DLR vs DCA: which park, which day?

[ban26ana]

I'm making my first trip ever to DL this weekend! I'll be running the half marathon on Sunday. I plan to do one day in each park. I'll be arriving at John Wayne on Friday at 11:30, and using Super Shuttle to get to the Anaheim Marriott. I want to hit the expo that day, and that night I have a meet and greet with my Team in Training group.

Saturday morning I have an "easy team run" at 8am. I have no idea how long it is. Saturday night at 6pm I have a dinner. So that doesn't leave much park time. (Kind of ticked about the team run. Um, I'm running 13 miles the next day, give me some down time.)

Sunday morning I have the race. It will be a very early day. I'm very slow, so I'll probably finish the race around 10am. (I'm in one of the last corrals, and I have a broken toe. Cut me some slack.)

Monday I leave bright and early, so no option for a park that day.


So give me the low-down. Which park for which day? I'll be solo for this trip, so I don't have to worry about anyone else's feelings or opinions. Just me, me, me. Is there a big difference between Fantasmic at DLR vs WDW? If not, I don't mind skipping that. In that case, I'd do DCA on Sunday, and try for WOC. My only other must-do's are the Matterhorn, California Screamin, and the Jungle Cruise. (Can't skip Walt's favorite!) I *might* get up the nerve to do a free-mounted car on MFW. Maybe. What else MUST I do on my very very short trip to DLR?

 

[uneekstylez]

Do you have to do 1 day in each park? Do you have an option to park hop? Might get alot more done that way.

 

[cypressmom]

We always have had park hopper tickets and walk between the two parks all day.

 

[HydroGuy]

Park hopping is almost always the way to go at DLR.

 

[larina]

We never stayed in one park all day. We went back and forth between them, usually more than once per day, ending in the park we were watching festivities in for the evening, or in CA to get back to the hotel easier.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We always have had park hopper tickets and walk between the two parks all day.

Same here. OP mentioned WDW. A lot of people spend a day at only one park because it takes time and transportation to switch parks. In Disneyland the parks are only 100 yards apart, making it so much easier to park hop.

 

[Hound 109]

Park Hop each day. Read this:

"Why I ParkHop at DLR" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961


& Since you're a WDW vet, read this:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

(& read the rest of HGs tip threads)


Other comments in the post below:

I'm making my first trip ever to DL this weekend! I'll be running the half marathon on Sunday. I plan to do one day in each park. I'll be arriving at John Wayne on Friday at 11:30, and using Super Shuttle to get to the Anaheim Marriott. I want to hit the expo that day, and that night I have a meet and greet with my Team in Training group.

Saturday morning I have an "easy team run" at 8am.

DUMP THIS. IF YOU HAVE TO RUN THAT DAY, DO IT AT ANOTHER TIME.


I have no idea how long it is. Saturday night at 6pm I have a dinner. So that doesn't leave much park time. (Kind of ticked about the team run. Um, I'm running 13 miles the next day, give me some down time.)

Sunday morning I have the race. It will be a very early day. I'm very slow, so I'll probably finish the race around 10am. (I'm in one of the last corrals, and I have a broken toe. Cut me some slack.)

Monday I leave bright and early, so no option for a park that day.


So give me the low-down. Which park for which day? I'll be solo for this trip, so I don't have to worry about anyone else's feelings or opinions. Just me, me, me.

YOU SHOULD "KNOW" HYDROGUY'S FP THREADS & KNOW WHAT RIDES ARE SINGLE RIDER. HAVE A PLAN THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS OF EACH DAY IN DLR.


Is there a big difference between Fantasmic at DLR vs WDW? If not, I don't mind skipping that.

WITH ONLY TWO DAYS I'D SKIP IT.


In that case, I'd do DCA on Sunday, and try for WOC.

WITH ONLY TWO DAYS, I'D SKIP THIS TOO. I'D CATCH THE FIREWORKS IN DL IF IT WORKS WITH YOUR SCHEDULE.


My only other must-do's are the Matterhorn, California Screamin, and the Jungle Cruise. (Can't skip Walt's favorite!) I *might* get up the nerve to do a free-mounted car on MFW. Maybe. What else MUST I do on my very very short trip to DLR?

I can think of at least 15 other "must do's". Read the many tip threads (HG's & the other sticky threads at the top of the DL page) & post back.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's park.

 

[ban26ana]

I'm not going to have a park hopper. Because I'm doing the race with TNT, I get a free one day/one park ticket. So I'm just buying another one day ticket. I can't see spending the money to buy a 2 day park hopper when I'd just be throwing away a free ticket. (I'm ALWAYS a park hopper at WDW, so I'm clearly going against my norm to not park hop.)

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm not going to have a park hopper. Because I'm doing the race with TNT, I get a free one day/one park ticket. So I'm just buying another one day ticket. I can't see spending the money to buy a 2 day park hopper when I'd just be throwing away a free ticket. (I'm ALWAYS a park hopper at WDW, so I'm clearly going against my norm to not park hop.)

Typically you can pay to upgrade to park hoppers. We did that with special tickets in 2009 when we travelled with my son's middle school jazz band for a competition.

If you can't then the othe rone ticket you buy could be a one-day parkhopper.

 

[Tink-aholic]

WDW vet here who just came back from my first-ever trip to DLR. If you can only see one night show, make it WoC.

Without a doubt, my favorite nighttime show.

Ever.

(especially if you have seen Fantasmic at WDW...yes, there are differences, but they are "the same" enough, kwim? WoC is totally different.)