What is “Going to Disneyland”?

[DLandFansAZ]

And getting yelled at for hours by guests who don't know how to plan their vacations.

Well that really sucks, but I'm sure it's very true. Just remember, when they leave they have to go home to their miserable lives and probably to jobs they could care less about.

As for me, "Going to DisneyLand" is about the months and then weeks of anticipation. (I usually only get to go once, maybe twice a year) Then in the final week or so, we let our daughters know we are going and then the chaos begins as they count down the days, hours and minutes until we pack up the family truckster and head for CA. (OK, we only live in Phoenix, but it's still a road trip.)

As for me personally, it's the memories that come back when I come to a realization that I'm actually standing at the entrance to the park. It's funny how the memories, experiences and emotions come back and once inside there is this feeling that I was just here.

Of course, like someone else mentioned, there is the return to reality when I sit down and figure out how much money we have spent.

[k_peek_2000]

It means escapeing the hassels of everyday life. Being able to go to the only place where you can not have to warry about work or school or have no enemys or anything. Listen to Remember.....

[AnimeGirlsm]

going to disneyland is christmas for a five year old in july to me

[CUatDL]

I guess I forgot about the folks who don't live locally. Those who go there as a vacation. For me, it is a local experience. But then WDW, (for me) it is a vacation that requires palnning. I start my plan a year out, then make reservations as soon as I can. Then stay 10-12 days, and have a relaxed time. I shoot pictures and watch people. My wife likes to shop (especially Epcot). Rides, we go on maybe, maybe one per day, sometimes none.

But I digress. How about Disneyland? My WDW example was meant as an well, an example or memory jogger.

Let's get a few more vacation planners in here in addition to the locals.

BTW: I'm really enjoying reading your experiences.

CU@DL

Andy

[chadb14]

Simple - I leave the real world for a day and forget about all of my worries.

[M Sparks]

What about the vacation planners? Those who only go once a year, or maybe once every several years. How do you see the park. Is it relaxed, or rush, rush, rusn (as the saying goes "Disney commando style")?

We go once every couple years for 3 days. (Although it's been almost 5 years since our last trip because we were so disgusted with Presslerland.) Normally it's pretty leisurely. We try to go on the extreme off season. We've both been multiple times. I've been 15 times- going back to the mid seventies, but most between '85 and '95. So we never feel the pressure to "see it all". Sometimes we will go early one morning and try to hit all the kiddie rides in the first hour, or see how many times we can ride Indy before the lines build. But the rest of the day, we just wander.

However, this year we THOUGHT we were scheduling a trip during a slow time...turned out to be Candlelight Weekend. And we haven't been to DCA before, so that will eat up at least half to all of one of the three days. We will also be with another couple that may not have been as often as us (although they've been more recently). AND they're vegan, so meals will have to be planned (or eaten outside the park). So this trip may not be as leisurely.

Now, when I was in High School, my dad and I used to go on a 24 hour turnaround bus to DL each year. It was on a Saturday in the middle of summer. We got on a bus at 6am, arrived at DL at noon, got back on the bus at midnight, and got home at 6am. THAT was a day to rush around.

As far as the "experience" goes...walking under the tracks into Main Street is always pretty special. But once we're in, Disneyland never feels that special to me until nightfall. Up until dark, I would have just as much fun- if not more- at Universal Florida. (Although DL still tops anything in California, day or night.)

Interesting side note...I've been to DL so often, that I really don't like Magic Kingdom at WDW. I can spend all day at the Studios or EPCOT (never been to AK.) Heck, last time I was in Orlando, we only had two days, so we decided to spend all our time at Universal. But we wound up driving over to Pleasure Island the evening we arrived instead of hanging out at Citywalk.

But Magic Kingdom? I don't care for it. It's not "right" I guess. Fantasyland is particularly "wrong" (even though it looks like the DL Fantasyland of my early childhood.) Boarding Small World indoors? Underground? That's not right. And no Matterhorn! I don't care for their Space Mountain, Pirates is too short. The Mansion is OK on the inside, but the outside is all wrong. Big Thunder seems too "exposed"...you can see the majority of it from the walkways. Toontown may not be that great, but it's better than the "Toontown Fair". And I understand why there's no New Orleans Square, but Liberty Square just isn't as pretty.

As for their "exclusive" attractions...Alien Encounter was icky and Dreamflight was stupid, but at least they're gone. I enjoyed the Lion King show, but it's gone too. And I hear The Timekeeper (which was pretty neat) is nearly always closed.

On the other hand, it is cool to see the original Country Bears and Carousel Of Progress, and to be able to ride a Peoplemover- even if it's different technology. And their Castle is nicer. But if I never go to Magic Kingdom again, I won't care much.

[Hidden Goofy]

The 'Pirates of the Carribean' smell and the Monirail smell.

[CUatDL]

The 'Pirates of the Carribean' smell and the Monirail smell.

I can understand POTC smell, but "Monorail smell" What's that?

CU@DL

Andy

[Hidden Goofy]

Its either the smell of rust and decay at DL or cleanleness at WDW.

[grewupdown]

It is a few days of escaping into my happy place. It's usually rush, rush, rush...get there 30 minutes before the park opens, and leave at closing. But this summer, I stayed in San Diego for a month and got my first annual pass (yea!!!) and I found that I went to the park just to be there. I didn't always go on rides. My favorite part of July 17th was just eating my pizza and reading Harry Potter 6 and people watching. Just being in the park is enough. The atmosphere is magical.

The smells are important for me too...I so often smell something that reminds me of Disneyland (usually of POTC or Indy), so when I'm actually there, I really pay attn to the smells and enjoy them. I know that sounds funny, but it's true. I often take in deep breaths on all the rides with their own particular smell.

ps. I love your avatar Hector! I can't wait until the 23rd either.