Disneyland - who has been to the orginal Disney creation?

[BetsyAnn]

Well, I could not let there be a lack of posts in here, now could I?

Disneyland - my single most favorite park!

It opened on July 17, 1955 beating me to the planet by a mere 6 years! :wink:

So, who has been to the mother ship?

BetsyAnn - who hears her named call by Disneyland! :D

[Tagrel]

First and only trip was in January, 1984. It was pretty empty, and I really enjoyed the park.

Greatest disappointment: Haunted Mansion was closed for rehab. It was the one ride I REALLY wanted to go on! :evil:

Do they still pipe the "Small World" music outside into the park. We were waiting on line for something near there, and we heard it OVER and OVER. I'm still tramatized! ;)

Can't wait to go back and do it all again! Might be awhile though...

[Barb D]

My first visit I cant even remembr the year but you had to buy tickets (A,B,C,D and of course the famous E tickets.) and pay a small admission. My only memory is taking home a lot of A tickets.

SInce I have been married I took my kids in 1985, again in 1994 and again in 2000. (They were both adult children by the 2000 trip.) My husband and I went again December 2000 for an alone trip.

I do really like the new park, California Adventure. I know it gets bad reviews but I let myself decide with out listening to others and I like it. Last December we got to have a hotel room on the 11th floor overlooking CA and it was so cool. I felt like it was my park and my guests and I was watching my operation in place when I watched from the window. We also got to see the laser/fireworks type show from our room too.

Barb D

[Moley]

Wow, Barb, that room was in a fabulous location. I have yet to go out there and it is high on my list of must-sees. So glad you had such a good time while there. :)

[BetsyAnn]

What great stories about Disneyland!

Sorry to hear The HM was closed when you went Tagrel -- It is very fun and there are some details that are fun to hunt in the HM. And I just love that there is a really elevator that moves you to the doombuggies! And the small world music is such a delight for me I really can't remember if it is playing or not! :)

Barb I am so glad you liked CA -- I was not very happy with the park the one day I went there. It could not possibly be that I had spent all day and I do mean from open to close at DL the day before and it was hot, and I was covered with hives! LOL I really liked Soaring over California - I thought it was a great attractions - very different from any Disney attraction I had been on.

My love for Disneyland started at age 2 when the Mouse greeted me at the gate just like I said he would. My delight in walking into Disneyland has never lessened.

I also remember the ticket books -- I think my mom may have a Mickey one signed somewhere (without the tickets of course).

My single favorite ride is there - Indy Jones -- It is worth standing in line for and I rarely say that anymore. In fact, the last time we were there I stood in the standby line three times _ I just love all of it - the details in que, the details in the ride, the roughness, and the different pathways you can take!

And Space Mtn is just a different attraction when the music is going. You can just about fly!

My favorite thing to do when I was a kid was to go to New Orelans Square, get a mint juliep and a fritter, and then catch the last train back to Main Street Station. It is a family tradition that we still honor to this day.

Ok - now I have to stop -- this is long enough for now!

BetsyAnn

[LisaG]

We moved to California last Memorial day weekend and become Premium passholders for DL 8/3! (Those moving expenses were a killer from PA!)
We have been so many times now I lost track.
While I think my heart will always belong to WDW I really love DL and DCA also. A few of things we love here are Indiana Jones - by far and away the best ride in the park! Also totally got into the Nightmare before Christmas at the Haunted Mansion. So much so we were making the 1 1/2 hour drive every Sunday to get the pins released to coincide with this event.
I know DCA seems to get a bad rap but we usually spend at least half of every trip there. Soaring over California, California Screamin', and Millionaire are our favorites there. But we also just love the whole feel of the park.

I would love to answer any questions anyone has.

[BetsyAnn]

LisaG!

How fun it is to leave so close to DL! When I lived in LA area for a year I went about every three weeks or so -- I just loved it!

And I can't wait to hear all the new details from you.

Have you seen the new Aladdin show?

Glad to have someone so close to the west Mouse House!

BetsyAnn

[LisaG]

Unfortunately we have not seen Aladdin yet. Hopefully next weekend. The lines are always so long and fast passes go within minutes of the park opening and since we pretty much observe a "lazt butt touring" schedule when we are there, we never quite make it over there at opening. We have looked at the lines several times but always end up at the Millionaire show instead of standing in it. (I'm trying to win the cruise, made it to the 500,000 points last time I got in the hot seat).
I'll let everyone know how it is when we get back.

[fantayzya]

Hubby being a CA guy grew up on DL and it will always hold his heart.

