Finally going to DISNEYLAND in May!
By koalatbs
@koalatbs (2229)
United States
March 27, 2008 11:12am CST
We are living in California now, just for 2 years... moving back east this summer. We are here as my husband is in dental school in San Francisco. We did not think we were going to be able to go to Disneyland while living here because of money, however... we are finally going & taking my 13-year-old son with us to Disneyland the 1st week in May! Yeah! :)
I am sooo excited! My son does not know yet and I can't wait to tell him.
Has anyone else been to Disneyland? My main question is for traveling with a teenager & what do you recommend as MUST SEES for teens? We ONLY have 1 day at Disney so we want to make the most of our time there.
Thanks a bunch everyone!
3 people like this
9 responses
@heidibur (310)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I was born and raised in CA. and my mom took me to Disneyland every year from I think 4yrs until about 16yrs.
so I kind of grew up at disneyland.
Space mountian is sool cool but really everything there is great you cant go wrong with anything I wish I had the money to go again and take my husband, he was told that he went when he was 4 but has no memory of it.
Its cool for adults to. bring alot of extra cash for the souvieners.
@heidibur (310)
• United States
30 Mar 08
I will let you know-and be prepared the lines are going to be crazy and long at least 2 hours long but if you can stand it, it is worth it no matter what ride you go on.
I do recomend the haunted mansion it is worth the wait.
god I wish I could go with you all.
I miss it so much, you cant go wrong with anything.
It is amazing.
1 person likes this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Thanks heidibur - We will definitely have to check out Space Mountain! That would be great if you could take your husband some day since he can't remember going when he was so young. My parents took me to a lot of places when I was young too which I don't remember either which is a real shame. I think I will look at the Disneyland website with my son so he & I can see what he is interested in the most. Since we'll only have 1 day there I think it will be best if we plan on what we all want to see ahead of time instead of just aimlessly wandering around the park. That is what we usually do when we go to amusement parks but there is just so much to do & see at Disney so I want to be prepared. We won't be able to take too much extra cash for souveners because our funds are very limited, but my son is Mr. Moneybags so I'll make sure he takes his wallet so he can buy buy buy to his little hearts content if he wants to. Or maybe it would be better to use one of our credit cards & have him reimburse us after getting home so we don't risk the chance of him losing or getting money stolen while there. Anyways, thanks again for the tip to visit Space Mountain & I will let you know how our trip goes. We'll take tons of pics!
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
30 Mar 08
We went right after Christmas and it was crowded but we didn't stand in any lines that were 2 hours long. Hope she's going on a weekday and then they won't be so bad!
@AmbiePam (100143)
• United States
27 Mar 08
I bet your son will be over the moon with excitement! It has been a long time since I have been to Disneyland, so I'm not sure what I would recommend. Just remember to stay hydrated because the lines are long. I lived in California a long time ago and I do remember how excited I was. I hope all of you have a lot of fun!
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Thanks AmbiePam - I can't wait to go. I think a Disney cruise would be lots of fun too! Actually, ANY cruise for that matter! LoL! I have not been fortunate enough to go on one yet. Have you? I'd love to do that someday. I will be sure to let you know about our trip once we get back from Disney.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Glad you are getting the chance to go. No, I have never been there, and as I am now in my 40's and we have no kids, I am not sure if I would want to go anymore. I am sure it would be worth going though in some respects, just to say that I have been there.
As to what he might enjoy most, I am not sure, but I do know many people go there all of the time with teenagers and a lot of them come back and say they did enjoy being there. It just depends on what your son enjoys.
Have a GREAT time there, and make the most of it. Sounds like it will be an awesome time for all.
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
30 Mar 08
I agree with Dawn KrauseHome about it really not mattering how old you are... Disney is fun for all from what I can tell. Do you ever go to other amusement theme parks? Everyone in my family love them, especially the roller coasters... except my son refuses to go on any roller coaster that goes upside down. Maybe someday he will get the courage.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
27 Mar 08
YAY - that is GREAT news! I hope to take my son there one day :)
What I would suggest is when you tell him, sit down with him and find out as much as you can online and then let him choose what he might want to see. :):) I like getting my son involved when we we plan for travelling. :)
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Awww that is so exciting! I bet he is going to love it when he finally knows where you are going :)
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Oh yes maddysmommy, I agree about having my son look at the Disneyland website to help us decide what attractions/activities he really wants to see while we are there. Actually, my son is out of state until this Saturday visiting his father for spring break. I told him the other day over the phone that we are going on a trip. I told him that each day I will give him a hint & he has one guess a day. So far he knows that the trip is in California. This tactic really peaked his interest. Plus, it is keeping him thinking & he has something to look forward to too! :)
1 person likes this
@Chey1970 (1186)
• United States
27 Mar 08
I have never been to Disneyland, but always wanted to go. Like you never, we never had the funds for it. Now that I can afford to go, my kids are older and no one desires to go. Going by myself would be boring. *LOL* So can you have enough fun for me on your day there?
