Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

[kevitivity]

We have two parkhopper tickets and are planning to head down to Anaheim on Tuesday, Oct. 3. I'm taking my girlfriend who has never been to a Disney park and can't wait to share it with her!!!

I have a feeling the crowds should be quite manageable, but should I still be prepaired for a 45 minute wait on POTC and Space Mountain? I think that fastpass thing will be turned off during the week...

Also what are the coolest places to eat at. I have been wanting to eat at the Blue Bayou since I was a kid and first noticed it towards the end of POTC. It seems like a nice place to have a romantic dinner. Can we just walk in around 5:30pm and get a table or do we need to stop in earlier in the day and get reservations? What are the prices like? Anyone have photos of the menu?

I think Fantasmic! is over with for the year (and I hear it's starting to get dated) - is there anything else worth seeing?

I know nothing about DCA, what are it's high points? I'm guessing we will spend the first half of the day there.

Thanks very much - I've been enjoying all your posts/photos/vids...

[DLDan]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

Hey!!! Congrats!!! I cant tell you much about how busy it will be because I am in Northern Cali... but I can tell you that the high light of my trips are always Blue Bayou! It is rather expensive... but to me there is nothing better in the world than a Monte Cristo sandwich (fried sandwich with powdered sugar on top) and I always love getting coffee after wards and just watching the boats go by.... except that now coffee is 7.00 a cup! YIKES!
I love DCA!!! Definitely do Tower of Terror, Soaring over california , Its tough to be a bug and California screamin! Those are my favorites

I hope you have an amazing time!!!!! Im so jealous! Just a couple more months and I will be working at Disney World and will get to go to Disney everyday!

[Melonballer]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

Well for the Blue Bayou I would call and see if you can get a Priority Seating. The number is 714 781 3463.

For DCA I would recommend at least riding Soarin and Grizzly River Rapids (unless you do not like getting wet). I haven't been on ToT or Monsters Inc yet.

I don't think Fantasmic is over for the year, but it may not be playing on a weekday. Hmm, the calendar says the Parade of Dreams is playing, but no fantasmic or fireworks.

Have fun

[TheStarTrader]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

I have a feeling the crowds should be quite manageable, but should I still be prepaired for a 45 minute wait on POTC and Space Mountain? I think that fastpass thing will be turned off during the week...

I was at D/L last Thursday and the crowds were minimal. Five minutes for POTC and Space Mountain. I would expect next Tuesday to be similar.

Have a great time!

[kevitivity]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

Well for the Blue Bayou I would call and see if you can get a Priority Seating. The number is 714 781 3463.

Have fun

Wonderful! Thanks very much for the number!

[Melonballer]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

Wonderful! Thanks very much for the number!

you are welcome

[hollywood1939]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

Have fun! 8 year hiatus eh? I took a 4 year hiatus and loved going back (bought my AP a month later). Don't worry about lines. Tuesdays are really slow. I think the longest line you'll see is Splash, HM (cause of the holiday changes) and Peter Pan. Have a great time!

[elly]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

congrats and i hope the both of you have a wonderful time. no one should have to go so long without a visit!

[MaryAnn in Wndrlnd]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

At DCA, do MuppetVision 3-D. It's a great combination of of a 3-D film, animatronics, and a live actor in a giant Sweetums outfit. And at the end, the theatre blows up around you!

Also, the Monsters Inc. ride is probably the most sophisticated dark ride Disney has ever done. Lasseter is doing good work over their.

[MaryAnn in Wndrlnd]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

Whoops. I meant for a smiley face, not to post yet. :blush:

Anwho, those are two no one has mentioned yet, so I thought I would.

As others have already mentioned, Soarin' is phenomenal. If I could only do one ride at DCA it would be either Soarin' or MuppetVision. (Soarin' is the better ride, but I am a huge Jim Henson fan.) Really, before the Annual Pass, those two rides are what kept me buying a 1 Day Park Hopper instead of saving $20 and just buying a one park ticket.

Tower of Tower is the best drop ride I've ever been on. Although the scene where the hotel ages before your eyes was broken the last time I went.

With the exception of Grizzly River, which I've never done because of the water factor, those are pretty much the big ticket attractions not counting the off the shelf carnival rides. People might say MuppetVision isn't a big ticket ride, but considering there are Muppet fans go to DCA just for that attraction, I would still count it.

[hauntedhoilday]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

scene where the hotel ages before your eyes?

i dont remember this

[kevitivity]

Re: Heading back to Disneyland after an 8 year hiatus...

Well I called the Disney Dine line to see about priority seating for the Blue Bayou tomorrow night, but the latest they could seat us was 3:30pm which would still be the dinner menu ... I guess this please is really popular right now. Looks like I need to find someplace else for a romantic dinner...