First Time, One Day, What not to Miss?

[Pixie_Dust]

We have gone to WDW so many times, but never to DL. I decided we should go on DH's birthday, as he will get in for free to both parks. What should we not miss on our one-day trip, and in what order. I would like to know what things we need to do first so that we don't have to stand in horrible lines. We will be there Wed. Sept. 2, and it is two adults in our late 40s, so if I had to choose between missing kiddie rides or California Adventure stuff, I would rather see the California Adventure stuff.

Thanks for any tips - I am also reading the FAQ etc.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The birthday admission is for one park, but you can upgrade it to a park hopper and pay the difference.

 

[99haunts]

I would recomend riding Indianna Jones as it is unique to Disneyland! (and it's my favorite )

 

[Hound 109]

We have gone to WDW so many times, but never to DL. I decided we should go on DH's birthday, as he will get in for free to both parks. What should we not miss on our one-day trip, and in what order. I would like to know what things we need to do first so that we don't have to stand in horrible lines. We will be there Wed. Sept. 2, and it is two adults in our late 40s, so if I had to choose between missing kiddie rides or California Adventure stuff, I would rather see the California Adventure stuff.

Thanks for any tips - I am also reading the FAQ etc.

Don't miss out on the DLR only "dark rides" like Toady, Alice, Pinocchio & also Storybookland & IASW.....along with the E ticket rides like Indy & Screamin'.


There've been a couple of similar threads recently with alot of great information that was offered. Check out the threads & also many of the links inside the threads:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2238269

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2240749


Also all of Hydroguy's tip threads are worth a read (especially his "DLR for WDW vets" thread"):

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


You might also find my "One Day at DLR" visit (in the link in my signature below) helpful.


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

 

[Disneyland Veteran]

Sept. 2nd is my bday too. As for which side to start on, i usually start on the left side first and go to Indiana Jones and then to Splash Mountain. The lines get very long for those. But some start with Space Mountain, Nemo, and Matterhorn. Have fun!!!

 

[MAH4546]

Focus on Disneyland, especially since you have been to WDW often. California Adventure is like a "Best of" park taking a bunch of attractions from TDS, DAK and Epcot. Nothing very unique right now, but that will be changing. California Screamin' and the Aladdin stage show are the two great unique attractions at DCA, but Aladdin is dark on Wednesdays.

If you get to Disneyland at opening, you can do all the dark rides in Fantasyland in about one hour - and those rides are all great! Even Peter Pan and Snow White are noticeably different than the WDW versions.

 

[Shenanigoat]

Every time I go to DL I have to go on Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear. Both versions of the ride are way better than the ones at WDW (especially Buzz). Also the Indiana Jones ride is fantastic.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

The birthday admission is for one park, but you can upgrade it to a park hopper and pay the difference.

Wow, I just called them today and they didn't tell me that!
Thanks everyone
I would rather know ahead of time than have a rude awakening! From all your advice it sounds like we should go to the Magic Kingdom park and save CA for another time.

 

[HydroGuy]

Indiana Jones
Space Mountain (way better than MK)
POTC (way longer than MK)
Matterhorn
IASW (just upgraded and ride exterior is amazin)
Storybookland Canal Boats
Alice in Wonderland
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (if you have time - not that great but unique)

If you do venture to DCA

CA Screamin
Monsters Inc
Grizzly River Run (if you have time)
Animation Studios (if you have time)

 

[Hound 109]

Wow, I just called them today and they didn't tell me that!
Thanks everyone
I would rather know ahead of time than have a rude awakening! From all your advice it sounds like we should go to the Magic Kingdom park and save CA for another time.

I completely disagree. DCA is a great park & definitely worth visiting for 3-4 hours for the following reasons:

- Park Hopping takes about 3 min.
- It's like "CaliforniaLand"
- Screamin'
- Aladdin
- Griz Rapids is much better than Kali.
- When it gets crowded at DL (& it will at 11am or Noon or so), DCA is GREAT to escape to.
- Better restaurants (check out the Trat) & beer/wine if inclined.
- Monsters Inc.
- the Bugs Life area is cute & Heimlich is a hoot.
- Soarin'....over California....in California.
- Did i say Screamin'.
- Then hop back over to DL in the late afternoon with the 3-5 FPs you collected that morning.

