What would you do for a 1st evening at DLR?

[ksdisneyfan]

My family of 6 is arriving at DLR during the late afternoon of Mother's Day. We have dinner scheduled and then want to take it easy and enjoy the park until fireworks time. Any recommendations on what we should do to introduce our kids to the park?

 

[tink2dw]

Pirates of The Carribean
Dumbo x2
Peter Pan
Story Book Boat Ride
Jungle Cruise
ToonTown

 

[Jennifer03]

In addition to the ideas tink2dw gave, riding the train around the park would be nice as well.

 

[disheadz]

I think it depends on the age of your kids, and the length of the lines. Either way Jungle Cruise and POTC are a great idea. My 4 year old also loves Pooh and Tarzan's Treehouse, which are never very busy. I they are a little older, Astro Blasters might be good. I would avoid anything with long lines, assuming you will be able to do those at a less busy time.

 

[KCmike]

Definitely go with the Disneyland Railroad to start then off to Fantasyland.

 

[ukstitch]

I would start with the "classics" - the rides that you feel define Disneyland.

Now, I appreciate this is going to be different for everbody, but for me, I'd be looking at rides like:

Big Thunder Mountain
Space Mountain
It's a Small World
Disneyland Railroad
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
The tiki room

 

[Mike_M]

I wouldn't try and squeeze too much in the first night. take it easy and focus more on the ambiance than the attractions.

I like the idea of starting off with the train. Afterwards, I would pick a land and just soak in the environment. If it's fantasyland, then make sure to enjoy some of the smaller rides that night. Take a boatride through storybookland. Ride the carrousel. Experience the "A" "B" and "C" ticket attractions only. Leave the "D" and "E"s for a full day. Try not to peak too early. Also, try and avoid at least a couple lands so that you leave something new to experience on a different day.

 

[mechurchlady]

Sunday will be crowded so do the train and Main Street vehicles if you can. Take in the parade. Don't make it so that you are spending an hour for Dumbo so that the kids get a negative feel for the park. I am not sure what you can see with a packed park and as was said it depends on the age of the kids.

 

[ksdisneyfan]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the posts! My thinking is a lot like Mike_M's that our first night be mostly about taking in the ambience of the park and not too many attractions/rides. We have another 4 park days, so Sunday night we really just want to relax and start to feel the magic. My kids are 8, 6, 4, and 2, so we don't want to tire them out too quickly.

I really like the idea of riding the train around the park and doing some relaxing rides like the Storybook Canal Boats and Jungle Cruise. Maybe we'll hit the Tiki Room and Tarzan Treehouse too.

Are the carriage rides on Main Street happening in the evening? What else on Main Street might we enjoy?

 

[mechurchlady]

The Main Street vehicles close during parades and if there is no parade then about 4 pm last time I was there. I got to watch the trolley go back to the barn. Toontown has lots of interactive things to do. Take the monorail as that is fun and you can ask for front cab rides with the pilot. If you do front cab rides the you will have to get out and then back on. At Downtown Disney station you can open the gate, pass the elevator and then reenter through the other gate. If the line is out past that point then send Dad down and you wait there for him to meet you or go down the stairs. For read cab rides you park in front of the rear cab gate and hope you make it on. Monorail Orange is the coolest and has better ventilation.

There is a nonmotion version of Nemo you can ask to do.

Cinderella Castle walk through is also an option and make sure you check out the Wishing Well as that is a quaint pathway.

 

[kidsister]

Depends on how tired you are but you could either watch FAntasmic before the fireworks or take advantage of the crowds watching Fantasmic and get some rides in. FAntasmic is always the highlight of my trip, so you might want to save it for another night.

I'll be there on Mother's Day...well actually probalby only at CA, leaving that night to come back home.

 

[tink2dw]

That's another way to go is to to DCA. And see

Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular!

Turtle Talk with Crush

Heimlich's Chew Chew Train

 

[ksdisneyfan]

I was thinking Aladdin would be a good evening activity as well! If I remember correctly, we need to be in line about 30 minutes ahead of showtime??

 

[mechurchlady]

Last show is about 6 pm and you should get there half an hour early as it can get crowded at the last show. If you arrive and they have filled the first floor then you have to take the exterior stairs up to the next level.