The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2015

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Overview

What's New in the 2015 Edition?

Updated critical comparison between Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions.
Additional Internet resources for researching your ...

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The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2015

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More About This Book

Overview

What's New in the 2015 Edition?

Updated critical comparison between Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions.
Additional Internet resources for researching your trip.
Revised area hotel review scoring.
Updated annual pass and ticket discount information.
More detailed parking and transportation advice.
The latest word on FASTPASS and the future of FastPass+.
Additional coverage of guided tours at Disneyland.
Expanded advice for guests with disabilities.
Detailed information about meeting Anna & Elsa from FROZEN.
Extensive updates to quick-service and table-service dining in and around Disneyland Resort, including Disneyland's new online reservation system.
Revised attraction ratings, and updates on refurbished classic attractions including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Alice in Wonderland.
Details on the popular Marvel Superhero meet and greets in Tomorrowland.
Updated advice on experiencing World of Color, including new dining package details.
Information on the new Despicable Me, Harry Potter, Simpsons, and Fast & Furious attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Improved touring plans for all parks.
All-new "Importance of Being Goofy"satirical essay.
New quotes & tips from actual readers throughout the book.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
"If you're looking for a reliable guidebook, the leader is the Unofficial series."
—The Mail (London)

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781628090246
  • Publisher: Unofficial Guides
  • Publication date: 9/9/2014
  • Pages: 384
  • Sales rank: 87125
  • Product dimensions: 5.10 (w) x 7.90 (h) x 0.20 (d)

Meet the Author

Bob Sehlinger, a Lowell Thomas Award-winning journalist, is best known as the creator and producer of The Unofficial Guide series.

He is credited with being the first to apply research techniques from the fields of operations research and statistics to travel guides. Among other projects, he was able to develop mathematical models that could save theme park patrons more than three hours of standing in line in a single day.

He is the founder and co-owner of Keen Communications, a book publishing company that includes Menasha Ridge Press, Clerisy Press, and Wilderness Press. The author of 27 books, Sehlinger is a past president of the Publishers Association of the South, and he has served at the invitation of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Information Service on educational missions for publishers in Hungary, Romania, and Russia. He lives in Birmingham, AL.

Seth Kubersky has worked for more than 20 years as a theatrical artist, culture critic, and travel journalist. In addition to coauthoring The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, Kubersky also contributes to The Intrepid Traveler’s Florida guidebooks and Orlando Attractions Magazine. Named Best Arts Writer in The Daily City’s 2013 readers’ poll, Kubersky writes an arts and entertainment column, “Live Active Cultures,” that appears in every issue of the Orlando Weekly, central Florida’s leading alternative newspaper. Kubersky lives in downtown Orlando, FL, with his wife, Genevieve, and their cats, Java and Brubeck.

A lifelong Disney theme park fan, Len Testa has coauthored Unofficial Guides to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as well as Britain’s Best Days Out. In grad school, Len’s master’s thesis described new computer techniques for generating efficient theme park touring plans, for which Len was awarded a U.S. patent.

These days, Len leads the team at TouringPlans.com, the website and research arm of Unofficial Guides. Len has stayed at every Disney hotel, experienced every Disney ride, and eaten at every Disney restaurant and food cart in the U.S. When he’s not at a Disney theme park, he lives in Greensboro, NC.

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Read an Excerpt

Part 3 Disneyland with Kids - Disney Characters

Meeting characters
You can see the Disney characters in live shows and in parades. For times, consult your Times Guide. If you have the time and money, you can share a meal with the characters (more about this later). But if you want to meet the characters, get autographs, and take photos, it’s helpful to know where the characters hang out. Disneyland Resort includes information about characters in its handout park maps and entertainment Times Guide. A listing specifies where and when certain characters will be available and also provides information on character dining. On the maps of the parks
themselves, Mickey’s gloved hand is used to denote locations where characters can be found.
At DCA, look for characters in Hollywood Land near the Animation Building, in parades, and in shows at the Hyperion Theater. In Cars Land, you’ll find interactive incarnations of the series’ automotive stars. Elsewhere around the park, characters will be less in evidence than at Disneyland Park, but they will make periodic appearances at Flik’s Fun Fair and Buena Vista Street (the central hub).

The last few years have seen a number of Disney initiatives aimed at satisfying guests’ inexhaustible desire to meet the characters. At Disneyland Park, Disney relegated four (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Donald) of the “fab five” to all-day tours of duty in Mickey’s Toontown. The fifth “fab,” Goofy, works a similar schedule most days in Frontierland but also spends plenty of time in Toontown. Likewise, Pooh and Tigger can usually be found in Critter Country, Merida from Brave in Fantasyland near It’s a Small World, and Aladdin and Jasmine in Adventureland. The Fantasy Faire plaza adjacent to Sleeping Beauty Castle is the prime place to meet Aurora, Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Mulan, Tiana, and Rapunzel. Tinker Bell and her fairy friends draw long lines at their Pixie Hollow area off the central hub between Tomorrowland and the Matterhorn. Characters less in demand may pop up at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in Frontierland or roam the “lands” consistent with their image (Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox in Critter Country, for example).

