First Disneyland Trip: Concerns (Maybe you can ease my worries?)

[runnintink]

I'm going to Disneyland for the first time ever for the Tink 1/2. I've been to WDW numerous times, and I've been very lucky that I've always been able to stay for 5 days at the very least.

For Tink, we are flying in Friday morning (arrive around lunchtime) and then leaving Monday morning.

I am having the Disney blues. My trips to WDW make me so excited, I usually get teary-eyed walking into MK for the first time on each trip. But for this trip, I feel overwhelmed and underexcited. I think it's because of the fact that I feel like I'm finally getting to go to Disneyland, but I won't have time to do anything.

Friday: Arrive, expo for packet pickup, go to parks
Saturday: morning--> afternoon at parks, but come back to hotel to rest/sleep
Sunday: 1/2 in the early morning, not sure if we will have the energy to walk around at the parks all day??
Monday morning: Leave

I guess I'm hoping you all can help me put things into perspective. I only have one friend who has been to both places, and he said Disneyland is much smaller and therefore, can be toured much faster. But I still feel overwhelmed. And of course, I want to go to Cali Adventure as well.

Can anyone help? Do you think I'll be able to still do a lot within that short time frame? Any ideas?

Thanks... I'm ready to feel excited about my trip

 

[longhorns2]

You will be fine! Sunday you *need* to walk do your legs don't get sore. . You can see a lot if the parks in a full day and 2 half days. Don't worry!

You will be amazed at how much more you can cover at DL than at wdw in a short period of time. Park hopping is super easy and fast. The rides are close together at DL as well

Only negative could be crowds since its a holiday weekend.

 

[HydroGuy]

Be careful with the DLR is smaller line of thought. DLR has more rides in the two parks than WDW has in all four put together. And DLR has expanded a lot in recent years and so if your friend ha snot been for awhile their advice might be dated.

With that said, the parks are close together and physically smaller and lines are generally shorter than at WDW and you can get a lot done. Just realize you will not be able to do everything.

This thread may help:

"Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

 

[Flynn_Rider]

Yes, it's not enough time to see those parks. However!!! There's time to do some amazing things. Take in WOC on Sunday night, maybe fireworks and Fantasmic Saturday night. Hit up RSR single rider line, and definitely pick a great restaurant like Cafe Orleans or Napa Rose. That way you get to have an amazing trip but still have things to do next visit

 

[Brisal73]

Friday:
I would hit up Disneyland when you get there and possibly grab a Fastpass or two for an attraction you want to do. I would probably recommend Space Mountain or Indiana Jones since they are vastly different from anything at WDW.

Then focus your attention on the night shows. See the fireworks and then the second show of Fantasmic. The DL version of Fantasmic will blow you away.

Also make a dining reservation and treat yourself to dinner at the Blue Bayou restaurant.

Saturday:
Focus on California Adventure make sure you get there early in the morning. If the park opens at 8 get there at 730am, get in the Radiator Springs Racers Fastpass line unless you will be a single rider.
Luigis Tires should be first, Toy Story Mania, and the rest of the Paradise Pier attractions
The rest of the park should be quite easy to finish after that

Sunday:
Disneyland in the morning, again get there early. Finish Fantasyland by 9am (do Peter Pan first), finish Toontown by 10am
California Adventure in the evening
Finish up your trip with the World of Color. Make sure you get that WOC fastpass.

Extra Tips:
Read how to use the Fastpass system at Disneyland its a bit different from WDW.
Check out Yelp and read the restaurant reviews at the parks. It will help you choose where to eat.

 

[rsleleux]

I think you will have a desire to see more once you are there on Sunday, you may not notice your feet! I agree about seeing Fantasmic and WOC that is something you can't get at WDW and it will make it worth your trip! Even if you only get to see a little bit of DLR it is worth it to see the rides that are different! Check out Hydroguys threads, they are very helpful! Some of the rides are different even though they have same name and the ones that are the same, I would skip since you are limited on time! Get excited! It's just as Magical and actually not as overwhelming as WDW! Make sure you get Parkhoppers because walking across the Pavilion is a lot easier than catching a bus to the next park and going through another bag check like at WDW. You will have a great trip!

