DL or DCA

[rvmitchell]

I'm sure this question gets asked a lot, but I'm hoping you can help us decide on which park we should visit. We have one day only. We just visited all 4 parks at WDW in January and have plans to visit MK and possibly AK in November. The "we" in this post are myself, my husband, and my two sons ages 4 and 11. We are trying to decide between DL and DCA. At first, we were leaning towards DCA because it has attractions we haven't seen whereas DL has many similar attractions to MK. Also, WOC which I really want to see. However, the sons are not major fans of roller coasters. The 11 yo refused to ride EE at AK in Feb (the 4 year old rode, but didn't really like it), they aren't huge fans of Tower of Terror at DHS. They both rate Test Track at Epcot as their favorite, but both also like the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Goofy's Barnstormer, and Big Thunder Mountain.

Now we are leaning towards DL because it's iconic, because it doesn't have morning magic hours, because I'm worried the boys won't like the rides at DCA, and because I've read that DCA is more for adults and has less to do than DL. But DCA has Cars Land. I'm so torn. Park Hopping is not an option because it's just too expensive.

Please help us decide! We will be at one or the other on April 17. Thanks!

 

[DDhunter]

Cars Land is awesome, however, if I could choose only one park, it has to be Disneyland. We did a one park per day trip last year with the family and by early evening on our DCA day we were just sitting around at Starbucks and ended up leaving early. Also, Tower of Terror is no more. They are "re-themeing" it and it won't be open until May.

 

[Winnowill]

If Test Track is their favorite, Radiator Springs Racers is a very cool counterpart. Goofy's Barnstormer is very like Goofy's Sky School. Those two are at DCA. Your four-year-old would very likely enjoy Bug's Land, as well, though the 11-year-old probably would not. Also TSMM is at DCA.

That said, DL is DL. It doesn't have anything like SDMT, but it does have Indiana Jones (similar ride experience to Dinosaur at AK), a far superior Space Mountain, Big Thunder, and plenty more.

 

[ktlm]

I would try to swing it financially and figure out a way to get hoppers. It is not like hopping at WDW. DL/CA are like one big park. The only thing separating them is a plaza- the distance to walk between the 2 parks is less than the distance of getting off a bus at a park and walking to the gate at WDW parks. Also, you do not even have to go through bag check/metal detectors again to hop. Bag check is prior to entering the plaza and is for both parks, so once you are in one park-you can go back and forth. We have literally been from the back corner of DL to the back corner of CA in 8 minutes. We are usually out of one park and into the other in 5 minutes. You can hit the highlights of both. CA has Carsland and the Monster's Inc. If they both love Test Track, then Radiator Springs Racers is a must. It is our favorite ride from both WDW and DLR. Test Track pales in comparison even though it is the same ride system. I don't get why anyone would say that DCA is more for adults and not kids--- DCA has Bugsland which is an entire little kid area which the 4 year old may love. It also has Toy Story Mania, Little Mermaid Ride, Carsland and its rides, Monster's Inc. and the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail which is a fun place to play and climb. If you absolutely can only do one park--- I would lean toward DL because it is the classic and I think DCA does have less to do on the whole, but I would hate for the boys to miss Carsland and RSR- and you won't find anything like that at WDW, so I would do my best to try to find a way to get hoppers in your budget and with those there is no reason you can't get quite a bit done in both parks.

 

[las3888]

Our DS doesn't like roller coasters, and we all prefer DCA.

 

[lcp9]

That's a tough one, especially because of the difference in ages. I'm tempted to say DL BUT - Cars land is unlike anything at WDW and it's probably my 3 year old son's favorite "land." He really likes roller coasters though, and would prefer DL b/c of SM, splash, BTM, and matterhorn. So maybe DCA would be good because the headliners aren't as coaster-y? Ugh, I'm sorry to say but hoppers are probably your best bet.

THAT SAID - with the changes in FP, it's super annoying you can't hold them at both parks so hoppers suck a little bit in that regard now. we start most days at DL and get FP for racers while we're also getting FP for DL stuff.

I am no help.

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I can't believe I'm saying this because I've always said if you can only do one park, make it Disneyland. But given that you've been to WDW, the current construction at DLR and the age of your boys, DCA might be the better fit for your family. Although if at all possible, try to get a second day or at least spring for hoppers because missing out on Disneyland is a tragedy (okay not really, but still it's really awesome).

If your boys are into the Cars franchise, Cars Land and RSR are both can't miss (especially true since they love Test Track). Disney nailed it on the design and theming and you can only see it at DCA. There really isn't anything better than watching a young child walk into Cars Land for the first time, it's like they're stepping into the movie.

 

[Disney Rose]

That is tough! If you hadn't just done WDW in January my answer would be different, but I'm thinking DCA.

DCA has redwood creek challenge which my kids (similar age to yours) love so much they could spend all day happily there. And with Tom Sawyer being closed, Disneyland doesn't have anything like that. When my youngest was 4, Redwood Creek Challenge was a necessity.

And Radiator Springs Racers is truly one of a kind. And Toy Story Mania is super fun. And of course, Soarin. So much to love for one day.

If you went to DCA without stepping foot in Disneyland do you think you'd have that niggling constant regret? If not, then go for DCA.

 

[rvmitchell]

I think we are going to spring for park hoppers! We may never go back to the LA area, so we better do it while we're there. Now I need to figure out my plan. DCA has morning magic hour so I'm thinking we should ride and/or get a FP for RSR first thing? Then maybe head over to DL for Space Mountain?

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I think we are going to spring for park hoppers! We may never go back to the LA area, so we better do it while we're there. Now I need to figure out my plan. DCA has morning magic hour so I'm thinking we should ride and/or get a FP for RSR first thing? Then maybe head over to DL for Space Mountain?

That's awesome, since you might not make it back, visiting Walt's park is a must do.

Definitely start at DCA and grab RSR FP's first since the standby will already be filling up.

 

[Niltiac]

I would say first thing get FP for either RSR or Space Mountain, and ride the other. You can all enter one park, then hand the tickets to one of the parents and have them run to the other park for the FP. That way you don't have to hustle back and forth with the kids. When you're eligible for another FP, the next priority should probably be Indiana Jones, unless you want a second ride on either RSR or Space Mountain (those two are the main rides that run out of FP early in the day). After that, I would probably opt to spend my morning in DL and afternoon/evening in DCA, since you said you want to see WoC and DCA is more pleasant when it's crowded. If the rumor is true that TSMM is getting FP any day now, those FP might be gone by the time you go to DCA in the afternoon, but I think the ride is the same as it is at WDW so maybe not a priority.

 

[1KidandaHalf]

You probably know this already, but be prepared for a big crowd. The day you are going is right after Easter and during spring break, so supposed to be really, really busy. I'm sure you will still have a blast, as long as the crowds don't take you by surprise.

 

[Disney Rose]

Yay! So glad you're going the park hopper route. Now you can do the best of both. I'd grab fast pass for RSR first thing, and then go to Disneyland for the morning. Come back to ride RSR in your fast pass time slot and spend the afternoon at DCA. And then do World of Colour since you probably saw the fireworks during your WDW visit. If the parks are open late you can go back to Disneyland after World of Colour.

That would be my plan. Have fun!