DL or DCA when arriving at noon

[Subrbnmommy]

We should be getting to the Disneyland Hotel around noon on Saturday the 29th of October.
We've never been to California but have been to WDW many many times. So, I'm trying to figure out which park should we visit that day. DL closes at midnight that night and DCA at 9:00 but with the 3 hour time difference and travel I doubt we'll be able to stay up past 9:00 anyways.

So, which do you recommend. Ohh, I'll be with DH and DD8.

Thanks

 

[elaw]

The parks are so close together (Literally 100 yards apart) that we always tend do both. The fast pass systems are not connected between the parks so, for example, you could go to CA first, pick up a FP for soarin and then head over to DL and get a star tours FP all with a half an hour.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I would reverse the order. Star Tours fastpasses tend to vanish very, very quickly and given a noonish arrival time, you're near the time when they have been running out.

 

[snesguy]

We should be getting to the Disneyland Hotel around noon on Saturday the 29th of October.
We've never been to California but have been to WDW many many times. So, I'm trying to figure out which park should we visit that day. DL closes at midnight that night and DCA at 9:00 but with the 3 hour time difference and travel I doubt we'll be able to stay up past 9:00 anyways.

So, which do you recommend. Ohh, I'll be with DH and DD8.

Thanks

Caroline

Either way on Saturday. I tend to spend more time in DL because I like the magic there more, but I usually hop back and forth between DL and DCA every day a little, even if only to pick up one FASTPASS at DCA to return later.

How many days is your trip? I'm thinking of when you would be planning your Magic Mornings at DL. With a DD8 I would seriously think about going Sunday morning early to DL Magic Morning 7-8 AM. She would like it. Whether or not you want to do this may help you decide on your Saturday schedule.

With DL being open late Saturday night you'll find that a lot of people do not want to get up early Sunday morning for MM, or they want to but find they are too tired when the alarm goes off (plus not everyone qualifies for it, but you do since you are staying onsite -- bring your hotel key cards for access). Usually early Sunday Mornings are one of the best (lowest crowd times) at DL.

With your time difference, early Sunday morning may not be as hard for you the first day after arrival as it would be for others so long as you get a good rest the night before. If you are going for multiple days and will have a chance at another MM later in the week then you might sleep in Sunday, but if you were thinking about sleeping in until 9 AM I'd say that's what everyone else is thinking and you might as well set the alarm and get up 6 AM have room service deliver breakfast 6-6:30 AM (because they only offer 1/2 windows and the next one would be at 6:30-7AM which would be too late for a good start on MM). Be at the main gate turnstiles by 6:40 AM to get in line (making sure you're in a line with a sign for Magic Morning) and enjoy the MM and light crowds early Sunday morning. Later, when it gets crowded, hop over to DCA and pick up a FASTPASS or go back to the hotel and rest, then return later refreshed (possibly with FASTPASSes you've saved up from your morning).

My DCA tips, see the Aladdin show (Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular) and Turtle Talk with Crush. As a guest of DLH you can use the private Grand Californian Hotel entrance to DCA.

My DL tip, get to the turnstiles early if you are opening the park. I prefer arriving at the turnstiles at least 30 minutes before park opening.

Me rambling on: Even though it pains me a bit to give up some early morning light crowd times at DL, I would recommend the Plaza Inn "Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park" for the characters one morning. We've had some great character experiences there. If you're looking for a decent quick breakfast, La Brea Bakery Cafe in Downtown Disney near the main entrance plaza isn't bad but it's usually not open early enough for me to take advantage of it (8 AM). White Water Snacks in GCH is good for a quick service breakfast and it opens earlier (7 AM I think).

 

[Subrbnmommy]

Thanks for the tips!
I forgot to add that we opted on not taking a hopper pass. So, I like Snesguy's idea of DCA then DL for MM on the Sunday. We are arriving from the east coast so getting up early shouldn't be a problem. We are staying at DL until the Tuesday afternoon then we're off to San Diego.

Is the DCA entrance at GCH difficult to find?

 

[PinkBudgie]

We always arrive on a Sunday afternoon and we had to DCA first. Monsters, Little Mermaid, and Aladdin are some of the things we do on our first afternoon. The line for TSMM also goes down in the afternoon. We might hop over to DL too later on, but for many rides in both parks (during the summer, anyway) the FPs are either gone or too late for us by the time we get there. We look for non FP rides and shows for that first day when we arrive late.

Our first full day we always start the morning at DL and hop over to DCA around 11 or 12.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

No hopping?? What sort of pass do you have? As far as I know only 1 day passes can be non hoppers?? That's a shame, hopping is so easy and worth it at DLR - you've been to WDW - we don't hop there, I'm guessing you don't either.

You've never visited DLR so I say start in DL/MK - it's how it should be IMO

 

[sonnyjane]

No hopping?? What sort of pass do you have? As far as I know only 1 day passes can be non hoppers?? That's a shame, hopping is so easy and worth it at DLR - you've been to WDW - we don't hop there, I'm guessing you don't either.