 

[d1gitman]

We used to scoff at the idea of going to DLCA instead of WDW because it's "only two parks and smaller". then we moved to SoCal for a year and ended up going all the time as local residents. Boy were we wrong about DLCA. Fact is, we now prefer DLCA over WDW, and this is before teh WoC and Carsland additions.

As other posters have mentioned, you will find that DLCA is much like having WDW crammed into 2 parks (and i mean that in a positive sense). We prefer the DLCA version of attractions over the WDW version in virtually every instance. Then there is of course the attractionst that DLCA has that WDW does not have (or vice versa depending on point of view).

If i were you, i would get myself excited about going to DLCA, there is much to look forward to. The fact that you have only two days shouldn't be a negative. We used to think we could only enjoy WDW if we could do 9n or more per trip. Then we discovered 2 day jaunts and love it. You will enjoy the familiarity of Disney while discovering what feels new.

 

[kevdo]

For the WDW vets:
DLCA is an uncommon acronym - most usually just abbreviate DL (Disneyland) or DLR (Disneyland Resort)


For the original poster - I think you'll get to do a lot with your plan. Just make sure to arrive early early early on your mornings and you should be able to see a lot of both parks.

You might consider using the Lines app and the optimized touring plans. Or just make a short-ish list of "must do" attractions and be sure to hit those first. Spend the afternoons doing your "oohing and ahing" at the castle and park and such - don't waste time doing this when the lines are short in the AM.

 

[Butterfly123]

You can rest your tired legs at the Aladdin show in DCA, and take in a really wonderful, funny show that is not to be missed!

 

[Mary09]

Can anyone help? Do you think I'll be able to still do a lot within that short time frame? Any ideas?

Thanks... I'm ready to feel excited about my trip

You have almost two full days for touring the parks, it sounds like. I don't imagine you'll feel like sitting around your hotel room Sat. evening or Sun. afternoon. What's not to be excited about? Even if you don't do/see it all, you will do and see a lot. For many (non-fanatics), two days is about perfect for two parks.

 

[MissSlimskys]

Friday:
I would hit up Disneyland when you get there and possibly grab a Fastpass or two for an attraction you want to do. I would probably recommend Space Mountain or Indiana Jones since they are vastly different from anything at WDW.

Then focus your attention on the night shows. See the fireworks and then the second show of Fantasmic. The DL version of Fantasmic will blow you away.

Also make a dining reservation and treat yourself to dinner at the Blue Bayou restaurant.

Saturday:
Focus on California Adventure make sure you get there early in the morning. If the park opens at 8 get there at 730am, get in the Radiator Springs Racers Fastpass line unless you will be a single rider.
Luigis Tires should be first, Toy Story Mania, and the rest of the Paradise Pier attractions
The rest of the park should be quite easy to finish after that

Sunday:
Disneyland in the morning, again get there early. Finish Fantasyland by 9am (do Peter Pan first), finish Toontown by 10am
California Adventure in the evening
Finish up your trip with the World of Color. Make sure you get that WOC fastpass.

Extra Tips:
Read how to use the Fastpass system at Disneyland its a bit different from WDW.
Check out Yelp and read the restaurant reviews at the parks. It will help you choose where to eat.

These are fabulous suggestions. I agree that you should focus on the things you can't get at WDW. I would just add that Luigi's has been universally panned. I had fun on it but I had incredibly low expectations and was laughing more at how lame it was! I wouldn't do it if the line is more than 10 minutes. Mater's however is really fun and worth it. California Screamin' is also great and unique to CA.

At DL, there are a few nostalgic "legacy" rides which while not "E Ticket" rides, have a lovely flavor of Disney past if you like that sort of thing. Storybook Canal Boats and Davy Crocket's Canoes are two of these. Don't forget Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - it's still at DL! The Tea Cups are fun because it's under a beautiful tree with lanterns strung across. Twirling around feeling sick to your stomach just seems better when its under the open sky as opposed to the Pavilion like structure at WDW.

 

[kevdo]

Don't forget to ride Pirates (much much much better than in FL)