Disneyland trip april 15-17

[graciedad]

Hello-

We are coming for 5 days in April, 3 days at the parks. We have 3 day hopper tickets with genie+. We love both parks. I've made park reservations for Disneyland Park for all 3 days(just based on the fact that it has more attractions). Will I regret not having one park reservation for DCA?

 

[Wedgeout]

You are not missing much other than the shorter lines in the morning, able to get through a chunk of non genie+ or ride others multiple times, prior to using your genie+. The festival food type kiosks usually don’t get going until around 11am anyway.

 

[ironband74]

We'll be there right after you (in the park April 19 - 21). Haven't been since 2019, so I'm pretty hyped.

I like to start one day in DCA myself, just to be able to knock out attractions with a lower wait time on that side of the resort, plus it adds a nice change in pace for day 2. However, part of my calculus previously was that I liked to start at whatever park didn't have MM/EMH on a given day (unless I had a MM to use), and that is no longer part of the equation. The other part is that we do like to lunch in DCA one day at the Trattoria, and starting the day there means we don't have to wait until 1pm to eat.

Whether you will regret not starting in DCA one day depends on your priorities and your tolerance for waiting and your budget. If you are ok dropping $$ for ILL on RSR and WS, then between that and Genie + I think you'll do just fine saving DCA for after 1pm each day. Even without the ILL, you'll probably do ok, though if RSR is high on your list you'll need to budget some time for that. Consider your dining plans and if it all fits with 3 days starting at DL, I think you'll be just fine.

 

[tlovesdis]

Well since that is peak busy spring break time, I would do one start at DCA to make sure I got certain rides in early in the morning. But that's' just me!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

California Adventure can be really nice in the mornings with very low crowds. On weekends it starts getting busier around lunch and through dinner time, especially if there is a food festival going (which there will be).

You will have Genie+ so it might not matter as much but I do love early mornings at DCA. This park has the best brunch in the resort (at Lamplight Lounge) and I’ve chosen to start in DCA when I’ve been lucky enough to snag reservations for Lamplight brunch.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I generally recommend having 2 days Disneyland and 1 day DCA for a three day trip. Rope dropping Web Slingers is a good way to get on it with a short wait.

 

[graciedad]

thanks for your replies!

 

[pharmama]

I'd start one day at DCA just so I could go to LLL Brunch (assuming I could snag a reservation)!

 

[graciedad]

i found an earlier flight for our arrival day, so i added a park day to make it a 4 day hopper with genie and changed one day to DCA

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

i found an earlier flight for our arrival day, so i added a park day to make it a 4 day hopper with genie and changed one day to DCA

When in doubt about how to split your time between DCA and DL, the best solution is always adding an extra day!

 

[Pluto468]

I would add a day at DCA, especially if it's a weekend and you could do brunch at Lamplight Lounge (as someone above mentioned, too.)