Disneyland ahoy! Any tips?

[yoda_four]

Yes, after years of nagging, I finally convinced my Mom to take the family to Disneyland. We're going for 5 days and then visiting Universal and SeaWorld. I know that UD is the best place to come for this type of info; so any tips for making this my happiest time on earth ? Thanks guys.

[memnv]

Yes

Tip #1
Have a great time
Tip #2
Make sure you get Hopper Tickets and use your Fast Pass, I would go right to Space Mountain right when you get to the park and get a fast pass ticket for it. On another day I would go to Splash Mountain and do the same thing, Also when you get your Fast Passes look at what time you can get your next one and as soon as it hits get another one or as soon as possible, Another tip, The fast pass may tell you to come between 5:01 - 5:25 but if you go later they will let you still use it, Another good ride to use it at is California Screaming at Disneyland

Tip #3
Watch the Fireworks show at least one night, It is the best one you will ever see, Then the other nights go on rides during the show, I went on Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and the Coaster in Frontier land and New Orleans Square during the fireworks with very short 5 minute or less lines on the 2nd busiest weekend of the year. On the Coaster you get some great fireworks shots also

Tip #4 see Fantasmic

Tip #5 Find good seats for the Parades

Tip #6 Bring a Backpack, Camera, and a Autograph Book. We had a blast getting Pictures with the Charaters and Getting Autographs and Scrapbooking it all together, Also Bring a Felt Tip Pen and have it open when you give it to the charaters with it facing the page to be signed.

Tip #7 Dress Comfortably, Shorts Tennis Shoes, Can always bring a sweatshirt in your back pack

Tip #8 Have Fun

Tip #9 Bring pleanty of Money

Tip #10 Remember the Fast Pass it is your friend

Tip #11 Drink pleanty of Water

Tip # 12 look for the Hidden Mickeys throughout the Park

Tip #13 If you belong to Disney VKM. GO by the booth and get a quest it is by space mountain

Tip #14 Have Fun

Tip #15 Some rides are closed during the Fireworks like MR Toad, Also the rides in that area dont have Fast Pass

Tip #16 When you get tired See a Show, Good Shows to rest in are Tiki Hut, Muppets 3-d (California Adventure), Honey I shrunk the Audience

Tip #17 Don't eat right before you go on rides like Star Tours

Tip #18 If you stay in the area but not the at the park there is a shuttle bus that goes back and forth every 20 minutes or so and you pay once a day get a pass and can ride it as much as you want

Tip #19 Have Fun

Tip #20 Use your 1 hour early entry with the Hopper ticket(can be used one day)

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

1. Go ride Pirates of the Caribbean

That's really the only tip you need!

No just kidding.

2. The only rides in the park that are ABSOLUTE NEED of Fast-Pass(unless you want to stay in horrendous lines) are Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. You could get a fast-pass for a couple others, but they don't never get as long as the other three as I mentioned.

3. The two best places to watch the fireworks(this is just IMO) are from The Plaza Inn or on top of Innoventions. I'm not sure about other places though.

4. Put suntan lotion on!

5. Like memnv said, "Have fun!"

[Kram Nebuer]

Lots of great tips posted already!

Tip #6 Bring a Backpack, Camera, and a Autograph Book. We had a blast getting Pictures with the Charaters and Getting Utographs and Scrapbooking it all together, Also Bring a Felt Tip Pen and have it open when you give it to the charaters with it facing the page to be signed.

This is true. I didn't open to an empty page and Wendy accidentally signed on the back of the page that Aladdin signed on, so I couldn't tear it out to have two separate autographs. Don't make that mistake if you plan on having signatures on separate pages! This happened when I was little too and Minnie did something worse; she signed on top of Belle's signature!

If you don't have it already, order the free vacation planning DVD. If it will come too late to plan your trip, get it anyway to add to your DVD collection! It's specially themed for the 50th Anniversary. It may not cover as much as liked, but hey, it's free!

Also, I don't know if your family knows about this, but Disneyland sells tickets to Universal Studios and Sea World! All you have to do is get the 2006 Southern California CityPass!

