quote:

Originally posted by Flashlightboy:
For the balance of your trip, consider taking a one day trip on Amtrak to Downtown San Diego. It's on the coast, your wife will love the 2 hour ride. Once there walk 10 minutes to the USS Midway for one of their tours. Well worth it. Take the business class seats on Amtrak. You catch the outbound train in either Anaheim or Santa Ana. Very safe to park your car and a very safe train ride.

If you're not broke after Disney and want to take the wife for a super nice dinner just ask for recommendations and tell us what your budget is.

I'll keep the San Diego suggestion in mind, I'd love to see the Midway. I don't foresee a dinner at a fine dining establishment, not so much the cost, but I don't dare leave my two kids alone for anything more than a few mins. And I'm certainly not buying them a $190 steak they wont eat. But I do appreciate the offer, perhaps one day my wife and I will be able to be a little more independent and vacation by ourselves. I haven't been on a vacation (actually leaving the state, for a destination) since I was 15 years old, I'm 33 now. Hence my trepidation and anxiety.

Feel free to bring snacks and drinks. I don't know what the official policy is, but I've never been stopped with backpacks full of food and water.

Also, they don't check the water bottles to make sure it is indeed water.

'Soaring over California' in California Adventure is FANTASTIC. Could ride that all day long.

There is a little food stand 'Banyan BBQ' IIRC located outside Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. They have very good, different types, of kabobs with delicious sauces. Please have one for me!

Have fun.

P.S., I recommend taking a picture of your kids on the beginning of your day at the park, showing the clothes they are wearing. Years ago one of my boys wandered off and it took awhile to find him. A current pic will help security find him.

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt Neutron:

quote:

Originally posted by signewt:
we were there decades ago;

'Small World' broke down while we were trapped inside for about a jillion repetitions of 'smallsmallworldIt'saSmallSmallworld' etc.

ear plugs would have been nice. Or an ice pick.

Were you led out in a strait-jacket?

I lived in Orange County '02-'05. During an offseason visit, we broke down on It's a Small World as well. It was cruel and unusual punishment, and I was in the process of escaping my cruel tormentors when they fixed the ride.

Since you're going to be there for 3 days, book online in advance through Disney for 3 day package. It includes a Magical Morning for one of the days. This is an early admission pass, not everything is open but there are no crowds. It's definitely worth it. As already mentioned, don't have the clip of a knife visible in your pocket.

Get the Park Hopper pass that lets you visit both parks at Disney. Plan on spending one day in Disneyland and one day in California Adventure. The third day you can go back to your favorites in each or see what you missed on an earlier day.

Use the Fast Pass system. Radiator Springs Racers is probably the most popular ride and passes go fast, make a beeline for it when you enter the park and get your Fast Pass. Download the Disneyland App to your phone, lots of good info available on it including wait times.

World of Color is great night time show in California Adventure. We booked it by getting dinner reservations at one of the restaurants in California Adventure that included VIP seating with the reservation, it was worth it. Other things to eat, Blue Grotto is the New Orleans style restaurant that is actually inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney has good New Orleans style food as well. Naples has great pizza in Downtown Disney.

Most important, go, have fun, don't make it a forced march on the kids. There's a reason Disney employees refer to it as the Tragic Kingdom. If they're had too much take a break and get outside the park to Downtown Disney. Let them relax and take breaks when they need to.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 2000Z-71,

Don't go to the park early letting your family sleep in thinking you can get fast passes for them.

I stood in line for an hour before someone pointed out that unless the guest had checked into the park, they couldn't have a fast pass reserved for them.

Luckily after explaining to a park attendant what had occurred, they were able to adjust some things to get all of the fast passes at the same time later in the day (think airline gate attendant with super powers).

In the end, the best advice I can offer is enjoy what you can. Don't over exert yourself or family. Realize you will stand in lines (pretty much everywhere EVEN WITH FAST PASS) and Mickey gets PAID whether you enjoy it or not. The hassle of a backpack with water and sack lunches will save you $100.

And my daughter's latest quotable saying,

"More expensive than bottle water at Disneyland!"

I still have some left-over "E" tickets. Are they still good?

The last time I went to the original "Happiest Place on Earth" the Pirate of the Caribbean was an E-Ticket ride. About 1973 I think.

It's changed since then? You don't say. Hmmm. Well it's in California, so that pretty much kills it for me. California was a lot different in the 1970s.

My own favorites at the time (circa 1973) were the Swiss Family Robertson(?) tree house, where I could have lived, and the late night Main Street Parade, where I could have worked as the Dragon Driver.

that way I'd never have to go outside the park, or (shudder) into the parking LOT........


The people giving our group the "grand tour" were oddly overwhelmed with just how special everything was supposed to be. They noticed my lack of enthusiasm in the right places. Most people seem to like it.

Bring plenty of $$.

Practice standing in line is good preparation. Also remember where you park. Even better mark your parking location in your phone.