Questions from a first-timer to Disneyland

[swimmom]

We will be taking our first trip to Disneyland/So. Cal. in May and I have a few questions for all you DL veterans???

In the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland there is a motion sickness note for the Indiana Jones attraction. My husband has some issues with motion sickness. Can anyone explain or equate this attraction to one in WDW?

There will be a grad night the day that we get to Disneyland - do they do fireworks for grad nights like they do in WDW? If so any idea on an approximate time?

Also we will be spending the first part of our trip in San Diego. We will be spending our last day in San Diego at the zoo then driving to Anaheim. Any suggestions on what time we should be leaving the zoo to avoid heavy traffic? It will be on a Thursday. And is traffic typically lighter in the LA/Hollywood area on a Sunday?

 

[Yenfid]

The Indy ride is kind of like Tower of Terror, not the ride itself, but that each ride is different. I went on it many time back in 2005, the first ride was jerky but not bad. The second ride was faster and rough and wild and we walked off a little soar. The third time was like the first and the last time was very mild.

Hope that helps

 

[ryank007]

I think it's just like Dirosaur at AK. I believe the ride vehicles are the same, even. If you're OK to ride Dinosaur, you should be OK on Indy.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Been on it many times. It's just like Dinosaur.

 

[nemofinder22]

For Indy- The layout is the same as Dino at DAK but you can see the track more than on Dino.

Grad night fireworks happen 3 times a night during gard night (at least thats whats been happening over the past few years) They late at night I think midnight, 2am and 4am-ish? But there all low level fireworks since DLR is next to so many homes.

Not sure about the traffic though. Have a great trip and let us know how it all goes!

 

[swimmom]

Thanks for all your replies. I think my husband will be good to go on Indy!!! He has problems with spinning rides and visual affects at 360 films i.e. O Canada & the China Pavilion in World Showcase. We'll just have him take a dramamine to be on the safe side.

I'll be back if I have anymore questions. We are really looking forward to seeing Walt's first park!!!

 

[wannaread]

As of 07 Grad nite there are indeed three fireworks times, at 11:30 a few go off (think roman candle type stuff plus a few mines, like 30seconds), as a countdown for rope drop - then a show at 1:00am and3:00am, about 10 minutes, heavy use of lighting and fire effects (extra lighting / screens are out for grad nite) - and a very good show, seems to fit with the music very well. Also note that this is a QUIET fireworks show (at least the fireworks themselve's they destroyed our eardrums with the music i think ), lots of pinwheels, colored flame, roman candles, mines, etc. - little to no big burst fireworks, likely due to the late times of the show (don't need to wake up all the hotels!). Check youtube for disneyland grad night fireworks 2007, its split into three parts.

 

[Kerby626]

The other answers you got are good one.

For the traffic question. I would leave the area by the zoo either by 2pm or after 6. Coming up the I5 from the zoo you are going to hit the rush hour traffic dead on if you leave between 3-6.

 

[swimmom]

^^^

Thanks for the grad night info. Hopefully we will see some fireworks from Paradise Pier our first night in Anaheim.

Also thanks for the traffic info. Being totally unfamiliar with the area, I didn't know what time rush hour was?!?!?

 

[LadyDarling]

Just wanted to throw this out there to. The San Deigo Zoo is cool, AND world famous, but one of the more amazing parks (and the sister park to the zoo) is the Wild Animal Park in Escondido. I have to say, the Wild Animal Park TRUMPS the Zoo! At the zoo, you will have your typical "zoo" experience. The Wild Animal park involves wide open spaces, free roaming animals, and quite possibly the coolest lion enclosure ever. I was there this past weekend and the adult male lion was padding around his enclosure... ROARING. And right across the street? Life stock that could definately be considered "lunch"!

It's a facinating place, and the same price as the zoo. And it's closer to Disneyland.