<font color = lightgreen > The wife and I are planning a trip to California and Disneyland later this year (October?) and wanted to get some real life info and tips for visiting. Some people think that the whole trip is an ordeal and something not as good as it should be. Others say it is brilliant. So please post tips, warnings, advice and memories that you have. My kids are 5 and 6 years old and don’t actually watch or know many Disney characters, is this a drawback? Is Orlando better than California? best places to stay with a young family?
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[ 02-22-2004, 09:03 AM: Message edited by: wellard ]

magic mountain.. more thrill!! :D all the roller coaster would be great.. but since they are kids, i have only been to LA Disney I think..

How bout Las Vegas?

Stay away from Minnie, or Mickey will kick your ass. :D

At that age, it's magical. Bring cameras, and bring some (disposables?) for the kids -- let them take pictures of what they want.

My daughter was really big into the Little Mermaid when we went, so it was thrilling for her to "meet" Ariel.

Rides were fun, but lines were noticable in some areas.

Wear comfortable shoes. Bring sunscreen. Might not need it as much in October, but bring it.

I've only been to DisneyLand, but I believe that DisneyWorld in Orlando has a better reputation for newer and neater stuff. Perhaps someone who has been to both can offer their opinion.

Oh, almost forgot. Bring your wallet, too. Stuff is expensive. Worth it, but expensive.

Just remember (as I did, while having financial heart attacks): for the kids, it's magic.

nothing beats memories wellard. i do hope you would enjoy! ;)

one word: fastpass

Two words ... Whats that?

Been to both. Disney world is bigger and more to do (and spend on). Both are very good, but plan on more than one day to see and do it all. Maybe 2-3 day at Disneyland, maybe 4-5 at Disneyworld/Epcot.

Don't stand up on the rides!!!

Two words ... Whats that? </font>[/QUOTE]A ticket that you get to book goes on rides (free) so little or no waiting in line :D

these guys are my type of people. My only memories of Disney land are the guy in the Pluto costume taking off his head and barfing in the trash can. I also remember my parents forgetting my birthday that year.

EDIT: the URL didnt work.

[ 02-22-2004, 11:40 AM: Message edited by: Dalamar Stormcrow ]

LOL! Sage advice you've got there, Johnny :D

At 5 and 6 your kids will love it. Disneyworld is the better I am told, but have never been there. I spent a day at Disneyland back in 1994, so things will have changed a little since then. The best ride back then was this little star wars shuttle thing - the queue was pretty horrendous though. Be prepared for some smog (this is LA afer all), and take pictures. The Aussie dollar is doing pretty good against the greenback so loosen the strings on the wallet. Nothing worse than returning from holiday really regretting not doing something that at the time yo thought was too expensive.

If you are going all the way to Cal, I would try and take in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon as well. I have never been, but that sure looks like a coupld of things I would like to do.

Just make sure you visit it's a small small world , once you've been on this ride, you'll never forget it.

I'm not sure if I went on that one or not Lanesra - I can't remember ;) .

For the melody, right [img]smile.gif[/img] I always liked the Pirates of the Caribbean ride (although I only went to Paris)

<font color=deepskyblue> That sounds good Jaradu, does that mean i book a ride at a office or the day before to go on a certain ride at 10.00 am and if i turn up at that time I just go to the front of the queue? How bad are the queue's? are you stood in the shade?

Are there any school or national holidays at that time of year I should avoid? I should try and track down a guidebook next week. Davros mentioned smog; this may be a problem as my boy Martin has Asthma badly. Is LA and its surrounds really that bad for pollution these days? </font>

I have been to both. Cali in Oct will be more pleasant than Fl. You must plan your dates as not to visit during the kids out of school week in Oct. You should be able to find that somewhere on the net.

Fast-Pass, see what your travel agent can get for the family fas-pass, and have it included in the deal. Disneyland is older and smaller but you should allow 3 days for a complete visit.

Enjoy

I've only been to Florida, but maybe the tips will still work. Comfortable well-broken-in shoes, thick socks (blister prevention). Book your restaurants well in advance, as you can catch some cool packages if you do. Stretch your legs like a marathon runner before you leave the hotel. Travel light, but prepared (a backpack per person ought to do it).

Still, in California you might not be able to do my one true Disney weakness: The Disney Cruiseline.

It might take 3 years of savings to do one Disney Cruiseline vacation they way you might want to...but once you've done one, nothing else will do. Your face will light up the first time you step aboard the Magic or the Wonder like the first time you tasted chocolate. And the hardest decision is to decide whether to do the theme parks before or after the cruise...!

<font color=pink>Actually guys, fast-pass is when you go to the ride and get a ticket for a time LATER on that ride.

It works like this Well-Say you want to ride on Space Mountain (BEST ride in the park, and they closed it till 2005 [img]tongue.gif[/img] ), so you go to Tomorrow Land and see that the line is 2 and a half hours long (and yes, the lines will be that long, especially Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribean because of the movies), so what you do is go up to a machine and insert your ticket, and it spits out a 'fast-pass' for you to come back to Space Mountain in say, 2 hours. The fast-pass line moves really fast, so do that for every ride.

