Your Disneyland Resort Top 3's....

[oilergirl]

At DL/CA, what are your Top 3...

Rides?

Non-ride Attractions?

Shows or Parades?

Restaurants?

Hints or Tips (if you have any)?


I figure this might help newbies to DL make up their MUST DO list!

 

[Gisele]

oilergirl

At DL/CA, what are your Top 3...

Rides?

The Haunted Mansion, The Pirates of the Caribbean, The Indy Ride, The Matterhorn, BTMRR, The Jungle Cruise. Sorry, I know it is more than three.

Non-ride Attractions?

The Enchanted Tiki Room, The petting zoo, and the draft horse drawn wagon rides, I love those rides.

Shows or Parades?

Alice playing musical chairs at the Coca Cola Corner is fun. Aladdin, and Billy and the Hillbillies. I have not seen that last two as of yet. But I know that they like Alice are very popular shows.

Restaurants?

The Blue Bayou, Café Orleans, The Golden Horseshoe.

Hints or Tips (if you have any)?

Try to be at the park as close to opening as possible.

Fast Passes, Fast Passes, then more FP's! They are good for the entire day.

Single Rider Line, when applicable.

I figure this might help newbies to DL make up their MUST DO list!

 

[skiingfast]

Rides?

Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Indy

Non-ride Attractions?

Turtle Talk With Crush, Aladdin musical, and the Dapper Dans on the Horse Drawn Trolley

Shows or Parades?

World of Color, Fantasmic, Remember Dreams Come True

Restaurants?

Blue Bayou, Hungry Bear, White Water Snacks in the GCH.

Hints or Tips (if you have any)?

Get a new FP 2 hours after the one you just got if the window doesn't open first.
Show up early and stay late.
Eat breakfast in the parks before they open.

 

[JH87]

Rides?

DL:
*Splash Mountain
*Space Mountain
*Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (I guess I love mountains! )
DCA:
*California Screamin'
*Tower of Terror
*Monster's Inc ride (don't know the proper name for it)

Non-ride Attractions?
Don't really have a particular favorite here....
I really enjoy meeting the characters, if that counts!

Shows or Parades?
*Fantasmic!
*Aladdin Show
*World Of Color

Restaurants?
Haven't been to all the restaurants in DLR, so most of my favorites come from DTD. Also I am usually starving by the time I decide to actually eat while in DLR, and usually food tastes soooo good no matter what when you are super hungry :
*Naples
*Tortilla Jo's
*Blue Bayou (mainly for the atmosphere....and the potatoes! )

Hints or Tips (if you have any)?

These are mainly for those very new to DLR, as they are pretty well known with seasoned vets
*The FP hint/tip is my favorite and most useful, and most people know about it: You can use your FP anytime after the initial time listed on the FP. Example: Your FP says 'return between 1:15-2:15' but you can actually use that FP anytime after 1:15 up until closing.
*Single Rider lines!
*If eating lunch at a DTD restaurant, get there right at 11 when they open, you will beat the crowds!

 

[moikturtle]

At DL/CA, what are your Top 3...

Rides?

Alice in Wonderland, Space Mountain, & The Matterhorn.
(At CA Adventure it's Soarin' Over California, Heimlich's Chew-Chew Train -- it's just so cute!, and Toy Story Midway Mania)

Non-ride Attractions?

The Enchanted Tiki Room (it always reminds me of when I lived in Hawaii), Mark Twain/Columbia (I don't really consider it a ride), and Mr. Lincoln.

Shows or Parades?

Main Street Electrical Parade! (when it was still where it belonged on Main Street in CA, the Halloween fireworks they've started doing that include Zero, and the parade I saw on Main Street when I was three years old and Alice remembered my name (I've loved Alice in Wonderland stuff ever since).

Restaurants?

The Blue Bayou, The Monorail Cafe (which no longer exists but used to be at the Disneyland Hotel), and Cafe Orleans.

Hints or Tips (if you have any)?

Sorry, I can't really think of any. I go SO often and I've been so many times since I was a baby that my visits aren't really the same as at all as when someone has never been. It kind of ends up that my philosophy is wander around, enjoy what's there, and if I get to ride some rides that's great, but if not no big deal because I can always come back. In the distant past I would have said go eat off site, but their food has improved greatly in quality and price so it's worth it to eat in-park.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

At DL/CA, what are your Top 3...

