The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (228 page)

4.
                   
Ride
Grizzly River Run
(
DCA
) after dark.
If you want a taste of what it was like to explore the western wilderness during pioneer days, board one of the
GRR
rafts, alone or with a small party, right before the attraction closes. 
GRR
is a lot of fun in the daylight, and provides a welcome, cooling splash on a hot summer day.  However, it’s a completely different ride once the sun sets.  As thrilling and rough-hewn as it appears in the daylight, you still know that you’re on an attraction.  You can’t completely suspend your disbelief with glimpses of the
Grand Californian Hotel
and other areas of the park visible, albeit in swift, spinning blurs, as you whirl down the river.  But at night, it’s just you, and whoever is with you, and the raft, and it’s almost pitch dark.  You see stars twinkling above.  You hear the water gurgling and the wind blowing and birds singing softly.  You smell the pine and the flowers.  As you begin your descent by plunging into the first cave, you leave civilization and you are an explorer, a pioneer, rafting for your life down a new river.  Nothing modern intrudes in any way, and the illusion is complete.  You and your party are the first people to ever visit these rushing waters.

5.
                   
Ride
Radiator Springs Racers
(
DCA
) after dark.
  It’s a whole different race, dashing through the majestic landscape of
Ornament Valley
by moonlight.  The daytime race is thrilling and fun, but the nighttime race is thrilling and poetic.  Worth standing in a long line.

6.
                   
Attend the
Mad T Party Band
concerts (
DCA
) after dark.
  Young as they are, these singers and musicians are seasoned professionals and some of them are well on their way to becoming stars.  After years of performing in a variety of
Disney
shows,
Mad T
band members are attracting mad attention and building a loyal base of fans who adore the entertainers’ performances in this feverishly psychedelic rock-and-pop show.  Grab some tea—or other libation—and go a little mad yourself!

Top Thotful Spots

1.              Breakfast on the patio of the
River Belle Terrace
(
DL
), overlooking the
Rivers of America
.
  It’s supposed to have been one of
Walt
’s favorite spots to breakfast, even before it was the
River Belle
, and watching the morning mist begin to burn off over
Tom Sawyer Island
, it’s easy to see why.  Enjoy coffee, juice, fruit, eggs, bacon,
Mickey
-shaped pancakes, and country-fried potatoes on the elegant terrace while you watch the great
Mark Twain Riverboat
glide past.  The earlier you breakfast, the quieter and lovelier the view (and the more time you have later to enjoy the louder and more thrilling aspects of the park).

2.              Walk the decks of the
Mark Twain Riverboat
(
DL
). 
Step back in time on this functional replica of a Mississippi sternwheeler as it navigates the
Rivers of America
.  Sit on the bow, stride one of the three decks or ask to join the Captain in the wheelhouse.  A soundtrack that includes the Captain calling instructions to his crew, and the Ledge Man calling out the river depth, adds to the verisimilitude of cruising back in time.  Serene views of gracious
New Orleans Square
and verdant
Tom Sawyer Island
soothe the soul.  Glimpses of wild life and a remote
Settler’s Cabin
remind one of the vast spaces that once separated neighbors.

3.              Sit on a bench – just about anywhere (
DL
&
DCA
). 
It might sound dull, just sitting on a bench, but not at the
Disneyland Resort
.  When designing the park,
Walt
made sure to include a lot of sunny and shady nooks with benches so that parents and children could rest and recharge their batteries in pleasant and interesting landscapes.  Whether you relax on the porch of
City Hall
on
Main Street
, in the
Town Square
(where a band will probably be playing old-time tunes) or in the
Hub
, under the whispering trees of
Critter Country
or
Big Thunder Trail
, along the
Rivers of America
, in the courtyard of
Rancho del Zocalo
with its gleaming sapphire and amber lamps, or in the intriguing, sparkling lanes of
New Orleans Square
–wherever you choose to rest your weary bones for a few moments, there will be magnificent vistas, music, and scents to refresh you.  The park is full of adorable birds, ducks, and butterflies to watch as you rest.  The beautiful landscapes are lovely and unique; 100
Disneyland
landscapers tend to more than 800 species of flora from more than 40 countries.  And
DCA
now has beautiful
Buena Vista Street
, full of shaded and sunny places to relax, and the cloistered
Paradise Bay Gardens
, and has always offered the forested calm of
Grizzly Peak
.  So sit on a bench, and let the rest of the world go by.

4.              Go
Soarin’ Over California
(
DCA
).
  This five-minute simulated hang-glide over the length of California is a serene feast for all the senses.  View California’s natural beauty while feeling cool ocean and mountain breezes and smelling forests of pine and groves of Valencia oranges.  A majestic score by Oscar-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith further enriches the experience.

How to Avoid Disneyland Meltdowns

What is a
Disneyland meltdown
?  It’s a term my family coined to describe something we’d observed in ourselves and other Guests from time to time, a peculiarly intense tantrum that seems to come out of nowhere. 
Disneyland Resort
Guests of any age or temperament might suddenly find themselves in the throes of a
Disneyland meltdown
if they don’t plan ahead.