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Hi Chey - How old are your kids now? As I said, my son is now 13 (oh, btw... he is also 5'10" tall & wears a size 12 shoe now!). My husband & I were wondering if he is too old now to still enjoy Disneyland but we looked at the website for Disneyland & they have all kinds of great & fun things for teens too, & adults! :) We all absolutely love going to theme parks anyway so my husband & I think he will still really have a great time.
@Chey1970 (1186)
• United States
27 Mar 08
My sons are now 19, 18 and the youngest is 14. The 14 year old though acts more like 24. He is far more advanced then his older brothers. I mentioned to him a couple months back about going this summer, and his relpy, "Oh that is so kiddie". I took that as a no. I know alot of couples who have brought their younger children(7-12 year olds) and claimed they had just as much fun as the kids. I think, I myself, would have a blast. Yeah, I like acting like a kid when I can get the chance. *LOL*
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Mar 08
Disneyland tips:
Go early and hit as many rides as you can before it gets crowded. Use fast passes, that guarantees you can get on a ride with a shorter line at a specified time. During the afternoon when it's crowded, watch shows, get on less popular rides, go shopping. Eat at off times and go on rides when most everybody else is eating. And if your feet can stand it, stay late. The rides get uncrowded again later. Must sees if you've never been:
Phantasmic
Best rides (especially for a teenager):
Indiana Jones
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Thunder Mountain
Star Tours (if you get carsick, bring dramamine)
Matterhorn
Buzz Lightyear (not a fast ride but you get to do target practice)
Teacups (dramamine)
Rides I love but a teenager might think they're lame:
Pirates of the Caribbean
Mr Toad's Wild Ride
The Haunted Mansion
The Jungle Cruise
The Tiki Room
Small World
Roger Rabbit (watch out for the line)
Restaurants:
The best restaurant in Disneyland is the Blue Bayou. Reservations absolutely required, you can do this first thing in the morning. If you're on a tight budget, I recommend lunch rather than dinner, as dinner is a bit pricey.
Shows other than Phantasmic:
The Golden Horseshoe
Oh, there's a new ride, Finding Nemo, I hear it's the longest line in the park. If you want to get on there, go early!
Too bad you don't have 2 days, there are some things over at California Adventure that are fun too!
Have a great time.
need a guide? just kidding...
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
30 Mar 08
Thanks Dawn! I will have to print out your reply & take it with me. :)
Thanks for all of the great tips. I am sure my son will want to go to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, as that is one of his favorite movie series.
Thanks again! I can't wait to go!!!
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
30 Mar 08
Forgot one thing. The train ride around the park is a great place to sit and ride when your feet are tired because you can stay on it as long as you want!
@GardenGerty (164560)
• United States
29 Mar 08
I have never been to Disney, so I can"t help you there, but I do want to cheer you on for going ahead and taking a trip of a lifetime while you are so close. I have regretted not doing similar things when living close to major attractions.
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Me too GardenGerty... we definitely wanted to go to Disneyland while living here in California for these 2 years. I am so happy we are having the chance to go. My son flys in from visiting his father for spring break tonight & he does not know yet, so I am very excited.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
27 Mar 08
Congratulations on finally getting a vacation. It is sad but true that it is hard to have a lot of fun at Disney without a lot of money, but I'm sure your son will manage to have a good time. Please plan your trip ahead carefully with safety issues in mind as theft of your property or injury would certainly ruin an otherwise fine day. When I went there as a teenager a friend and I were on the monorail when it suddenly stopped and after sitting there for a while, we learned that a child had run out in front of this ride and been killed. Have a great time, but above all else, think safety!
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
29 Mar 08
Oh goodness drannhh... that must have been such an awful thing to hear about happening with the monorail. That is so sad & scary too. You can just never be too careful. My son is 13, 5'10" tall and I still grab his hand sometimes when crossing a street. Especially if we are crossing a really large street or if we are downtown or something. Usually he isn't too happy about it, but a few weeks ago we were at the airport picking up my mom and my son had fallen asleep in the car on the way there. I woke him up when we parked the car and he was sooo sleepy I was leading him by the hand and I had such a big smile on my face because he was too out of it to even care or realize that he was holding his mommy's hand in public. I really miss those times when he was younger when he still loved to hold my hand, hug & cuddle up to me. With him being a teenager now I definitely don't get many of those times anymore.
