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You should consider a trip to Disneyland – PREP111

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Home → WDW Prep To Go Podcast → You should consider a trip to Disneyland – PREP111
  • Shannon Albert
  • October 11, 2015
  • December 5, 2018

A lot of Disney World visitors never consider a trip to Disneyland because it's so much smaller, but I have lots of good reasons why you might want to think about planning a trip there.

I also have recent news, a featured company, and a quick tip of the day.

https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/wdwprepschool/episode111.mp3

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These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

In this article (click for table of contents)

  • Become a WDW Prep To Go Patron
  • Call in your non-Disney World questions
  • Reasons WDW fans should consider Disneyland
  • News
  • Featured company
  • Quick tip of the day
  • Subscribe to get new episodes

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Call in your non-Disney World questions

If you have a non-Disney World question about websites, podcasts, business, personal stuff, etc., please leave me a SpeakPipe message and I'll put them together for a show at the end of the year. You can do that by downloading the SpeakPipe app or using your computer at https://www.speakpipe.com/WDWPrepToGo.

Reasons WDW fans should consider Disneyland

Disneyland has lots of perks that Disney World doesn't, such as:

  • Better weather (no ponchos needed!)
  • Can be less expensive, especially if staying offsite at a budget chain
  • More laid back planning process
  • History (Walt touched everything)
  • Ability to add other things to your trip, such as a trip to the beach or nearby cities
  • Better versions of attractions (especially Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain)
  • Unique things that Disney World doesn't have - Cars Land, Paint the Night parade, the new fireworks, etc.

For more info on planning, see my info on how to do Disneyland if you're a Disney World veteran and also check out DLRPrepSchool.com.

News

  • 1-day Memory Maker is available at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party now. The cost is $40 and it can be purchased at Guest Relations.
  • Purple MagicBands might be coming.
  • Park ticket prices likely going up soon.
  • Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine, an Art Smith restaurant, opens at Disney Springs in summer 2016.

Featured company

Today's featured company is NerdBoy Apps, my son's app development company. He created the WDW Prep Countdown app to help people count down to their trips and have calendar reminders set as well.

Quick tip of the day

Disney-related subscription boxes make a fun gift idea or a way to countdown time until your next trip. Check this subscription box list for options and reviews.

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Read this next

Popular Related Articles

Related Posts:

  • My recent Disney World trip – PREP109
  • Jay’s Disney World trip redo – PREP114
  • A Disneyland pro goes to WDW for the first time – PREP050
  • Talking D23 announcements with Casey – PREP103
  • Our California trip (including Disneyland!) – PREP093
  • Why you shouldn’t skip Animal Kingdom – PREP117
  • My son talks Disney World and his new app – PREP077
  • How to avoid being one of THOSE parents – PREP116

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6 Comments

  1. Sarah October 19, 2015 Reply

    Hi Shannon,

    I’m loving your podcasts! After this one, I’m planning a kid free trip with my husband to Disneyland, although I have always thought it couldn’t compare to Disneyworld. Anyway, one of the things I’m looking forward to is the time change. I may sound silly, but it makes a huge difference to me. We live in Texas, so it’s 2 hours earlier in CA. I always feel well rested there because even if I get up at 6, it’s like sleeping in until 8 to my body. In Orlando, I’m always exhausted by getting to the parks when they open because getting up at 6 there is like 5!

  2. Leigh Agnew October 16, 2015 Reply

    Hi Shannon, as someone from New Zealand who has been to DLR twice and am now planning our first trip to DWR, I was interested to hear your comparison. I love DLR and we particularly enjoyed Cars land on our last visit. Our daughter was 3 1/2 and was just tall enough for the main Cars ride and she loved it! I’m loving the planning aspect to our DWR trip, but hope that when we get there I can still relax and go with the flow the way we do at DLR. Roll on Jan 16 … Might have to go and check out that App 🙂

  3. Elise October 15, 2015 Reply

    P.S.- From what I can gather, they don’t use a magic band system or fast pass plus (logging in 60/30 days in advance to book rides by web)? Just paper fast pass kiosks?

    • Shannon Albert October 15, 2015

      Yes, just paper there for now.

  4. Elise October 15, 2015 Reply

    Oh my goodness, Shannon… just when I thought I couldn’t research anymore about Disney! 🙂 Now I’m obsessed with DL! I stayed up on you tube last night “riding the rides”! LOL -The Cars ride at C.A. (wow!!), Monsters, Inc, ride (precious!), Roger Rabbit, and I’m an Alice in Wonderland nut (that ride looks amazing!) My parents took me when I was 4 and I remember some of it, especially the Matahorn (sp?)! And the storybook canal boats rides look adorable! I have to go now!! Thank you!

