My first time to Disneyland..any advice

[preciousawakenin]

You got some great advise here but something that was missed, if you like the Dole Whip's at WDW, you'll LOVE it from our park. But we don't have all the flavors they do there because the natural flavors are much fresher here. And a question I have for you, what days are you in what parks? Because even thou it is Summer different days vary dramatically.

I love Dole Whip. The problem for me is that I have had it in Hawaii from the Dole Plantation after having that I have become very harsh critic. I will definitely try it to compare though.

Our schedule: Sunday the 1st - DCA from about 1pm to close, Monday 2nd - Universal by day and DTD by night, Tuesday 3rd - all day at DL, Wednesday 4th - all day at DL, Thursday 5th - Touring LA, Friday 6th - all day at DCA

Are there certain days that are better for trading pins?

 

[markheardjr]

I love Dole Whip. The problem for me is that I have had it in Hawaii from the Dole Plantation after having that I have become very harsh critic. I will definitely try it to compare though.

Our schedule: Sunday the 1st - DCA from about 1pm to close, Monday 2nd - Universal by day and DTD by night, Tuesday 3rd - all day at DL, Wednesday 4th - all day at DL, Thursday 5th - Touring LA, Friday 6th - all day at DCA

Are there certain days that are better for trading pins?

Make sure you have DSF on either the 2nd or the 6th. If you can, I'd skip DTD on May 2nd and I'd do Hollywood Blvd and DSF on the 2nd. Hollywood is right on your way from Universal back to Disney. DTD is ok, not as big as WDW's and it's so close to the parks that you can go there the other evenings. If you aren't leaving super early on the 7th then head over to DSF on that morning for the DSF release with Jessica, Stitch, and Chip & Dale. Pins will be sold at 9:30, some traders bring books.

Trading I think is better on weekends but is ok on Thursdays and Fridays often. Mon-Wed is hit or miss. There are usually at least 1 or 2 traders at either Westward Ho or LGM everyday. Sunday you're going to DCA but pin trading will be better at DLR Sunday. Also, If you are only getting to DCA at 1 on Sunday, unless RSR passes are available I'd just skip Cars Land all together and do the rest of the park. Then on the 6th when you're spending all day at DCA, get a fast pass for RSR's early, hit Luigi's and Mater's first. Then stroll around Cars Land until your fast pass is good. Or go to other rides again.

One thing to remember, fastpass systems are DLR and DCA are seperate. So if you go in to DCA early and get a fast pass for RSR, then hike to DLR, you can get a Space Mountain, Star Tours, Indiana Jones, etc. fastpass right away. Then head back to DCA. I really wish they'd make either a monorail stop at DCA or have a tram between the two. Maybe go from Big thunder railroad back to Goofy's Sky School. Something like that would be nice. Back of park to back or park.

 

[preciousawakenin]

^ Thanks. I know I am gonna definitely sound like a DLR newbie on this....What is at DSF? I know what it is Disney Soda Fountain but what can we do there?

 

[echoraphael]

There are special pins that you can buy from there that are ONLY sold there. It is connected to the El Capitan Theater so usually people will go see the movie and stop in for a treat they sell sundae's and yummy food!! They also sell other Disney Merchandise there much like a Disney Store.

^ Thanks. I know I am gonna definitely sound like a DLR newbie on this....What is at DSF? I know what it is Disney Soda Fountain but what can we do there?

 

[preciousawakenin]

There are special pins that you can buy from there that are ONLY sold there. It is connected to the El Capitan Theater so usually people will go see the movie and stop in for a treat they sell sundae's and yummy food!! They also sell other Disney Merchandise there much like a Disney Store.

Cool thanks...I will definitely have to work them into my schedule. How far is it from DLR? We are doing a tour with transportation for Universal so not able to stop along our way back.

 

[H2454]

From what I recall of the Dole Whip, the Hawaiian version is better.

 

[btowndude]

Hollywood TIP: If you want to see DSF from Universal, there is a shuttle that takes you from Universal CityWalk to the Metro subway station at the bottom of the hill where Universal Studios/CityWalk is located. Take the Metro subway to the Hollywood/Highland station, go to street level and you can see the El Capitan Theater / Disney Soda Fountain. If you are also Hard Rock pin collector, there is a Hard Rock Cafe at Universal CityWalk and there is another Hard Rock Cafe across DSF. Each Hard Rock Cafe has their own unique LE and rack pins.

 

[btowndude]

FYI: If you were driving, West Hollywood has their own Dole Whip franchise. They have a variety of flavors. It is located at the corner of Fairfax and Santa Monica Boulevard. They do Groupon offers twice a year. Yummm!

 

[preciousawakenin]

That is a good idea. There are only a few things I want to do at Universal so that would pass the time.

 

[luvsulley]

If you go to DSF, get a pin trader delight sundae! It comes with a LE300 pin.

