!! And spring for the frames!!

 

[daisy2]

I know you metioned blisters..... the best thing that I found was bring an extra pair of shoes. And if you feel a blister coming on we get this stuff called Mole Skin, when you feel like there is blister coming on cut a peice of and stick where the blister is forming. It works and it keeps the soreness from becoming a blister.

I agree with everyone else. Get your fast passes. My husband would go and get the fast passes while I stood in line for like buzz and he would go get space mountain. And like someone else said just have fun. I like to sit and watch the kids and their contagious smile and how excited they are. I just like to take in all the magic that surrounds us at Disneyland.

 

[PrincessSitka]

When I go I spoil my self. Enjoy everything and try new things

 

[Judy from Boise]

My reccomended schedule
1. Get in line prior to park opening
2. Ride favorite headlines or FL rides (change it up throughout the week)
3.Collect FP for headliners
4. By 1200 hop over to DCA
5. Grab FP for headliner ( usually Soaring)
6. Eat a nice big lunch
7. Stroll around DCA
8. When your stomach is ready hit the rides!
9. Return to Hotel for rest and offsite dinner
10. Return to DL, use FP pre-collected
11. Close the park down remember that you can enter a queue up till 15 minutes prior to "Closing"

Change up this basic schedule with EE, one sleep in day, and one day where you start at DCA, and leave for a pool break! This is why you need 5 days.......

 

[darph nader]

Albort beat me to it,but JUST DO IT.

 

[#17 Cherry Tree Lane]

I always ALWAYS have to ride on BTMRR at night, in the last caboose. It's SO much fun. And I do love the Dole Whips. I just try to go with the flow and enjoy it, it's DISNEY! Nothing can beat that.

 

[DL4my2kids]

what we will be doing again this year. For us, it's all about the kids and mine are 6 & 3. We based eveything off their schedule and lived though them. My kids are late sleepers so we slept in everyday. Leasurely grabbed breakfast and then headed over to the DL or DCA. We stay on site to make it easier on all of us. If there was a line and the kids did not want to wait, we didn't wait.

Last year they were afraid of the Characters so no character meals for us. I am hoping to do them this year. I am also hoping to do some parades this year but if it doesn't work out, it doesn't woirk out.

We will most likely be doing DL yearly and one of these days, we make be able to say we went of every ride, saw every show etc. For now, we take it easy. We are on vacation

 

[tink2dw]

Blisters?? A pair of Disney Crocs shoes will banish hot tired feet and save you from blisters,too!!
Check this!! The go to the Budget board to find the best deals!!
http://www.nofeargear.com/nofear/dept.asp?dept_id=6185
Then Check out the Disney Character Crocs Shoe Jewelery, For Disney Crocs the secert is to attach them in a Mickey ear, not the head it is too big for the backs of the Jibbitz.
http://www.surfanddirt.com/nofear/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=6283

 

[deletedpenguin]

DON'T STRESS! It's a vacation, relax!

 

[zukeeper]

Pin Trading! My kids loved this (4yo to 12yo) - I got some traders at the outlet store but you can buy a set of 4 traders for about $20 I think in DL or DCA.

Penny presses - such a cheap souvenier! The kids took turns and we bought a Penny Press book to keep them in. Take shiny pennies with you so they look nice.

Take a picture of each figure in the various Popcorn carts - they are about 8 inches high and turning a drum. It's fun to look back at each different figure. Also take of picture of each friends statues around Walt and Mickey Partners statue.

Get a Disney Visa if you don't have one! Present your Disney Visa for a free stroller rental and also get a free picture coupon at the Meet and Greet in DCA each day. Also get lots of other discounts throughout the park by presenting the Visa.

Look for "Push" in DCA. He is a talking garbage can - so funny especially with kids. He is around the Grizzly River Rapids area.

Take your own beverages and snacks to save money. I'm lucky with my baggage cart (stroller), but I would still take a backpack if I didn't have the stroller. Freeze water and get snacks out while waiting in line.

 

[cwoob]

Penny presses - such a cheap souvenier! The kids took turns and we bought a Penny Press book to keep them in. Take shiny pennies with you so they look nice.

I love these... some machine are broken sometimes though

I took my goddaughter. she has this one doll that she carried everywhere. so we made a game of taking pictures of the doll w. the great backgrounds. she does it everywhere she goes now.

 

[tink2dw]

To take into the parks I like to pack breakfast bars for snacks like Special K or Raisin Bran. They are great when your tummy rumbles while waiting in line.

Frozen Lemonade Drinks, now with fruit favors, are my absolute favorite! I get 1 a day.

 

[goaliewife]

Get a Disney Visa if you don't have one! Present your Disney Visa for a free stroller rental and also get a free picture coupon at the Meet and Greet in DCA each day. Also get lots of other discounts throughout the park by presenting the Visa.

I wonder if this works at WDW also. We like to get a stroller for my DGS who is 5 and gets tired of walking, so halfway through the day he can start riding and it is so much easier on us. Does anyone know if the Disney Visa free stroller rental works at WDW also?

 

[mitchwebb]

1. Big on the early in and collecting fast passes to save for later in the day or eve when the lines are long. Send DH over to DCA to grab Soar'n and Grizzly Rapids FP's for later in the day. We do this when we are leaving DL for our afternoon break.

2. Grab a Churro for 10am snack.

3. Bring in those great little veggie packs with dipping sauce. (you can go a week without seeing veggies on the kids menus)

4. Nap and swim in the afternoon (especially during hot months)

5. We like brunch at Crystal Place two meals for one and no long lines for favorite guys.

6. Someone else mentioned take the train. It is great for the kids to rest thier feet and get to the other side of the park.

7. might get booed for this but we bring ponchos for Grizzly Rapids. Fourteen year old does not like walking around the park wet.

Take a rest and exit through the Grand Calif exit and have a nice lunch at storytellers. We split the steak sandwich and the little girls love the make your own pizza (they could of split one)

Have a blast and enjoy

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

My best advise is remember your on vacation, if you encounter an idiot, let it go, it isn't worth being upset by someone else when your supposed to be enjoying yourself.

One other thing, take the time to look at the subtle stuff, there are amazing details everywhere you look, if your just running from ride to ride, you'll miss what to me is the best part of Disney.

All of the tips have been good, but IMO, this is the best one so far!

 

[Castaway Kev]

I would suggest never eating a hamburger. With a little planning, the food at Disneyland can really be a highlight. My DW and I enjoy eating at the Blue Bayou (inside Pirates). We each get the Monte Cristo (has to be lunchtime, not dinner). We also enjoy the Chicken Fuzilli (sp?) at Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. The Carnation Cafe is nice as well. DCA's pier has a Boudin place where you can get soup in a breadbowl. It isn't too expensive, but fills you up pretty well.

Another food tip is that they often sell "meals" at the counter service places. You can request the sandwich only, and not get stuck throwing away french fries day after day. They will usually knock off a dollar or two when you do this, which makes it a little more affordable.

As far as a little known secret: The Winnie the Pooh Ride was built where the Country Bear Jamboree used to be. They actually left the moose and elk heads on the wall. When you enter a room on Winnie the Pooh, look backward and up and you might get a peek of Melvin.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

5. We like brunch at Crystal Place two meals for one and no long lines for favorite guys.

Have a blast and enjoy

Hi, where is the Crystal Palace? They have 2 meals for the price of one?
Thanks...