    • Shannon Albert October 15, 2015

      Yes, yes, all of that stuff is fantastic! I hope you do get to go.

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I just got back from a five night stay at Coronado Springs and had the best time! Even though I went during the busy season I barely waited in any lines and was able to do everything I wanted!

Jonathan C.

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Instagram post 2195165576133294818_547098091 How to tour Hollywood Studios with an 8 a.m. scheduled opening:
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1.) Arrive by 6 a.m. if you want the shortest standby waits and Rise of the Resistance boarding group with a low number.Buses and Minnie Vans are NOT operating early enough to get you there by 6 a.m., so you would need to have your own car, Lyft, or walk to get there by 6.Have little ones? Uber Car Seat is an option as well.Arriving a bit later will likely still be ok, but increase your wait times and boarding group number slightly.2.) The park is likely to open way before the scheduled 8 a.m. time. The opening time was 6:26 a.m. for us this morning.Once open, you’ll scan your MagicBand/park ticket to enter, and then immediately open the app to snag a boarding group.Scroll through the pics for info on how to get a boarding group.3.) After getting a boarding group, it’s time to start riding rides. This order should allow you the shortest standby times:First hour: Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, Toy Story ManiaSecond hour: Rock n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror (could also do Star Tours if you like)Third hour: Smugglers Run and hope that your Rise of the Resistance boarding group has been called so you can head there next (higher boarding group number? you can leave the park and come back when you’re called if you’d like).
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Of course, if you have a FastPass for a ride, you may want to skip that attraction (or ride it in the standby line and again later with FastPass).
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Keep in mind that characters and most dining won’t begin until park opening, so you’ll want to hit those after 8 a.m.Hopefully that helps those of you traveling over the next few weeks. What questions do you have? 📲Click the ribbon to save this post for future reference.#riseoftheresistance #hollywoodstudios
Instagram post 2193115991424601780_547098091 Here’s a recap of what we’ve learned about Hollywood Studios w/Rise of the Resistance so far:1.) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. This week it’s 6 a.m. (like today), and next week is likely to be 7:30.After that, we don’t know, but Flight of Passage has been available early for 2+ years, so it might continue for awhile (or not).
.
🚌 Transportation: buses will be running that early, but Skyliner won’t. It didn’t start until 8:00 today.2.) 𝙎𝙣𝙖𝙜 𝙖 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠. ALL members of your party must be in the park to get a boarding group.All groups were full by 8 a.m. today (an hour before official park opening!). Get there early to ride.According to sources, this virtual queue system will be in place for at least the next several weeks before Disney moves to using the FastPass system.3.) 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 (we were told “morning”), but there is no guarantee, especially as the ride goes down often.Our group ended up being called at 12:52.Once called, you have 2 hrs to return. No need to stay in the park. You can leave, get the notification, then return to Studios.4.) 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 which allowed us to go on all Toy Story Land rides, Rock n Roller Coaster, & Tower of Terror in 90 minutes w/no waits. No characters available during this time.5.) 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 & 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 at Rise, but everybody must have a boarding group.Since everybody will be in a boarding group, we aren’t sure we see the value of Rider Switch for most, but it won’t hurt to snag it JUST in case.However, if the 1st members of your party enter toward the end of your boarding window, you will definitely want to snag a Rider Switch pass for the 2nd group to use.DAS varies in how it’s handled. Participants should inquire at the ride.
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WHEW. That’s a lot to take in.What questions do you have? #waltdisneyworld
Instagram post 2192428562363229697_547098091 Moved over to the Boardwalk Inn today where it’s looking as gorgeous as ever with Christmas decor everywhere you look. 😍
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(You know how Epcot looks its best during Flower and Garden Festival and it’s a tough transition to see the park without all the extras? So many resorts are like that with Christmas decor.)
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Lots more on my stories as we explore the hotel and Boardwalk area.
Instagram post 2191647241818984579_547098091 Hello from Galaxy’s Edge where we’ve been able to ride Rise of the Resistance multiple times (and we know what a privilege that is!).
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It is indeed an incredible new attraction and will be the star of Galaxy’s Edge. Answering questions about it in my Stories so feel free to follow along and ask us anything you want to know.
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