Disneyland ~ Late July Trip
I've booked my hotel room at the Grand Californian Hotel. Got a new camera coming thanks to HSN.com. And I have plenty of maps through eBay sellers. I'm ready for Disneyland, California! Well... almost ready. I need your help!
If you've been to Disneyland and think you have a tip that is worth sharing and should help me in my first trip to the California parks, then please take the time to comment just below. Anything helps.
I already know that the Matterhorn seems to be THE ride to take in while visiting the original Disneyland. I remember a Disney Prince stating in a Travel Channel special that it's the first ride he gets on when he visits the park and the it's the last ride he gets on before he leaves. Is it that good?
Let's see, I also know that Pirates of the Carribbean is getting refurbished as the park adds characters from the movies into the ride. And I also know that a Finding Nemo ride is under construction where 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride once was... but that's not a tip, just news. I need tips from you!
Oh gawd my stomach is in knots thinking about this trip.
Comments
I don't care how you do it.. but avoid the lines and always use FASTpass! AVOID THE LINES!
Posted by: Disney Fan | April 11, 2006 03:12 PM
Love the site a huge Disney fan I am. Last year I worked at WDW doing an internship and I had a blast! I am moving to Orlando and am staying for good. The best advice that I could give you is to plan well.
I talked to alot of parents who were not going to be able to do everything they wanted to becasue they had to come to the same park twice in order to do everything. If there are rides ar shows that you want to do go to those first.
I can not say for sure about Disneyland but in WDW there were things that had one to two hours waits even with the fast passes some times you would have to come back four hours later for some passes. But just have fun.
Posted by: Johnny | April 13, 2006 11:05 PM
Make sure to watch the Remember Firework show from Main St. or the Hub. That is definately the best place. After head over for the 10:30 Fantasmic! It's not as busy as the 9:00 show. Plus a lot less waiting. I have so much more info I could give you, but don't want to take up too much space here. Drop me a line if you can. I'm a CM at DLR and I really enjoy your site.
Posted by: G | April 14, 2006 08:52 PM
Enjoy the Indiana Jones ride! I remember that was the one thing I really liked about Disneyland that you can't get at Disneyworld. (Aside from Matterhorn)
Posted by: Drew | April 18, 2006 03:52 PM
I've stayed at The Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Paradise Pier but never The Grand Californian (although I have walked through it).
Let's see, some of the rides at Dl and not WDW. Of course, the Matterhorn and The Indiana Jones Adventure! You can also add Mr. Toad's Wild Ride to that list and the Disneyland Railroad diorama, as well as, Alice in Wonderland, Casey Jr. Train and the Storybook Canals, and The Adventures of Pinocchio.
You gotta see Parade of Dreams during the day (from the train station platform) and Remember Dreams Come True fireworks at night (from the hub). Of course, you also have to see Fantsmic!
Take a ride on The Rivers of America canoes to see some of the hunky castmembers. They are all over the park but particularly here!
And always FASTPASS whenever you can!
Over at DCA, my favorite rides are The Tower of Terror, Grizzly River Rapids, Soarin', Californian Screamin' and Mullholand Madness.
See the two parades if you have time (cute guys in the daytime parade). You can walk directly into this park from your hotel. Again, FASTPASS whenever you can!
Posted by: Cliff | May 7, 2006 12:30 PM
when exactly is your trip? is it near july 17?
visit http://micechat.com for tons of info- ask your question there and you will get a lot of replies...
Posted by: keith - SuPeR K! | May 24, 2006 12:40 PM
Hi. I just discovered your site today and already love it. I live in SoCal and have an Annual Pass so I go as often as I can. If you want or need a local tour guide let me know.
I agree with Keith about MiceAge. I was going to recommend it myself. Pay close attention to Al Lutz's columns. They focus on Disneyland.
And don't get too hung up on planning to use Fastpass. They are rapidly disappearing from the parks.
Posted by: Sam | June 2, 2006 07:21 PM
OOOPS. My Bad!! Keith mentioned Micechat, which is a great site. My tip was for Miceage. They're connected. Miceage has columns written about the parks, Micechat has the forums. Got that??
E-mail me too if you have any questions too lengthy to put forth here.
Posted by: Sam | June 3, 2006 02:27 AM
How can anyone forget Dumbo. There is water under the ride. Run, don't walk for the golden dumbo (even though there is a golden dumbo outisde of the attraction that you can take pictures with, its not the same)
As far as riding the Matterhorn- head to the ride later. I'm not even kidding If you happen to be there when the park is still open until midnight then go on line around 10:30.
Posted by: Matthew | June 22, 2006 06:42 PM
Going in the summer means you must do one key thing!
Get to the park early.
No later than 7:30am
Be among the first in and you can do the major attractions the first two hours the park is open, before it gets hot and crowded. Go on your favorites twice in a row.
Have a plan that logistically makes sense each morning, like - Pirates, Indy, Haunted Mansion Splash(they are all right in a line from Adventureland), Or Tommorrowland/Fantasyland.
If you do this one thing, when it gets hot, you can go rest and swim, and go back to the park after it cools off. You can handle the heat this way. Also, if eating in the park, eat earlier than average. 11:30 lunch,4:00 dinner. It works the best.
Posted by: travelmom | July 23, 2006 12:02 AM