Mrs. Six and I originally planned to go to Disneyland for a week for our honeymoon, but her immigration took longer and cost more than expected, so we had a mini-honeymoon at a bed and breakfast and waited for this summer.
The time has come at last. We will be visiting Disneyland / Disney’s California Adventure next week for three days, Aug. 12-14, with the 15th left unplanned for the time being. We’re about 50/50 on going to Knott’s Berry Farm or Universal Studios Hollywood.
What should we plan on definitely not missing during our three days? To give some background, I love roller coasters enough that I convinced the Mrs. to go to Ohio for Spring Break this year so that I could go to Paramount King’s Island (Beast and Son of Beast) and Cedar Point (Millenium Force and Magnum XL 200) theme parks. Mrs. Six, on the other hand is scared to death of the big coasters, but likes the little ones such as the Gold Rusher at Six Flags Magic Mountain. She prefers family type rides like flume rocking boat type rides. We both like shows if they aren’t too kiddy oriented.
So weigh in on the following questions:
What are the must see/do attractions at both Disney parks?
YOU MUST DO EVERYTHING!!!
However lunch at the Blue Bayou is a must. Make reservations and tell them it is you honeymoon and ask for a table near the water.
Also first thing go the hat shop and buy your bride and groom mouse ears. Wear them all day.
Disneyland will take forever, just so you know. California adventure I have heard so many bad things that I beleive it is something you can do in a few hours (opposed to dlands a few days).
It is hard to know what you like as to what to suggest. Knott’s has the BEST chicken restaurant, please wait in the line to eat there if you like fried chicken.
A couple blocks from Knott’s is a restaurant called Midevil times. I cannot know how many of these there are but it is also at Excalibur in Vegas. It is a dinner/show that is fun.
Magic Mountain (not too far away) has some of the best roller coasters but your wife says no, so no need to go there.
If you take a trip to the coast there are some marinas that have gondola rides that are a grand time.
You really should just do an area look up on the internet to see what there is, there is a lot! It really depends on your interests.
First off, check out MousePlanet. Pay special attention to their guide on how to use the FastPass.
Second, call and make reservations for the Disney Gallery’s reserved seating for the Fantasmic! show one night that you’re there. It’s the difference between waiting hours to get a good view of the show, or being crammed in for a bad view, or having an excellent view from a beautiful balcony, with dessert! See if you can still get reservations. More info can be found here. Un opportunidad muy romantico.
Third, have a good time. Don’t rush around trying to do everything; three days is a good run at Disneyland. Check out the rides at DCA, especially the roller coaster and the Muppets3D show. Ride on the Pirates of the Caribbean, several times if possible.
Early mornings and late evenings are the best times to hit the most popular rides. Midday, hang out on the Peter Pan ride and the Pirates and spend a good long time on the riverboat…
Mostly, have tons of fun. Congratulations, and I hope it’s a wonderful vacation for you.
I spent a few days at Disney World in Orlando and had a great time. Here are a few recommendations that might help, even if you’re going to be clear across the country.
Buy a Fodor’s book about Disneyland - they have good descriptions of the rides and then a suggested plan of attack it you want to do it all in one day. I basically skipped a few things but it is a great way to manage your FastPasses and not have to spend too much time thinking about what to do - you just follow that itinerary and add a few things here and there. My favorite was MGM studios - the rockin’ rollercoaster and the Tower of Terror were great fun. In Paris, they have the “stunt show spectacular” and it was a great show with car chases and fire, etc., do that if they have it.
I also went to Universal - the studios part was a lot of fun and their top attractions are great (Jaws and Terminator and MIB). In the other rides-oriented park of Universal, Spiderman was an awesome rollercoaster - I’m not sure how they do it, but, wow. The other one, the Duelling Dragons (or something like that) was the best rollercoaster I’ve ever been on (not a ton of experience though) and it is definately worth going as a single rider in the front row (to save time). The front row is really wild. I wasn’t overly wowed by the Incredible Hulk ride, but if the line is short you might want to try it.
By the way, use Fastpasses as often as you can. If you go to Universal, you probably won’t have a problem with lines, but if you do, you can buy a book of “fastpasses” and use those to get to the front of the lines and get other discounts. For something like $12, I really recommend buying it. Even just in case.
Oh, if they have the Science Fiction Drive-in restaurant in Disney Studios California, that is a fun one to try.
Lunch at the Blue Bayou is definitely a unique experience. It’s surprising how many Disneyland regulars haven’t done this. I second that as a must, but you will need reservations.
If you’d like, drop me a line while you’re here - Mr. Seawitch works at Disneyland (a security henchman for the Mouse), and he may be able to smooth over any wrinkles. Or just direct you to the fun stuff.
And I heartily add my recommendation for the Blue Bayou.
You MUST get the bride and groom ears. We got them on our honeymoon and everyone wants to give you good wishes. The guide on the Jungle Cruise, or the canoes will make a big deal of it. Also tell EVERYONE you are on you honeymoon (Free chocolate cake and other stuff)
The Blue Bayou is a lot of fun!
Fastpass is Great!
If you go on the (Mark Twain?) Riverboat see if you can assist the captain. THey give you a nice certificate allowing you to pilot “the rivers of america” and you can ‘drive’ the boat.
Also look for the kitties in Bear Country etc. I have heard Disney had a bit of a rat problem, and brought in some kitties (Perhaps Mr. Seawitch can confirm/deny?)
