First trip to Disneyland TRIP REPORT

[Anthony95]

Space Mountain was basically the same before, but the sound is better, new paint and there are new effects, especially the ending. It is also much darker inside now too. They took out the escalator belt when exiting and put stairs in.

exactly

 

[Anthony95]

Most importantly, did you have fun at Disneyland?

And yes, Innoventions was where the Carousel of Progress was from 1967 until 1973. From 1974 until 1988 it was America Sings, another revolving theater animatronic show. All of the America Sings animatronics became the Splash Mountain animals in 1989. Sad to think such two wonderful animatronic shows are now just a revolving Best Buy, isn't it?

exactly

lol @ revolving best buy lol

 

[Anthony95]

Seriously consider visiting Disneyland during the Holidays. Disneyland with all of the Christmas decorations up is simply Disneyland at its best. Plus, there's the excellent Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday versions of those rides, and the Christmas version of the nightly fireworks with the snowfall finale'. Add in the Christmas Parade, stunningly beautiful decorations everywhere, and the usual seasonal cheer, and it's an amazing time to see Disneyland. They even have the White House Turkey who is pardoned by the President on display in the Big Thunder Ranch, and this past year they shipped in a dozen live reindeer from Alaska who lounged around the cabin where Santa Claus poses for pictures!

But beware, Disneyland has cornered the market on Christmas with SoCal locals, and the last two weeks of December, the Thanksgiving week, and any Saturday from mid November through early January is often the busiest days of the year for Disneyland. It is not at all unusual, especially those last two weeks of December and Thanksgiving weeekend, for Disneyland to shut its turnstiles and stop selling tickets by 10:30 or 11:00 AM each day. They did that for several consecutive days this past year during the week between Christmas and New Years and it always catches people off gaurd, especially when they are locked out and can't get in to the Park.

But if you can get to Disneyland in early December, and preferably on a weekday, you are guaranteed an amazing time at Disneyland.

exactly



i've been to disneyland just about every year the last 34 years and my only worse trip there was christmas eve and christmas day. someone told me there were a million people in the park each of those days? i hated it. swore i would never go back for those two days, however, i will go back a few weeks before so i can still enjoy the decorations that my family and i absolutely loved:xmas: :sohappy:

 

[Anthony95]

Doesn't the Fantasmic show preform in the Rivers of America. There is no seating, unless you ate at the restaurant?

yes it does, but the restaurant isn't the only option.

unlike fantasmic florida, and also i'm sure the main reason they built bleachers for wdw fantasmic: you sit on the ground right in front of the river, or you stand behind the passing byers walking space (sorry don't kow the right name) until CM directing traffic tell you to move! lol... people stand on the overpass... up on the brick ledges... go to River Belle Terrace and have dinner and hog the seats... anything to get a good view. It was a good idea for it to be on the Rivers but seating wasn't planned well (i assume they didn't expect it to be such a popular show) - however they do a good job with crowd control. better to wait for the second show where its a tad bit less crowded; if its the only show, then, get that dessert buffett, plan your meal at River Belle or be prepared to sit on the ground and save your space for 2 hours in hope for a good seat. (this is a good time to ride splash mountain)

i like the band they have playing as a preshow.

they use to sell seat cushions for guest, but the last few times i went, i didn't see them for sale (i'm sure they are somewhere). we still have ours.

 

[Smee]

We just returned from our second trip to DLR and have also been to WDW many times. If you ever had any reservations about the experience you would have at DRL, put them aside and go. This is a wonderful park and well worth the vaca time. I also like DCA as well but Disneyland is an experience not to be missed by any true Disney fanatic.

One of the things that really struck me on this recent trip was how musical the place is. It seemed like there were musicians everywhere and it makes for a great atmosphere.

Many attractions are superior to their WDW counterparts. It is a compact park compared to WDW, but you can cover a lot of ground very efficiently.

If you are thinking about sacrificing a WDW trip for DLR and are worried about being disappointed, I would venture to say that you will be very glad you went.

And the balcony for Fantasmic is the way to go. Reserve early, the seats go quickly. The view and the desserts are well worth the price.

 

[KCBroadway]

Thank you TP2000 for that lengthy and detailed response! Greatly appreciated. Yes - I knew about the Haunted Mansion and Bobsleds being closed while I was there - VERY disappointed!!

 

[TP2000]

Thank you TP2000 for that lengthy and detailed response! Greatly appreciated. Yes - I knew about the Haunted Mansion and Bobsleds being closed while I was there - VERY disappointed!!

You're welcome. Feel free to start a new Disneyland Trip Planning thread and I'll cut and paste from my previous posts, plus add in some new info, to my hearts content.

I hope you'll come back and let us know how it all goes in September. This half-marathon thing is a big deal for Disneyland, but with this being the first time they've ever tried something like this I'm curious to see how it goes over with the out-of-town crowd just coming in for the race itself. Disneylanders are always good at hosting big crowds and special events, a la' the recent Pirates Movie Premiere, but this marathon thing is a real biggie. The City of Anaheim is also heavily involved in the weekend, so it's not just a Disneyland thing.

 

[BRER STITCH]

We were in the balcony seating at the Disney Gallery for the dessert buffet.

Isn't this absolutely the BEST?!?!?! We got the front row too!

We said we were joking at the time, but now I truly believe none of us would ever see it from anyplace else again! :lol:

The Fantasmic Dessert Buffet was absolutly the highlight of our trip!

:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[MainSt1993]

This half-marathon thing is a big deal for Disneyland, but with this being the first time they've ever tried something like this I'm curious to see how it goes over with the out-of-town crowd just coming in for the race itself. Disneylanders are always good at hosting big crowds and special events, a la' the recent Pirates Movie Premiere, but this marathon thing is a real biggie. The City of Anaheim is also heavily involved in the weekend, so it's not just a Disneyland thing.

The logistics of even a 10K can be complicated, so I'm impressed that Disney and the City of Anaheim are taking on a half marathon. It will be my first big race, and I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather do it than my old stomping ground. Plus, it will be a nice break from Congress!!