Last Minute Trip - What Not to Miss?

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

So I surprised my wife with a last minute trip. She's a school teacher and we're leaving the day after school to spend a few days out in Anaheim 6/6 - 6/10. I've done my fair bit of research about DL and I've been ONCE for half a day during the Rose Bowl 2010 (I was in a college marching band). My wife has only been once and that was for a similarly short trip some 10 years ago. We have never been to DCA.

I am super excited to see all of the different attractions again. I think I rode HM Holiday, Pirates, and Space 2-3 times each last time I went just to experience how different and amazing they were. But this trip, we want to try to get it all in. I think we're only going to have one day in each of the parks, but I have been considering getting a 3-day pass, since I've heard it's worth it spend 2 days in DL. Being an experienced WDW traveler, it's exciting to have the feeling of not knowing what to do, but it is also a bit scary, since I don't want to miss a thing.

What do we just HAVE to see, eat, drink, etc.?

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

There's really nothing I would skip. Get the 3 day pass and take it all in.

 

[Nextinline]

You're fortunate that your trip will be during the first few weeks of Disneyland's 60th Anniversary celebration, so definitely make sure to check out the new fireworks show, WoC, paint the night parade, and the upgrade attractions.

But ultimately, the only thing you absolutely don't want to miss is unique feeling and character that Disneyland has when compared to WDW. More important than any attraction or restaurant is experiencing the sense of being enveloped in the original Disney park. You cannot and will not enjoy yourself trying to do EVERYTHING. DLR, like WDW, is worth experiencing more than once if you want to tackle all the attractions and great food, but even if this is your only opportunity to go I would advise spending it a more leisurely pace so you can soak everything in.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

There's really nothing I would skip. Get the 3 day pass and take it all in.

What? Ride Indiana Jones 5 times?

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

You're fortunate that your trip will be during the first few weeks of Disneyland's 60th Anniversary celebration, so definitely make sure to check out the new fireworks show, WoC, paint the night parade, and the upgrade attractions.

This is what I'm the most excited about. I turned to my wife last night and said: "Hat Box Ghost" and I've never seen her eyes glitter like that.

 

[Californian Elitist]

You have to go for the 3-day option. It's the 60th anniversary, a celebration that won't come again. You're blessed to be there during such a special time.

We have a thread on food and a thread for WDW vets heading to the DLR. I can't link them right now, but they shouldn't be too far back in the forum.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

You have to go for the 3-day option. It's the 60th anniversary, a celebration that won't come again. You're blessed to be there during such a special time.

We have a thread on food and a thread for WDW vets heading to the DLR. I can't link them right now, but they shouldn't be too far back in the forum.

Thank you!!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Thank you!!

You're welcome! I can post the link to the threads now:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/guide-to-dlr-for-wdw-veterans.875596/
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/dlr-food-where-to-eat-and-where-not-to.894442/

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

You're welcome! I can post the link to the threads now:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/guide-to-dlr-for-wdw-veterans.875596/
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/dlr-food-where-to-eat-and-where-not-to.894442/

Great links. That's pretty much what I was looking for. The more I read, the more I really think 3-day tickets are going to be necessary.

 

[Bairstow]

My advice, if you only have 2 days, is to spend as much time as possible in the parks themselves.
Don't feel like you need to go to Downtown Disney for good food, and you may want to avoid Trader Sam's this trip, since on busy nights it often takes a very long time to get drinks, and even longer to grab a table if one becomes available.

Since I take it neither one of you have seen Fantasmic nor World of Color, you may want to consider booking one of the dinner packages at Blue Bayou or Carthay Circle, either of which are worth your time, but since you're going in June you'll want to check availability and book immediately.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/fantasmic-dinner-packages/
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disney-california-adventure/world-of-color-dining/

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Do 3 days. You won't regret it, as you'll get to actually see stuff. You can divvy up nighttime shows - World of Color one night, and figure out the three DL shows over the other 2 nights. You won't feel as much pressure each day to run like crazy knowing you have that third day.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

My advice, if you only have 2 days, is to spend as much time as possible in the parks themselves.
Don't feel like you need to go to Downtown Disney for good food, and you may want to avoid Trader Sam's this trip, since on busy nights it often takes a very long time to get drinks, and even longer to grab a table if one becomes available.

