I've been a member of WDWMagic for years and didn't realize that a Disneyland section even existed! I'm so glad as I'm planning my first ever trip to Disneyland this summer and I've read some great suggestions from so many of you on here (Actually its my first trip to California ever!! - btw you Californians have an amazing state). Even still I have some questions and want to double check some of my ideas with anyone willing to lend a hand. Unfortunately, it seems you can find WDW advice all over the net but not so much for Disneyland.
Ok here I go.....
1 - Just curious if anyone has ever stayed at the Anabella Hotel - Concierge level? I looked it up on Tripadvisor and the comments range from raves to outright bad reviews. We booked it as it had a nice pool as we intend to do some pool time and the concierge level building has great beds so they say.
2- We've been told the hotel is walking distance to DL and that you can take a short cut through the Grand Californian Hotel. Does anyone know anything about this shortcut??
3- Next and most importantly, at this point I'm just at a total loss as to how to navigate the park and what to do what day. We have 2 full days at DL as we arrive in the evening the day before on Saturday. We're going to be there on Sunday August 24 and Monday 25th.
My priorities are all the attractions that DL has that WDW doesn't (e.g. Matterhorn, Indy, Nemo), all of Fantasyland, and the attractions that have slight to significant differences (e.g. Pirates, Space Mountain, HM). And lets not forget the fireworks and Fantasmic.
With respect to CA, I'm torn. On the one hand, I'd like to take a peak and ride Monsters, Screamin, Soarin, Aladdin and Toy Story, but I'm not sure where to fit those into my trip. But at the same time, I don't want to take too much time away from DL given that i've never been there and dont want to spend the day going from ride to ride and forgetting to soak up the ambience and architecture.
The next rub is that the friend i'm traveling with is not a big Disney fan and agreed to tack on a few days onto our multi day California trip so I could see DL. His one request is that we return to the hotel in the afternoon so he can soak in the pool,have a cocktail and shower before returning to the park. So whatever I figure out in terms of itinerary has to include these breaks.
Anybody have any suggestions as to how to fit all this into a 2 day trip?? I read someone's suggestion that you should get to the park when it opens head to Indy, grab a Fastpass for that, then go ride Pirates, HM, and Splash, return to Indy and then head to I believe Matterhorn and Nemo or Space Mountain. On the other hand, I've read to get to the park when it opens and power walk over to Nemo and then Matterhorn. I just don't know if I want to spend my first day in DL running around like that. But then again i'm afraid if I don't i'll never get to ride Nemo. Maybe do the power walk to Nemo on Monday which should be less crowded? Any suggestions?
4 - For the fireworks and Fantasmic how much time prior to the show do you need to line up?
5- What are the lines like at CA in the early afternoon?
6 - I'd also like to eat at Blue Bayou for lunch and I think I'd like to do that on Monday when the park will be less crowded..good idea???
7 - Finally, any other tips, suggestions etc. for a WDW veteran visiting DL for the first time??
Thanks so much to whoever even attempts to answer one of my convoluted questions. LOL I promise if anyone has any WDW questions i'm there anytime to answer them.
:slurp:
