14 Glorious Hours at Disneyland - a WDW Vet Gets One Day at Walt's Park UPDATE 5/19

[heathsf]

*~* To all who come to this happy place, Welcome! *~*

How many Disneyland TRs do you think have been started that way?

Anyway, welcome to my third TR, but my first one for Disneyland! Why is this my first TR for Disneyland you ask? Well, because it's my first TRIP to Disneyland! That is, if you can really call it a trip to Disneyland...

You see, it's really a trip to California for my best friend's wedding. She is getting married at the Sheraton Universal City, which is basically in Universal Studio's parking lot. My fiance and I figured we would spend one day at Universal since it was right there. This plan lasted all of 3 and one half seconds, because I was determined that if I was going to any theme park in Caliornia, it was going to be Disneyland!

I am a Disney nut, or "Disney Crazy" as my DF always tells me with an accompanying eye roll. I love Disney World. More than I like to admit in my day-to-day life outside of the Disboards. I am always trying to plan another trip to the World, however lately that's been difficult to do. With an expensive wedding coming up in July, we really just don't have the money for it right now. I'm hopeful that sometime in 2014 we'll be able to make it work, because I haven't been to WDW since August 2011 and I'm suffering from a serious case of withdrawal. That August trip was my 9th to WDW. So I suppose this day in March makes trip #10!!! That's special! It's the tin anniversary! (does anyone here watch New Girl? )

I feel very strongly that my fiance is crazy, because he is not Disney obsessed like I am. I thought for sure that he would be after his first trip ever, which was the August '11 trip. We really had an amazing time, but as much as he enjoyed himself, he never crossed the line into Disney obsession.

So anyway, here we are with this trip to California. DF would have been satisfied with a day at Universal but because he knows how much it means to me, we will be renting a car and driving to Disneyland instead!

So with only one day to spend in Disneyland, you may be wondering why I am going all out and writing a full TR like this was a week-long trip (oh sigh...how I wish...)

When we decided to do this almost a year ago, I spent a lot of time looking for TRs where people only had one day to spend at DL and I found very little that was helpful. Maybe I just need to improve my internet searching skills, I don't know. But I decided I would write this TR in case it will help anyone in a similar situation. Or perhaps someone will be interested in reading about a first time trip to DL from the perspective of someone who has been to WDW several times.

Here is our plan:
Wednesday
-6:50pm EST flight to LAX - landing at 9:08 pm PST
-Rent a car and drive to Ramada Maingate
-If we're not totally exhausted, go to Trader Sam's

Thursday
-Breakfast at the hotel
-Be at DL turnstiles by 8:30 am for 9:00 am park opening
-Cry a little because so many people will already be in the park for EE and we can't participate
-Cry a little because I'm so happy to be at Disneyland
-Spend 14 glorious hours at Disneyland and soak up all the magic
-If we're not too tired, find some Disney-related nightlife in DTD or maybe Trader Sam's if we didn't get to it the night before

Friday
-Breakfast/shopping/hanging out at DTD
-Los Angeles sightseeing - maybe Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood sign, we're not totally sure yet
-Eventually make our way to the hotel at Universal City
-Visit friends who live in LA

Saturday
-My best friend's wedding!!! (Every time I say that it makes me laugh, I LOVED that movie)

Sunday
-More sightseeing, just not sure what exactly


Monday
-11:00 am flight home

Now I'm sure not all of this seems very interesting to you. But the Disneyland and LA sightseeing parts might be!

So, I hope you'll join me. We leave on March 20, two weeks from today. I will be taking tons of pictures, documenting everything, and sharing any and all information I can that will be helpful to anyone else.

I'll leave you with a few pictures from our last WDW trip. As you'll see, my DF is a real ham...














^^ Look how excited he is! Tell me that's not a Disney-loving face!!!

Links
Our Disneyland Must-Do's
Chapter 1 - Our Adventure Begins
Chapter 2 - We're Going to Disneyland Today!
Chapter 3 - Five Hundred Hours on the DisBoards Pays Off
Chapter 4 - Waiting for Rope Drop
Chapter 5 - A Tale of Two Mountains

[Jaina]

I think it sounds wonderful! But if you can swing it (especially since you're on EST), I would recommend being in line earlier than 8:30. But I'm a little crazy that way. ;-) I'm not sure about MM's, but often the gates open early onto Main Street, and it's so nice to be there when that happens...