Since I take it neither one of you have seen Fantasmic nor World of Color, you may want to consider booking one of the dinner packages at Blue Bayou or Carthay Circle, either of which are worth your time, but since you're going in June you'll want to check availability and book immediately.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/fantasmic-dinner-packages/
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disney-california-adventure/world-of-color-dining/

Yup! It'll be our anniversary one of the nights, so I chose to get reservations at Carthay Circle and do the WoC option. I think we'll just try to get a good spot for Fantasmic. I've seen it, and I have a feeling it will spoil my wife. We LOVE Fantasmic at WDW, and I know DL's version is superior in just about every way.

I think I'm going to grab 3-day passes, and maybe even Park Hoppers. Cars is my wife's favorite movie, so I'm certain she will want to do RSR more than once.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Yup! It'll be our anniversary one of the nights, so I chose to get reservations at Carthay Circle and do the WoC option. I think we'll just try to get a good spot for Fantasmic. I've seen it, and I have a feeling it will spoil my wife. We LOVE Fantasmic at WDW, and I know DL's version is superior in just about every way.

I think I'm going to grab 3-day passes, and maybe even Park Hoppers. Cars is my wife's favorite movie, so I'm certain she will want to do RSR more than once.

Park-hopper tickets will be good choices, since going to and from each park is quick and easy. You won't be constrained to just one park for the whole day.

 

[Bairstow]

Yup! It'll be our anniversary one of the nights, so I chose to get reservations at Carthay Circle and do the WoC option. I think we'll just try to get a good spot for Fantasmic. I've seen it, and I have a feeling it will spoil my wife. We LOVE Fantasmic at WDW, and I know DL's version is superior in just about every way.

Good call on Carthay Circle. That's probably the best in-park food I've ever eaten.
If y'all drink, you should visit the lounge before dinner. There's usually a gap between when you report with your reservation and they actually seat you. They have some very cool aluminum ice sphere molds, which are fun to watch and fun to drink, so order something like a Manhattan or Martini that uses them.

As for Fantasmic, I don't know much about getting a good seat without a dining reservation, but I know it's not a simple affair. Fastpasses are probably necessary and it would probably be wise, if possible, to buy your dinner and wait in line with it.

I think I'm going to grab 3-day passes, and maybe even Park Hoppers. Cars is my wife's favorite movie, so I'm certain she will want to do RSR more than once.

Hm. Tough call on the hoppers with just 3 days.
If your wife is all about Cars, though, you might want to do it because you will not get a good opportunity to see Carsland at night AND do the World of Color/Carthay Circle thing. Carsland does a really cool thing with their lighting every night at sunset, and when w did WoC/Carthay that event overlapped with dinner.

Finally, don't be hesitant to use the single-rider line at RSR. With a party of 2, it's very possible that you 2 will be seated in the same car anyway, or even better- in opposing "racing" cars.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond]

Good call on Carthay Circle. That's probably the best in-park food I've ever eaten.
If y'all drink, you should visit the lounge before dinner. There's usually a gap between when you report with your reservation and they actually seat you. They have some very cool aluminum ice sphere molds, which are fun to watch and fun to drink, so order something like a Manhattan or Martini that uses them.

As for Fantasmic, I don't know much about getting a good seat without a dining reservation, but I know it's not a simple affair. Fastpasses are probably necessary and it would probably be wise, if possible, to buy your dinner and wait in line with it.

Hm. Tough call on the hoppers with just 3 days.
If your wife is all about Cars, though, you might want to do it because you will not get a good opportunity to see Carsland at night AND do the World of Color/Carthay Circle thing. Carsland does a really cool thing with their lighting every night at sunset, and when w did WoC/Carthay that event overlapped with dinner.

Finally, don't be hesitant to use the single-rider line at RSR. With a party of 2, it's very possible that you 2 will be seated in the same car anyway, or even better- in opposing "racing" cars.

I bit the bullet and did the park hoppers. Thanks for all of the advice. We're pretty excited.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

At Carthay Circle, I recommend extra filthy martini, hold the ice.

 

[TP2000]

Be ready for epic crowds on Sunday the 7th. The 60th will have begun and Sundays are always the busiest day of the week until the AP summer blockouts kick in later in June. You will need a plan of attack for Sunday, and be ready to step away in the afternoon when the crowds grow intense.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

DLR attractions you can duck into when the parks get crowded: Lincoln, Tiki Room, Railroad, Frontierland vessels, Tom Sawyer, Big Thunder Ranch, Castle Walkthrough, Treehouse, Winnie the Pooh, Monsters, Inc., Disney Animation, Redwood Creek, Little Mermaid and usually other Paradise Pier stuff.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Make sure to see Aladdin. It's my favorite Disney show I've ever seen.