Disneyland tips and tricks?

recap:

Disney is walkable, there are 2 pedestrian paths, the easiest is from Harbor.
Pay attention to the disney operating calendar. "Summer" in the east is not summer schedule out west. You may be shocked to see Knotts closing at 6-7 on weekdays in early june
Weather: June is known as June Gloom. Light grey overcast without any real sunshine, but still bright enough that you need sunglasses. Locals hate it (wussies), you'll find it "odd", but pleasant enough.
SoCal is COLD once the sun drops. Low humidity makes for cooler temps than back east. If it says 72degrees in the evening, that will feel cold. Don't beleive me, just remember that California is where the "Hoodies and shorts" combo originated. Who wears a hoodie at an East Coast beach in the summer (besides the Cape?)
Also, pay attention and LEARN the Disney pass blackout days. Going on one of the last days before the cheapest SoCal passes are blocked out is like going to Hersheypark on the first saturday in August. Actually the first days AFTER the blackouts start are ideal.

Seriously, if you don't memorize that last item, you might as well stay home, as it will RUIN your trip.

Also learn to make Priceline your b*tch. Use "bidding for travel" or some other similar website that explains the opaque bidding site process, and master it. You'll do much better than Motel 6. Again, don't want to invest the time, then enjoy Motel 6.
finally, don't use Debit Cards. EVER.

Just got back from a 5 day trip, 3 day Disney Parks, 1 Knotts and 1 Universal Hollywood. Yes you can access the parks from Harbor Blvd. which is an area with a multitude of hotels. We took the Disneyland Express (Greyline) from and to the airport and while it was the busiest and longest of the 7 times we've used them it does the job. Took a day trip tour with Greyline to Universal and was going to do the same to Knotts but found some info that I put to use.

We decided to use public transportation to Knotts. The Metro 460 picks you up right at Disneyland on Harbor Blvd. and drops you off at the corner of the Knotts property about 25 minutes later for $1.50 each way. The bus runs each way about every 30 minutes and couldn't have been easier. What this did for us was save us money (was about $54 with Greyline but bought tickets online from Knotts for $35 plus the $3 bus fare) and gave us flexibility in our return time so if we were done with Knotts we didn't have to wait for the Greyline pick up but could come back and go to the Disney Parks for the evening.

We got a Disney 5 day hopper so that in the evening after Knotts and Universal we could enjoy Disney at night. Adding those extra days was minimal at best.

LostKause said:
I'm now thinking about taking the Greayline bus service that you mentioned to and from the hotel, and to and from Knott's, and only getting a car for half of my trip to visit further away parks like Magic Mountain.

Make sure you price the cars first. Most car rental places offer hefty discounts for week-long rentals. You may pay just as much or more for renting a car for 4 days than you would for renting for a full week.

I went on google maps and the only thing I worry about is the traffic. A trip down to universal could take 3 hours with traffic it says. I know its bad but is it really THAT bad?! LOL. Thanks for the tip on the busing to and from the airport. It would be so great if they had a shuttle down to universal from that area.

There are shuttles to Universal from the Harbor Hotels. I've seen and talked to people multiple times at multiple properties who utlized it. I've seen the shuttle(s). I have no clue what it costs, etc. But my guess is it is minimal as Universal would enjoy bussing people out of Disney's backyard. I've seen the same for Sea World too.

Magic Mountain may be like politics...a lot of disagreement. I've not been since Terminator was put in. Is it really better than Ghostrider? Do I get the hard air like out of Ghostrider's mid-course brake drop? Do I get laterals that make it hard to catch my breath like the helix to the station? Maybe I WOULD go for that...

But I still think SFMM is a bit of a dump run by teenagers that don't seem to give two craps if you have a good time or not. It is a place that on certain days your lucky if you can find anything open to get a fountain Coke. Maybe that has changed. I swore it off a couple years back for the reasons mentioned. The rides are fine. The park sucks...in my opinion.

It was cool when I was young. Now that I have kids and have gotten used to Disney/Universal, and to a lessor extent Knott's...SFMM is not worth it for me. I always left that park upset at something...feeling like I got screwed. Whether they open rides late, never open food stands, sit and talk while the one train running is ready for dispatch...it almost seemed like being a guest at that park was a burden to their employees. I go to parks to have fun and leave happy. SFMM is the only park that I've been to where I can say that did not happen very often...including the last 3-4 times I went.

