DCA or DL...What would you do?

[disneymomto2boys07]

We are going to Disney for 2 1/2 days in June. We plan on spending two solid days at DL and the 1/2 day at DCA and watching WOC. Since we will be there such a short time, should we also spend the 1/2 day at DL or go to DCA as planned? I have seen mixed reviews about DCA and WOC... I want to use what little time we have there wisely!
TIA to all who take time to respond!

 

[HydroGuy]

Frankly I would do neither. I would hop everyday. DCA to DL is like TomorrowLand and FrontierLand. It would be strange to hear someone say "we are going to spend one whole day at Tomorrowland and then might spend the next day in FrontierLand. People might do that but it is much more common for people to move among all the lands throughout the day depending on rides they want to do, shows they want to see and restaurants at which they want to eat. DCA is like an extra "land" to DL. Hopping is as natural as going from land to land within DL.

My two cents.

 

[disneymomto2boys07]

Okay, can I get some examples of how/when you park hop?
I planned the two days at DL because this is our first time going and I am worried we wont be able to see or do everything we want within those two days.
I appreciate all suggestions!

 

[HydroGuy]

Okay, can I get some examples of how/when you park hop?
I planned the two days at DL because this is our first time going and I am worried we wont be able to see or do everything we want within those two days.
I appreciate all suggestions!

See "Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961


How would your thinking be different if DL and DCA were not separate parks but one large park? Whatever that thinking is, that is the thinking you should use.

Further, you can use the fact they are different parks with different opening times to your advantage with things like Magic Mornings and FASTPASS. Basically, a MM day at DL where you do not have MM is a good day to sleep in and start at DCA - if you need a sleep in day. We usually plan one on our trips.

HTH

 

[disneymomto2boys07]

Hydro,thanks so much for the link and info!!!

 

[mystic_path]

I would definitely park hop each day. The rules above in the last post are great. I agree with them 100%. I go every June to Disneyland, and I find that sneaking into the Animation Studio, or seeing the Aladdin Musical if it's playing (Both in the Hollywood backlot), is a great break from afternoon crowds.

We also find that on weekend evenings (Fri-Sun) if you are more interested in seeing other attractions then shows, we head over to DCA to jump on a few rides, or enjoy the night time atmosphere of the DCA park. Its incredible. We seem to find that when the DL fireworks are going off, and Fantasmic is in between showings, the rides in DCA are pretty much walk ons.

 

[Hound 109]

Yes Park Hop each day.

HG is being modest...he should have linked the following since you've been to WDW:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599


& the rest of Hydroguy's tip threads:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


& Mary Jo's sticky:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276


Also the first page of my trip report might be helpful. (linked in my signature below). After reading all the links, post again with questions you'll have.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[disneymomto2boys07]

Awesome info,Hound! Thanks so much!

 

[Piglet99645]

Hound, I am exhausted just reading your trip report!!!

 

[Bungle]

Parkhop!

DCA really is a great park and a ton of fun. We usually head over there when the crowd starts to get a bit thick at dl.

 

[pokee99]

It's all fine and dandy to tell someone to park hop, but I think the OP is looking for some advice on how to divide his/her days between the parks. Of course, only the OP knows what types of rides appeal to his/her family, but this is my view based on my visit last week:

We have been to DL before (16 years ago). It's pretty much the same as it was then. We rode a few favorites with our kids, went on rides that appealed to them that we hadn't rode before, went to the fireworks, took DD to the BBB, got photos by the castle, watched the Jedi Fighting show (and DS got picked, thanks to this forum's suggestion of a sign!) and did some great shopping. That was probably about 35% of our trip.

We'd never been to DCA before, since it wasn't there the last time we visited. Needless to say, we spent more of our time at DCA exploring all the new wonders - probably about 65% of our trip. DCA has a lot of shows and fun things to do there. Quite different than DL. I enjoyed it more than DL, despite my soft spot for DL. If I had my choice to only do one park again, it would be DCA.

In 2.5 days, you should be able to do it all, if you are organized and can last all day. We were there 5 days and still didn't quite get to see everything, but we had a 1 day illness where we had to tag team with DS, and we also had kids that needed to go back to the hotel a lot for breaks.