Think it can’t happen to you?  Think again.  Guests often visit the resort under the mistaken impression that
Disneyland
will
magically
erase their stresses and turn them and their family members into angelic beings.  Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.  Any stresses you’re experiencing will follow you into the parks, as will any negative behaviors or attitudes that you or your companions have.

Disneyland
’s surreal, idyllic, and often expensive environment can actually exacerbate, rather than diminish, challenges.  If little Mikey tends to be selfish,
Disneyland
won’t
magically
make him generous; it’ll just give him another forum for selfishness.  If Aunt Gladys and Cousin Kim are known for their squabbles,
Disneyland
gives them new subjects to squabble about.  If Grampa always complains about everything—here come some new complaints.

So a key to
avoiding meltdowns is to plan your visit based on
realistic
expectations.  Plan based on how your friends, family, and coworkers
actually
behave, not how you’d like them to behave.

1.  Plan Ahead

-
Check what will be closed
, if anything, and what the parks’ operating hours will be.

-
Study park maps and plan a basic itinerary
.  Build in back-up choices.

-
Include everybody in the planning
; everyone chooses a “must see” attraction or show.  Do you remember how the “Brady Bunch” kids used to call “kid meetings” or “family meetings” to discuss family projects? 
That’s
what you want to do for your
Disneyland
trip.  Let all voices be heard now.  If not, you can bet they will be heard later!

-
Know your traveling companions
and plan based on their attitudes, behaviors, and personalities.

-
Plan around any special requirements party members might have
.  For example, will anyone in your group require a special diet, or a wheelchair, or a translator?

-
Visit
https://disneyland.disney.go.com
to research and plan ahead
.  For more details on specific issues (e.g. hotels, strollers,
Disney Dollars
, Guests with disabilities) call the numbers listed at the website.

2.  Bring Adequate Funds

-
Bring plenty of cash or traveler’s checks, and an emergency credit card
.

-
Research your expenses in advance, thoroughly
–don’t get sandbagged by sticker shock once you’re at the resort.  An
Anaheim
cab driver shared a sad story about a family that arrived at a local airport, full of high spirits about the week they planned to spend at the resort.  Within three days the cab driver happened to be the same one to pick up the family (who were now glum) and drive them back to the airport.  Why were they leaving four days early?  They ran out of money!

--
Know what your hotel will cost, including local taxes
.  The
Disneyland Resort Hotels
are glorious but costly; they run periodic specials, particularly for
Annual Passholders
, but if they’re still out of reach for you now, don’t worry, as there are plenty of affordable hotels and motels within walking distance of the resort, many of which cater to families.  Find them online or via a travel agent.  Inquire about specials (e.g., you might get a discount if you are a AAA member, or senior citizen, and usually everyone gets a cost break staying during weekdays instead of during weekends).  Ask if a free continental or hot breakfast is includes (often, it is).  Try to stick to
Harbor Boulevard
hotels, as those are within fairly easy walking distance of
Disneyland
and
DCA
.  Hotels on other streets might be
technically
located within “a couple of blocks” of the resort, but only if you plan to hop the resort’s fence or scale a wall!  What matters is how close the hotel is located in reference to the parks’ entrance gates.  If you’re blocks-and-blocks and miles-and-miles away from the entrances, guess what?  You’ll be paying a lot of unexpected taxi or parking fees.

--
Review the prices of different park tickets and passes
.  Remember, admission is expensive, but everything except food, souvenirs, and one or two experiences will be included in the entrance fee.  It’s worth every penny.  If you will be visiting both parks (
Disneyland
and
Disney California Adventure
) invest in
Park Hopper
or
Two-Fer
tickets so that you can move between the parks with ease and less expense.  If you visit the resort more than twice a year, invest in an
Annual Passport
(
AP
).  Before selecting your
AP
(there are different types with different price points), inquire about
Blockout Days
–days when you enter the park for a fee of around $84, less than the typical entrance fee, but still not free.  Different passes provide different numbers of free days during the year.  A
Premium
pass is the most expensive but allows you
unlimited
entrance to both parks every day of the year, including all weekends and all holidays, and gives you 10 – 20% off almost all food, merchandise, and lodging at the
Disneyland Resort
.  Frequent resort visitors who do not get a
Premium pass
are literally throwing away hundreds, even thousands of dollars per year. Recently
Disneyland
made it easier to purchase
Annual Passes
by offering payment plans over time rather than demanding the full price up front.

--
Estimate what you’ll be spending on food
.  Especially if you have kids, a large family, or hearty eaters in your group, this will be your
major expense
besides park entrance costs.  You can find restaurant menus and prices online or by contacting
Disneyland
.  There are many different price points and a lot of choices.  If you’re on a tight budget, review posted prices before buying anything, and ask the server or cashier if you are unclear about a price to avoid unpleasant surprises.  The
Mickey
ice cream treats are certainly cute, but $4 to 5 apiece?  Snack smart.