California adventure of Disneyland?

[dillardr]

Our family will have one free day on our trip to Southern California, we have been to WDW in Flordia but my 9 & 14 year old girls have never been to California. Which park would be the best to visit and how are crowds in the middle of October?

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Definitely DL!! I am a fan of DCA, but it can be done in 1/2 a day and the kids won't love it like they will DL. DL is definitely something to be experienced, even if you've been to MK. It's not quite the same. Afterall, it is the original!!


In mid-October, the crowds are moderate. Not the busiest, not the slowest. *Keep in mind that in October the Haunted Mansion is decorated as The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's quite a big attraction out here, one not to be missed!! Make sure you get fast passes for it!!

I hope you have a wonderful time!!

p.s. If you can, try for lunch at the Blue Bayou (inside of Pirate's), get a PS in the a.m. and request a water seat. That's also a lot of fun.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

...Just a side note, please keep in mind that some attractions are closed due to the preparations for the 50th anniversary celebration. Including the castle.
I would check on these before your trip, but would still choose DL for a one time trip!

 

[iceskatejen]

I agree that if you only have one day, DL is the place to spend it. It has a charm and warmth (the cozy kind, not the heat kind) that MK at WDW just can't match. Of course I say that as someone who considers DL to be a second home.

 

[LeftCoaster]

Another option if you want to spring for the extra cost is the one day park hopper pass. They introduced it recently and it runs $69 for the day.

 

[BlueBayou]

I am with LeftCoaster, I would do a park hopper if you the extra $ per person won't break the budget.

When my oldest DD was about 7-months old, my husband's brother, wife and two kids (Jr high and freshman at the time) came to CA for a convention. We drove to Disney to meet them. They only had one day for the parks. We let the two kids decide what park at they picked DCA (this was a couple of months after it opened). I was so disappointed that my little girl's first Disney experience was at DCA instead of Disneyland. (We already had something planned back home so we had to make the trek back home early Sunday without going to Disneyland).

We ended up having a BLAST. My niece and nephew though DCA was wonderful. The loved screaming, mailiboomer, and soaring. My brother-in-law's family had been to WDW two or three times so it was not like they did not have anything to compare it to. I was very suprised they had so much fun.

That said... Disneyland it still my favorite. I would do Disneyland in the AM. DCA for the thrill rides in the afternoon... and then back to Disneyland for more of the magic.

Do check the rehab schedule. That could really factor into your decision.

Sher

 

[Popsicle~Fairy]

With only one day, MK is the best since, well, it's the very first Disney park!
But I have to say, I LOVED DCA. I'm not sure why but I really enjoyed it so as LeftCoaster said, go for the Park Hopper so you can do both

 

[dillardr]

Thanks for all the input. I think we will go to Disneyland, even with several attractions closed for rehab. We will be there on Tuesday Oct 12, the day after Columbus day. Hope the crowds are not too bad.

 

[almostGoofy]

Originally posted by Popsicle~Fairy
With only one day, MK is the best since, well, it's the very first Disney park!
:

You can tell who belongs to the WDW crowd. They refer to Disneyland as the "MK" or "Magic Kingdom" whereas people who consider DL as their home park always refer to it as "Disneyland". I can understand the confusion but the original park is named Disneyland. The Magic Kingdom is in Florida.

 

[SomeSayImGoofy]

It's especially confusing, since even in their own literature they refer to it as a "kingdom" Check this out from Disneyland.com:


Disneyland® park
“The Happiest Place on Earth” is an enchanted kingdom of fantasy and imagination filled with classic family-friendly attractions and magical entertainment, dining and shopping.

And....in the opening spiel on the Train as it prepares to leave the Main St. Station, you hear something like, "a grand tour of Walt Disney's magic kingdom, including stops at New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown..."

I say we blame Darth Eisner for the confusion (along with Moff Pressler and Grand Admiral Harriss).

 

[darkcircles]

My vote would be for DCA.