DisneyLand in a day... and go!!

[MickeynMinnie]

I have the opprtunity to go to disneyland but only for one day!! I feel like i know everything about disneyworld but nothing about disney land!! please tell me what are the things to hit and the things to miss... and also do we do the hopper pass or the not hopper.. and if we have days left on our disneyworld hopper passes can we use that????

thanks!!

 

[DLR29]

Yes, you can use days from old WDW tickets, assuming they have not expired yet. And if you have a WDW hopper ticket, they will get you a DLR park hopper too.

For a day, I highly recommend getting to the parks as early as possible. If you are parking in the garage, get there even earlier because you will want to be one of the first cars in the lot and the garage doesn't even open until half an hour before the park, so if you aren't one of the first cars in there, you probably won't make it to the park by opening time.

If you are used to WDW, on a one day trip I would highly recommend these rides:
-Indiana Jones (you'll love it, especially if you like Dinosaur)
-Matterhorn Bobsleds
-Alice in Wonderland, Pinnochio and Mr. Toad (all Fantasyland dark rides that WDW doesn't have)
-Pirates (it's 4654x better at DLR than WDW)
-Roger Rabbit
-Space Mountain (much better at DLR)
-Buzz (same as Pirates and Space)

and at DCA:
-California Screamin (if you're into roller coasters)
-Grizzly River Run (blows Kali out of the water)
and Monster's Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue

If you still have time, try DLR's It's a Small World or Finding Nemo, although Nemo tends to have massive lines.

 

[Mike_M]

With only one day, I would just do DL only and skip DCA. Really don't have enough time to parkhop. I would focus on Fantasyland (Way more rides than MK and better themed) and New Orleans Square (Dosen't even exist at MK). Make sure you get Fast Pass for Space Mountain (Way different and recently rebuilt) and Indy (Probably the best ride and queue at any Disney Theme Park Period).

 

[Gisele]

In my opinion most definitely visit Gracey Mansion, aka The Haunted Mansion. And please visit it for me too. Another vote for Pirates of the Caribbean as well as Indy.
I love that New Orleans Square is right next door to Adventure land. HM and Pirates one can visit in the former, and Indy in the latter. I really enjoy as well the Matterhorn, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Definitely collect fast passes, for one never can be too sure as to how the attendance level may escalate, especially over the course of the day. Remember too, that you can use the fast passes, although only for the given day, can use them past their time stamp.

Have a wonderful and very nice visit!

 

[MickeynMinnie]

thank u!! thank u!! i'm super excitied!! I can't wait!

 

[lcasa]

I've been an AP holder for nearly 20 years - wow. To do it in 1 day? I would most likely skip DCA - they have 1 GREAT ride but it's also at WDW - and that's Soarin' over California ( named properly here!). Wait for the redo and come back in 3 or 4 years for a better DCA.

My favs not at WDW:
The OriginalTiki Room
Casey Jr Circus Train ( my dream job would be driving that train!)
Storybook Land Canal Boats - esp if you enjoy miniatures ( see the same thing as Casey, but more leisurely and guided tour)
The Subs! Fantastic - same show as WDW Finding Nemo but in the subs it's so much cooler. Get in that line right after picking up fast passes for Indy or Space Mountain as soon as the park opens!
See our Fantasmic - I hear it's better.
Mr Toad - we still have him.

Many rides that are the "same" aren't exactly so, so check out our Jungle Cruise , Space Mtn, and Pirates -also Buzz ( we have better guns)

As someone else said, get to the parking lot as early as possible - be in the park at rope drop. You'll get on more rides before lunch than the rest of the day. You'll find DL is much easier to get around - everything is nice and close...

And our fireworks can't be beat -- they're still running the 50th anniversary show and it's amazing.

I'm going to the other side of the world (wdw) in 88 days....

 

[Arizona Rita]

I agree with skipping DCA this time. You must ride the Matterhorn, the original mountain! Enjoy your day and take lots of photos!

