Disneyland Guide - When To Go - Tips
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deciding if and when to go to Disneyland
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Always try to upgrade to Conceige at Paradise. It's well worth it. We go to Disneyland every summer with 7 children and we have a blast everytime. The best thing to do is if you can, stay at one of the hotels on site. If you are traveling with small kids or a lot of kids ( as we do both), you can take advantage of leaving the park when the crowds are very large and it is very hot and relax at the pool or take a nap. Trust me, you and the kids will be refreshed and ready to go for the evening shows and the lines are not as long( you can get on twice as many rides at night than during the day). If you only go for one day, eat lunch or shop at Downtown Disney. It is never packed and the shops and restaurants are wonderful and air conditioned. Another tip is bring a small cooler with water, juice and snacks. This will save tons of money at the parks since water is like $2.00. If interested in getting something to remember your trip and you are hungry, go to Club Buzz located in Tomorrowland. When you buy a kid's meal it comes in a plastic little lunch box. PLus there's a Buzz Lightyear show that you can watch while you're eating. After the show, Buzz walks around and meets the kids. We just returned from a five day/four night visit to the Grand Californian and couldn't have been more pleased. The accomodations and service were outstanding. The hotel is simply beautiful. We've stayed in many Disney properties and this is the best. By far the best at Disneyland. For those with older kids, it has the Disney touch but not overly so. A very "California" feel. Access to the parks is exceptional. Highly recommend - we'll definitely return! I love Disneyland in early December. Cool but not cold, REALLY short lines, fabulous decorations and ambiance!!! We always go in the summer and crowds are not a big problem if you know how to avoid them. Go early to the park and ride your favorite rides first. Many people just mull around and you can just walk up to many popular rides. Learn to use the FastPass system. There are loopholes and many articles have been written about them. Also read up on DLR on these boards. So many tips are here, you would be amazed. As the day moves on move deeper into the park. In the morning it takes time for the crowds to move throught the park. In the afternoon, when the crowds are the heaviest, go back to the room for a rest or a nap or just shop and people watch. Always keep an eye out for short lines and take advantage or ride the less popular rides. Come back in the evening and things are a little better and the parades and Fantasmic allow you some elbow room if you know where to go and when. Bottom line, even in the heaviest crowds DLR is fun, especially if you know where and when to be. Study up on the resorts, read all the helpful posts and make a plan. Lowest time of the year to go is Feb.- Mar. Tues-Thurs is the emptiest time of the week to go. Don't try to cram all of DL into one day. It really needs at minimum two. It can be done but you don't want the stress that comes along with it, trust me. As far as a quick insider tip I leave you with two: My wife says that you should make a "potty break" before you get on the tram if you are at Mickey and Friends parking structure as it will be a million times less crowded than the ones inside the park. ESPECIALLY the ones just inside the door. I say inside the park buy a Dole Whip. At $2.50 it is one of the cheapest (yet best tasting) treats inside of Disneyland. Outside the park however, go to McDonald's. There is no point in paying $7.50 for a cheeseburger inside the park when a Big Mac Super Value meal is only $4.50 less than a block away. The best time to go is at Christmas the parks are beautiful and it definately puts you in the mood for the holidays with a touch of pixie dust and some Disney magic!!! go when kids are in school. lines are super short and the park is less crowded. oh, and get there early. For the really popular rides go early in the day to get a Fastpass. If you wait until late afternoon or evening they may be out of Fastpasses during peak seasons. We find this alot at Indy and Soarin over California. Try and hit the restaurants at off times to beat crowds. If you have already seen a parade or show, try and get on the rides during them. But make sure that you get to the area of the park in Disneyland that you want to be in before the end of the show!!! In huge crowds it is horrible trying to navigate through the park when crowds are leaving shows. Take easy snacks for kids. During busy times, don't try to stay on a ride schedule. If you see a reasonable line, ride the ride. Don't assume that by the time you ride another the line will still be short. The crowds move in waves and it doesn't take long for a short line to fill up. Have lots of patience and lots of fun!!!! WE GO AT THE END OF MARCH JUST BEFORE SPRING BREAK AT DISNEYLAND IT ISNOT AS BUSY AND THE WEATHER IS JUST RIGHT. I've been to DLand in May,July,Aug and Dec. Summer is best. Give youself plenty of days to see it, go to the park EARLY, eat EARLY, shop after noon (while everyone else is standing in a line for a ride). Use fastpass. Rest awhile at your hotel and then enjoy the pleasant summer evenings. Eat clam chowder in a sourdough breadbowl in New Orleans square. Loosely plan ahead, know the layout of the lands, laugh at the people standing in Mainstreet gazing at their map getting orientated. If you can, go to Disneyland in the middle of the week. Crowds seem to be minimal and lines shorter. Don't believe everything you hear about the horrible crowds