First Trip to Disneyland, Can This Be Done?

[njforumrider18]

Hey all!

I am going to California in July (week after July 4) and we are planning on taking a day to go to DL. We only will have one day to go to Anaheim, and am wondering, will it be possible to kind of have a "best of" experience for both parks? I'm a WDW Vet (at least 20 trips under my belt) so for me, if I miss a ride thats the same on both coasts, I won't be heartbroken.

Part of the experience for me thats so great is just walking around and enjoying the sights. If I don't get on all the rides I won't feel like I missed out (other than HM haha)

Any advice on how to maximize our time for the day would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!!

 

[larryz]

Stay on property and you can enter one of the parks an hour ahead of day guests...

Get the park hopper pass so you can move seamlessly between parks...

Use the FP- system like it's hot...

And review THIS excellent thread for a sense of perspective.

 

[njforumrider18]

will be staying with family about an hour away, but as far as the other 2, WILL DO! I was planning on hopper, and although I don't mind FP+, I cannot wait to go there and use the old system!

 

[hiroMYhero]

Or, stay in a hotel on Harbor Blvd. and it'll only be a 5 minute walk to the entry gates.

Go to the Disneyland forum and look at all the Stickies. Specifically look for HydroGuy's tips. By following his tip for Radiator Springs Racers, you can complete that ride within the first 15 minutes of park opening.

Hop as much as you can... we usually hop 4-5 times during a one-day trip.

 

[njforumrider18]

D'oh! didn't realize there was a specific DL forum! I'm so used to hopping on here when getting ready to WDW haha! will post there, thanks!

 

[got2sammies]

Yes it is possible! Focus on the rides that WDW does not have... Also the 60th celebration is going on and OMG I have watched all the videos at least twice. I will say this.. if you are only doing one day then you will have to choose WOC or Celebrate the Magic fireworks/Paint the night parade...If there are two fantasmic showings you MIGHT be able to do the late show...There is a wdw vet going to DL thread.. and check out the DL forums for good advice.. Hopping is so easy its only a 5 minute walk from one park to the next! We went summer 2013 for the first time and LOVED every minute of it!

 

[njforumrider18]

Great!!! Thanks so much! yeah were really planning on mostly enjoying the atmosphere, and going on the rides that WDW doesn't have, super excited!!!

 

[sweetpea29488]

We did just this in 2007. We were close and dh said I couldn't be that close to DL and not get to see. We hit our must rides and just followed our normal routine like at WDW. We had a great day!!

 

[hiroMYhero]

And remember, you can hold FPs for both parks because their systems are not connected. Grab a FP for World of Color in the morning and you can still grab another DCA FP at the same time... World of Color FP is separate and doesn't block you out of other DCA FPs.

 

[njforumrider18]

ooh interesting! I didn't realize that!! Thanks again!