Your Best Disneyland Tips!

[surgefest]

What is your Best Disneyland tip or tips that you'd tell someone... (especially someone going for the first time....) something that you and your family found out or read about. Thanks!

 

[DizNee Luver]

1. Don't sleep in, get to the gates prior to opening & take advantage of the smaller crowds to get in your Fantasyland & big rides with no FP's.
2. Take advantage of the FP's.....load up early in the day, take a break & come back & use them. Remember you don't have to use them at the hour time listed on ticket, you can use them anytime after that time.
3. Make PS for any character meal or sit down meal you're planning on doing.
4. Remember Disneyland isn't just about the rides....take in a show, watch the entertainment on Main Street, Golden Horseshoe or Coke Corner.
5. Have a plan so you don't get overwhelmed by the crowds....in other words.... have a loose schedule of things you want to see & do & it will help keep you focused.
6. Most important in my book......watch the fireworks one time during your trip from in front of the castle. You can stake out a bench near the castle a couple hours prior to the show & take turns at saving the spot with other family members. It is well worth doing this. You feel the fireworks, see the light effects on the castle, feel the heat from the flame throwers & be totally surrounded at times with pyrotechnics. You'll never view fireworks the same.

Hope that gets you started!!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Split meals. There is usually plenty of food and if you're hungry later you can always get a snack. This way you get a chance to try more things and 1 meal and 2 snacks is (usually) cheaper than 2 meals. Also, eat lunch at 11am to avoid the crowds.

 

[arliepooh68]

take a break around lunchtime, go eat outside the park, relax, go swim in the hotel pool to rejuvinate yourself OR take a N A P. . . then when you head back, you get to see bunches of tired faces around 8ish.. you can tell the breakers from the all dayers. . .

don't forget to get your tortilla from the tortilla factory tour in DCA, they have the best flour tortillas. . .

Oh, take advantage of the coupons in the hotels, like the mcd's coupon for 10%, it is good for the Mcd's right outside of disney.

 

[avalon451]

Read Hydroguy's tips thread. It's better than all the guidebooks.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

i would recommend taking the arrivial day slow. We took our four girls last year, 7, 5, 3, and 1.5, at the time. We used the first day as a travel day, we drove. I found it was nice to take that first day and recover from the travel. We walked around Downtown disney, went to the pool, etc. It is also a good time to plan out what you wnat to do first the next day, check your camera supplies, waterbottle status, etc. Then get a good nights sleep, hard with all the anticipation, and get up early to hear to the park.

We went mid week. The crowds are smaller, but the park is not open as long as it is on the weekends. So it is a trade off. The major downside is that entertainment options i.e. fireworks and such. If i could give you one piece of advice it would be to not OVERPLAN. Some wil say that you should plan out every ride in order and fill every minute of the day. With young kids that is next to impossible. Be ready to take them back to the hotel for naps if necessary. Sure you will lose a little time in the parks but the payoff is far greater having well rested kids who will enjoy themselves rather than tired cranky ones.

I would HIGHLY recommend you do the Goofy's kitchen character breakfast. If you do it on your first day it is a great way to start the experience. It is a buffet style breakfast and the characters walk around and visit with the kids. Really gets the excitement going. Make sure you bring/buy and autograph book. It will really make the experience something to remember. We have the picture framed on the wall of our living room.

Lastly, with little ones food and drinks can be a problem. Things in the park can be EXPENSIVE! But despite what people think you can take food and drinks into the park. Not a whole banquet mind you, but snacks and juice boxes work wel for keeping them satisified. We purchased some insulated 'cool" bags from our grocery store and froze waters in the hotel fridge. We also brought salami and crackers. We merely had to let them check the bags at the security station and we were in. We then rented an all day locker and stored the goodies in it so as to lighten the stroller. It worked out great.

Above all else, be flexible. Relax, and have fun. PM if you have any further questions, I would love to help.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Do not leave fireworks or fantasmic until your last night, just in case they are canceled for weather that night.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Musical chairs with Alice and the Mad Hatter at Coke Corner at 2:30.

When you get off of Jungle Cruise, ask the CM for a map of the ride.

 

[perlster]

another vote for musical chairs (see this thread for more info) - something special that you won't find at WDW

 

[JoKnee]

Wish I'd known about the musical chairs a week ago.

Everyone seems to love Ariels grotto, but I'm going to be a little negative. We were able to do Fantasy Faire for FREE and got 3 princesses, while we paid $150 to see 6 princesses, but they spent even less time at our tables than at FF. It was fun and food very good.
If you're on a budget, stick with FF.

 

[toni1227]

1. Don't sleep in, get to the gates prior to opening & take advantage of the smaller crowds to get in your Fantasyland & big rides with no FP's.
2. Take advantage of the FP's.....load up early in the day, take a break & come back & use them. Remember you don't have to use them at the hour time listed on ticket, you can use them anytime after that time.
3. Make PS for any character meal or sit down meal you're planning on doing.
4. Remember Disneyland isn't just about the rides....take in a show, watch the entertainment on Main Street, Golden Horseshoe or Coke Corner.
5. Have a plan so you don't get overwhelmed by the crowds....in other words.... have a loose schedule of things you want to see & do & it will help keep you focused.
6. Most important in my book......watch the fireworks one time during your trip from in front of the castle. You can stake out a bench near the castle a couple hours prior to the show & take turns at saving the spot with other family members. It is well worth doing this. You feel the fireworks, see the light effects on the castle, feel the heat from the flame throwers & be totally surrounded at times with pyrotechnics. You'll never view fireworks the same.

Hope that gets you started!!

AGREE 100%!!!!!! Also, spend at least 3-4 days here. We are only here 2.5 days (currently here!) and I feel rushed and a bit overwhelmed. Still a great time though but I would have added an extra day or 2 had I known before.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

make time to see the Dapper Dans!! We happened upon them on main street as they were starting a performance. WAY entertaining!! I stood there and watched they get the audience involved. I got a great picture of them with my DD!

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

Read Hydroguy's tips thread. It's better than all the guidebooks.

AND HOW!
That thread is one of the main reasons I enjoyed DL as much as I did!