Disneyland:
-Matterhorn
-Indian Jones
-Splash Mountain
DCA:
-Soarin
-Radiator Springs Racers
-Grizzly River Run
-Sky School
-California Screamin
Yeah I was going to name all of those as well and the beauty of it is those are all FP rides minus one, Matterhorn, so more than half of the resorts FP attractions are SR and you dont have to deal with FP at all with the hassle of dealing with times, trying to make the return windows or trying to get more FPs to reride them. You will do the most popular rides 10-15 mins tops as a SR. Even RSR its under 30 mins these days.
So yeah since you are alone and you plan to get there early do a parkhopper and just hit DCA first to do CL/RSR. Once you get RSR out of the way, the rest of the park will be SUPER easy in the morning. You can probably hit all the SR rides in 2 hours (giving time to get to them). You grab FPs for TOT which is always a quick return time in the morning/afternoon, you will be on that in no time, assuming its even busy (and Im sure as you know a bit different from DHS). And the dark rides like MI and TLM are walk ons all day. TSM will be busier but if you hit that in the morning first thing 20 mins or less if you must do it.
My advice is hit DCA first, give yourself from 7-11 a.m. (with the extra hour) and you will basically do everything WITHIN reason with all the FP and SR advantages and then spend from 11-8 at DL. IF you want to see WOC, grab a ticket for the 9 p.m. show in the morning and give yourself an hour in line (which is why I say 8) and then after you see WOC either high tail it back to DL to catch the fireworks OR do anything you missed or want to do again in DCA since you will have 30 mins before park closing. And then if you are not completely dead lol you will still have 2 hours left for DL and you can get A LOT done once the fireworks are over.
Or you can go back to your room and pass out!
Of course you may want to circle back to DCA in the afternoon to catch the parade, Alladin, etc, but this is just a rough guide. Basically you want to probably spend 4-5 solid hours in each park if possible first and then park hop to catch shows, meals, etc.
I will say the 'must see' attractions in each park is:
Disneyland:
-Space Mountain (FP)
-Matterhorn (only one in the world!) (SR)
-POTC
-HM
-Star Tours (FP)
-Toad Wild Ride (the only one...now)
-Splash Mountain (FP/SR)
-Indiana Jones (FP/SR)
-Alice (Again, the only one, right?)
-Nemo Subs (this one IS unique but yes it seems to be mixed. If its under 30 mins and you got time, do it. Still cool to have ONE park with subs)
DCA:
-Soarin (FP/SR)
-TOT (FP)
-Calif. Screamin (FP/SR)
-RSR (FP/SR)
-Maters
-TSM
-TLM
And then the slow/take it all in attractions with smaller lines and inbetween the big stuff or if you have filler time.
DL:
-Train
-IASW
-Lincoln
-DL Museum
-Monorail
-Mark Twain
DCA:
-Red Car Trolly
-Animation Studio (actually a must see IMO, but depends on time...give a peek at the lobby if nothing else)
-Any of the 2 3D films (but probably done these to death at WDW so wouldnt worry then)
-Factory tour (A nice remnant of DCA 1.0)
These are the top shows in the resort IMO. If you can squeeze in any 3 of them you done good.
-Alladin (HIGHLY recommended since never done)
-Soundsational Parade (Also highly recommended)
-World of Color (same)
-Fantasmic (Probably the only one you've done and at DHS, so would skip if between this and WOC)
-Mickey Magical Map (Fun show, very new, but not as great as hoped)
-Magical Fireworks (Its good, but not my favorite one)
-Pixar Parade (A fun parade but not as good as Soundsationals IMO)
And TONS of smaller entertainment too obviously, especially at DCA. You'll be amazed.
But you're a vet you will know the drill lol. Have fun!