Since the record-setting release of Frozen, princess sisters Anna and Elsa are the hottest (or coolest) ticket in Disney’s kingdom, regularly drawing three-hour queues to their icy cottage in Fantasyland outside the Pinocchio ride. It’s baffling why Disney has assigned its most popular current characters to such cramped quarters, and practically criminal that they depart mid afternoon. As a result, anyone wanting to meet them must get in line within minutes of rope drop to wait “only” an hour or so. If you have more than one adult in your party, someone could queue while the rest of the group experiences rides, but it’s still an absurd expenditure of your valuable time. Until Disney improves this situation (perhaps by moving the sisters into Fantasy Faire’s Royal Hall or adding Fastpass), try to convince your kids to “Let It Go,” and skip this one. We’d even advise lying to them about the existence of the Arendelle photo op, but the animatronic Olaf chatting away on the roof makes it awfully hard to avoid.

Part 5 – Disneyland Park - Fantasy Faire

Description and comments
Once a sleepy corner off the Main Street hub, mainly known since the 1950s for weekend swing-dancing parties, the Carnation Plaza Gardens was given a pink-and-purple princess makeover in 2013 and emerged as the Fantasy Faire. Purists may bemoan the loss of history and liberal application of eye-popping pastels, but don’t bother telling that to the kids running to meet their royal role models. Even if you aren’t enamored of the princess marketing craze, you can’t help but admire the loving details applied throughout this mini-land, from a snoozing animatronic Figaro kitty and crank-operated Clopin music box to the twinkling hair on the courtyard’s Tangled-inspired tower. (Boogie and jive fans, don’t get jumpy: The weekend swing-dancing parties return to Disneyland, on its original dance floor, on most Friday and Saturday nights.)

The two main components of the Fantasy Faire are the Royal Hall and the Royal Theatre. Royal Hall is an indoor meet and greet with three princesses always on duty (usually Ariel, Aurora, and Cinderella). The usual Disneyland queue (mercifully mostly shaded) must be endured to meet and be photographed, but while the queue at the former Fantasy Faire location regularly reached a 45- to 60 minute wait at the peak of the day, this new incarnation typically sees somewhat shorter waits. The trick is that the Royal Hall’s intimate wood-paneled interior actually houses two identical meeting areas with duplicate trios of princesses (perhaps the product of an Epcot cloning experiment?) for double the greeting capacity. Royal Theatre, which once hosted jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, now
houses a rotating pair of 20-minute stage shows dramatizing the tales of Tangled and Beauty and the Beast. The Tangled show is usually performed at the first three showtimes of the day, with Beauty and the Beast typically taking the stage for the remainder. If you can pick, Tangled has the better script. Rapunzel (with Flynn Ryder) and Belle join in their respective reenactments, accompanied by narrators Mr. Smyth and Mr. Jones, milkmaid stagehands, and a live pianist. Rather than straightforward retellings, these fast-paced comic condensations capture the anarchic slapstick of a Renaissance fair trunk show. Witty enough to keep adults, who are far outside the target demographic, awake, the Royal Theatre’s shows are the sleeper hits of Fantasy Faire. The theater only seats a little more than 200 (with room for 50 kids on the floor up front), so you may want to line up 30 or more minutes before showtime or simply settle for standing room right outside the theater. Stick around after the curtain falls for an autograph session with the stars.

In addition to the theater and hall, you’ll find the Fairytale Treasures shop, stocked with princess outfits and accessories, and Maurice’s Treats snack cart. Passageways from the courtyard connect to Frontierland (through Rancho del Zocalo) and Fantasyland.

Touring Tips
Little girls love the Fantasy Faire, as do boys age 6 and younger. Incidentally, you won’t believe how many of the kids come in costume. If you do everything, you’ll spend about an hour, not counting shopping time. On busy days, you may be barred from bringing your stroller into Fantasy Faire, unless your child is asleep in it, so teach your kid to play dead on command if you don’t want to park.

