DarkfireWolfe ([info]darkfirewolfe) wrote in [info]disneyland,
@ 2009-10-04 20:36:00
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Current mood: excited

First Timers
My husband and I will be in Disneyland next week for our first time ever. I've been to WDW several times and he and I went for our first time together this past May. We are fortunate enough to be able to go for 2 full days on our way to a professional conference in California next week.

We are booked at the Disneyland resort and have park hoppers for 2 days. Other than basking in the glorious Halloween decorations and eating at least 1 meal at the Blue Bayou, what would you suggest for total adult (with no children) first timers?

Thanks a bunch!!!


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[info]quitesometime
2009-10-05 01:56 am UTC (link)
hit all the major rides, of course, and if you have the money to spare, do one of the tours the park offers. they have one during halloween - or at least they did last year - that takes you through the park at night and tells stories of all the supposed hauntings in the park.

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[info]muggles
2009-10-05 03:22 am UTC (link)
Downtown Disney at DL is smaller than at WDW, but I like it a lot more. I'd take a little time at night to explore the area and look around, it's really nice and fun.

The Happiest Haunts tour is really fun, a few friends of mine went last year and had a blast. They went without their kids and really talked about that experience more than anything else.

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[info]lokiz_mom
2009-10-05 05:07 am UTC (link)
i'll second and third the happiest haunts tour. it's $62, but if you have AAA you can get a discount. information about the tour here. i was pleasantly surprised when i was able to go on the tour last year. i am a collector of keys....the key they offer is awesome (at least for me it is), and the tour is even more fantastic!

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[info]patrickqin
2009-10-05 05:55 am UTC (link)
Get a really good spot in front of the castle to see the fireworks. You'll have to wait maybe an hour beforehand, but it's sooo worth it. They do stuff on the castle that you can't see elsewhere in the park.

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[info]jsciv
2009-10-05 06:58 pm UTC (link)
With the Halloween fireworks in particular, it's important that you have a view of the low-altitude area immediately above and to the left of the castle: there's a show element there that it's kind of good to be able to see...

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[info]froggybsb03
2009-10-05 07:29 pm UTC (link)
Ok, Happiest Haunts tour if you can afford it.
Major rides (Matterhorn, Pirates, Small World, Splash, Thunder, all of Fantasyland's little rides (with the exception of Peter Pan the lines almost never get more than 20 mins, 30 tops at something like Alice. Pan usually runs about 45 mins, but is very cute, so try to hit it first thing in the morning if you get there really early), Buzz Lightyear, Jungle Cruise, Indy, Roger Rabbit, Haunted Mansion) as you like them, don't avoid ones you know from WDW because here they are very different (and better, IMO). Use Fast Pass if you want, I personally don't like running back and forth across the park collecting then using fast passes, but that's just me. Also be forewarned that Toontown closes for the night an hour before fireworks start, and most of Fantasyland closes at the same time but reopens after the fireworks (if the park is open later).
If you are there two nights, I would actually suggest watching the fireworks twice, if pyro is your thing. Once from the front of the castle (tour spot) and once from the front of Small World, it's a whole different show back there. If you pick just one go for the castle, but the projections across Small World are awesome.
Fantasmic! at some point. We've been very busy and adding third shows several nights this week, so there may well be an extra show to choose from when you're here. If you're up to it, I recommend watching pyro at 9:25 then heading straight to the rivers of america for the second show of Fantasmic at 10:30 (don't try for the first show unless you want to camp out at 5 or 6 in the afternoon to get a good spot) and aim for anywhere close to the Pirates of the Caribbean for a great view.
For food, I love the pasta and salads at Pizza Port next to Space Mountain, but the hot dogs and chili at Coke Corner on Main Street (and the corn dogs across the street) are good and so are the cheese sticks and funnel cakes at the Golden Horseshoe/Stage Door Cafe in Frontierland. Most of the rest of the restaurants are standard burger and fries and cafeteria pizza joints.

General words of advice: get a map and show times guide and study it first thing to get an idea of how to plan your day. Have a meeting plan in case you get seperated. And please follow all posted safety signage and cast member instructions, we really do know what we're doing. :) And HAVE FUN!

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[info]garfpooky
2009-10-05 09:32 pm UTC (link)
wow, 3 fantasmic shows?? :D what time have they been showing the 3rd show?

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[info]froggybsb03
2009-10-06 03:03 am UTC (link)
11:30 :)

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[info]pinkpinkblink
2009-10-07 12:20 am UTC (link)
have you made your reservations for the blue bayou yet? i work there and i would be an awful person if i didn't tell you that we've been completely packed for the past couple of weeks. so if you haven't already, call the dine line. (714) 781 DINE is the number.

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