Magic Mountain may be like politics...a lot of disagreement.

There's disagreement in politics? Boy, you'd never know that from reading THESE forums! :)

Aamilj, I have felt the same way about every other Six Flags park I have visited, that by the end of the day, I somehow got screwed. Some people here have stated over and over that either those visits were not the common experience, or that the chain has changed for the better.

It's been a dream of mine to visit SFMM, so I'm going to go anyways, but I'm not guaranteeing that I'll like it. ;)

All of this info has me feeling more confident for a trip like this. I'm going to wait until 2012, because of Cars Land, but this trip will take some hefty planning, and it's never to soon to plan. :)

And to add some spice to this thread, I the Great Flashpass hater, plan on getting a Flashpass when I go to SFMM. :D

Depending on when you go you may be able to maintain your principals and not need a Flashpass. I went back in May and pre-purchased the top of the line flashpass and paid the extra $15 to pick my ride time on X2. An almost complete waste of money as there were very few people at the park, and there were open seats on X2 at my time. I say almost a complete waste because it did come in handy once - Goliath had a line - the pass gave me a stay in my seat reride. I sort of felt bad about it but there ended up being another single rider who jumped in with me and he got a re-ride as well. Happy ending for all:)

[url][url]You can take Public Transport very easily to Knotts, Universal, Santa Monica and Downtown LA from the Disneyland area. Six Flags is a little bit difficult but it beats having to pay for a taxi or rent a car and deal with the LA traffic.

Websites you will need

http://www.metrolinktrains.com/[url][url] (SFMM, KBF, Disneyland)

http://www.santaclaritatransit.com/Index.aspx?page=3[url][url] (SFMM)

http://www.metro.net/[url][url] (Universal, KBF, Disneyland, Santa Monica Pier)

http://www.octa.net/ (KBF, Disneyland)

How to get to the parks

^^
To Universal

Take the metrolink train from Anaheim to LA Union Station. From Union take the RedLine (subway) to Universal City station. Then take the free shuttle to the park.

To Knott's

Take LA Metro 460 from the Harbor Boulevard pedestrian entrance to Disneyland. Get off at the Knott's Berry Farm stop and walk across the street to KBF.

To SFMM

Option #1

To SFMM

Take Metrolink train from Anaheim to LA Union Station. Connect to Antelope Valley Metrolink train to Santa Clarita Station. From Santa Clarita take #501 bus to the park. You could also get off at Newhall Station then take #2 or 1 bus to McBean Transit Center and connect to the #3 or 7 to the park.

Return

Take a taxi from SFMM to Santa Clarita Metrolink station. From there take Metrolink to LA Union Station then connect to the Redline. Get off at Pershing Square then connect to the 460 to Disneyland.

Or

Take bus 3/7 from SFMM to McBean Transit Center. From there take the 757 to North Hollywood. At North Hollywood connect to the Redline to Pershing Square. Then take the 460 to Disneyland.

You could also take an Amtrak train from LA Union Station back to Anaheim.

Option#2[url][url]

Take LA Metro 460 from Disneyland to 7th Street Metro Station. From there take The RedLine to North Hollywood station. From North Hollywood station take Santa Clarita transit bus #757 to McBean transit center. From McBean transit center take bus #3 or 7 to SFMM.

http://www.am

To Santa Monica Pier

Take Metrolink train from Anaheim To LA Union Station. From LA union take LA Metro Bus #733 to the pier.

Wow. Thanks RyanTDD. You insider info is invaluable and much appreciated.

Shades, You just gave me an idea. I am really wanting to do this trip alone, because I have been looking for a way to not have to talk to anyone for a week or so. That means that the single rider lines are perfect for me. Can anyone comment on which parks, and which attractions, have been offering single rider lines?

Single Rider Lines:

Disneyland

Splash Mountain
Indiana Jones Adventure

DCA

California Screamin
Soarin Over California
Grizzly River Run
Goofys Sky School

Universal

Revenge of The Mummy
Jurassic Park River Adventure. (depending on crowds)

Knotts

None

Six Flags (Depending on crowds)

The Riddlers Revenge
Viper
Revolution

I was able to walk right onto Grizzly River Rapids with the SRL. And it was a great rapids ride.