Includes admission to Universal Studios HollywoodSM, SeaWorld® Adventure Park, your choice of the World-Famous San Diego Zoo® or the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park® and of course, a 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket.

They had a similar offering back in 1989 when my family first went to Disneyland. Though it only offered admission to Disneyland, The Spruce Goose (some kind of port/dock visiting area), and maybe something else. I don't quite remember, but I remember seeing the brochure in our photo album.

If I think of more tips, I'll post again, but memnv and TPFan pretty much have most of it covered!

[memnv]

We sat in the main circle on main street in front of Cinderlla's Castle, cant think wwhat it is called. It was perfect, great view of everything including Tinkerbell, also we were in the middle of the snow at the end of it

[Wonderlicious]

All the help previously given is useful, yet here's how to execute my top tip:

1. Go via UD's link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redir ... eimprovemz

2. Search and buy The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2006.

We used the equivalent guide (as in same style and author) in both Disney World and Disneyland Paris, and they were of great help, especially for Disney theme park newcomers (of which we were, or at least when we were in the Florida resort). Plus, not only does it contain information on Disneyland Park and the Californian Adventure, but according to Amazon, it contains a guide to Universal Studios, of which you're also going.

[BrandonH]

Prioritize what you really want to do, but be flexible.

Anyplace with a clear line of sight to the drawbridge of the castle is spectacular for watching the fireworks from. Of course, those spots get taken quickly, but if you get there 30-45 minutes early, you should be fine.

Like memnv said, have fun!

[Mr. Toad]

Joe is right, you need a guide. There are guides in the back for what rides to hit first(they actually have guides that tell you how to do your entire day). I think following it for the entire day does not work because it is not a lot of fun, and you have to adjust at points because of which line is best.

But, it really is best if you plan out your first three or four rides of the day for each of the days.

There are somethings that really work well like go to Splash Mountain first but get a Fast Pass for Indy(or maybe Pirates on the way). Same strategy for Tomorrowland - go to Space Mountain first, but get a Fastpass for Star Tours or Buzz Lightyear on the way.

The one entertainment event that has not been mentioned is the Electrical Parade - make sure you see it. It does not run most of the year so take advantage of it in August.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

We sat in the main circle on main street in front of Cinderlla's Castle, cant think wwhat it is called. It was perfect, great view of everything including Tinkerbell, also we were in the middle of the snow at the end of it

Well correction, that's the best view, however, what I mentioned were the best views, with no crowds.

There are somethings that really work well like go to Splash Mountain first but get a Fast Pass for Indy(or maybe Pirates on the way).

Actually, there are no fast-passes for Pirates of the Caribbean. That was the most shocking thing that happened in my recent trip to Disneyland. That Pirates of the Caribbean didn't have a Fast Pass machine, but Autopia does.

[Loomis]

All the help previously given is useful, yet here's how to execute my top tip:

1. Go via UD's link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redir ... eimprovemz

2. Search and buy The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2006.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

We went in with the plan described in the book, or at least something similar to it, and we literally walked on to all the major rides. We had conquered all the major attractions at Disneyland and DCA within 2 days, and that gave us plenty of time to explore other areas of California and return to the park and soak up the ambience.

My best tip is this:

Enjoy yourself: Disneyland is a magical place, and I say that without any sarcasm. While it is really important to have a plan when you go in - simply because it allows you to get to all the things you want to see - don't be afraid to go off the plan and just find things yourself. Having a sit on Main Street while eating an ice cream sundae, or exploring all the corners of New Orleans Square are some of the most memorable and immersive things in the park. Take the Railroad trip (there's much more to it than just a tour around the park!) and jump on board the Mark Twain Riverboat.

Hotels:

Have you decided on one yet? Staying in the park can be pricier but completes your 'Disney experience'. Outside the park, I can highly recommend the Howard Johnson (right across the road) or the Radisson Maingate (about a 5-10 minute walk).

My other general tips would be:

Arrive Early: Either pre-buy your Hopper Pass tickets or get them from your hotel and line up at least half an hour in advance before the gates open. All Good Neighbour Hotels in the area offer this service, some even offer a discount. Be at the Main Street rope-off area in advance of the internal opening. Eat a big breakfast before, so you'll not waste time eating in the park. (There is a Dennys and an Ihop across the road, as well as the famous Mimi's).