BUT...if you have to pick and choose, it all depends on what you enjoy the most. If it's thrills and new and innovative rides and shows, spend more time at DCA. If it's nostalgia and Disney magic that you're interested in, spend more time at DL. To each, their own.

 

[DahliaRW]

I would do the first day at DL, and utilize FP and such. Then the second day go to DCA (start there if they open at the same time, or do DL and hop over when DCA opens). Do the major stuff you want at DCA (utilizing FPs and such). Around lunch that day, evaluate where you want to spend the rest of your time and go from there. You may find you want more time at DCA, or there may be some stuff at DL you just want to do over and over. I think being flexible is key!

 

[disneymomto2boys07]

My son is 10 and prefers rides over shows.
We are planning to take an afternoon nap/break so we can enjoy the parks in the later hours.
I am very much a planner so playing it by ear is not usually in my nature. lol.
I did read the threads and like the suggestion about starting in DL, hoppping over to DCA and hopping back to DL in the eve.
I love all the suggestions! Since I havent been to DL it really helps to hear from people who have experienced it and have it down to a science!

 

[Bungle]

My son is 10 and prefers rides over shows.
We are planning to take an afternoon nap/break so we can enjoy the parks in the later hours.
I am very much a planner so playing it by ear is not usually in my nature. lol.
I did read the threads and like the suggestion about starting in DL, hoppping over to DCA and hopping back to DL in the eve.
I love all the suggestions! Since I havent been to DL it really helps to hear from people who have experienced it and have it down to a science!

Park hopping is quite easy since there aren't any trams/shuttles involved. Its hard to say how long you should spend in each park since you haven't been to either, I think that's is why you got so many suggestions to hop. You may find you like one park more than the other and wish to spend all of your time there. Maybe after the first day you can decide how to spend the rest of your trip.


My 11 year old prefers rides too and these are his favorite

Splash DL
Grizzly River Run DCA
Tower of Terror DCA
Big thunder DL

Although he prefers rides he really enjoyed the muppets 3D at DCA too. Both kids still love toon town too. As you can see its about a 50/50 split.

ETA: Also if you have a disney store near by you can pick up maps there, or there is a thread on here to have some mailed to you. That would help a bit too.

 

[calidreamz]

In addition to the many great threads here you might also check to see if you library has an good Guide books. I have been to DLR 1/2 dozen times, but recently got the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and found it to be full of great info about all of the attractions/entertainment options as well as dining and area hotels. I was very surprised because there was so much that I didn't know and SO MUCH that I have missed on my previous visits. It also has some touring plans which I haven't tried yet but they look pretty well thought out.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

I am soooo excited for you as this is your first trip. We went on our first trip last Nov. with our 10yr. old twins and we had almost the exact same amount of time that you are going for. When we got there, the lady at the ticket both told us to go directly to DCA to Grizzly to get our fastpasses for WOC before we started our day. Great advice as we didn't know we needed to do this. When we got to DCA we thought we might as well stay and enjoy it since we were already there. We loved DCA and had no idea what was waiting for us at DL. We spent the whole day at DCA and then watched WOC - a must!. The next day we went to DL and thus had that whole day and then the next day until 1:30pm. We soon realized what a mistake we made by spending a whole day at DCA. Although we loved it, DL is soooo much bigger with many more rides you will want to go on. We spent a lot of time in line for rides and weren't able to do all of them in the time we had. If I had my time back, I would have done DL first, then gone to DCA. We didn't see and do all at DL therefore we are going back in July - not a bad thing mind you!! This time we are going for 7 days and plan to spend mornings and evenings at DL and afternoons at DCA. Good luck and enjoy, there really is no other place like it in the world! Magical doesn't even begin to describe it!

 

[disneymomto2boys07]

I absolutely cannot wait...Its a special birthday trip for my son. I appreciate everyones suggestions...Its really helped me plan!

 

[Hound 109]

I absolutely cannot wait...Its a special birthday trip for my son. I appreciate everyones suggestions...Its really helped me plan!

I'm sure you stumbled across the Jedi Training thread....if your son is 10, he'll probably get a kick out of it.

Plug that in to your late morning DL touring.

 

[disneymomto2boys07]

My son will be 10 but he looks 12! He is VERY tall... Do you think he will still have a chance of being picked? I would hate for him to get his hopes up and then be disappointed.
How long does the jedi training last?