 

[Hound 109]

Yes, you can use days from old WDW tickets, assuming they have not expired yet. And if you have a WDW hopper ticket, they will get you a DLR park hopper too.

For a day, I highly recommend getting to the parks as early as possible. If you are parking in the garage, get there even earlier because you will want to be one of the first cars in the lot and the garage doesn't even open until half an hour before the park, so if you aren't one of the first cars in there, you probably won't make it to the park by opening time.

If you are used to WDW, on a one day trip I would highly recommend these rides:
-Indiana Jones (you'll love it, especially if you like Dinosaur)
-Matterhorn Bobsleds
-Alice in Wonderland, Pinnochio and Mr. Toad (all Fantasyland dark rides that WDW doesn't have)
-Pirates (it's 4654x better at DLR than WDW)
-Roger Rabbit
-Space Mountain (much better at DLR)
-Buzz (same as Pirates and Space)

and at DCA:
-California Screamin (if you're into roller coasters)
-Grizzly River Run (blows Kali out of the water)
and Monster's Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue

If you still have time, try DLR's It's a Small World or Finding Nemo, although Nemo tends to have massive lines.

I agree with DLR29....& but would skip Nemo (I'd do the Aladdin show instead if you have the extra hour.)

And I would definitely Park Hop to DCA late morning / early afternoon for a couple of hours when DL starts getting crowded. (It's a 4 min. walk.)

- Go to DL early & tour & collect FPs (for later).
- Hop to DCA for a couple of hours
- Hop back to DL in the afternoon with the FPs that you collected earlier.

Here's the primer for WDW vets:

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

& here are the rest of HydroGuy's tip threads....all should be looked at:

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

& MaryJo's differences between DLR & WDW is informative:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084


& review my link below for an example of how one can tour both parks in one day.

(Not necesarily a recommended plan, but might give you some ideas.)


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

 

[puntagordabob]

Be SURE to check out Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room... worlds better than the Under new management one we are stuck with currently at WDW... if you see it and prefer it to the under new management, be sure to write to Guest services in Florida and tell them the DL one is what we need!

 

[MickeynMinnie]

wow.... sounds like a lot to do! i can't wiat!! so how are the lines compared to WDW???

 

[Gisele]

Oh my! Forgot to add, a thousand pardons to Jose and friends,the Enchanted Tiki Room. Also I too would not bother with DCA. Especially seeing how it is under renovation.

 

[Sherry E]

I agree with Hound109 and DLR29 - I say to get a Hopper and visit DCA too. As long as you get to DLR early in the morning and leave late at night, it is very possible. I think most of our fine DIS'ers here are thinking you should try to squeeze in a lot in DL and forget DCA, but I am one of those rare folks who think you should and CAN do a 'highlight reel' trip in one day, which will allow you to experience the best of both. I actually think some things can be skipped at DL in a one-day trip. DCA has more than one great ride. It has Soarin' and Toy Story Midway Mania - which are both at WDW, granted - and it also has Mike & Sulley to the Rescue, California Screamin, A Bug's Land, etc. Plus, they serve alcohol all around DCA, which may or may not be of interest to you. And besides - it is a whole different park in the Disney theme park family. That is worth seeing it alone, since there are major changes underway in the next few years. Some of what is there now will not be there soon. It, fortunately, will not take ALL day to experience the highlights of DCA. You can do the important stuff and then walk back over to DL, since they are facing each other. My friend from out of town went to DL & DCA for only one day last July. Initially she was going to only do DL, but I convinced her to take her son and mom over to DCA too, and they were glad they did! They spent a large part of their day there AND they fit in a character meal somewhere too. They got a LOT done in both DL and DCA. Sure you wouldn't be able to do everything, but you can do SO much in one day with the proper list and a little planning ahead of time for what's important. DCA is also a good place to escape to if and when DL gets too unbearably crowded.