First timer needs help planning

[dragitoff]

I'm a WDW vet and will be hitting DL for the 1st time during a business trip next month. I'm thinking of getting a 1 day Park Hopper for October 2nd (my only free day) and doing highlights from both parks. My question is this.....is it possible for a person going solo to do all this in a day?

Disneyland

Space Mountain
It's a Small World
Nemo
Pirates of the Caribbean (if they open it back up a day early)
Haunted Mansion
Matterhorn
Indiana Jones
Splash Mountain
Jungle Cruise

California Adventures

Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania
California Screamin'
Soarin'
Grizzly River Run
Maliboomer
Mullholland Madness

Disneyland is open that day 8am-midnight and California Adventures is open 10am-6pm. I won't be able to get to the parks until 9am because I do have a brief meeting first thing that morning. One poster suggested I hit DL 1st and get FP's and ride a few things before heading over to DCA around 11:30 or so. I could return later that evening to use my FP's.

Time permitting, I would really like to see some of the exhibits and such since I'm a WDW freak! Would I be better off on spending the entire day at Disneyland and really soaking the whole experience up or could I somewhat do that and still enjoy some of the attractions at DCA? I've ridden WDW's versions of Soarin', Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania. I don't think there are any major variances from the WDW versions and the DL versions are there?

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm a WDW vet and will be hitting DL for the 1st time during a business trip next month. I'm thinking of getting a 1 day Park Hopper for October 2nd (my only free day) and doing highlights from both parks. My question is this.....is it possible for a person going solo to do all this in a day?

Disneyland

Space Mountain
It's a Small World
Nemo
Pirates of the Caribbean (if they open it back up a day early)
Haunted Mansion
Matterhorn
Indiana Jones
Splash Mountain
Jungle Cruise

California Adventures

Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania
California Screamin'
Soarin'
Grizzly River Run
Maliboomer
Mullholland Madness

Disneyland is open that day 8am-midnight and California Adventures is open 10am-6pm. I won't be able to get to the parks until 9am because I do have a brief meeting first thing that morning. One poster suggested I hit DL 1st and get FP's and ride a few things before heading over to DCA around 11:30 or so. I could return later that evening to use my FP's.

Time permitting, I would really like to see some of the exhibits and such since I'm a WDW freak! Would I be better off on spending the entire day at Disneyland and really soaking the whole experience up or could I somewhat do that and still enjoy some of the attractions at DCA? I've ridden WDW's versions of Soarin', Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania. I don't think there are any major variances from the WDW versions and the DL versions are there?

No major differences on your last point, except ToT at DCA does not have random drop sequences. Still good though.

Should you stick with DL? Hard to say. Going solo you will be very nimble and can use the single rider lines for

Splash
GRR
TSMM
CA Screamin
Mulholland Madness

Soarin has SR too. I have never used it and have heard it does not save much time usually. I would FP Soarin if possible.

I would put Mulholland Madness low on the priority list (it is not that good) and and add Monsters Inc to your list. I would also put Maliboomer below MI as well.

 

[dragitoff]

Thanks for the heads up on Maliboomer and Mullholland Madness. I won't worry about riding them unless I walk by and there is no wait. I'm really not sure what I want to do though about spending the entire day at Disneyland or doing a little hopping. I guess that would lower my rides at DCA to:

Tower of Terror
California Screamin'
Soarin
Monsters, Inc.
Toy Story Mania
Grizzly River Run

That's manageable in a few hours isn't it? If I could knock those out pretty quick, I would think it would be worth my time, especially since Disneyland is open so late.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for the heads up on Maliboomer and Mullholland Madness. I won't worry about riding them unless I walk by and there is no wait. I'm really not sure what I want to do though about spending the entire day at Disneyland or doing a little hopping. I guess that would lower my rides at DCA to:

Tower of Terror
California Screamin'
Soarin
Monsters, Inc.
Toy Story Mania
Grizzly River Run

That's manageable in a few hours isn't it? If I could knock those out pretty quick, I would think it would be worth my time, especially since Disneyland is open so late.

If you have a FP for Soarin and use single rider lines for Screamin, TSM and GRR, you should be able to do them all in three hours.

I think Maliboomer is better than Mulholland Madness and would do that first if you have time. But still both are very "carnival like" rides and not "Disney like" at all. I think it may have a SR line too but in general it usually does not have a long line.

 

[Hound 109]

I might have been one to recommend starting at DL (touring early & collecting FPs), hopping to DCA (for 3-4 hours) & back to DL.

I think it's very much possible, especially if you collect FPs, use single rider (as HydroGuy suggests) & are able to stay late.

I'd leave Nemo for last since 1) It's kinda lame & 2) You can hop on it at 11:59pm & still ride it....not wasting 45 min. during the day.

Also plan on doing the non-ride activities (at DCA &/or DL) in the late afternoon when it is crowded (and after you've toured & collected FPs)

I don't have Ridemax anymore (& would be curious how close my recommendations would be) but i don't normally follow RM exactly because my FP pickup usually differs a little.

Here's how i would do it:

DL @ 9amish.

- SM FP pickup first.
- Matterhorn
- Alice/Toady/Pinocchio (they're all better than nemo & none are at WDW)
- Indy FP pickup (do Jungle Cruise if FP not available yet)
- HM (if it's less than 20 min. ride it...if not come back later for FP)
- Ride Splash
- Grab snacks at Pooh Corner.
- HM (ride it or pick up FP)
- Pirates.
- Walk (or better yet take the train) to Toon Town (Roger Rabbit FP? & take a look around). But if you walk, see if BTMRR has no line...might be able to hop on.
- From ToonTown RR stop...a short walk to IASW, ride.

Hop to DCA with SM, Indy & (either) HM (or BTMRR or Buzz) FPs in your pocket for later. All you have left to do at DL would be the Jungle Cruise, Nemo & the FP rides (giving you lots of time in the evening to freelance).

It's probably about 11:30-12noon at this point.....so that's a decent start!

My question is this.....is it possible for a person going solo to do all this in a day?

Disneyland

Space Mountain
It's a Small World
Nemo
Pirates of the Caribbean (if they open it back up a day early)
Haunted Mansion
Matterhorn
Indiana Jones
Splash Mountain
Jungle Cruise

California Adventures

Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania
California Screamin'
Soarin'
Grizzly River Run
Maliboomer
Mullholland Madness

 

[dragitoff]

Wow Hound......Thanks! The only reason I wanted to do Nemo was because 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was one of my favorite rides as a kid at WDW. I thought Nemo might bring some of that back.