Have a plan: Everyone is going to have their own priorities. I'd recommend going to Indiana Jones first thing if it is open, or at least grabbing yourself a FASTPASS for it. Then hoof it over to the nearby(ish) Splash Mountain or head to Tomorrowland for Space Mountain. Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion can usually be done close together, although the recently refurbed POTC is apparently getting the numbers in fairly heavily at the moment.

Don't Forget the Fantasyland Rides: These smaller rides - including Snow White's Scary Adventures, Alice in Wonderland, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, Pinnochio's Daring Journey - and in the case of Mr Toad, are exclusive to California. This applies to a number of rides. Just by-the-by, the Disneyland exclusive rides (i.e. you won't find them in WDW) are:

- Alice In Wonderland
- Storybook Land canal boats
- Pinocchio's Daring Journey*+
- Casey Jr.'s Circus Train
- Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin*
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Indiana Jones Adventure (Dinosaur at WDW's Animal Kingdom is basically the same ride though)
- Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes.

*In Tokyo as well
+ Paris has one

Get Your Spot for the Parades/Fireworks early: Plenty of tips above about this, but it bears repeating.

Have a great time and don't forget to share the photos/memories when you return!

[Mr. Toad]

There are somethings that really work well like go to Splash Mountain first but get a Fast Pass for Indy(or maybe Pirates on the way).

Actually, there are no fast-passes for Pirates of the Caribbean. That was the most shocking thing that happened in my recent trip to Disneyland. That Pirates of the Caribbean didn't have a Fast Pass machine, but Autopia does.

Really, didn't there use to be?

I am not crazy

http://www.laughingplace.com/Info-ID-DLFastPass.asp

[Kram Nebuer]

http://www.laughingplace.com/Info-ID-DLFastPass.asp

O cool! Disneyland's fastpasses are cooler with the art at the top and the little advertisement on the bottom. WDW's just has the logo and return time: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v340/ ... CN0678.jpg
Well I guess they get extra points for making it clear when you can get another fastpass as there are a lot of stupid people in the park trying to amass a bunch of fastpasses at once.

[memnv]

Your right about Pirates not having fast pass, neither did Haunted Manision, Mr Toad's wild ride, Peter Pans Flight, or any of the other rides in that section

[Mr. Toad]

But Pirates had them at one time did they not?

[Mr. Toad]

[quote="Kram Nebuer"
O cool! Disneyland's fastpasses are cooler with the art at the top and the little advertisement on the bottom. WDW's just has the logo and return time:[/quote]

I was looking though my daughter's scrapbook's from Disneyland and WDW and noticed that myself.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

But Pirates had them at one time did they not?

I just checked my Disneyland/DCA map from 2004, and sure enough, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion had Fast-Passes.

I can understand The Haunted Mansion not having one(very fast loading ride) but with the changes, it was the first time I've EVER seen the line for POTC go beyond the entrance and so long where they had to have long ropes to oganize the line. So I don't understand why they didn't have a Fast-Pass there. It was the 2nd longest line I stood all day at Disneyland that day, (the 1st surprisingly being Roger Rabbit's Car-Toon Spin).

[memnv]

If you go to Disney online to the Disneyland section and click on each ride it tells you if it has fast pass

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

If you go to Disney online to the Disneyland section and click on each ride it tells you if it has fast pass

Or better yet, just let me tell you.

Disneyland Fastpass Attractions:
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Roger Rabbits Car Toon Spin
Autopia
Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters
Star Tours

Disneys California Adventure Fastpass Attractions:
Screamin'
Grizzly River Run
Soarin' over California
Mulholland Madness
Tower of Terror

[Luke]

Even when the Disneyland Pirates lines get long, they move very fast. Fast enough so that FastPass seemed unnecessary for it. At least that was my experience visiting during probably one of the busiest times ever (last year during the middle of July).

Have a great time, Paul! And be sure to let us know how everything was when you return.

[MickeyMousePal]

Golden Tip:

Don't spend your money to buy Disney money it's just a was of time...