[CrAzY4DL]

Welcome to my park! :-)

[Leshaface]

Yes I'm here!

Ugh, and I feel so out of the loop for not getting the New Girl quote.. Sorry.

.....also, i'm probably a sad excuse for a girl but....



i've never seen My Best Friend's Wedding.... I'm an awful woman right?!

[heathsf]

Originally Posted by Jaina

I think it sounds wonderful! But if you can swing it (especially since you're on EST), I would recommend being in line earlier than 8:30. But I'm a little crazy that way. ;-) I'm not sure about MM's, but often the gates open early onto Main Street, and it's so nice to be there when that happens...

Well, I'm a little crazy like that too. I have this recurring dream [nightmare] that I'm at Disney World and no one else will get ready on time so we miss rope drop. It is SO stressful! (And this is why DF says I'm crazy ) As long as we don't stay out until crazy hours the night before, we should be able to get there earlier. What time would you suggest? I'm usually an early riser anyway, and with the 3 hour time difference in our favor, we should be ok.

Originally Posted by CrAzY4DL

Welcome to my park! :-)

Thanks! I'd love any tips/advice you have to offer. Have you been to WDW too?

Originally Posted by Leshaface

Yes I'm here!

Ugh, and I feel so out of the loop for not getting the New Girl quote.. Sorry.

.....also, i'm probably a sad excuse for a girl but....



i've never seen My Best Friend's Wedding.... I'm an awful woman right?!

I'm glad you're here! And no you're not an awful woman! Do you have Netflix? It's available to stream. Although I think you can still lead a pretty fulfilling life without having seen it

[heathsf]

Originally Posted by Jaina

I think it sounds wonderful! But if you can swing it (especially since you're on EST), I would recommend being in line earlier than 8:30. But I'm a little crazy that way. ;-) I'm not sure about MM's, but often the gates open early onto Main Street, and it's so nice to be there when that happens...

I noticed that you just got back from a trip! I'm heading over to your TR now

[Leshaface]

One week!!!!

[heathsf]

I can't believe I'll be in Disneyland in 5 days!!!

Our plans have changed a little bit since I posted last week. We decided not to rent a car because it is too expensive for what we would use it for and too inconvenient to return it to a non-airport location. So instead we will be taking the Disneyland Express from LAX to Anaheim. I am a little nervous about our flight being late and missing the last bus which is at 10:30 pm. Our backup plan would then be to try to get a ride from Super Shuttle. But I really want to be on a bus that plays Disney movies! On Friday we will attempt to use public transportation to get get to the Sheraton Universal. We will take either Amtrak or Metrolink to L.A. Union Station and then the Red Line right to the hotel which is the Universal City stop. The Metrolink is cheaper but there are no trains between 9:10 am and 4:41 pm that go to Union Station.

If anyone is reading this, please correct me if any of this information was wrong! Also, if anyone has tips/advice about taking luggage on either of these trains or the light rail, let me know! I hope we won't run into a problem with that. I'm not sure what size suitcases we're going to have yet. I am a last minute packer.

Our other plan change is that I told Bobby we need to get to the turnstiles a little earlier than we originally planned, thanks Jaina for the advice!

I am so so so so so excited to be in a Disney Park in just a few days!!! It's getting to be close to two years since my last WDW trip and it has been torture! I spent a significant amount of time every day daydreaming about being in the park and seeing the Disney sights and especially smelling the Disney smells! Oh, and tasting Disney food of course! I am determined to have my first Dole Whip!

So speaking of that, here are a list of our must-do's:

1. Space Mountain - Bobby loved it in WDW and I hear it's even better at DL so we both can't wait for this. We're going to start our day in Tomorrowland with a ride, or FP, or maybe both! I really wish FP enforcement hadn't started until after our trip...oh well...

2. Indiana Jones - I am really excited for this! Am I remembering right that there is a single rider line for it?

3. Pirates - It is one of my favorite smells at WDW and again I hear it's so much better at DL

4. Haunted Mansion - One of my favorite rides of all time. Who doesn't love grim grinning ghosts?

5. Matterhorn - Should we ride it twice - once on each side? I think I remember reading that it's a different track. Is it worth it?

6. Finding Nemo - Something unique to Disneyland and it seems pretty cool. Not sure I want to wait on a crazy line for it though so we'll see.

