[Chat] What kind of guest are you?

[MrGoat]

Seems like we all have different things that we like about the DLR- some go to ride rides, or shop, or just stop by for a meal or whatever, others seem to make friends with cast members and experience the park that way, others go for the shows and/or parades, others for just the ambience, etc. Some go for a day, some for a few hours, some travel from far away to stay for a week. Since my first visit, I've thought of DLR as a sort of long-running interactive musical theater experience, with opportunities for guests to join in, to sing and dance and play along with the music (not extravagantly), and chat with characters and CMs. I go to the parks prepared to feel like I'm participating in someone else's fun as well as my own.

I do this by Disney-bounding, trading pins (I don't get attached to them unless they were gifts), being as friendly to strangers as I can, interacting with characters and CMs, and being extra-grateful for all the magic (and corn dogs!). I think of myself as a 'participant-guest', while I imagine others might think of themselves (in my terms) as 'observer guests' or 'shopping/eating local guests' or 'I love the rides/shows/foods guests.'

If that makes any sense to you (lol I can be long winded when I type), how do you think of yourself as a guest? If I'm not judging other guests fairly, I'm sorry! I'd love to know that too. I'm just fascinated by the place, its magic, and its hold on us fans.

[AndrewLeeHi]

I go to see some great CM’s annually, enjoy amazing meals and unbelievable shows while sprinkling in some shopping too. Rides to me are a bonus. They won’t make or break my decision to go or not.
I look at the Disney Parks as one big bundle of everything that makes vacations and even life good and if one light (or thing) is unavailable then I’ll make the best of what I have. I mean there’s not many other places where you can go on a Friday Night, dine at a resturant like the Blue Bayou, sit back and have reserved seating for a show that more then likely costs 100k plus to run a night and then tap the night off with a fireworks show before a final ride or 2.

[Sun Bonnet]

For me, rides are the most important thing, but I do enjoy the ambiance and escape from every day life. My husband likes rides and has favorites but he is more there for overall ambiance. However, he is pretty obsessed with MaxPass so having that has boosted his interest in the rides as part of a game to make a perfectly planned day.

We also pin trade and like shows. I think food at Disney is incredibly over-rated but we do have some favorites and we always eat at least one meal in the park or at DtD. We enjoy trying new seasonal items too, but I do not enjoy the food and wine items. My husband does so we get the sip and savor, but honestly, I think most of that food is not good. Boysenberry Festival at Knotts is so much better.

We're locals so we don't usually spend the entire day in the parks. 8 hours is about the max for us and 3 is about the minimum. We went every week before February, when we started eliminating crowds from our routines due to covid. I don't know if we will go back to season passes anytime soon or ever. We may become once a year guests or only go during the resident discount period, if they have that. Then we'd go back to 12 hour days in the parks.

[Eagleman]

Nice guest who enjoy people, mostly one to one ...........
meeting with other guest as well with CM !!

[MRaymond]

I grew up in SoCal back in the 60's and 70's, back in the days before the AP, when you had to pay to get in every time. So, I always had certain rides that I HAD to ride, then I could spend the remainder of the day enjoying the unique ambiance of the park, and eat my meals in a location where I could people watch. I live in Texas now and have not been to the park in many years, hearing how locals with APs pretty much treat the park as a shopping mall that you can "pop in" at any time seems foreign to me. I wonder how many APers are in the park at any one time and is that why the park seems so crowded now?

[Mike_M]

Though I live out of state now, I grew up in Northern California and family drives down to Southern CA were a regular summer tradition for us. As such, I feel like i have a little more of a local’s perspective on the park; at least more so than other out of state guests I would assume.

For me (as i’m sure for many), each trip is like a homecoming of sorts. The best memories of my childhood happened there, and each return is not only a chance to create new memories, but also a way to fondly reminisce of those past experiences.

That said, ambiance and theme is my primary draw. the last trip i made, i spent the first two hours there, just wandering the park, not riding a single attraction, just soaking it all in. It was a wonderful homecoming for me.

A close second are the attractions, most of which work hand in hand with the theme of each land and ambiance of the park for me. When I was a kid, the souvenir map booklets were more than a way for the novice to find where things were, they were a guide for how to experience the park. To this day, I still am compelled to experience the park in a clockwise fashion, starting with Adventureland, and prefer experiencing most, if not all the attractions in each land before moving on to the next one. Spending an hour or two in a land (usually due to queue times) allows me to soak in the ambiance and help experience the immersion to a greater depth.

In Adventureland for example, The preshow from the Tiki room entices and invites you to see and hear more. It’s the perfect introduction to sights and sounds that are worlds away from the quaint nostalgia of Main St. The sounds of the JC boats mixed with the radio broadcasts in the queue bring the views of the river and jungle which await you to even more life, build the anticipation of the experience and allow you to accept the fantasy of traveling down exotic rivers of the world with the most ridiculous of skippers guiding you. The rhythmic beats coming from Tarzan’s treehouse get into me every time i am near it, and the greatest queue of any attraction, Indy, takes you deep into ancient ruins full of wonder and danger, long before you board your vehicle and experience the motorized part of your adventure. All of this in arguably the smallest land at DL, yet when experienced completely and sequentially becomes a single experience which is vast and very satisfying. Stopping in the middle for a snack at Bengal BBQ or the Tropical Hideaway (I actually typed Tahitian Terrace first and had to correct myself, ha ha) expands this unified experience even further.

I can describe each land similarly and is what i look for each and every time i visit.

