PassPorter.com Feature Article Original article at: http://www.passporter.com/articles/lessons-learned-disneyland.html Disneyland Lessons Learned: A Disneyland Planning Articleby Cheryl Pendry, PassPorter Featured ColumnistLast modified 04-07-2016 In the final part of this series of articles looking at the lessons we’ve learnt from recent Disney vacations, we reach Disneyland, and it’s no ordinary Disneyland. When we visited Disneyland in September, it was experiencing exceptionally hot temperatures, and that was the first thing I learnt, that although we don’t cope with heat very well, there are some coping strategies that make it more bearable. We’re talking things like going out to the parks either first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening, when the heat isn’t quite as intense, drinking as much water as you can, and taking every opportunity to enjoy air conditioning. I think we saw more of the interior of shops than on any other Disney trip we’ve ever taken! One thing I knew before we went is that we didn’t really have enough time in Disneyland. There wasn’t much I could do about it, as I could only fit in three nights, given the itinerary we had for our two week trip, which also included an Alaskan cruise. However, a lot of the diamond anniversary celebrations are focused on evening events, with the Disneyland Park playing host to the amazing Paint the Night parade, followed by the Disneyland Forever fireworks, and California Adventure hosting a special version of the spectacular World of Color. Although we saw all of them, I really would have liked to have enjoyed them more than once, which just wasn’t possible on this whirlwind trip. Of course, what didn’t help with that was that we were lucky enough to get into Club 33, the exclusive members-only club in Disneyland. I learnt that it’s very easy to get spoilt, as I could happily do this every time we visit. Beforehand, I must admit I was in the dark about why on earth people would pay this much to be members (we’re talking five figures when you first join is, plus dues each year of four figures, if I remember right….), but now having seen the place for myself, I really could understand it. What a superb place, and you really do feel special when you’re in there. By the time we left, and were escorted out by a Cast Member, as we were the last members of the public to leave the park that night, I really did feel like a VIP!
Disneyland didn’t inspire me with dining choices before we headed out there, having had some not-so-great experiences on our previous visit in 2012. We did have some better meals out there this time, but in truth, they were places we’d tried and enjoyed before. Perhaps the next time we visit (maybe Christmas 2017, if everything works out…) I’ll have the courage to go back to some of those places that didn’t impress us previously. This time, those experiences were just too fresh in my memory for me to bring myself to return.
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