Speaking of six flags...I visited six flags america and it was really bad. Jink was down as well as the drop tower. Staff did seem like a bunch of teens that were trying to be happy but I think failed the effort. The only nice thing was superman and that was about it. Grizz was alright too. I kept getting the "are you having a six flags day" question and in my mind I was thinking well not really. Some of your rides are down, and what really determines if my day is a "six flags" day? IDK how about how are you today or how is your day at six flags so far. I can answer those better! @Lostkause-thanks for also getting some tips and tricks thrown out there. It def helps me at the same time =)

Can anyone comment on which parks, and which attractions, have been offering single rider lines?

It has been a few years, but there used to be a way to do it on every major coaster at SFMM, IF you have a nice personality. I went as a chaperon to a middle school once. There was this really outgoing teacher who did this ALL day long.

He walked up the exit and sweet talked the disinterested teenager operators. He was brutally honest. He said he did not like lines. He was merely looking to occupy an empty seat. I'll be darned if he did not ride every major coaster in the park in 5-10 minutes or less while everybody else waited 30 min to 2 hours. Often we would see him doing multiple rides while we all waited.

Maybe they have tightened up operations since then...but it would not hurt to try. :)

When I went to SFMM in May I was alone but didnt even need to use the SRL...everything was a walk on with the exception of X-2.
I still have to again say that the last 2 visits to the park have been AWESOME...NO disappointments at all!!!

I sometimes prefer solo-ing the parks myself can do what I want, when I want and as many times as I want :)

Solo'd Epcot and Magic Kingdom yesterday and had a blast. SRL only availiable for Test Track and naturally there were TONS of groups on the line anyway :(

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2300 :)
2010 Disney Cast Member :)

Every six flags visit I have had in the past 2 years has been great. Before that, not so good.

Last time I was at magic mountain, I had a blast. The lines moved, the crowds were not too bad, and the workers all seemed friendly. They even cought a line jumper and made them leave the line.

Aamilj said:

It has been a few years, but there used to be a way to do it on every major coaster at SFMM, IF you have a nice personality.

Well, I have nothing to worry about then. :)

Thanks for all of the help, everyone.

-You won't want to leave Disneyland. Plan for a three-day hopper at least.

-One full day at Knott's (Night rides!) There's lots to do there other than coasters, but they have very fun coasters and Ghostrider is still one of my faves. Don't forget to explore all of the paths and buildings. You'll find some quirky stuff.

-One full day at Magic Mountain (last time I was there I got bored after 5 hours and decided to go to Vegas. But since you've never been and you never know if it will be a busy day or a dead day, plan for the full day. Plus there's always Night rides!)

-Castle is a great old and quirky park. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much, but it filled several hours of my day. But I wouldn't make it a priority for your first trip to Cali. It's great for a revisit. Same deal for Adventure City, unless you just want to get some credits real quick, including an old school mouse. It could be a 45 minute excursion during your day at Knott's (counting travel time and walking back to/from the Knott's parking lot). It's really an easy side-trip.

-Scandia... the back seat airtime on the Scandia Screamer is INSANE! I would have gotten a POP had I known how awesome that ride was going to be. If you can fit it in, go there for an hour or so, but as awesome as that one ride is, I still wouldn't make an FEC a priority over quality time at Disney, Knott's, Magic Mountain, and some good 'ole SoCal sight-seeing.

-Santa Monica Pier... ('ve been to California on five trips since 1994 and still haven't managed to visit the pier. It's just not a priority. Some day though...

-San Diego is BEAUTIFUL! I haven't been back there since my first trip in '94 to ride the newly re-opened Dipper. Try to go there!

-Still haven't been to Sea World or Legoland.

-Consider saving Disney for the end of your trip or at least the middle. It will set you up for disappointment at some of the other parks. I always end up wishing I had more time there. There is just so much to do and enjoy at your own pace.

Magic Mountain has never failed to un-impress me. I can't stand that place. Flashback was fun before it was sold for scrap, but the 3 times I've been there kind of ruined it for me.

Disneyland, however, could keep me occupied for a week.

Raven-Phile said:
never failed to un-impress me.

The often sought but rarely seen triple negative. ;)