Originally Posted By GoofyKris have to ride thunder, pirates, space mountain, HM, casey jr., matterhorn. must have churro!! have to watch billy hill. and have mozzerella cheese sticks. and we have to watch fireworks. one little thing my sister and mom do is while during the fireworks during the pirates segment, when the captain says "fire at will" they say "poor will". then on the way out we have to stop at ampm and get the gigantic sized fountain drink that lasts me all week.
Originally Posted By lawdawg Have to go through the left tunnel or my day at the park will be a bad one (proven scientific fact)! We go watch Billy Hill as we eat our dinner. (especially tough since they stopped selling anything with beef on the new menu) Must walk into Pirates and say ahhhhhhhhh as I smell the water! Try to grab a Frozen Lemonade.
Originally Posted By jodiefra We always take a family picture in front of the flowers before going through the tunnel (left ; ) ). Some time during the trip we all get something with our name on it (ears, key chains, etc.), and I personally must eat a frozen banana while sitting on a bench somewhere near pirates and just watch the people... we have also made the character breakfast a tradition, and (if it's open, which can be iffy in the fall when we like to go) we MUST buy the Splash Mtn. picture for our collection!!! ºoº
Originally Posted By lawdawg One more, we take a picture in front on the hub at the "Partners" statue. We also take one of our kids standing beside on of the smaller character statues.
Originally Posted By LVCajun Enter through right tunnel (this started because we always needed a stroller), ride POTC first thing then HM,grab a turkey leg to eat in the line for Autopia, picture in front of train station ( do we even need to list this one anymore I think it's almost a requirement now), lunch at BB and spend last hour of my day in the shops.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I discovered a one-up on the goat trick this spring. Ride during the fireworks, and watch the fireworks the whole time. You will be able to ride several times, since everybody is watching the skies an there is literally no wait (other than just to get some people to fill up the train). All the lights on the mountian are off, so it won't distract from the show, so you are going through almost complete darkness, except for the occasional animal light with a blue light. Watching the fireworks is completely disorienting, and one of the coolest things you can do at DL.
Originally Posted By GreenMother Well, we have a few, just a few... These aren't in any particular order, jsut what me and my dd thought of off the top of our heads. - Upon left tunnel entrance, check out the Emporuim windows. - If we are walking under the Sleeping Beauty Castle as "When You Wish Upon A Star" begins, must stay and listen to the whole thing. - Visit Esmeralda and the Jolly Roger for fortunes - Watch the Small World hour chime at least once. - Ride the Mark Twain (now mostly in honor of my Grandpa *sniff*). - Eat lunch/dinner at the French Market. - Ride Peter Pan early, then try to get one more ride at night to see the Evil Queen. - Take group photo with Mickey (there is usually between 5-12 of us at a trip). - Listen for Madame La Vou's (sp) at the DRR NOS exit. Tamborines and all! - Get photo of group in front of me on Autopia, at the bend at the end of ride and all leaning out the cars and waving to me. I must have at least 10 of those! - Take photo of all the kids trying to pull the Sword out of the Stone together. - Ride the Carousel (usually twice, once at night). - Ride the Jungle Cruise as the last ride at night, no matter how many times already ridden. - Kids always have to go to the water ball and goof on it. - Ride the E ticket rides in the morning, FastPass 'em for later. - After exiting HM doombuggies, must watch and pay attention to hurry back message! Thats about it. Been doing this kinda stuff for almost 40 years and some of the traditions have been added to as the kids were added, lol.
Originally Posted By Disney Joy Another favorite for me is to make a scrapbook of each trip. These are so cool to go back and look at.
Originally Posted By ETicket34 *Disneyland has to be the first park I enter (left tunnel) on the first day I visit. (I have actually gone in to Disneyland, walked through the tunnel, around the front of the train station, back through the right tunnel and out the gate as we were going to have lunch at DCA, but was afraid to break my tradition). *I have to walk down the middle of Main Street, not on the sidewalk. *I must have a chocolate chip cookie at the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies show.( I will be very sad when they change the menu come September). *Disneyland has to be the last park I leave on the last day. I slowly walk up Main Street, glancing back at the Castle, past Walt's apartment, thanking him for creating such an amazing place and how much I look forward to my next visit. (Of course all of this is done trying not to cry). If that isn't a sickness,I am not sure what is.