Rides?
Disneyland
* Pirates of the Caribbean
* Haunted Mansion
* Space Mountain

California Adventure
* Soaring Over California
* Toy Story Midway Mania
* California Screamin' (though the Little Mermaid may usurp this one)


Non-ride Attractions?
* Animation Station (California Adventure)
* Tiki Room (Disneyland, and my childhood favorite)
* Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (Disneyland)


Shows or Parades?
* Aladdin (California Adventure)
* Fantasmic (Disneyland)
* Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks Show (Disneyland)


Restaurants?
* Jazz Kitchen (Downtown Disney)
* Storyteller Cafe (Grand Californian Hotel)
* Catal (Downtown Disney)


Counter Service
* Pacific Wharf (California Adventure)
* Rancho Zocalo (Disneyland)
* Plaza Inn (although this is a buffeteria) (Disneyland)


Disney Extras
* Dapper Dans on Main Street (Disneyland)
* Alice & Mad Hatter playing musical chairs (Disneyland)
* Characters wandering through both parks

Hints or Tips (if you have any)?
* Get to the parks when they open
* Get fastpasses, even if you don't plan on riding until later. They do save time
* Take advantage of single rider lines
* Have at least one good meal each day. If it's crowded, make priority seating arrangements at a restaurant so you aren't wasting time wandering from one crowded restaurant to another with long waits.
* If you eat at Blue Bayou either eat as soon as it opens or the last available lunch time. (I think it's 3:30 or 4pm)
* Pick your must-do's and nice-to-do's; make sure each person in your party chooses so that you do not miss on things you really want to do. Plan your day around those, and don't worry about the rest.
* Take your time to enjoy all of the extra touches that Disneyland Resort has to offer - stop and listen/watch to the little impromptu shows. They can make the best memories.



... I added some extra categories because I kept thinking of the neat things to do there.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Rides?
Disneyland
* Big Thunder Mtn Railroad
* Indiana Jones
* Space Mountain

California Adventure
* Soaring Over California
* Grizzly River Run
* California Screamin'


Non-ride Attractions?
* Animation Building/Draw your own character
* Enchanted Tiki Room
* Muppet Vision 3D


Shows or Parades?
* World of Color
* Fantasmic
* Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks Show


Restaurants?
* Jazz Kitchen
* Cafe Orleans
* PCH Grill (PPH)


Counter Service
* Hungry Bear
* Taste Pilot's Grill
* Pacific Wharf


Disney Extras
* Flag Retreat Ceremony
* Billy Hill & the Hillbillies
* Impromptu Character Shows

Hints or Tips (if you have any)?
* Be there at opening
* Gather FP's to use later in the day
* Take a few hours break in the afternooon
* See the fireworks at least once from in front of the castle
* Spend some time just to sit & people watch
* Don't run from one ride to the next.....actually soak in the entire park & all the little details that make Disneyland so special
* Take advantage of the Photopass Photographers
* If you have kids that really want to see the characters, try to take in one character meal. The interaction is great & you won't have to stand in long lines in the parks.
* BIGGEST HINT: Look, Listen, & Smell the Disneyland magic that abounds in the parks. Taste a new treat or an old favorite. Let your soul feel the music from the shows & let it touch your heart.

 

[mommaU4]

Rides?

Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain

Non-ride Attractions?

Tiki Room
Princess Fantasy Faire

Shows or Parades?

Fantasmic!
Aladdin
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies

Restaurants?

Cafe Orleans
Jazz Kitchen in DTD
Carnation Cafe

Hints or Tips (if you have any)?

Don't be afraid to go when it's raining. When we lived in SoCal and had annual passes, we'd purposely love to go on gray, rainy days. Some of my best times were spent on days like that. As long as you are prepared, and it's not a total downpour and your not made of sugar, it's fine.

 

[PirateFish989]

Rides
Disneyland
Space Mountain
Peter Pan
Big Thunder Mountain

DCA
Toy Story Midway Mania
California Screamin'
Soarin'

Non-Ride Attractions
Animation Building
Muppet Vision 3D

Shows/Parades
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies
Fireworks (it doesn't matter what "show," they're all good!)
Fantasmic!
*I have yet to see World of Color

Restaurants
Cafe Orleans
Wine Country Trattoria

Counter Service
Bengal BBQ
Hungry Bear
Farmer's Market (in DCA but was removed for Cars' Land)

Disney Extras
Dapper Dans
Piano Player at the Coca-Cola Refreshment Center (he is amazing!)
Pooh Corner Candy Counter

Tips
Make use of fastpass!!! This will make a huge difference in what you can accomplish with a minimal amount of added effort!

 

[MrsPinup]

Rides?
Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Matterhorn, California Screamin' and Toy Story Midway Mania.

Non-ride Attractions? I cannot think of anything.

Shows or Parades? Billy Hill, Fantasmic.

Restaurants? Dole Whip cart and Blue Ribbon bakery.

Hints or Tips (if you have any)? Make sure to get fast passes first! Be kind to people, kindness goes a long way. Pack your water and drink it often...don't fill up on sodas and sugary drinks.

 

[MrsPinup]

My 6 year old son's suggestions:

Rides? Space Mountain, Matterhorn, TSMM

Non-ride Attractions? Grizzly Run area with all the stuff to climb all over

Shows or Parades? WOC ("even though I got soaking," he says. A gust of wind that night coincided with one of the water cannons and we were drenched. This was just about 10 minutes after I asked the CM how wet the wet zone really was. He told us just a light mist. )

Restaurants? Goofy's Kitchen

Hints or Tips (if you have any)? It is going to be fun. Wear sunscreen.