Disneyland In One Day Need Help or Opinions

[JCinNJ]

Hello to everyone,

I will be traveling to San Diego on business late in April 2011. I will be arriving in San Diego at 11:35 am on a Saturday. I have the entire day Saturday to myself, and I will have Sunday until 5 pm to myself.

I am trying to squeeze in a first time trip to Disneyland. I will be traveling solo and I understand it is about a two hour drive from San Diego to Disneyland.

If you had a choice of one of the two days with the time constraints, which would you pick? I will be renting a car for the day unless someone can recommend some form of public transportation.

I would appreciate any input on how to maximize my time at Disneyland.

Thank you in advance for you replies!!

 

[skiingfast]

I would do Sunday. Saturday, you would arrive at 11:30, but then need to get luggage, rental car, and maybe check in to your hotel. Either way you won't be on the road until 1 and probably at the park gates around 3:30. This will give you about 8 park hours.

Sunday you get there at open, but be rested. Still you will get in about 8 hours, but it should be more relaxed.


However if you want to see the night shows then I would force Saturday and hope the flights is on time.



For public transport you can take the Coaster to Oceanside transfer to the Metro which goes to Anaheim. Use a cab on each end. But the hours are limited so it may not get you there early enough for opening Sunday and can't get you back late on Saturday. To get in the most park hours you will want a rental which are fairly convinient to the airport and I-5.

 

[marcemc]

I would actually try to make it both days

If you are not able to, I would choose Saturday mainly because fireworks over The Castle should be on everyone's bucket list (just my humble opinion)

 

[JCinNJ]

I would actually try to make it both days

If you are not able to, I would choose Saturday mainly because fireworks over The Castle should be on everyone's bucket list (just my humble opinion)

You make an excellent point, why not do both days. I haven't even considered that before seeing your post.

Thank you for suggesting it!! I've been to WDW eight times but never to Disneyland.

 

[HydroGuy]

Probably Saturday in large part because you will be solo. So you can really take advantage of the single rider lines - see this link from Mary Jo's sticky thread:

Fastpass & Single Rider Information

Also Saturdays are often less busy than Sundays because of AP blockouts on Saturdays.

Finally you can catch a good show or two on Saturday evening.

If I were you I would think hard about getting an inexpensive hotel and doing two days.

 

[JCinNJ]

=
Also Saturdays are often less busy than Sundays because of AP blockouts on Saturdays.

Finally you can catch a good show or two on Saturday evening.

If I were you I would think hard about getting an inexpensive hotel and doing two days.

Thank you for your help. I did not realize that Sartudays are AP blockout days. Very interesting.

 

[creampuff317]

I'll do both days as well, as you will be close to 2pm if you get to Disney on Saturday....and there's much more to do in Disney than one day can cover for 1st timer.... If it is not possible, then maybe Saturday instead of Sunday due to AP blackouts.

 

[JCinNJ]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. Doing both days sounds like a great idea. The downside is that I am booked into a room in San Diego where my conference is being held. So in order to do both days, I would need to drive from San Diego to DL on Saturday then back Saturday night only to do the drive all over again on Sundya.

Is it really worth all of the drive time to do two days?

Thanks again

 

[Jazziered]

That is a hard drive after a day at Disneyland. I would get a room close to Disneyland if you want to do it Sat and Sun. Round trip it's four hours and if you do it Sat and Sun, that is 8 hours of driving.. That's just the driving.. Disneyland is lots of fun, but it can be wearing walking and standing all day while your there.

 

[GrandBob]

Right now, HoJo is showing their Entertainment Rate to be available from April 22 through May 2. You could get a room overnight there for just $59, and have a nice place to stay, and even to take a mid-day break at the pool.

See http://www.hojoanaheim.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

-Bob

 

[DisneyMomma81]

*Here's* how we spent 1 day mid July 2009.