California Adventure Strategy ideas, please!

[quiltymom]

Hello!

This is going to be a very open-ended question. We are going to be making our first visit to California Adventure next summer and I haven't a clue to how to begin planning our day. I know Disneyland like the back of my hand, so that isn't a problem. And we just returned from a week at WDW, so I need something to plan!

Is there tips anywhere, or a book with suggestions that is best?

It would be me, DH, and our kids who will be DS10 and DD7 at the time.

Any hints, tips, links to other threads, etc., will be most appreciated!

 

[kiwitravel]

This could all change because of the planned upgrade of CA being underway next year, but for what its worth here's how we tackled CA.

CA opens much later than DL, if you're pushed for time you can go into DL first thing and come out in time for the CA opening at 1000.

The rides we enjoyed all had FPs so get your FPs early even if the lines are short in the morning, you can use them after the time window has expired.
GRR is not connected so you can get a FP for that ride even if you are holding other FPs. Midway Madness should be open when you go so might pay to target that as your first ride of the day.

Make sure you take a change of clothes for GRR, there are free lockers to the left of the entrance where you can store your cameras, clothes etc.

Soaring California is great and California screaming is a great coaster..

If you are waiting for FPs to come due then go do the shows, the muppets, Alladin and its fun to be a bug all are a great things to do in between FP rides. You can also spend a couple of hours in Animation studios, Turtle talk is a lot of fun as is learning to draw your favourite characters. It is also airconditioned so a great place to go in the heat of the day.

The very young (or young at heart) will enjoy Monsters Inc and Bugsland..

 

[DLR29]

This is assuming willingness to ride everything.

Definitely grab Soarin AND GRR FPs first thing. Yes, I did say and. The Grizzly River Run FPs aren't connected and so you can get a set for that ride even while holding onto another. This helps extremely well especially during the summer when lines are very long and you want to ride it multiple times to cool off.

Then head towards Paradise Pier and ride the major rides there: California Screamin, Sun Wheel, and Mulholland Madness have the longest lines. If the younger one doesn't want to ride the big rides, she can play in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, a huge, heavily themed play area with lookout towers, caves, slides, climbing walls, and a Brother Bear open amphitheatre show.

Then use your FPs. Then tour Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Don't waste a FP on ToT. Lines are never very long even during summer. Definitely check out all of the attractions at HPB. Monster's Inc., MuppetVision, and the Disney Animation Building (don't miss Turtle Talk) are all wonderful for kids and never have lines. The Aladdin musical is a good place to rest because it's an hour long.

And unless the younger one wants to ride the rides in Flik's Fun Fair, that's just about it for DCA. The It's Tough to be a Bug movie is a little intense, so if bugs are not their thing, it might be a little scary. All things aside DCA is a very easy park to cover in a day or parts of several days. I recommend going to DL at opening every day of your trip and hopping over to DCA for the afternoons.

 

[HydroGuy]

I would recommend you plan to park hop in such a way as to take advantage of the park opening and closing hour differences, and Fastpass distribution at the two parks.

Do not miss the Aladdin show at DCA. Oh, and do not miss the Aladdin show at DCA.