Disneyland Park or Disney's California Adventure?

[Tinkerbell1986]

Me and OH (23 and 24) are going to LA as part of a west coast road trip in October and we have got just 1 day we could spend at Disney.

We much prefer the thrill type rides so which park would you recommend? Or would it be possible to both in one day? (Obviously not all the rides but the main ones).

Also, it will be a Saturday (17th October). What will the crowds be like?

Laura x

 

[teatime]

I love DCA but you could go from both parks and ride the thrill rides with fast passes . you will have to since the parks are fuller and ride times can be lengthy. So get a park hopper and do both , use the fast pass system and you should be able to ride a lot of rides

 

[LavenderPeach]

Yes, do both parks if you are willing to spend a little extra money. It's so easy to park hop and you'll have time to see the highlights of both parks. If you really only want to do one park then do DL. DCA has the biggest thrill ride of either park (california screamin') but there is more to do at DL.

 

[Hound 109]

Me and OH (23 and 24) are going to LA as part of a west coast road trip in October and we have got just 1 day we could spend at Disney.

We much prefer the thrill type rides so which park would you recommend? Or would it be possible to both in one day? (Obviously not all the rides but the main ones).

Also, it will be a Saturday (17th October). What will the crowds be like?

Laura x

I agree with the above posters. Definitely get a park hopper (especially since it's a Saturday).

Here's a thread that will help you understand FPs & Park Hopping at DLR:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

& here's a thread that will be helpful if you've ever been to WDW:

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

& here are the rest of Hydroguy's tip threads....all worth a read:

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


Also, i would look at the first page of my trip report linked below for an example of how much that knowledgable & motivated visitors might get done by park hopping (& collecting FPs early) in one day.

& Finally....why not make it a two day visit & spend the night next door (or preferably at one of the DLR hotels (so you can enjoy MM that morning). In order to do DLR properly in one day, you'll need to be at the park at 6:25am (if you have MM) or at 7:25am anyway.

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

 

[DizneyMommy]

& Finally....why not make it a two day visit & spend the night next door (or preferably at one of the DLR hotels (so you can enjoy MM that morning). In order to do DLR properly in one day, you'll need to be at the park at 6:25am (if you have MM) or at 7:25am anyway.

I'm just curious... I've never seen anyone refer to those times before, why do you say 6:25 or 7:25? If they open at 8am, Early Entry starts at 7am, you can't get in before that (I assume you meant that and not toon town morning maddness?). Or if you don't have EE, you can usually wander in to Main street any time before 8am and wait for rope drop. At that time of year, I don't think it is really necessary to get in line 35 minutes early for EE, but then nothing has been "normal" this year yet!

Your times were so specific, I was just wondering why you picked those times?

 

[funatdisney]

... but then nothing has been "normal" this year yet! ...

I am wondering about what is "normal" for this year. Between the economy and
the Birthday Celebration event, the crowd levels are very different.


Regardless, I do agree get there early and do as much as you can with the fast passes. Also take into account if the park hours; the hours of operation will be less than in the summer months since it is Oct.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm just curious... I've never seen anyone refer to those times before, why do you say 6:25 or 7:25? If they open at 8am, Early Entry starts at 7am, you can't get in before that (I assume you meant that and not toon town morning maddness?). Or if you don't have EE, you can usually wander in to Main street any time before 8am and wait for rope drop. At that time of year, I don't think it is really necessary to get in line 35 minutes early for EE, but then nothing has been "normal" this year yet!

Your times were so specific, I was just wondering why you picked those times?

Hound means to get to the park gates at those times and be one of the first in line. Essentially he is saying be there 35 minutes early.

 

[jason417]

You could easily do all the major rides in one day. Get to the Disneyland gates at 7:30am. Do Disneyland from 8:00am to 9:30am and then hop over to DCA. Over there ride Tower of Terror, Soarin', Screamin', Toy Story, Mullholland Madness, Grizzly River Run, and watch the Aladdin show. Eat lunch while in DCA. Go back over to Disneyland and spend the rest of the day there. You'll have time to do all the major rides and still have time to watch the fireworks and/or Fantasmic. Just use the FastPass system efficiently. With a family of 6 people we've done as many as 30 rides in a day and that's with one kid in a stroller.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hound means to get to the park gates at those times and be one of the first in line. Essentially he is saying be there 35 minutes early.

Yep. The difference between being one of the first in line and being the 50th is fairly amazing! (especially since there isn't just one line, so you're behind 49xnumber of lines available)


Especially given your ages and the assumed energy that goes along with that, and that you want to focus on the higher thrill rides, I'd definitely hop between parks.

 

[Hound 109]

Hound means to get to the park gates at those times and be one of the first in line. Essentially he is saying be there 35 minutes early.

Most definitely, Obi Won.

- Visting on a Sat.
- In Mid. October (pre-Halloween)
- Only 1 day.
- Prefers rollercoasters etc.
- Are young & are probably willing and able to commando.

If one was going get there at 8am. (which puts you at the end of a long line) or 7:35am (which puts you in the middle of a long line)....why not get there at 7:20am (which puts you at the front of the long line).

One can apply lotion, read park maps, munch on breakfast items & visit with other happy people at the front of the line.

IMO...picking up the first FP of the day at 8:02 (on a busy day) is preferable to picking the first one up at 8:20 (or 8:40)....especially for a ONE (& only) DAY visitor. (I would direct those still on the fence about when to get to DL & how to pick up FPs.....to HydroGuy's several FP threads.)

Hound

 

[jason417]

As silly as it sounds, it really does make a big difference to be there just a bit earlier. We got to the security tables at 6:28am on a Magic Morning day (32 mins before the gates opened for early entry). We were first in line but when security opened 2 mins later there were about 30 people behind us. We were first to the gates and at 6:40am there were 14 lines with 50-60 people in each line. That's almost 1000 people we were in front of just because we arrived 12 mins earlier.