Look at the links i posted above.....8 out of 10 Disers would say hop to DCA for a few hours.


(& psst....it's Disneyland (or DL).....aka the original......aka Walt's Park.....not the "magic kingdom park". )

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I completely disagree. DCA is a great park & definitely worth visiting for 3-4 hours for the following reasons:
- Park Hopping takes about 3 min.
- It's like "CaliforniaLand"
- Screamin'
- Aladdin
- Griz Rapids is much better than Kali.
- When it gets crowded at DL (& it will at 11am or Noon or so), DCA is GREAT to escape to.
- Better restaurants (check out the Trat) & beer/wine if inclined.
- Monsters Inc.
- the Bugs Life area is cute & Heimlich is a hoot.
- Soarin'....over California....in California.
- Did i say Screamin'.
- Then hop back over to DL in the late afternoon with the 3-5 FPs you collected that morning.
Look at the links i posted above.....8 out of 10 Disers would say hop to DCA for a few hours.
(& psst....it's Disneyland (or DL).....aka the original......aka Walt's Park.....not the "magic kingdom park". )

Thanks for the links! I spent the better part of the day looking at them, and the links within the links... responses in no particular order...

-Since I found out the birthday ticket was only for one park, I have to factor that into the costs. (A park hopper for me and extra for him vs. "just" the cost of one ticket for me, which is bad enough in addition to the transportation, lodging, meal, and incidental costs!) Why not just do one park, and then do CA once they have all their new attractions put in? (Have already done Monsters Inc, Bug's Life, and Soarin from your list in FL. Live in "Wine Country" for reals, so not inclined to get wine at the theme park. Would love to do Screamin, Griz Rapids, and Aladdin; However...)
-Someone said Aladdin is closed on Wednesdays.
-Yes, I realized it wasn't MK after I posted that! Still feels strange to call one park DL when I think of the whole thing as DL (compared to WDW, which isn't the name of one park - guess that's why they call it DLP.)
-If it gets too crowded (hopefully it won't on a Wed. in Sept.), we can "escape" back to PPH (I had to use my DVC points there because the new DVC property was already booked by minute one of day one that we were able to call (owners at that resort had been able to call for a week prior!) If I didn't have some banked points I had to use up, I wonder if it would have been cheaper to pay cash for the room in the lowest season?)
-It would probably take me longer than 3 minutes to park hop. When we go to WDW, my foot/ankle usually gives out completely and painfully, and I end up in a wheelchair. How much do those rent for at DL, btw? It will be an interesting experiment to see if it was the walking or the Florida humidity that causes this ... if I can walk all day at DL I will surmise that it is something about Florida and not the parks!

I have another question for everyone:
I read the Matterhorn was "jerky and bumpy like the old Space Mountain/the one at WDW." When we went to WDW on our honeymoon, that Space Mountain had benches with no seat backs, and I threw my back out and got whiplash, and never fully recovered. I do not want to go on the Matterhorn if it is like that, but DH was looking forward to it (he got to go to DL once when he was 10 and has memories), so I need to know how bad it is. I prefer smoother coasters!

 

[maleficent's goon]

Matterhorn is definitely..."rough". You may want to go watch a youtube video to at least visualize it.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I read the Matterhorn was "jerky and bumpy like the old Space Mountain/the one at WDW." When we went to WDW on our honeymoon, that Space Mountain had benches with no seat backs, and I threw my back out and got whiplash, and never fully recovered. I do not want to go on the Matterhorn if it is like that, but DH was looking forward to it (he got to go to DL once when he was 10 and has memories), so I need to know how bad it is. I prefer smoother coasters!

If you do decide to try it, there are two different lines, make sure you go on the Fantasyland side, it is smoother IMO. Still bumpy, but not as bad as the Tomorrowland side. I have back problems occasionally and cannot go on the Tomorrowland side.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

If you do decide to try it, there are two different lines, make sure you go on the Fantasyland side, it is smoother IMO. Still bumpy, but not as bad as the Tomorrowland side. I have back problems occasionally and cannot go on the Tomorrowland side.

Thank you, that is good to know!

 

[Hound 109]

Pixie, I'll agree with the others that the Matterhorn is a rougher old school coaster. I've learned to lean into the curves & really love it though.

Other comments & opinions below:

Thanks for the links! I spent the better part of the day looking at them, and the links within the links... responses in no particular order...