Part 6 – Disney California Adventure – Cars Land

CARS LAND IS THE CROWNING CAPSTONE on DCA’s transformation, and the first major “land” in an American Disney theme park devoted solely to a single film franchise. Tucked in the park’s southeast corner on 12 acres of repurposed parking lot, Cars Land’s main entrance is across from the Golden Vine Winery, though there are secondary gateways in a bug’s land and in Pacific Wharf (the vista through the latter’s stone archway entrance is especially scenic). A massive mountainous backdrop topped with 125-foot-high peaks patterned after 1950s Cadillac Pinnacle tail fins, known as the Cadillac Range, cradles Ornament Valley, home to a screen-accurate re-creation of Radiator Springs. That’s the sleepy single-stoplight town along Route 66 populated by Pixar’s anthropomorphized automobiles. Along its main drag, in addition to three rides, you’ll find eateries themed to the film’s minor characters, such as Fillmore’s Taste-in, serving fruit drinks and snacks; Cozy Cone Motel, with chili, ice cream, and popcorn, all served in conical containers; and Flo’s V8 Caf., serving creative takes on classic comfort food with a Southwestern twist for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Souvenir shops include Radiator Springs Curios (collectible pins and Route 66 postcards), Ramone’s House of Body Art (car-themed artwork and clothes), and Sarge’s Supply Hut (Cars-branded toys and games).

Cars Land represents a considerable investment in capital and creativity for the Disney company, resulting in a rare example of complete entertainment immersion. Walking through the aesthetically astounding area is uncannily like stepping into the cinematic universe, and well worth the wait even if you weren’t particularly enamored of the merchandise-moving movies. Since opening, the area has attracted massive crowds all day and has dramatically increased DCA’s overall attendance.

As striking as Cars Land is by daylight, it is even more stunning after sunset; the nightly neon-lighting ceremony set to the doo-wop classic “Life Could Be a Dream” is a magical must-see (showtimes are not publicized but occur promptly at sundown, so ask a Cars Land cast member and arrive early).

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Why “Unofficial”?
How This Guide Was Researched and Written
Disneyland Resort: An Overview

PART ONE Planning before You Leave Home

Gathering Information
Timing Your Visit
Getting There
A Word about Lodging
Hotels and Motels: Rated and Ranked
Making the Most of Your Time
Top 30 Best Deals
Hotel Information Chart
How the Hotels Compare
Touring Plans

PART TWO Essentials

The Bare Necessities

PART THREE Disneyland with Kids

The Brutal Truth about Family Vacations
Mental and Emotional Preparation
Basic Considerations: Is Disneyland for You?
The Age Thing
About Inviting Your Children’s Friends
A Few Words for Single Parents
“He Who Hesitates Is Launched!”: Tips and Warnings for Grandparents
How to Childproof a Hotel Room
Physical Preparation
Developing a Good Plan
Logistic Preparation
Remembering Your Trip
Trial Run
Strollers
Babysitting
Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff
Small Child Fright Potential Chart
Waiting-Line Strategies for Adults with Small Children
Lost Children
The Disney Characters

PART FOUR Dining and Shopping in and around Disneyland

Dining in Disneyland Resort
Disney Dining 101
Theme-Park Counter-Service Restaurant Mini-Profiles
Disneyland Resort Restaurants: Rated and Ranked
Disneyland Resort Restaurants by Cuisine
Dining outside Disneyland Resort
Anaheim-Area Full-Service Restaurants
Anaheim Area Restaurants by Cuisine
Shopping at Disneyland

PART FIVE Disneyland Park

Arriving and Getting Oriented
Main Street, U.S.A.
Adventureland
New Orleans Square
Critter Country
Frontierland
Fantasyland
Mickey’s Toontown
Tomorrowland
Live Entertainment and Special Events
Unheralded Treasures at Disneyland Park
Traffic Patterns at Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park Touring Plans

PART SIX Disney California Adventure

A Most Anticipated Sequel
Arriving and Getting Oriented
Buena Vista Street
Hollywood Land a bug’s land
Paradise Pier
Cars Land
Condor Flats
Pacific Wharf
Grizzly Peak
Parades and Live Entertainment
Unheralded Treasures at DCA
Traffic Patterns at DCA
California Adventure Touring Plans

PART SEVEN Universal Studios Hollywood

Gathering Information
Timing Your Visit
Arriving and Getting Oriented
Universal Studios Hollywood Attractions
Live Entertainment at Universal Studios Hollywood
Dining at Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood One-Day Touring Plan

Appendix

Readers’ Questions to the Author
Accommodation Index
Restaurant Index
Subject Index
Clip-Out Touring Plans
Unofficial Guide Reader Survey
Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Restaurant Survey

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Customer Reviews

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  • Posted Sun Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Truly excellent guide. Don't let the pre-2009 cover photo fool y

    Truly excellent guide. Don't let the pre-2009 cover photo fool you. Although it is odd it prominently features attractions that have had significant redesigns or simply do not exist anymore.

    The inside however is a different story. Every year the guides are updated with new data and strategies to make your stay at the resort whether it be for a day or three, with kids or adults only you'll get a lot out of it.

    This is not a pretty guide like Birnbaum's but an honest take on the most beloved "theme" park in American.

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