When it was time for me to meet his family, he flew my oldest son and I out to CA and rather than have us fly into the airport closest to our final destination, he flew us into the LA area for a couple of days at DL first.

What fun to walk where Walt did. How interesting that rather than improve some of the classic attractions from the guest view when creating WDW, they chose to improve them from the processing guests view. HM, and POC are two good examples of this IMO.

My favorite part of DL other than Indy and Maynard (a great CM there) had to be the fact that you could stand at the Hub and if you turned in a circle you could see all the mountains. The MK is just too big for that. As much as I like the fact that at the MK when you go from one 'land' to the next it's hidden till you get there and then it's immersion, I liked the kind of 'teaser' effect of seeing the tops of the mountains a lot.

We're in planning stages for a trip out there again very soon. So I'm sure I'll have questions.

[Owl]

OK ... call my DS Alex crazy.. but he LOVES DL over WDW... heck he got spoiled w/single rider line for Indy and Splash (though he'd rather ride with me) this past August when the parks were SO crowded. Spent 3 days between DL/DCA and now he wants to move back to CA so he can get the resi deal for DL... what can I say?

[BetsyAnn]

Hi Owl!

Now there is someone after my own heart! I loved the part when you said he wanted to move back to CA!

[Stinkerbelle]

I have been to DL 3 times and I love it. My only complaint is that the Matterhorn was under re-hab all three times so I have never been on it and am dying to do so. In many ways I prefer DL over the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. I love to know that I am literally walking in Walt's footsteps, I love the Alice In Wonderland, Roger Rabbit & Indiana Jones rides that are "missing" from WDW. I could spend a couple of hours in the little art gallery above PoC. Speaking of PoC, the ride itself is much better. I love the outdoor queue for Its A Small World - so much more magical than MK. Not being a Pocahontas fan, and being a Peter Pan fan I think the DL version of Fantasmic is MUCH better - its also more magical that its on Tom's Island rather than in a big theatre. It seems cozier somehow. Finally, one thing I love about DL is (and I know that this is going to sound odd) their Dole Whips taste so much better.

I haven' t been since before California Adventure opened. The rates are looking good for this fall so my friend and I are looking into a trip out west sometime this year.

-ram

[Mrs.Bear]

My first and last time was 1982 when I was 9yo.Since then just WDW :? Now we are planning our trip to DL for THE BIG PARTY!! :D Just two more years!! :cry:

Vero :minnie:

[BethK]

:D I love Disneyland!
We live in Minnesota,so it's a quick flight (well,3-4 hours) either way.
One of the paybacks for living in the tundra,I guess.
Our next trip is in 17 days.
Staying at the Grand Californian.I can hardly wait!
While we've enjoyed the other DL hotels,and actually some Good neighbor hotels,I think the Grand Cali is my all time favorite Disney hotel.
Unfortunately it's also the priciest!
We love our Premiun APs and plan at least one more trip this year on this one.
I found I did enjoy DCA,altho I'd pretty much decided that I wasn't going to like it.
We'd watched it rise up out of the parking lot as the whole Anaheim Resort area grew and blossomed.
It's truely amazing how much it has changed.
Oh,goodness,I'm getting pretty excited about our trip now!
*Beth*

[Magee]

Well, I guess I've waited long enough to submit my answer. Had to really think on this one.

I went to DCL in July, 1968 (still had ticket books for rides). Spent 2 whole days! My favorite memory of that trip was having lunch in the (I think it was called) Blue Bayou Restaurant and watching the boats float by in Pirates of the Caribbean.

I returned February 1988 with my DH and then 5YO son. Don't remember how many days we were there but my favorite memory of that trip was searching for Minnie and trying to convince my son that perhaps she was on vacation too and finally, just before we left the park, Minnie appeared behind him and gave him a hug! Talk about magic and one very thrilled little boy.

Okay. Maybe the memories weren't supposed to be added but I did it anyway and it felt good. LOL

Magee

[BetsyAnn]

I just love all your DL responses!

Beth - 17 days -- what fun and staying in the Grand Califorina! So Cool -- can't wait to here more about your Adventure when you return!

Magee - such a good memory love to hear all the great stories about all Disney magic!

Mrs Bear -- We are going to be there for the big party too! Can't hardly wait!

fantayzya - I love the standing in the hub too! Such a great place to soak in the magic. And I have to agree with the walk were Walt did! Adds so much magic

Ranson -- Oh the Matterhorn -- so cool -- I prefer the left side for this attraction and at night! Hopefully you will get to try it one day!

This thread really make me smile! Thanks again