in Disneyland during the summer months. We went to Disneyland in early June and had a blast. Just make sure you know how to use the fast pass system so you can take full advantage of all the time it saves! The dessert buffet is no small fee. It's $45 for one adult! If you need a quiet place to rid yourself of the noise and people, go into the Disney Gallery above Pirates of the Carribean and out the back door. They have tables and chairs. If you want to people watch, go to the balcony in the front. It's a beautiful view! I'm in a wheelchair and it amazes me how many people don't watch where they're going! Not just kids, but adults, too! My daughter and I fly into Anaheim May 4th around 10:30 a.m. and will go immediately to California Adventure, and then to Disneyland May 5th, and fly home the afternoon of May 6th. Is it possible to do it all? We have "premium seating" tickets for the Elec Light parade for Saturday, but wondered if the Magic in the stars fireworks will be showing Sunday, May 5th? I have gotten different answers from people at Disneyland Guest Relations. Any helpful hints and tips would be most appreciated. I think I am the only person disgruntled with Disneyland and ask a worker about going upstairs for fantasmic, they serve you refreshments and deserts for the show, it does cost a small price per person but its deffinitley worth it! Suggested to go in the week before Christmas. Beautiful decoration, less crowd. Close at 10pm on Sat & Sun. To keep kids (or adults) busy in line we pack a backpack with snacks, bottled water and/or juice. Not only does this save money but it keeps you busy. A tootsie pop can keep a kid busy during an extended line. Both Disneyland and Disney World have grocery stores within two miles of them. The only time to go is in the summer. You must experience the extended days and the warm nights. I usually only make it to Disneyland about once a year, so I always try to go aorund the Holiday season. The park is ablsoutely beautiful at this time of year. Not to mention the weather is great. No summer heat to be beat! Although the hours are typically shorter, the atmosphere can't be beat. If you know it's going to rain, head to Disneyland. It's such a blast... there is no one there... you get soaking wet, and have the time of your life. It's just like being a kid again! Also, October is wonderful...no crowds. December is worth it at least once, to see the decorations, but it's very busy!! I've been at Disneyland in late December, there are huge crowds but it is a beutiful time of the year there, all the decorations are great and the New Year's eve celebration is fantastic. I definitely recommend it. Just be aware that you have to take very comfortable shoes and be prepared to be in very, very long lines to the major attractions. I have gone in April and November for the last 2 years, and November is great! Almost no lines, wonderful decorations (especially in toon town and small world) that are worth the trip. Also, print out a list and map of the walking distance hotels when you make your reservations with a travel agent. They dont' know how far away the hotels really are (one block from disneyland means so many things) Also, spend the money on a character breakfast-they are worth it! i meant during the summer! d'oh! sorry! use a flex pass or stay at the hotel so you can do early entry sand beat the lines for the major attractions. do fantasyland late at night or early in the morning. use single rider passes for rocket rods. If you go with kids, make sure you stay close to the park so you can head back to rest and nap! Also, you can see all of the holiday decorations in early November and skip the crowds! I find that the best time to go is in the end of October. There are barely any crowds and it usually has pretty good weather. Note: Information in reader comments is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Reader comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.
-- alisande (10/31/2006)
-- tinkerbell007 (6/16/2006)
-- hollow4dw (5/13/2005)
-- cindyrelladisney (6/21/2004)
And people always say you can't see it all in one day. I've been there dozens of times, always only one day at a time and it's always fantastic. Don't miss Pirates of the Carribean (I always go on it twice every time I'm there), Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain.
-- wonderland (5/15/2004)
-- danmcmartin (4/17/2004)
Most important is smile and think to yourself no matter what happens you're not at work! Unless of course your work is at Disneyland in which case smile anyways, it's in the script!!
-- Elderp (12/1/2003)
-- disneychelle (8/19/2003)
-- OC-Supertones4Life (7/19/2003)
-- EeyorE64 (7/9/2003)
-- ufkufk (6/21/2003)
-- sue98362 (5/30/2003)
-- samtymom (3/14/2003)
-- BrerFox99 (11/12/2002)
-- cpbanning (8/25/2002)
-- cpbanning (8/25/2002)
Before our last trip my husband attached one of those loud, obnoxious bicycle horns to my wheelchair. Boy, did that help! Whenever I saw someone about to bang into me I just honked my horn and that woke 'em up!
I got a lot of positive comments from cast members, too, telling me what a great idea my horn was! It was very helpful.
We leave for our trip to DL tomorrow and my wheelchair is all set to go! HONK HONK!!!
-- Kassie (6/15/2002)
-- 9860 (4/9/2002)
Disneyworld for discontinuing
Surprise Mornings for resort guests.Does anyone share my feelings?
-- Californialand (4/1/2002)
-- Jenn31 (3/3/2002)
-- HKMickey (3/11/2001)
-- chornbe (3/9/2001)
-- mm4fr (2/23/2001)
-- smee3469 (10/10/2000)
-- Farmgurl (10/9/2000)
-- vmckay (8/30/2000)
-- Miekka (8/4/2000)
-- cwmm (7/18/2000)
-- cwmm (7/18/2000)
-- JensenC (6/27/2000)
-- Alice13 (6/27/2000)
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