Disney Loving Peas / Universal Loving Peas

Almost all the resort restaurants are included! For example, Boma and Sanaa (which I really want to try next visit!) at the AK resort are included

I can't wait to hear all about this.

Two trips to Tokyo Disney in two years - I’ll be quite the expert 😅
We’ll be there for Minnie in her autumn outfit so I’ll have 2/4 style studio outfits which I’m excited about, but my kids are NOT interested (will still make them line up though 😂)

I. Am. In. Love.

Say Cheese Classic Mouse by Simple Stories. Just gorgeous classic Mickey & Minnie (alas, no album). I want it and I want it now. 😍

DISboards have a subforum dedicated to DL California that is very active. People are very helpful with everyone's questions from what I've seen (from best hotels to pick to restaurants, rides and special events).

Congrats on your Disneyland trip!

I’m a Disneyland regular! Anything in particular you want to know?

Off the top of my head - don’t sleep on Fantasyland! It is 1000% more magical and sweet than WDW. The Alice in Wonderland dark ride is my favorite dark ride. It’s very well done and you even pop out for an outside wander where you have a fun view of the Matterhorn, and then it winds down back to the inside. It’s our first ride of the day, every time.

Storybook Canal Boats are unique to Disneyland, and just a really lovely little ride. Our It’s a Small World is an absolute masterpiece, and even if you don’t want to ride it (gasp!), you must see it all lit up at night. It’s spectacular and one of the prettiest sights in all the parks. 🥰 Casey Jr Circus Train is one of my most favorite rides. You get such cute views of Fantasyland and the boats down below, it is perfectly magical.

Our castle is miniature, and not as wow-y as MK, but there is a very cool walk-through attraction inside, with peek-a-boo window scenes of Sleeping Beauty as you go through. It’s at your own pace and really worth a wander. (Up one side, climbing stairs and turrets, seeing the story as you go up and over and out the other side). It’s usually pretty quiet and empty, so if you catch a crowd, just circle back in ten minutes. It’s easily overlooked.

Matterhorn is a rough ride, but very fun! I don’t love Space Mountain, but ours is a much nicer smoother ride than the WDW version.

Indiana Jones is the same ride system as Dinosaur at AK, so that’s the feel of it. The theme is top notch and there’s a very cool surprise at the end that’s very Indy. Not one to miss if you’re an IJ fan!

Thanks! I forgot about Touring Plans - I had a sub when I went to WDW and it was so helpful for wait times.

Okay, Downtown Disney is significantly smaller than WDW’s. But two of their hotels are *right there* and you can go explore those too. The Grand Californian has a little portal opening right in the middle of the main DTD walkway, it might not look very accessible, you really just see security check points, but you are welcome to walk straight in from there. The GC has a very nice woodsy theme, their huge foyer space us similar vibes to Wilderness Lodge. Depending on when you’re there, there’s often amazing huge confectionary displays off to the side. You can eat at The Craftmans Bar & Grill, it’s a fast service, but it’s very quiet and underused. The food is fantastic because they share a kitchen with the next door $$$$ table service. We eat there every single trip. Bring a jacket, it’s always freezing cold in there. But there’s also nice outdoor seating too. It’s neverrrrrr crowded. Best kept secret. Don’t tell anyone! 😜

You can also walk down to the Disneyland Hotel. This will require you to leave the security zone, because it’s just outside the gates of DTD, but very worth it! There are a lot of very fun displays of historic photos from the decades of Disneyland history, and sometimes props and artifacts too. Wander the halls outside the character dining Goofy’s Kitchen, roam the middle walkways outside, check out Trader Sam’s tiki bar. The gift shop at Disneyland Hotel is really nice.

They are really different imo. In WDW you are three in a row, sled seating. Only lap restraint, the back doesn’t go up very far. I thought the FL one was really rough. In DLC you are 2 in a row, side by side, proper seating. Speakers by your head.

I don’t like the ride either way, but if I had to go on one I’d pick the California one.

I don’t know about that. It’s included with my annual pass, so I haven’t needed to know. I will say that it’s probably not worth it to pay for it, and I say this as someone who paid for it at WDW on every trip.

There are way way fewer photographers here than in FL. And way less ride photos. Only Space & Splash (and I have no idea if the photos will still be at Splash once it reopens), and then Guardians and Cars at California Adventure. Unless those ride photos are very important to you, I’d highly recommend asking cast members (even the few photogs you might see), or other guests, to take your photos.

cbscrapper
Are you getting Genie +? If so photos are included with that. Not sure if you can buy it separately.

Who is going with you? How many days?

Depending on age and wanting to ride together you may benefit from doing single rider lanes for the rides that offer it. Download the app and you can filter the rides in lots of different ways. I think single rider is under one of the *more* sections.

For Genie+ (or what ever the new name is) note that certain rides (Rise, Radiator Racers, and...?) are not included in the general package and need to be purchased independently. Racers usually has a single rider lane, however even that can get long. But we will skip it if that's the case. Worth it if you have never been, though.

Rise is 100% worth either the wait/paying extra, you choose. It does break down a lot, doesn't necessarily open at the same time as the rest of the park, and closes early sometimes so plan accordingly.

Smugglers Run has single rider line but also doesn't usually have a long line, not worth a long wait if you can come back to it at a different point in your trip.

We love websligers, if you are competitive watch some YouTube videos so you know what to aim at. It has a single rider line but if we can go as a group and try to get on the leader board (on the ramp as you walk out) we don't mind the wait.

If you are going at opening genie+ is totally worth it. Be prepared to grab your next ride as soon as you scan the current ride. We like to take the soonest availability (semi) nearby and grab the longer waits rides later in the day. But keep an eye out as they do fill up. You can modify reservations but be mindful of the 2hr (?) window to do your next reservation even if you haven't used your current reservation yet.

Compared to WDW (only been once as an adult) DLR is very compact both in space and rides. While WDW of course has a few rides that we don't, we have most and a few extra in just 2 parks vs the 4. There's also a lot of shows (depending on the schedule/time of yr).

If you like shows I love going to the Royal Theater in DL. Floor seating for kids and bench seating for adults. Pre pandemic if you wait after the show till most people clear out there will be a character meet and greet. They rope off the entrances so people can not get back in. It is either Belle or Rapunzel and Flynn depending on the show. Ask a cast member if it is happening. Might depend on the specific time also.

They will also have the (unpublished?) character schedule for the day. It is also available on the app map but not sure if it is everyone or just main ones.


Make sure you go to the Tiki Room. I like to grab a back row seat so I can lean against something and relax. You can bring in food, dole whip or otherwise! It is a small animatronic show and a nice rest.

Overall we don't have as many sit-down restaurants. We rarely eat at them preferring to ride the rides.


At DCA make sure to go to the Art of Animation building for Turtle Talk with Crush and the Animation Studio where they do an art lesson. I like to bring my own smaller paper but they have large papers for you. There is a schedule on a display board for the day if you want to draw a certain character. Elsa and Anna meet and greet is in there too. Plus just a nice, cool place to sit and relax and beat the heat if needed.

World of Color is my absolute favorite show. Definitely see that if it is happening while you are at DCA. You can grab virtual queue spots day of Via the app, I think at noon but check on that. They aren't necessary but nice to have. You will still want to show up early, see what time it opens. We usually grab dinner to go and then eat while we wait.

Note that as it gets closer to show time they have everyone stand and squish so don't get too comfortable sitting. I like bringing a very thin baby blanket to sit on for that and the parades especially if we have a large group and need a chunk of space.

Any of those rides not recommended for those who get motion sick?