Disneyland Parks Visiting Order

[kramden88]

I'll be visiting Disneyland for the first time this coming June. I will have two whole days (plus a little), on a Friday and a Saturday. I'm asking for advice on which order to visit the parks, in terms of 1) experience (should I save MK for last or go straight there) and 2) crowds, given the days of the week I'll be there.
(I think I put this in the wrong place but I can't see how to delete it.)

 

[bumbershoot]

This will probably be moved to the right forum.

Meanwhile, there is no Magic Kingdom in Anaheim; there is Disneyland Park and there is Disney's California Adventure.

If you'll have little kids with you and they've never been to a themepark, and if they might be skittish, I always recommend DCA first, and go straight to bug's land. NOT to the ride "it's tough to be a bug", but further into the land. All rides are cute, outdoors, and you can really see WHAT a ride is from the outside. That gets them knowledgable about what is at the end of the long line, and can help them when it's time to go into the darker line for Peter Pan, when you can't see anything until you're in the ship-vehicle.

If it's just adults, do whatever you want!

 

[alvernon90]

If you are staying on site, start out wherever there is early entry. Do not miss it at DLR, it is the best time to be in the parks during the summer.

 

[LoriLovesMickey]

We always start with DL first then go to CA. No real reason, I guess maybe because DL feels more "Disney" to us and we are always excited to ride Space Mountain!

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I'll be visiting Disneyland for the first time this coming June. I will have two whole days (plus a little), on a Friday and a Saturday. I'm asking for advice on which order to visit the parks, in terms of 1) experience (should I save MK for last or go straight there) and 2) crowds, given the days of the week I'll be there.
(I think I put this in the wrong place but I can't see how to delete it.)

Park order doesn't matter as much at Disneyland. On a weekend in June, both parks are going to be crowded. You want to arrive as early as possible to take advantage of "lower" crowd levels on before Noon. Saturdays are pretty good during the summer because all SoCal and Deluxe APs are blocked. For a trip of two days (plus a little more), you want to spend most of your time at Disneyland. Especially with all of the 60th Anniversary things that will be in full swing by June. Both parks should be open at 8am on those days, with DL closing at Midnight, and DCA closing at 10pm. If you have a 3-day hopper with Magic Morning, you can use that at Disneyland to get in 1-hour early on Saturday. But if you are staying at a DLR hotel, you can take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, which lets you into a park 1-hour early each day of your visit.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

This will probably be moved to the right forum.

Meanwhile, there is no Magic Kingdom in Anaheim; there is Disneyland Park and there is Disney's California Adventure.

If you'll have little kids with you and they've never been to a themepark, and if they might be skittish, I always recommend DCA first, and go straight to bug's land. NOT to the ride "it's tough to be a bug", but further into the land. All rides are cute, outdoors, and you can really see WHAT a ride is from the outside. That gets them knowledgable about what is at the end of the long line, and can help them when it's time to go into the darker line for Peter Pan, when you can't see anything until you're in the ship-vehicle.

If it's just adults, do whatever you want!

Not true! Disneyland has always been the original "Magic Kingdom". Sure, this isn't the official name of the park, even though Disney briefly tried pulling that stunt when they opened DCA. Sipeaking of DCA, that park hasn't had the "s" in the name since the park was reimagined. It's just Disney California Adventure.

 

[kramden88]

Having just returned from my amazing first trip to Disneyland Resort, I'd like to answer my own question. First off, the crowds were not bad either day (I'm used to WDW, however), especially in the morning. I was able to do a lot being in the parks from open till close.
Anyway, I did DCA first and DL second and I think this was the best way for someone who's never been. I had a lot of fun at DCA but finishing with DL was the perfect way to end. I saw Fantasmic, the fireworks, and the parade and I was left absolutely speechless. Not to mention the anticipation of going to DL, the original park. I had ended the previous night with WoC, which was great but not nearly as magnificent a way to end my vacation. Just my two cents.
I don't know what took me so long to get to DL but I can't wait to go back!

 

[hakepb]

Not true! Disneyland has always been the original "Magic Kingdom". Sure, this isn't the official name of the park, even though Disney briefly tried pulling that stunt when they opened DCA. Sipeaking of DCA, that park hasn't had the "s" in the name since the park was reimagined. It's just Disney California Adventure.

Yep, if head up to the train station, as a train approached, you may hear, " attention please, the Disneyland Limited returning from a trip around Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom"

 

[CinderElsa]

Not true! Disneyland has always been the original "Magic Kingdom". Sure, this isn't the official name of the park, even though Disney briefly tried pulling that stunt when they opened DCA. Sipeaking of DCA, that park hasn't had the "s" in the name since the park was reimagined. It's just Disney California Adventure.

Be that as it may, nobody refers to Disneyland as MK, and it's more important to get OP the right information than it is to play semantics.