A bunch of adults and I will be headed to Disneyland in California soon! I've never been there, I have no clue what I'm getting myself into, so thought I'd ask here for your recommendations! If you've been there, anything you wish you'd known ahead of time? Anything we should prepare for? Any favorite attractions or places? :D

I've been there once. It was quite a while ago mind. But it's not Florida, it's not really an amusement park. The first thing you see when you walk in, is an absolute hoard of tourist/merchandise shops. There's no real coasters, like the one in Florida or Cedar Point. Most are family friendly rides, lots of places to take goofy pictures. Etc. Mostly focused on entertaining kids. There's like one decent 'ride', ride. I do not remember the name. "Something Mountain" I think? I never went to the hotels, but I'm aware they cost an arm and a leg. Even for California. So, sorry if not the most positive sounding news...but hopefully you'll still enjoy the experience. (I was a young teenager when I went there? I think. So, I was probably not the demographic for it. Might be better if you like going shopping and aren't going for thrills.)

Hey thanks for the insight! :D

Fortunately none of us are really into rides/thrills, so no disappointment there -- but we're not much into shopping either. Sounds kinda like we'll spend most of the time walking around and taking in the atmosphere and dodging kids, haha. Which I'm ok with! x3

Bring your own refillable water and I would recommend staying away from the snacks sold there. I'm sure that it'll be tempting, but it's expensive and my sister claims that most of it sucks. I'd recommend dressing in cool clothing and carrying some sunscreen with you. Tourists and their kids tend to be a little shitty too, so I'd recommend avoiding them too.

Actually, I'd recommend just avoiding Disneyland all together.

Go to the beach or the Grand Canyon instead.

@Cyndyr a water bottle is definitely good advice! As is the rest. Will prepare against sunburn, starvation, thirst, and shitty tourists. As for avoiding Disneyland, it's too late now! XD thanks!

As someone who went to Disneyland and California Adventure, I can give you some advice and suggestions. If you guys are planning to go on rides, then I would suggest go on the ones where you can take your whole group (like Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure, It's a Small World, and Disneyland Railroad to name a few). Also, try to avoid getting water there as it costs a lot (unless you really need it). And if you need to charge your phone, then I would suggest getting a portable changer so you don't have to worry a whole lot. It is useful as hell if you are planning on taking a lot of pictures. You can change out the portable changer if it dies out and you can also take it home for free.

To be honest, you guys should of considered going to California Adventure because it has some fun rides like Radiator Springs Racer, Soarin', and Grizzly River Run (my favorite ride). And their World of Color is so beautiful. But, holy shit the wait time is fucking crazy for both parks. If you want to get on Pirates of the Caribbean and/or Soarin', you will be waiting ninety minutes to get on. That is why I suggest you get on the popular rides first and early before the lines get too long.

One more piece of advice is for you to embrace the fun. Don't let people like Cyndyr and SleepingSilence make you think that Disneyland isn't fun. I agree there are places with more rides in California like Six Flags and Knotts Berry Farm. However, Disneyland is exciting when you are spending time with your friends and having fun—even if your group just walks around without getting on any of the rides.

@The Spectre These are some awesome suggestions, thanks!! We've got park hopper passes, so will be dropping in on California Adventure too -- will look out for those rides, and will bring water! :D

A lot of things have been covered here already!

Uhh, I think you can get fast passes and such on some rides using your ticket. I forget exactly, but there will be a time stamp telling you when to go back to that ride and it will be much faster to get on so you don't have to get stuck behind a colossal amount of people. Lines are reeeallllyyyy big down in Disneyland.

Space Mountain's fun. Splash Mountain's fun. Matterhorn was pretty solid if I'm remembering it correctly. Splash and Matterhorn have some water splash so uh, yeah be careful with that lol. That is if you get on. But yeah, these are popular rides so definitely hit them early before the yyyyuuuuuuggggeeee lines of people begin hoarding up. Theme of the day is big lines, kids.

If you're going there and staying into the night, the Fantasmic show is pretty cool alongside the fireworks and all that. Enjoy your time there. It's pretty fun, also a lot of things not to like but overall I've enjoyed the two whole times I've been there.

@Dark Wind Thanks for the recs, will add them to my list! Lines seem to be a running theme here, haha -- will look into fast passes, and definitely will make plans for popular rides early in the day. The shows seem like the best bet for us, and nighttime sounds like it'll be awesome. :D

@Mokley

Never been to Disneyland in California but been countless time to Disneyland in Paris. So here is your plan in order to survive and have fun, which is pretty simple:

1- Yes, get a bottle of water but fill it with vodka instead. You will need that shit while dealing with annoying kids and people who stop right in the middle of a walkway. Not just at the parks, but anywhere crowded in general.

2- Bring a pepper spray. Yup, that will help you when you meet people who don't respect personal space in line. Worst case scenario, the parents will act like you should put up with their kids while they POKE. THEY FUCKING POKE YOUR BUTT REPEATEDLY. THEY. POKE. IT.


Either that or your legs are black and blue from Rosemary's baby kicking you with his Nemo sneakers.

3- On dark rides, don't you ever sit with let-me-take-a-selfie people. I'm sure you will hate it when they use flash photography until you're blinded, check instagram and facebook every two seconds for the entire ride. No, leave her/his phone alone but you're free to smack their corpse body into the water and get away with it.

4- You listen here closely, this is where things get rough... Whether the cost, stay away from strollers. It may sound normal but some seem to think strollers are their way of pushing through everyone. They're strollers, not weapons! But yeah, just stay away or you might get lots and lots of ankle bruises. Gates open and THEY'RE OFF!! Moms with their broods of 50 kids knock you out of the way as they make a mad dash for the rides.



5- FAKE SCREAMERS, you really need earplugs in that situation or else you will feel a horrific headache and ringing in your ears from teen girls having 3 minutes of long unnecessary fake fucking screaming that starts well before any sort of drop.



6- Scissors are always helpful to cut through people who hold hands to stay together, creating a web of demise for any who stray into their path. When it's super crowded, Disneyland is like a video game where you have to get out of the way of speeding strollers and electric wheelchairs and clusters people standing in the middle of Main Street gawking up at the castle like 3 moons are about to rise above it. It can get bonkers.

Finally, I don't know about you but I exactly go there only for Space and Big Thunder Mountain rides. Otherwise, I spend my time watching dad's watching teenage girls, who are watching the teenage boys who are watching the girls, who are being watched by their mothers, who are fully aware that their husbands are having mental affairs.

Good luck, buddy.

@Chasebloodcrest Sounds like you've been to the front lines and lived to tell the tale. I am now making plans for a full suit of armor.

a water bottle is definitely good advice! As is the rest. Will prepare against sunburn, starvation, thirst, and shitty tourists. As for avoiding Disneyland, it's too late now! XD thanks!

I tried. Looks like I was too late. You'll be remembered.