Bad to do DCA on first day rather than DL?

[agoofylover]

Question...Do you think it would be better to do DCA on our first day...We won't arrive to the parks on a Sunday in Sept. until about noon. We then have a Monday with EE and a Wed with MTTMM and could possible add on one more day if needed back on Tues. DS' are 3 and 5. I've heard that there is not as much for children at DCA and that you could complete it with less than a day. Also, I've heard it's less busy and being that we arrive on a Sun, well you get the idea?? That's not to say we couldn't pop in again later for our fav's. Would that be just wrong lol to not go to DL for their first day at the resort? What's your opinion?

agoofylover

 

[DLR29]

In our past two trips we have always done DCA first and two consecutive days at DL. It's not wrong. I think your kids will have plenty to do in a day.

Monster's Inc.
Tutle Talk
MuppetVisioin 3D
All of A Bug's Land (minus ITtbaB)
Redwood Creek Challenge trail-You can spend a TON of time here
Golden Zephyr
King Triton's Carrousel
Jumpin' Jellyfish

 

[got2travel]

With a late arrival, I think your plan makes sense. There is plenty for younger kids to do and with much of the park dedicated to the Pixar characters, they will see plenty of recognizable faces. And you won't be missing out on the 'regulars' either, since you can still find Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and some of the princesses around DCA.

 

[agoofylover]

got2travel,

Yeh, I was trying to figure this whole thing out with late arrival...what to start off with at the parks. (you can't not go the 1st day when it's the only weekend day).I then remembered the following day we have EE and a character brunch...so no need to rush to FantasyLand on day 1. Also, I don't think my family wants to rush back and forth between parks. They say it's all up to me...so, maybe I'll do that and just go to DL between 8pm-10pm after DCA closes.

agoofylover

 

[Kayla's Mom]

In our past two trips we have always done DCA first and two consecutive days at DL.

We do the same thing....

 

[diznefan76]

We always go to DCA first...and Soarin' is our first ride for our trip! We usually stay at DCA until it closes and then rush over to Dland....we usually just do a little shopping the first night!

 

[kimntrent]

I always do DL first. Sorry something about it. But I love DCA and if you are there only 1/2 day on the first day go for DCA first. My first day is a whole day always. You can walk on Tower of Terror there practically any time which is sad but it is different and great. Soring is the same as WDW but there first. And then eat at Storytellers cafe in the Grand Californian, yummmmmmmmmmmmmy (ADR is a good idea) and then the corndog castle on paradise pier along with the ice cream place on paradise pier. It is out of this world.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I wouldnt be able to bring myself to not visit DL first. But, that said- HOP! The parks are so close, why not just hop. There is NO reason to stay in just one park for the day. We usually do DL for a few hours in the morning, then hit DCA in the afternoon, and back to DL in the evening.

ETA- I just saw that its your first trip- when you get there you will really be surprised how close the parks are to each other and how easy it is to hop. They are about a football field apart from each other.

 

[agoofylover]

ETA- I just saw that its your first trip- when you get there you will really be surprised how close the parks are to each other and how easy it is to hop. They are about a football field apart from each other.

Technically, it's our family's first trip....DH and my last trip was for our 1st anniversary in 2000. (This time we are attempting with the kids). DCA was in the construction stage. I know they are close, but I figured DL would be in full swing and hard to get on the rides by the time we got there.

agoofylover

 

[hlbtimes2]

What I would probably do is, go into Disneyland. Walk up main street, see the castle- have that "oh wow! We are really here" moment. Then pick up some fast passes - maybe space mt or splash- to use later in the evening. Then I would head over to DCA for the afternoon/ early evening. Then I would head back to DL for the fireworks. I dont know exactly when you are going, but Sunday might be your only chance to see Fireworks- DONT miss them. Then after fireworks use your FP that you picked up when you first got there

But, thats just me.

 

[agoofylover]

What I would probably do is, go into Disneyland. Walk up main street, see the castle- have that "oh wow! We are really here" moment. Then pick up some fast passes - maybe space mt or splash- to use later in the evening. Then I would head over to DCA for the afternoon/ early evening. Then I would head back to DL for the fireworks. I dont know exactly when you are going, but Sunday might be your only chance to see Fireworks- DONT miss them. Then after fireworks use your FP that you picked up when you first got there

But, thats just me.

Well, that is a nice idea. I wanted that "wow" moment. I believe that the Sunday has no fireworks!! It's the 10th of Sept. That's a nice idea, thanks. We could do the "wow", get fastpasses, go to DCA and then move on to DL for the last 2 hours.

agoofylover

 

[got2travel]

I like this idea too. Afterall, what kid (of any age) doesn't immediately think of the castle when thinking of Disneyland?

Just a hint on those fastpasses in case you haven't already learned, you don't have to break your neck trying to get back to the ride in the given time frame. You can't use if before your begin time, but you can use it any time the rest of that day. You are not rigidly limited to the 1 hour.

 

[agoofylover]

Just a hint on those fastpasses in case you haven't already learned, you don't have to break your neck trying to get back to the ride in the given time frame. You can't use if before your begin time, but you can use it any time the rest of that day. You are not rigidly limited to the 1 hour.

After looking around on the threads...I have learned this. I wish I would have known about that in 2000. Thanks.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

We do both. If DL seems to crowded we head on over to DCA.