 

[BruinEd03]

I am a frequent visitor to Disneyworld and I am finally venturing out to Disneyland this Sunday for a week. Can you guys please give me some advice on do's and don'ts for pin buying and trading as well as rides / the parks in general. We are spending 2 days in Disneyland, 2 days in California Adventure and 1 day in Universal.

Thanks!!

The emporium on main st -- that whole row of connected stores. They have a lot of pin traders behind the counter. Also in the emporium itself, behind one of the counters, there's a pin board. However, it requires that there be at least two CM working behind the counter. If there's only one or no CM, they will not bring the board out.

 

[tiggeriffic]

I'm sure your head is spinning with suggestions. Whatever you do, your days will be full and you'll have a lot of fun!

I just wanted to note that there are some attractions at DLR that aren't at WDW or, if they are, they are substantially different. Disneyland has an Alice in Wonderland ride right next to the teacups, Pinocchio's daring journey, Mr. Toad's Wild ride, Storybookland canal Boats (Not all that great, but different and kind of charming), Indiana Jones, Tarzan's Treehouse (made over Swiss family), Pirates of the Caribbean is really nice, there's a Roger Rabbit ride in Toontown and the Matterhorn is unique to only Disneyland as far as I know. If you like roller coasters, the California Screamin' in DCA is great!!

If you do go to Hollywood Blvd. DSF is fun, but the shop is really tiny. It's worth it for the pins you can't get anywhere else and the ice cream if you're up for those. Also, right across the street is the Grauman's Chinese Theater where the hand and foot prints are. Classic Hollywood.

Have fun!!

 

[DisneylandDan]

I love Dole Whip. The problem for me is that I have had it in Hawaii from the Dole Plantation after having that I have become very harsh critic. I will definitely try it to compare though.

From what I recall of the Dole Whip, the Hawaiian version is better.

FYI: If you were driving, West Hollywood has their own Dole Whip franchise. They have a variety of flavors. It is located at the corner of Fairfax and Santa Monica Boulevard. They do Groupon offers twice a year. Yummm!

It's true, it's way better in Hawaii. Especially the Dole Whip Sunday on the half shell, but it's still really good. And in my opinion better then WDW.

Our schedule: Sunday the 1st - DCA from about 1pm to close, Monday 2nd - Universal by day and DTD by night, Tuesday 3rd - all day at DL, Wednesday 4th - all day at DL, Thursday 5th - Touring LA, Friday 6th - all day at DCA

Are there certain days that are better for trading?

I know it doesn't fall into your plans but the best days to pin trade with Traders are Saturday & Sunday especially Sunday mostly in DLR . But there are normal traders in Disneyland most days so have fun. You say your plans are to Touring LA on Thursday ... How are you planning to do that and what are you planning on doing?

 

[KT07]

try to ride the Lilly Belle if u have not done that be4. Many ppl dont even know about it. Oh and as far as food. The black and blue steak at the Jazz kitchen is 100 times better than what u get at 55. If u want the b/w pics of walt and his old friends than go to 55. If u want the best steak ever. Than go to jazz. Nice part is its half the price also. No matter what u do. have fun and relax in the parks. we always find the best pins when we are not looking. just go about your day and u will find things as u go. out of 33 trips last year. we never went early or try to run around looking at every lanyard in sum race to get all the so called good pins. The best pins will b found when u dont even expect it to happen. Rmember this is a place of magic. so take ur time.. smell the flowwers and enjoy the magic. have a safe trip

 

[locostitch]

Hi when you trade in westward ho the best days to do it is on tuesday and thursday

 

[markheardjr]

Cool thanks...I will definitely have to work them into my schedule. How far is it from DLR? We are doing a tour with transportation for Universal so not able to stop along our way back.

If you're planning to do Hollywood on your "Tour LA" day then you can do DSF then. They have a rack full of pins, many are LE300. The Pin Trader Delight is LE300, it costs $12 and comes with free ice cream. I dont' consier a pin trader delight a GWP for a $12 ice cream, it's the opposite. The ice cream is the GWP! haha.

A good loop would be to go to Hollywood, then work down Sunset through Beverly Hills/Santa Monica and then head to the Santa Monica Pier. From there you can swoop south along the coast to Venice Beach, Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo. Palos Verdes is nice and the Terrenea resort is amazing, they have 3 or 4 restaraunts and a few aren't too insane with prices. It's nice to just walk around. Trump National Golf Club is on the back side of the hill too and a must stop for a golfer, everything is public access there. Then go down to Long Beach across the harbor bridges and you can see the Queen Mary. If you have time keep going down the coast past Seal beach, Huntington, Newport, and finally Laguna. I have done that all in one day but you have to watch your time and don't sit down to eat, grab something good and quick and keep going. Local knowledge of where to park and what is interesting helps. You can drive through Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo, and Long Beach along the coast, maybe just stop if you find something you want to see. They are all similar beach towns.