Disneyland vs. DCA

[mcmac4]

How do I plan my days to visit both parks and get the most out of them? We will be in the parks all day Saturday-Wednesday late afternoon in March.

 

[cloudconnected1039]

The way we do it is to begin in DL right when they open, whether it's MM or not. We'd spend part of the morning there doing some of the bigger rides like Indy and Space Mtn, get some fastpasses and head over to DCA for rope drop. If you are planning to see WOC one night, go straight to GRR and get your WOC FP. If not, head straight to TMM, as lines for this are generally ALWAYS long. But I do find that if you go during or right after WOC (if the parks still open of course), TMM has a reasonable wait time. Then after TMM or WOC FPs, do whatever you want at your leisure in DCA and we would usually head back over to DL sometime after lunch and do some meandering and rides. Then it's back to the hotel for a nap before dinner and nighttime shows!!!

But in reality, there are soooo many ways you could spread your time between the two. That ways just worked best for us in the past and we seem to always do it.

 

[skiingfast]

As PP aludes to. Take advantage that DL opens first and closes last. Spend at least the first and last couple hours there when crowds are the least. You can after DL opening go to DCA for it's opening too. Same with the closing at DCA and then go back to DL for it's closing.

 

[brocklesnar69]

Just be sure you know which rides you absolutely want to do before you go to the parks. Then plan your day around those rides.

For example:
Say you go to DL first. Head to Jungle, then Indy, then Pirates, then Mansion, then Splash, then Thunder, then Matterhorn, then Space, then over to DCA.

I usually just go in a big circle in each park.

 

[Funball]

yes, plan with knowing what rides and attractions you want to do at Disneyland, make a list that always helps me, then do the same for DCA.

also, i start at one end of Disneyland, and work my way through the park to the other end like right to left ,i also do the same at DCA--this way i know i have not missed anything.. and if you have you can always go back and do it at the very last day of your trip!