I go to Disneyland once a year, and have been to the one in Orlando once. SoCal's is better, trust me.

As I mentioned, they're re-doing Space Mountain, so that will be closed, and someone died on Big Thunder Mountain, so that will be closed too, most likely.

The pollution around DL isn't that bad, so I wouldn't worry about it. If you're going in Oct, I wouldn't worry about huge lines and crowds or anything, for most kids that's only the 2nd month of school, and no holidays, except Halloween, but they don't get that off.

Um...what else...ah, it only takes a day to see all of Disneyland, not 3 ;) And stay away from Cali Adventure, it costs the same as it does to get into the park, and fully not worth it [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Ya, since you got the kids, go to Storybook Land and Toontown and they'll be happy. Also be sure to stay long enough to see the Fantasmic show [img]smile.gif[/img]

If I think of anything else, I'll tell you :D </font>

Yeah, there's nothing like giving your kids a 6-year-old's worst earworm ever. :D

If you go to Orlando (maybe CA too, I don't know), I suggest you stay at a Disney resort, plan on spending several days, and take in Epcot while you're at it. Embed yourself in the Disney experience. Be the Mickey.

Oh, and targeting the middle days of the week, rather than the weekend, makes it much less annoying to deal with the crowd. Avoid federal holidays if at all possible.

And the air pollution in LA is not nearly what it once was. During the 70's you couldn't even see the mountains in the distance. California had such a hard time implementing the Clean Air Act in LA that the federalies came in an imposed a system because CA was not implementing the thing. It's gotten a lot better smog-wise in the last decades. From what I understand, anyway -- I haven't had the pleasure of visiting yet. Say hello to my LA office for me, though. :D

[ 02-25-2004, 04:51 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

I love Disneyworld, I spent a seven day pass with my entire family last winter in Orlando and still didn't have time to see or do it all! Total of four giant parks plus two water parks and lots more. Loved having dinner in Cinderella's castle. Loved Animal Kingdom, Loved Epcot. I love Disney world! I have never been to Disnyland in Cali, but Disney world is much bigger and better according to my family. Plus Universal Island of adventure is in Orlando as well. Excellent theme/thrill park!

Oh and if they offer an afterhours pass, take it!
You get entrance to the park after close for about three hours. They limit how many people get in by offering limited tickets and only to resort guests. Most of rides have 5 minute lines. I got to ride Space Mountain 10 times, Big Thunder at least five, and Big Slash Mountain a few times as well!

And if you do Orlando, do not miss the Aerosmith coaster at MGM/Disney if you like coasters. It is one of my top ten favorites.

Chewie: Is orlando seriously that fun? I might be goin' there next February
*Starts saving money* :D

<font color=pink>Bah, Orlando is over-rated. Kids won't have fun at Epcot center; there's no rides, no Mickey [img]tongue.gif[/img] . Well there is one ride, but it's educational [img]tongue.gif[/img]

SoCal has Universal Studios as well. It's in Hollywood, but I'm not sure how similar the two are. Come to cali and you also have Lego Land (just downwind of the airport I fly out of), Six Flags, Knotts Berry Farm (no it's not an actual berry farm, its an amusement park), and Seaworld (which FL has too).

Plus it'll be more $$ to fly to FL. I've looked at prices from LAX to Sydney and they're definatley not cheap...</font>

Epcot has the best end-of -the night fireworks and the best food! It also has the excellent aquarium and Test Track as well as the new Mission Space ride.

Universal Islands of Adventure has the Hulk Coaster, my second favorite anywhere! Also has the spiderman 3d ride that is revolutionary, Dr. Sueuss Land, The Dueling Dragons, and Cartoon world tons of fun!

I can't really dis Cali as I haven't been out there, but I do know that Orlando is a whole butt-load of fun for all ages! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 02-25-2004, 11:49 PM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

Yep. I went during the 80s and this was true then. You can eat your way through all the countries. [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img] My parents thought I was weird because I ordered escargot in the France pavilion. I still love escargot to this day.

I want to go back, I'm just putting it off until I have kids. As a kid, btw, I did think Epcot was fun and informative, if a bit slow.

Thanks for the info so far guys and please keep it coming. It will be Disneyland south of LA (Anaheim) that we will go to. (Sorry FL)

Because we want to spend time in San Fran, Carolyn wants to go to Alcatraz. We also want to visit some of the national parks like Yosemite. And for myself to visit the Monterey / Salinas area (I’m a Steinbeck fan)

As for the cost of flying it will be via staff travel. The benefit of working for an airline :D

We are thinking of hiring a campervan / motor home rather than hiring a car and getting a motel room every day. So any tips on that to would be gratefully accepted.

I especially love the "England" section of EPCOT! They've got it absolutely spot on, I almost thought I was back home. All those wenches serving beer in the Rose & Crown, pearly Kings and Queens on every corner. Cor blimey 'azel! You're pulling my plonker!

Loved EPCOT but agree it's not for the kids. Disneyland is nowhere near as impressive as Disneyword.

BTW - tip for Disneyworld. Go at the weekend if you can because those are the days that those pesky foreign tourists are catching their flights.

[ 02-26-2004, 06:19 AM: Message edited by: Donut ]