Parades, large shows, and fireworks definitely impede on my ability to loose myself in the ambiance and are usually avoided when possible (for example, I have witnessed the fireworks from the standby queue for BTMRR more times than anywhere else in the park). I do love the roaming entertainment though and would gladly prefer sacrificing the larger shows for more Dapper Dans, Royal St. Bachelors, Pirate Bands, Tianna’s impromptu jazz performances and The Pearly Band’s carousel performances.

If only I ran Disneyland... 😉

[Sun Bonnet]

I grew up in SoCal back in the 60's and 70's, back in the days before the AP, when you had to pay to get in every time. So, I always had certain rides that I HAD to ride, then I could spend the remainder of the day enjoying the unique ambiance of the park, and eat my meals in a location where I could people watch. I live in Texas now and have not been to the park in many years, hearing how locals with APs pretty much treat the park as a shopping mall that you can "pop in" at any time seems foreign to me. I wonder how many APers are in the park at any one time and is that why the park seems so crowded now?

I also grew up in SoCal in the 70s before APs so I kind of know what you mean. I got an AP when they first came out and didn't get much use out of it so I didn't renew. When we decided to get APs last year we calculated how many times we would need to go for it to pay for itself. We didn't think we would go every week when we bought them but it proved to be relaxing for us so we did. My husband works a very high stress job with long, sometimes 16 hour. days and the relief going to the park afforded was invaluable to us and not comparable to going to a shopping mall at all.

I love that Mr Toad made a nice, fun, non-covid thread and it took exactly 4 posts for someone to come and make a dig at one group of park goers.

[bayouguy]

It’s been about the rides, also called attractions...lately, daughter pulled me into shopping for stuff...as for food, it’s been the hamburger hot dog pizza sets...I’m not too complicated...

[Eagleman]

Love meeting with New person , people ...........
from all part Country and the World!

[TacAlert]

I also grew up in SoCal in the 70s before APs so I kind of know what you mean. I got an AP when they first came out and didn't get much use out of it so I didn't renew. When we decided to get APs last year we calculated how many times we would need to go for it to pay for itself. We didn't think we would go every week when we bought them but it proved to be relaxing for us so we did. My husband works a very high stress job with long, sometimes 16 hour. days and the relief going to the park afforded was invaluable to us and not comparable to going to a shopping mall at all.

I love that Mr Toad made a nice, fun, non-covid thread and it took exactly 4 posts for someone to come and make a dig at one group of park goers.

Actually it was 3 posts, and it was yours. "We went every week before February, when we started eliminating crowds from our routines due to covid."

[Sun Bonnet]

Actually it was 3 posts, and it was yours. "We went every week before February, when we started eliminating crowds from our routines due to covid."

I didn't put down anyone. I was talking about the choice my husband and I made for our visits. We stopped going to crowded places in early February, close to a month and half before Disneyland closed, as far as I recall. We have our own reasons for that choice and I didn't mention any groups. But thanks for dogpiling. Why don't you just answer Mr. Goat's question instead?

[micromind]

For me, it's the basic magic that makes my visits enjoyable.

DL is one of the very few places that an older guy can become a 12 year-old again and actually get away with it!

Since quite a bit of magic is derived from the rides, I'd have to say that they are my main reason for visiting.

[DisneySpaceAce]

I guess I'm a mix. My favorite part is the actual rides, but I like to just soak in the atmosphere (especially at night, double especially at night during Christmas), and I like to check out shows to take a load off for a bit.

[Eagleman]

Since quite a bit of magic is derived from the rides, I'd have to say that they are my main reason for visiting.

I AGREE
another good reason is the ATTRACTION's

[bigcatrik]

I've always liked rides and that hasn't really changed over my decades of visits. The rides I enjoy have changed somewhat (I became a bigger dark ride fan within the last decade, for example) and I appreciate the landscaping more now, but rides are still the biggest lure.

[Captain Andy]

I'm a ride fanatic, and I really appreciate good Imagineering. Although people will scoff at the idea of it, sometimes I visit Disneyland as a "museum go-er" –– I like to see what's new, what's missing; etc. I like to admire the design and atmosphere of certain attractions and lands, which is why I tend to go alone.

I'm also there to appreciate the food. While I'm not big on a lot of the Disneyland staples, it's very fun to try different dishes. There are so many to try. My last meal was at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo in Galaxy's Edge, and the Ithorian Garden Loaf was surprisingly fresh and delicious.

I also like bumming out at the bar at Lamplight Lounge. 😝 "Another Sunrise Spectacular, please."

[jsmith11618]

I live too far away to make frequent trips anymore, so I go on average once every decade when visiting family in San Diego. I will make a 3 day stop over for Disneyland, typically 2 days there and 1 day at California adventure. I try to ride everything once at Disneyland, and the train a couple times, I will generally skip shows, and my last day I will eat at selection places, shop, eat junk food.

My trips are always in combination with another reason to be in So. California, I could never justify the cost of just going for the parks.

[micromind]

I guess I'm a mix. My favorite part is the actual rides, but I like to just soak in the atmosphere (especially at night, double especially at night during Christmas), and I like to check out shows to take a load off for a bit.

Agree completely.....the park takes on a whole different personality after dark.......that's when the magic REALLY comes out!

[TacAlert]

I didn't put down anyone. I was talking about the choice my husband and I made for our visits. We stopped going to crowded places in early February, close to a month and half before Disneyland closed, as far as I recall. We have our own reasons for that choice and I didn't mention any groups. But thanks for dogpiling. Why don't you just answer Mr. Goat's question instead?

DOn't get upset. You did mention COVID first. Just saying. Not trying to be mean.

[Eagleman]

Agree completely.....the park takes on a whole different personality after dark.......that's when the magic REALLY comes out!

Also AGREE....... specially on a peaceful -less people night-
around the River of America