This evening I made the reservations for my daughter's and my trip to Disneyland during Thanksgiving week: round trip on the train, three days in the park.
I haven't been to Disneyland since 1987 or so. I'm at least as excited as my daughter is!
We went last Fall, just before Thankgiving. It was perfect weather, and the crowds were low, except on Veteren's Day.
Some advice that really saved us. Take snacks. All the food is spendy. There is a McDonalds "chuckwagen" in Pioneer town that sells big cups of fries for relatively little.
Around the popular rides, there are fast track stations. Most of the time, it's a pulltab sort of thing. The park-hopper pass allows you ( I assume, cause they come with a lot of packages, and we got ours through AAA, too ) to use them to reserve a spot in a short line. Usually they are for about an hour away from when you pick them up.
California Adventures is more geared towards little kids, so it's a good place to start. The Bug's Life area is nice and shady, and there is a water play park area right by it. The 3-D Muppet Movie, is not to be missed if you're a fan of the show.
D-Land's rides tend to be jerky and very loud, and most are a bit scary by today's standards. You can get earplugs ( I'd pack my own tho ) from the first aid station by the Main Gate. You have to specifically ask for them. They will not volunteer them. OH, but they are the best rides.. :D
Most of my best trips to Disneyland have been Thanksgiving week for the very reasons you cite: not so crowded, mild temps.
I've read about the fasttrack tickets, which should like a great innovation! I remember standing in lines for a couple of hours when I was there for the first time, back in the mid 1970's.
Packing snacks is a great idea that I hadn't thought of. I remember how expensive the park food is (and it involves more lines, of course!).
More than twenty years ago -- which is a very scary thought.
Come to think of it: did we actually make it to Disneyland? I just realized that I have one vague memory about some awkwardness about who would sit next to whom on one of the rides, but no other actual memory of being in Disneyland with the gang. I remember Thanksgiving dinner, sans Jasper. I remember a certain unexpected reconciliation in my dorm room. I remember cannons on the quad as we walked to brunch that were the first indication that a film was being shot on campus. I strongly remember Mr. B showing up a few days early. But I have no memory of Disneyland.
D'oh, of course. Thanksgiving of '87 I would probably have been in South Bend, Indiana. Of all places.
We did indeed make it to Disneyland, though I don't remember much about it myself. We were there fairly late in the day, and there weren't many people around, IIRC. At least, not many people for Disneyland. It was Disneyland...what's to remember? ;-)
I was there last summer for a day at the tail end of a business trip. Some more stuff to let you know:
There are security checks at all of the entrances. If you cross from one park to the other, or visit Downtown Disney, you'll have to go through them again.
All the popular rides allow you to take a "reserve" ticket for a guaranteed space, but that time might be as long as two or three hours away. Still, if you have the time(I didn't) it's a good way to *not* be standing in line.
The ticket counter opens before the gates do, and at least on the day I was there, the gates opened earlier than published. I had the interesting experience of being on Main Street with *no one* there but the staff. I took an almost-empty train around to New Orleans Square and walked directly into the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribbean, had a five-minute wait for the log ride, and then would have started using express tickets if I had not had other plans.
If you visit the watch shop on Main Street there's a Disney backgrounder who paints designs to be reduced onto watch faces. You don't have to buy the watches, but it's kind of cool to watch.
You'll no doubt find the Disney Princess store in the MAgic Castle environs ;)
The New Orleans Cafe in Downtown Disney sells bags of hot beignet from the lunch counter, sort of huge hot donuts coated with sugar or cinnamon. Very tasty, though there were so many in the bag I was trying to give them away to people on my way back through the park.
I second the carrying of snacks. Almost everything on the grounds is expensive and requires standing in line.
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We went last Fall, just before Thankgiving. It was perfect weather, and the crowds were low, except on Veteren's Day.
Some advice that really saved us. Take snacks. All the food is spendy. There is a McDonalds "chuckwagen" in Pioneer town that sells big cups of fries for relatively little.
Around the popular rides, there are fast track stations. Most of the time, it's a pulltab sort of thing. The park-hopper pass allows you ( I assume, cause they come with a lot of packages, and we got ours through AAA, too ) to use them to reserve a spot in a short line. Usually they are for about an hour away from when you pick them up.
California Adventures is more geared towards little kids, so it's a good place to start. The Bug's Life area is nice and shady, and there is a water play park area right by it. The 3-D Muppet Movie, is not to be missed if you're a fan of the show.
D-Land's rides tend to be jerky and very loud, and most are a bit scary by today's standards. You can get earplugs ( I'd pack my own tho ) from the first aid station by the Main Gate. You have to specifically ask for them. They will not volunteer them. OH, but they are the best rides.. :D
Have a great time!!
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I've read about the fasttrack tickets, which should like a great innovation! I remember standing in lines for a couple of hours when I was there for the first time, back in the mid 1970's.
Packing snacks is a great idea that I hadn't thought of. I remember how expensive the park food is (and it involves more lines, of course!).
Thanks!
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That was Thanksgiving as well, as I recall. It's good to have traditions.... ;-)
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More than twenty years ago -- which is a very scary thought.
Come to think of it: did we actually make it to Disneyland? I just realized that I have one vague memory about some awkwardness about who would sit next to whom on one of the rides, but no other actual memory of being in Disneyland with the gang. I remember Thanksgiving dinner, sans Jasper. I remember a certain unexpected reconciliation in my dorm room. I remember cannons on the quad as we walked to brunch that were the first indication that a film was being shot on campus. I strongly remember Mr. B showing up a few days early. But I have no memory of Disneyland.
Which is really unsettling.
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D'oh, of course. Thanksgiving of '87 I would probably have been in South Bend, Indiana. Of all places.
We did indeed make it to Disneyland, though I don't remember much about it myself. We were there fairly late in the day, and there weren't many people around, IIRC. At least, not many people for Disneyland. It was Disneyland...what's to remember? ;-)
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Bring us some ears. :o)
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I've already endured my initiatory ordeal, my dear. ;-)
But I'll tell you what: email me your physical address, and I'll send you a baby gift from the park.
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No ears...I was just kidding.
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But it suddenly seemed like a fun idea: to send you (and other friends) something from Disneyland. Share the love!
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It's going to be a lot of fun!
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There are security checks at all of the entrances. If you cross from one park to the other, or visit Downtown Disney, you'll have to go through them again.
All the popular rides allow you to take a "reserve" ticket for a guaranteed space, but that time might be as long as two or three hours away. Still, if you have the time(I didn't) it's a good way to *not* be standing in line.
The ticket counter opens before the gates do, and at least on the day I was there, the gates opened earlier than published. I had the interesting experience of being on Main Street with *no one* there but the staff. I took an almost-empty train around to New Orleans Square and walked directly into the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribbean, had a five-minute wait for the log ride, and then would have started using express tickets if I had not had other plans.
If you visit the watch shop on Main Street there's a Disney backgrounder who paints designs to be reduced onto watch faces. You don't have to buy the watches, but it's kind of cool to watch.
You'll no doubt find the Disney Princess store in the MAgic Castle environs ;)
The New Orleans Cafe in Downtown Disney sells bags of hot beignet from the lunch counter, sort of huge hot donuts coated with sugar or cinnamon. Very tasty, though there were so many in the bag I was trying to give them away to people on my way back through the park.
I second the carrying of snacks. Almost everything on the grounds is expensive and requires standing in line.
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Thanks for the other tips. We'll probably do some scoping out of "Secrets of" and "Hints for" type books and websites between now and then too.