big difference in crowd between DL and DCA?

[rstevens333]

Possibly silly question-

I'll be in California for work in July and could set up my arrival or departure to give me one day to have fun. I've never been to Disneyland, but would be interested in getting my feet wet - especially since it's basically for the cost of a park ticket! (I live 3000 miles away.)

The days I could choose from are 7/17 and 7/24. Both sound like totally bananas busy days at Disney land, so my question is:

On days when Disneyland is super busy, are the crowds usually more manageable at California Adventure?

I'd prefer to see some of the classic stuff at DL (especially what's no longer in Orlando), but checking out a totally new to me park with fewer frustrations is also very appealing.

Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

The days I could choose from are 7/17 and 7/24.

They don't really make a big deal of the non-major anniversary dates, but July 17th is Disneyland's opening day. There is usually a small ceremony, so I would go expecting a somewhat larger crowds than a comparable day during the summer.

 

[dshimel]

DCA probably has fewer total people in it, but also fewer rides, so I think average wait times are similar by ride type. DCA has more open walk-ways, so is easier to get around then the DL choke points like Adventrueland and Tomorrowland by the Astroorbitor. Not sure who's idea it was to put that ride right there, but I hope he got fired for it. Ugh....

 

[rstevens333]

They don't really make a big deal of the non-major anniversary dates, but July 17th is Disneyland's opening day. There is usually a small ceremony, so I would go expecting a somewhat larger crowds than a comparable day during the summer.

Thanks! That's good to know. I'd really like to see the old Snow White, Mr. Toad and Indiana Jones, even if that's all I do in a day.

 

[Nevada Jen]

So if it was just me I would get a park hopper. Make woc dessert party reservations. DL at opening. Go straight to Indy. Ride. Depending on lines and what time dca opens maybe hit a fantasyland ride or two. Watch the app to Head to dca an after dark rsr fastpass time. Go back to DL and hit what you missed get a fast pass for the headliner of your choice with late return time. Head over to dca in time for your rsr fast pass. Dessert party and then back to DL to close out the night. I would also cross my fingers that the timing worked to be in line for cove bar 15 minutes before it opened and get fruity drink and lobster nachos but getting the right rsr return time should be prioritized over cove bar.

 

[MouseOfCards]

So if it was just me I would get a park hopper. Make woc dessert party reservations. DL at opening. Go straight to Indy. Ride. Depending on lines and what time dca opens maybe hit a fantasyland ride or two. Watch the app to Head to dca an after dark rsr fastpass time. Go back to DL and hit what you missed get a fast pass for the headliner of your choice with late return time. Head over to dca in time for your rsr fast pass. Dessert party and then back to DL to close out the night. I would also cross my fingers that the timing worked to be in line for cove bar 15 minutes before it opened and get fruity drink and lobster nachos but getting the right rsr return time should be prioritized over cove bar.

Excellent idea! By the way, your scheduling is so detailed, can you plan all our trips for us?

 

[Westcoastwild]

I probably wouldn't do Indy first. It has single rider much of the time. If you want to ride Peter Pan, do that first. No single rider, no fast pass. If you don't care about Peter Pan or Space Mountain, ride Indy first. I usually do- but that also usually costs me either Space Mountain or Peter Pan. Indy breaks down frequently; the other two rides get insanely long lines that don't die off.

I'd MAYBE consider going to DCA at its rope drop. Ride RSR and then tower of terror if you want to. Explore a bit. Maybe eat a snack. Then go to DL and ride everything there that you're interested in.

It's true that DL gets packed. But if you've been to WDW I think you'll be really surprised by how many things get packed into such a small space and also how much ground you can cover. RSR are doesn't exist in the east coast and since it isn't a people eater, single rider line does not move as fast as the Indy single rider line. Even if you get over to DL around 1, you'll have more than enough time to ride everything on your list several times. The only time I haven't been able to is in the days that are super packed, like the day before the 60th birthday. And I always go in high season!

Also: lines for Family friendly stuff in DCA like RSR or soaring- those can get super long. DCA feels less crowded because of the space, but the wait times can really creep up high and fast, partly because DCA closes early. That's generally fine for me- I hop over primarily for the atmosphere and California Screaming, which doesn't attract a lot of families. But I love RSR and I don't get to ride it multiple times much because I rarely go at rope, and I've found the single rider line time to always be an underestimate.

One thing that is super important is figuring out when to get in place if you want a good spot for the fireworks. That is honestly the worst part about DL and often it's not worth it- you may be in place for an hour and then they'll announce that the fireworks have been cancelled due to wind.

If fireworks aren't your thing, go ride the adventureland/frontier land rides. You can hit the whole lot in the last hour no problem- often with less than a 10 minute wait- and at closing you can get in line for Peter Pan if you're feeling ambitious. It's like EMH at magic Kingdom. They don't cut the line until closing, and at that point it's probably an hour long anyway. But there's no real benefit- other than world of Disney shopping- to fighting your way out with everyone leaving the park. That seems to take a lot longer than at the Magic Kingdom, and it's a lot more annoying.

 

[rstevens333]

This is *super* encouraging.

Peter Pan and fireworks aren't really my thing- SUPER good to know about Indy's single rider line. That would let me prioritize some other stuff we don't have back east, like Matterhorn, Alice, and Hyperspace Mountain.

This sounds so much more doable than I feared. I'm totally up for learning park strategy. I managed 20+ attractions in the Magic Kingdom last fall following tips, app wait times and being flexible.

 

[Westcoastwild]

This is *super* encouraging.

Peter Pan and fireworks aren't really my thing- SUPER good to know about Indy's single rider line. That would let me prioritize some other stuff we don't have back east, like Matterhorn, Alice, and Hyperspace Mountain.

This sounds so much more doable than I feared. I'm totally up for learning park strategy. I managed 20+ attractions in the Magic Kingdom last fall following tips, app wait times and being flexible.

Good luck with Matterhorn. I would totally give that to Florida if I could. Indy single rider line does close down and the ride itself closes a lot, especially in the late afternoon. So a general rule of thumb for me is- if the line is short when you pass, ride it because you don't know if it'll close that day. Go through stand by the first time- I enjoy the queue!

The raft ride in DCA also has single rider, btw, and I usually ride it that way.

And skip the submarines unless there is no wait at all! Totally a waste and the line takes forever.

 

[pblack]

If you're going solo, I would definitely check out all the rides that offer single rider. If you do head over to DCA, be sure to check our Radiator Springs Racers and cars land in general. RSR does have a single rider line, which is so much better than having to wait in line. Cars land is awesome, especially if you haven't seen it before. Be sure to check it out at night as well! It's sooo much better after dark.

 

[starshine514]

The days I could choose from are 7/17 and 7/24.

Any chance you could do both days? Price-wise, I think a 2-day, one-park-per-day ticket would be about the same as a 1-day park hopper and the WOC dessert party that Nevada Jen recommended. However, you could do justice to both parks in that amount of time.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I totally forgot that Tower of terror will be the Marvel Universe thing (mostly cause there in no way I was riding tower of terror) by the time you go. I would try to squeeze that in also. Honestly, with a plan and no need to ride Peter Pan, I think its totally doable. One more quick word of advice, fastpasses at the parks are now linked. So if you are reading even week old threads that have fastpass strategies that involve park hopping, those may no longer work. My daughter is in a wheel chair so I have only done the Indy regular line once. And it is spectactular. I hit it early and way literally wandering through on my own. I felt like I was really in the movie! I'm not sure single rider gets to use that line.

 

[Xenorye]

I'm not sure single rider gets to use that line.

They don't. You go through the exit and meet up once you're in the caves.