You've never visited DLR so I say start in DL/MK - it's how it should be IMO

This year, during the increase, they introduced multiple-day one park tickets, up to 6 days. I agree that hopping is the way to go and you might consider upgrading if it's not too much more.

 

[PinkBudgie]

This year, during the increase, they introduced multiple-day one park tickets, up to 6 days. I agree that hopping is the way to go and you might consider upgrading if it's not too much more.

Wow, I didn't realize that! I can't imagine not hopping! We do it several times a day.

 

[Subrbnmommy]

I orderd my tickets through CAA (Canadian AAA) and they sent me the non hopping tickets. It was too much of a hassle to return them so we thought we'd try non hopping.
We have APs at WDW so we're use to hopping. Maybe I'll upgrade when I get there.

 

[Hound 109]

Wow, I didn't realize that! I can't imagine not hopping! We do it several times a day.

Yep.

Only WDW vets who bring a WDW mind set to Walt's Park wouldn't hop.....& staying on site (especially at the GCH or the PPH) makes it SO easy to do the circular tour from DL to DCA & back to hotel for a break (or vice versa).....& one doesn't have get on any stinkin' buses all day.

Those who like to maximize touring and avoid crowds......hop.

(yes, i know one day visitors & AP holders that visit often might not hop.....but those who visit for 2-4 days & don't hop are not "getting" how best to tour DLR, imo.)

 

[snesguy]

Thanks for the tips!
I forgot to add that we opted on not taking a hopper pass. So, I like Snesguy's idea of DCA then DL for MM on the Sunday. We are arriving from the east coast so getting up early shouldn't be a problem. We are staying at DL until the Tuesday afternoon then we're off to San Diego.

Is the DCA entrance at GCH difficult to find?

It's easy to find the GCH private entrance from the DCA side. It's right near Grizly River Run. It's only exclusive to resort guests for the first hour or so in the morning, then anyone can go through it.

From Downtown Disney it's easy once you know where it is. Here is a link to a good map that shows you, Entrance Information

DCA officially opens at 10 AM but unofficially it usually opens at 9:30 AM for Soarin over California, and since you are a resort guest you can use the GCH private entrance (with your KTTM, aka your Key to the Magic -- which is your hotel room key), I've heard as early as 9 AM these days to get in and get World of Color FASTPASSes. I'd probably plan on getting there a little before 9:30 so you beat the general public in, but I've never gotten to DCA at 9 AM just to wait at the rope and I don't feel like I've missed much.

You'll be able to do Magic Mornings on Sunday and Tuesday at DL!

 

[GenGen22]

Park hoppers are a must since DL & DCA are right across the street from each other and DTD is right there too..

 

[Hound 109]

Park hoppers are a must since DL & DCA are right across the street from each other and DTD is right there too..

I'm sure you meant to say across the esplanade from each other GenGen.

Not a street (no cars, pedestrians only.)....an easy 1-2 min., 100 yard stroll across the esplanade. DCA is merely "CaliforniaLand" at DLR to many of us.

 

[Subrbnmommy]

It's easy to find the GCH private entrance from the DCA side. It's right near Grizly River Run. It's only exclusive to resort guests for the first hour or so in the morning, then anyone can go through it.

From Downtown Disney it's easy once you know where it is. Here is a link to a good map that shows you, Entrance Information

DCA officially opens at 10 AM but unofficially it usually opens at 9:30 AM for Soarin over California, and since you are a resort guest you can use the GCH private entrance (with your KTTM, aka your Key to the Magic -- which is your hotel room key), I've heard as early as 9 AM these days to get in and get World of Color FASTPASSes. I'd probably plan on getting there a little before 9:30 so you beat the general public in, but I've never gotten to DCA at 9 AM just to wait at the rope and I don't feel like I've missed much.

You'll be able to do Magic Mornings on Sunday and Tuesday at DL!

Thanks!!

 

[ktlm]

. It was too much of a hassle to return them so we thought we'd try non hopping.
We have APs at WDW so we're use to hopping. Maybe I'll upgrade when I get there.

I'm a fellow WDW vet who now loves DL too. We have been to DL in 2008, 2010, and 2011. I can't even imagine going to DL and not hopping. We go back and forth between the parks all day. Being used to WDW, we think of DL/CA as basically one park with a plaza and gates in the middle. It does not seem like 2 different places to us, even though the parks do have a completely different feel. It takes 10 minutes to walk from the farthest corner of DL to the farthest corner of CA.

In fact, this summer we were at the back corner of DL, and we had lunch reservations in approximately 30 minutes at Ariel's Grotto at CA. DH, being used to WDW, started flipping out that we should be on our way there and so we went on over to humor him. We were way too early and they wouldn't even check us in when we got there. We had to wait 10 minutes and then check in.