-Since I found out the birthday ticket was only for one park, I have to factor that into the costs. (A park hopper for me and extra for him vs. "just" the cost of one ticket for me, which is bad enough in addition to the transportation, lodging, meal, and incidental costs!) Why not just do one park, and then do CA once they have all their new attractions put in? (Have already done Monsters Inc.....

I think the Monster's Inc. in WDW is a show....in DCA Monster's is a ride, & very cute. Not an E ticket ride, but like a newer "dark" ride & cute as heck.


Bug's Life......

At DCA the Bugs Life area (help me folks, is it Flick's?) is an area with 5-6 kiddie rides (along with the Bug's life show). Heimlich's Chew Chew is a guilty pleasure favorite of mine.


.... and Soarin from your list in FL.

Soarin' over California is better themed at DCA (than the one in Epcot) & it really celebrates your great state & it's aviation history....imo.


Live in "Wine Country" for reals, so not inclined to get wine at the theme park.

Makes sense.


Would love to do Screamin, Griz Rapids, and Aladdin; However...)
-Someone said Aladdin is closed on Wednesdays.

I think you're right. Aladdin is dark on Wed. But Screamin' is a fast, smooth & very cool coaster.....& you could ride Griz prior to checking out (or loading up your car) at the PP. (see my one day trip report below).


-Yes, I realized it wasn't MK after I posted that! Still feels strange to call one park DL when I think of the whole thing as DL (compared to WDW, which isn't the name of one park - guess that's why they call it DLP.)
-If it gets too crowded (hopefully it won't on a Wed. in Sept.), we can "escape" back to PPH

Much easier to "escape back" to the PPH from DCA (via the super secret GCH side entrance.

(I had to use my DVC points there because the new DVC property was already booked by minute one of day one that we were able to call (owners at that resort had been able to call for a week prior!) If I didn't have some banked points I had to use up, I wonder if it would have been cheaper to pay cash for the room in the lowest season?)
-It would probably take me longer than 3 minutes to park hop. When we go to WDW, my foot/ankle usually gives out completely and painfully, and I end up in a wheelchair. How much do those rent for at DL, btw? It will be an interesting experiment to see if it was the walking or the Florida humidity that causes this ... if I can walk all day at DL I will surmise that it is something about Florida and not the parks!

As a Texan I know about humidity.....& Orlando can be "Africa Hot/Humid". I LOVE coming to DLR w/o the humidity....& yes, much less walking at DLR than at WDW.

I have another question for everyone:
I read the Matterhorn was "jerky and bumpy like the old Space Mountain/the one at WDW." When we went to WDW on our honeymoon, that Space Mountain had benches with no seat backs, and I threw my back out and got whiplash, and never fully recovered. I do not want to go on the Matterhorn if it is like that, but DH was looking forward to it (he got to go to DL once when he was 10 and has memories), so I need to know how bad it is. I prefer smoother coasters!

No matter what you decide....Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree with Hound and especially on these items below. Monsters Inc at DCA is not the Laugh Factory at MK. Entirely different. And the Soarin experience at DCA is just way better than Epcot because of the better themed land (Condor Flats) and queue.

Originally Posted by Pixie_Dust
Thanks for the links! I spent the better part of the day looking at them, and the links within the links... responses in no particular order...

-Since I found out the birthday ticket was only for one park, I have to factor that into the costs. (A park hopper for me and extra for him vs. "just" the cost of one ticket for me, which is bad enough in addition to the transportation, lodging, meal, and incidental costs!) Why not just do one park, and then do CA once they have all their new attractions put in? (Have already done Monsters Inc.....

I think the Monster's Inc. in WDW is a show....in DCA Monster's is a ride, & very cute. Not an E ticket ride, but like a newer "dark" ride & cute as heck.


.... and Soarin from your list in FL.

Soarin' over California is better themed at DCA (than the one in Epcot) & it really celebrates your great state & it's aviation history....imo.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Thanks, guys,

You've given me more to think about! Happily, I enjoy the "strategic planning" component of a Disney trip

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Heimlich's Chew Chew is a guilty pleasure favorite of mine.

That was very cute! Not worth the extra $50 we had to pay to get park hoppers (wish we had stuck with DLP all day!), but definitely the high point of that park!