California Adventure has some cool stuff, but when it is crowded it can be brutal. I really liked “Soaring over California” and the big coaster…forgot the name…but I would recomend using the fastpass if it is busy. I also liked the Muppet Show they had…very funny, and if nothing else you get to sit in a remake of the Muppet Show Theater.
If you like sports, I would check out the ESPN sports zone. Wherever you are from, there is likely to be a crowd there rooting for (or booing) your home team. There are about two hundred tvs showing SPORTS!
Have fun! Congrats on the marriage, and the immigration coming through.
(Jorel is counting the money in her clear jar. Twenty bucks. Not enough for Disneyland)
I’ve heard it’s a good idea to not eat anything when you first get up. Wait till about 12:00 noon when it’s hottest outside and everyone else had the same idea. Now stuff yourself with the worst junk food you can imagine. Wash everything down with warm chocolate milk. Now, go on three roller coaster rides in a row. You will never forget that day. Hope this helps.
See if you can get one of the Security Guards at the Main Gate to call me (Officer Jesse in Didneyland from Monday-Friday) and I’ll come over to say hi.
Please Please PLEASE do not moon the characters. I will have to escort you to the Didney Dungeon. No fun, lots o’puke on the floors. :smack: :eek:
You have 3-4 days in the parks. You can do most of the things you want to do in DCA in about 3/4 of 1 day. Grizzly River Run will get you soaked. Don’t wear a white t-shirt… Soarin Over California is great. California Screamin is reputed to be “one fine smooth roller-coaster.” The Maliboomer will leave your stomach on the ground. Then off to Disneyland proper.
Fastpass works like this. You get one at a time - read the fine print and it will tell you when you are able to get the next one. Go get one for Indiana Jones first thing in the morning and then go stand in line for Splash Mountain. That takes care of the two longest wait times in the park. It’s been 90 degrees plus these last few days and the line has been 3 hours long in the middle of the day for Splash.
Folkloresays that way long ago in the early days of the park, Disneyland had poisoned hotdogs and had them strewn throughout the park to lure unsuspecting rats to their doom. One day a little boy came skipping along (skippetty noises here) and ate one. Lo he did not die, but was taken quite ill. Disney Hisself is said to have decreed all hotdogs shall forevermore not be poisoned and that the lowly cat shall become Feral in His park and rid us of the scurge of meeses. Thus 30 generations or so later, the cats and possums control the rodentia. Insert oohs and awes.
I went there several times when I was little. It was so fun asking for autographs from the characters walking around the park. Hehe, interesting to have them try to write in their bulky costumes. I still have the autograph book somewhere.
Mr. Seawitch: we’ll try to say hello when we get there. I’ll be expecting my complementary Straight Dope Welcome Package of 20 preissued Fastpasses:) BTW, as I am a high ranking Roller Coaster Snob ™ (I’m one of the roughly seven people who actually rode X before it was closed permanently), it takes a lot for a coaster to impress me, and California Screamin’s specs seem a bit on the underwhelming side. I’ll reserve judgement, though.
Mr. Visible: Thanks for the link. It was pretty helpful.
symplicity: We have season passes to Six Flags Magic Mountain, and we’ve been there 11 times this summer. Mrs. Six likes mild roller coasters such as the Gold Rusher (which has–literally–no line the first two hours and the last hour, making it possible to ride it about 15-20 times in one visit; the ride operatiors will often just let you ride three or four times without getting off), but there is no way she would be getting on Goliath (the best roller coaster I’ve ever ridden, even better than the 45ft. taller [300 ft drop vs 255ft] Millenium Force) or Riddler’s Revenge (second best coaster in the park). She is now up to riding Colossus (best bang for the buck in the park–short lines on any day but Saturday and a great ride). I agree with you assessment; Six Flags is a great coaster park, second only to Cedar Point, which, of all the parks I’ve been to the past few years is by far the best. Haven’t been to Disneyland in a while, though, so I’ll reserve judgement for now.
We’ve finalized our plans for our extra day; we’re going to Knott’s Berry Farm because I have to ride Ghostrider and Xcelerator.
Well, Disney is not a Coaster Park. Screamin’ has but 1 lonely loop.
20? See me, I’ll see what I can do. I am sure all my brown-nosing of the ride operators might get you ahead of the line for its a small world or something.
btw… …e-mail me your first names and last initial. I’ll see if I cant arrange for a small welcoming package at City Hall for you, complete with honorary matching stickers.
Didn’t mean to sound harsh about Screamin’, I was going for a bit of levity and it seems I missed the mark. In any case, if we wanted to go to an extreme coaster park we’d be going back to Cedar Point or spending the week at Six Flags. Cedar Point is well worth a long stay; it’s huge, well-run, and has a large variety of rides, shows and attractions. Six Flags Magic Mountain on the other hand, though it has a great collection of coasters, is a rather poorly operated, and is rather limited in non-thrill ride attractions.
Nah, we’re going for the Disneyland experience. Mrs. Six has wanted to go there literally since she was a little girl, and was disappointed that we had neither the money nor the time last October.
Once again, thanks for the suggestions and the hospitality. I’ll be sending you and e-mail with the info you asked for.
It’s been quite a while since my last visit, but I liked the Haunted Mansion best. Also, I think the Electric Parade is back, & that’s charming. Have fun!
