First Time to Disneyland! One day per park. HELP!

[TGM]

Hello DISboards!

My first trip to Disneyland will be in the upcoming spring (2016). I have been to WDW many times, and I have read that Disneyland is similar, but completely different. My dad visited Disneyland Park in 1980 something, and he says he did the whole park in one day. We will be seeing other things in Southern California, so we only have one day per park, and I have no idea what I shouldn't miss, and what I can skip. HELP ME PLEASE!!

 

[DisneyloverinWA]

The park in 1980 is totally different than today. I would say three days is minimum for seeing both parks but you can get a lot done in two days, especially if it's in the off season.

I wouldn't miss: Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, PoTC, Tower of Terror, Soarin', Grizzly River, California Screamin', Toy Story Mania, Little Mermaid, Aladdin show.....those are my just dos!

Have fun!!

 

[TGM]

The park in 1980 is totally different than today. I would say three days is minimum for seeing both parks but you can get a lot done in two days, especially if it's in the off season.

I wouldn't miss: Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, PoTC, Tower of Terror, Soarin', Grizzly River, California Screamin', Toy Story Mania, Little Mermaid, Aladdin show.....those are my just dos!

Have fun!!

Is the first week in February considered off season?

Thank you so much!

 

[TGM]

Has anybody stayed at the Fairfield Inn? Is it any good?

 

[ADLFAN]

We loved the FFI, and found it to be almost as comfortable as the Disneyland Hotel, except for the pool!

The rates jumped up on our following trip, so we are trying to explore neighboring properties. Luckily there are a ton to choose from!

All of February is the "off season", with shorter hours and planned refurbishments, but we have gone in that time period and really enjoyed it! It's too hard to see absolutely everything on your first trip, but I would very much recommend enjoying some of the shows that Disney does so well, either Mickey and the Magical Map in DL, or Aladdin in DCA. People tend to pass over the shows in favor of the rides, but the shows make for an awesome break off your feet, and they are really well done.

I don't know what I would recommend to skip... just the things you can't fit in! If you won't have kids with you, you can skip A Bugs Land and Toontown, but they are both fun to wander through and take pictures!

Have fun planning!

 

[Tres Vegas]

Disneyland is compact vs. WDW all the rides are not that far apart and easy to get to. The park flows better getting around than WDW it can get crowded any day of the year now so arrive very early and make most of your day and you will see 95% of the parks. If your lucky and the crowd level is low then you can relax at night and just walk around and enjoy the sights, sounds and smell. Enjoy!

 

[TGM]

We loved the FFI, and found it to be almost as comfortable as the Disneyland Hotel, except for the pool!

The rates jumped up on our following trip, so we are trying to explore neighboring properties. Luckily there are a ton to choose from!

All of February is the "off season", with shorter hours and planned refurbishments, but we have gone in that time period and really enjoyed it! It's too hard to see absolutely everything on your first trip, but I would very much recommend enjoying some of the shows that Disney does so well, either Mickey and the Magical Map in DL, or Aladdin in DCA. People tend to pass over the shows in favor of the rides, but the shows make for an awesome break off your feet, and they are really well done.

I don't know what I would recommend to skip... just the things you can't fit in! If you won't have kids with you, you can skip A Bugs Land and Toontown, but they are both fun to wander through and take pictures!

Have fun planning!

Disneyland is compact vs. WDW all the rides are not that far apart and easy to get to. The park flows better getting around than WDW it can get crowded any day of the year now so arrive very early and make most of your day and you will see 95% of the parks. If your lucky and the crowd level is low then you can relax at night and just walk around and enjoy the sights, sounds and smell. Enjoy!

Thanks!

Do you know what attractions will be closed, or how I can find out? I don't wan't to miss HM, POTC, WOC, RSR, and I've heard that DLP attractions often close down around February.

 

[ADLFAN]

Annoyingly, Disneyland does NOT give much notice on scheduled refurbishments... usually it is within a month or so of your trip, filled in very slowly on their official calendar. One good headliner ride per park, and a few smaller ones will likely be down, simply because that time of the year impacts fewer guests.

But, on our last February trip, there were closures of entire areas in Critter Country in DL and Condor Flats in DCA (did it get a new name, too?) and we still had plenty to do, and a few things that we never got around to checking out.

That Radiator Springs refurb must be coming eventually, and I bet it will really hurt, especially if it is before they get Luigi's replacement up and running. Although maybe that would warrant closing the entire Cars Land area for a touch up.