Hey Seniors! In preparation for Grad Night, I interviewed Viewpoint’s resident Disney adults, Coach K and Mr. Donoghue, to come up with some dos, don’ts, and general recs so you can prioritize your time and conserve your energy to ensure a great day. First, you should start in Disneyland and THEN go to DCA when we have the park to ourselves (especially because Disney is bigger)! Most importantly, DOWNLOAD THE APP! The app is the best way to order food, check wait times, and get your pics. Make sure you create an account and have everything ready to go before you get off the bus; you don’t want to lose your spot in the food queue because you forgot to finish making your account. In addition, do not be late to check-ins, as advised by Coach K. If students do not make it to the checkpoints when they are told, it is near impossible to get into the Grad night experience as you are locked out.
With all that being said, below are some quick tips to help you throughout your day –
Resting Stops (that add to your experience):
- Animation Academy: Indoors, 30 minutes interactive drawing, in Hollywood DCA. However, there is no food allowed inside so plan accordingly.
- Turtle tuck with a crush: Inside the Animation Academy
- Disney Train: Can bring your food with you, easy to get around, very chill ride near the park, people love it as you can easily move around the Disneyland park
- Monorail: Can take you between the parks, stop is in Downtown Disney and Tomorrowland (near Autopia)
- ToonTown: They sell picnic baskets with blankets, and can have picnic blankets where you can sit and rest your feet. Toon Town also has a quiet space where you can rest your mind and brain. BEST PLACE FOR PICTURES!
- Portable Charges can be found at the entrance of DCA, very easy to access, only around $15.
Food:
- Pyms Test Kitchen: Good sit down, has Giant pretzels, and great visuals to show you the magic of pym particles, in California Adventure
- Red Rose Tavern: Good Food, good ambiance, themed after beauty and the beat, very nice place to sit down. The Red Rose Tavern has real-life props from the movie, Disney.
- Best Churro: In DCA, at the Cozy Cone Motel. Has a chocolate espresso sugar churro —>The Cozy Cones are also a good place for easy food and fast food before the wait in the Cars ride line
- Docking Bay 7, Food and Cargo: If you are a Star Wars fan, great place for you! Cute and amazing food. Great healthy options
- Jolly Holiday: Has the best salads, an iconic spot, right in the hub of Disney.
- Jack Jack Cookies: Outside the Incredi-Coaster (which smells like cookies during part of the ride), some of the warmest and best cookies!
- Pixar Fest pop-ups: there are lots of different options scattered throughout DCA. We recommend skipping the Ratatouille pizzetta, but the mood swing mac and cheese (with normal and spicy mac and cheese topped with Cheetos) and See Monster Lemonade, Red Panda Bao, and Panda Apocalypse (New York cheesecake on top of a brownie) are great grab and go snacks.
- The Cappuccino cart in San Fransokyo Square has the best coffee in either park
Restrooms:
- The Galaxies Edge are good restrooms(also referred to as refreshers)
- The DCA has good restrooms
- Don’t use restrooms near the entrances
- Don’t use the restrooms next to Space Mountain
Attractions:
- Adventureland: Indiana Jones: If it’s 50 minutes or under, go!
- Tomorrowland: Hyperspace Mountain: Projected as a Star Wars theme!
- DCA Avengers Campus: Guardians of the Galaxy: One of the best rides, make sure you do this one.
- Toontown: Mickey and Minnie’s runaway railway
- Toontown: Roger Rabbit
- Rise of the Resistance- This ride breaks down pretty often. Keep checking the app; once it’s back up you can get through the line quick
Even though you have a great list of advice and dos/don’ts readily available, take the day at your own pace! Do not stress if you are unable to make it to a specific ride because the line is too long, just enjoy your Grad Night! And as a final reminder……. DOWNLOAD THE APP!
