Can both DisneyLand and California Great Adventure be done in one day?

[ddesousa323]

I am going to California and only have one day to do Disney. I dont plan on ever getting a chance to get back so I want to squeeze as much as i can into this trip. In total we are 4 adults and we have all been to Walt Disney World in Florida several times. I am thinking if I skip the rides that are the same and start at one park and end at the other I could do it.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Blackunicorn]

Well, part of your problem is that some of the rides that are the "same" aren't really the same--Pirates of the Caribbean is longer at DL, Splash Mountain is different than at WDW, and I know that ToT is different at California Adventure. I would say that if you're going to attempt this, have an itinerary! And you're most likely going to have to skip some rides. The more research you can do, the better. Good luck!

 

[challada]

Ummm....most of the rides are the same!

That said, w/4 adults, yes you could do both parks in one day.

Here would be my plan:
Go before opening time to DL, enter and go to the L, ride Indy immediately (and Jungle Cruise if you love it like we do). After Indy, keep going to Haunted Mansion and ride it, Splash Mountain....exit and turn to your R...follow the "river" around thru Fantasyland (skip it w/4 adults)..do Matterhorn... and go back toward Roger Rabbit in toontown. Then go watch SnowWhite in the open theater (should be time for the first show)....ride the train from there to the entrance and leave for DCA.
Enter DCA and go to the R...get a fastpass for Soarin' and turn around. Go back thru entrance area to backlot area and see the animation building (significantly different than MGM, IMHO). Go back to ride Soarin', then go get FP for Ca Screamin' (back of park)...ride the little stuff on the boardwalk while you wait for FP time. After screamin', go back to backlot area and get FL for Hollywood Tower. Go see Aladdin, then FP the tower. Should then be time for ELP (stay near park entrance to watch)...hurry to main plaza and watch fireworks from DL.

 

[spendleb]

We had a 3 day hopper but tended to do 'both' parks each day, we easily got around everything but I suppose the crowds would dictate your visit, we didn't have to queue for anything more than 10 minutes. The worse queues were to and from each park getting back through the turnstiles!

 

[LuvTigger]

I echo what Blackunicorn said. While DL has the same rides in name, the rides themselves can be quite different. Two of the rides that are really different in my view are Pirates, and Space Mountain (although I'm not sure what it's going to be like with the latest refurbishment). Fantasmic is pretty different too -- while it's nice to have the stadium in MGM, many DISers would say that they prefer the actual Fantasmic! show at DL over WDW.

Personally, if I only have one day, I choose one of the parks. However, like Blackunicorn said, just be sure you have a plan if you do both in one day.

These are some of the attractions I can think of that are either unique to DL/DCA, or with versions that are significantly different at DL:

DL
Indiana Jones (you MUST ride this if you don't do anything else here!)
Matterhorn
Space Mountain
Pirates
Fantasmic!

DCA
Aladdin show
Main Street Electrical Parade (a MUST see if you have never before)
California Screamin'
Soarin' Over California (Another MUST do)
Grizzly River Rapids

I'm sure there are others, but those are the major things that I can think of.

Good luck!