7. It's a Small World - Bobby didn't enjoy this at WDW but I love it. And he is intrigued by the addition of the Disney characters in the DL version.

8. Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - as many of the dark rides unique to DL as we can fit in without long waits.

9. Roger Rabbit - One of my favorite movies of all time!!!

10. Enchanted Tiki Room - An original! How could we miss it!?

11. Billy Hill - I've read such good things about it

12. Dapper Dans - Bobby wants to see the Dapper Dans and ask them to sing the theme song from "Tale Spin" I wonder if it's part of their repertoire.

I'm going to stop the list here since these are the most important things to us (me). Of course there is much more I want to do (like multiple rides on some of the rides on the list, Splash Mountain is a favorite at WDW but that will depend on the weather, the Disneyland Railroad, Buzz, Jungle Cruise, Star Tours, Storybook Canal...Okay I'll stop because there's plenty more) but these are our priorities. I really hope we'll be able to hit them all plus more! I want to take advantage of every magical second but I also don't want to be a total crazy commando. I need to find a good balance so that we can get the most out of our one day and really enjoy it. I am so excited for our one magical day!

Tips, touring plans, advice, thoughts, and feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!

[DisneytheKid]

Sounds like a pretty fun list! Honestly, I wouldn't worry about doing both sides of Matterhorn (and I love Matterhorn), simply because there isn't a big enough difference and its time you could spend elsewhere. Looking forward to hearing how it goes!

[Leshaface]

Originally Posted by DisneytheKid

Sounds like a pretty fun list! Honestly, I wouldn't worry about doing both sides of Matterhorn (and I love Matterhorn), simply because there isn't a big enough difference and its time you could spend elsewhere. Looking forward to hearing how it goes!

I totally agree. I've done both sides and there really isn't a major difference. I would use that time to get on a different ride

For Indy - yes I think to use the SR you have to get a pass from one of the CM's at the front and then take the exit. You're going to love this ride and I can't wait to see how you like it!

Pirates - the smell is so much more noticeable here at DL, so you'll love this

Nemo - I would just try to ride it for the nostalgia feel of the submarines. It is a little tight in there no, so hope you're not claustrophobic

FL - Yes to all rides here!

Roger Rabbit - the first time I rode this, I needed to ride it twice because it's a spinning ride (well you have the option to spin or not, but how can you not spin!) so when we spun the first time, I didn't even get to see my surroundings. The ride is totally fun. The queue is very cool too!


I am seriously so excited for you and so looking forward to hearing about your trip!

[heathsf]

Originally Posted by DisneytheKid

Sounds like a pretty fun list! Honestly, I wouldn't worry about doing both sides of Matterhorn (and I love Matterhorn), simply because there isn't a big enough difference and its time you could spend elsewhere. Looking forward to hearing how it goes!

Thanks for the tip

[heathsf]

Originally Posted by Leshaface

I totally agree. I've done both sides and there really isn't a major difference. I would use that time to get on a different ride

For Indy - yes I think to use the SR you have to get a pass from one of the CM's at the front and then take the exit. You're going to love this ride and I can't wait to see how you like it!

Pirates - the smell is so much more noticeable here at DL, so you'll love this

Nemo - I would just try to ride it for the nostalgia feel of the submarines. It is a little tight in there no, so hope you're not claustrophobic

FL - Yes to all rides here!

Roger Rabbit - the first time I rode this, I needed to ride it twice because it's a spinning ride (well you have the option to spin or not, but how can you not spin!) so when we spun the first time, I didn't even get to see my surroundings. The ride is totally fun. The queue is very cool too!

I am seriously so excited for you and so looking forward to hearing about your trip!

Woohoo all your comments got me so excited! I am really not a fan of tight spaces... Should I consider passing on Nemo? I can handle Mission Space at Epcot but not too comfortably. Is Nemo worth it?

[heathsf]

Greetings from Los Angeles! Our flight was delayed but we are finally here... sitting in tons of traffic on our way to Disneyland. I heard LA traffic was bad but it's 11:22pm! Go to sleep people it's a Wednesday night!

I forgot to mention I will be posting on twitter tomorrow while in the park @heathsf

That's all for now! I can't wait to get to sleep so I can wake up bright and early tomorrow for Disney Day!!!

[lsulindy]

Hope you have a great day!

[wiigirl]

In for your TR!