Originally Posted By gardenrooms Boo hoo - my tradition was I would get a coffee at the Monorail Cafe and bring it back to my room (in what I think of as the "Gardenrooms" obviously) and sit on the balcony watching the CM's get the monorail ready for the day while I let DH and DS catch a few extra zzzzzzz's - whenever we could afford the Disneyland Hotel. That was the best way in the world to start each day. I - the early riser who doesn't want to miss a minute of magic - and the guys, always wanting to sleep in on vacation - were all happy ('course, I always had 'em at the gate at opening time). We still have to have breakfast once at Goofy's Kitchen and I must yank the pole in Indiana Jones (it still surprises people, which suprises me, but DS scolds me if it makes a little one cry), and we always pay a visit to the Disney Gallery and the exhibit that was where Linclon is/was - but I am afraid that may now be gone too. And I must hear Jimminy sing "When You Wish Upon A Star" too. Oh, and I'm afraid I always have to get tickets that have enough days on 'em so we can go in the first day no matter how late we arrive. I just couldn't arrive at DL and not get to go in as soon as I checked in!
Originally Posted By GreenMother Oh, my husband reminded me that we also have to flip the rings on the horse-headed hitching post whenever we pass them. ;-D
Originally Posted By Tink2002 *Enter through right tunnel, stop, sigh, and feel the outside world drop away while anticipating the days of magic ahead. *Stop to look in the Candy Palace window...hmm...what are they making today and what to buy there later *French Market for dinner *River Belle for Mickey Mouse pancakes and to feed the little birds *Hungry Bear - top level in the back- to relax and feed the ducks *Grab a snickerdoodle and a peppermint mocha (we go the first week in Dec.) to watch the fireworks with. *Sit, relax and make up silly contests while people-watching...stupidest shoes, what's with the hair, etc. *Astro Orbiter with Mom coming very close to an anxiety attack while son screams with joy and Mom screaming "Put it down, put it down NOW! *Seeing Santa... Will Santa be at the ranch again this year? *Big Thunder, POC, Indy and Haunted Mansion at least 6 times during the trip *Saying "Thank you" as we walk past Walt's apt. when we leave the park *Making a scrapbook after our trip
Originally Posted By brer_rabbit91 I always head to IJA first...maybe getting a FastPass for it, too.
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 I have several new things to try now, after reading this thread! (I've never ridden BTTR during the fireworks,for instance! Thanks for the tips!) I always stop at Walt's apt., too to salute and say thanks. Last trip was in Dec. and instead of his lamp being lit, there was a small Christmas tree in the window. As I was looking up on my last night to say good-bye it got me all choked up for some reason, to see the little tree in his window. (Well, I am always choked upon my last night, I guess, come to think of it!) Anyway, I was trying to comment on it so my kids would look up and I was so choked up I couldn't speak. Tears were springing to my eyes and my kids thought I was ready for the nut house!
Originally Posted By nemopoppins We always pay our respects to Walt Disney at the Partners statue. On December 1st, we gave an extra tribute there. We'll be there on his birthday again this year.
Originally Posted By tinkerbell77 I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that has posted here. I didnt know about alot of these things. Now when I take my kids in Dec, we have to try new stuff and make some new family traditions! I cant wait for the snickerdoodle and peppermint mocha!! Thanks again for sharing.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice The first thing Mr. Alice and I do upon arrival and the last thing we do before departing is visit our 'brick' in the esplanade... It commemorates our at-dusk, Sleeping Beauty Castle engagement on May 18, 2004. Our other traditions... We always make a wish and toss coins into Snow White's wishing well. We always kiss in the Haunted Mansion whenever the doombuggies stop or go into 'creep mode.' I always put a quarter in Toad's mouth before we go on his Wild Ride. We always do the "chicky-chicky" dance and wiggle along with the little Tahitian dancers in Small World. (Mr. Alice is a VERY good sport... and sillier than he lets on! ;-) We always hit the Uva Bar at least once per visit and perpetuate the above-mentioned silliness beyond Disneyland's closing hours!
