First Visit/Solo Trip!

[Beachwood58]

Advice please! Coming to Disneyland for ONE DAY ONLY and am wondering if I should only do Disneyland or try to do some stuff at California Adventure also? Should I park hop or not?

 

[BrianL]

If you have a full day and buy MaxPass I think you may be able to hit both. It depends on what you want to do though. I find that solo I can move through pretty fast and park hopping is so easy. If you are staying for the nighttime entertainment, pick which one you want to see most and then decide if the hopper makes sense. If your time is more limited, I would definitely only focus on one park, and if so that would be DL.

 

[BadPinkTink]

1. Do you have the budget for a park hopper ticket
2. Can you do rope drop to park close
3. Are there rides / attractions in California Adventures you want to do
4. Is this your only chance in the near future to be in Disneyland
5. Are you solo or with others

For the first few years I did one day park hoppers with friends. My friends are from California and have been going to the parks since they were kids, so they knew the parks well and we only did certain rides in each park. We would start in Disneyland Main Park, hop to California Adventures in the afternoon and return to Disneyland Main Park for the fireworks. This was their routine as they did multiple park visits in a year.

When I started going on my own, I started doing one park per day and I am far more efficient with my time and I do far more rides / attractions in a day than I did with my friends.

As long as you have a plan, use the Fastpass system and use single rider lines where possible, a one day park hopper is possible.

 

[Beachwood58]

1. Do you have the budget for a park hopper ticket
2. Can you do rope drop to park close
3. Are there rides / attractions in California Adventures you want to do
4. Is this your only chance in the near future to be in Disneyland
5. Are you solo or with others

For the first few years I did one day park hoppers with friends. My friends are from California and have been going to the parks since they were kids, so they knew the parks well and we only did certain rides in each park. We would start in Disneyland Main Park, hop to California Adventures in the afternoon and return to Disneyland Main Park for the fireworks. This was their routine as they did multiple park visits in a year.

When I started going on my own, I started doing one park per day and I am far more efficient with my time and I do far more rides / attractions in a day than I did with my friends.

As long as you have a plan, use the Fastpass system and use single rider lines where possible, a one day park hopper is possible.

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. May be my only trip to Disneyland.....
5. Solo

I should add, I was making a touring plan for DL, and realized that there are quite a few things there that I don't want to do (most of these: Astro Orbitor, Autopia, Dumbo, It's a Small World, Gadget Coaster, Mad Tea Party, Pooh, Mr. Toad, Roger Rabbit). I thought that skipping these might free up enough time to hop over to CA for some time.....

If I do decide to hop, which night show is better?

 

[BadPinkTink]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. May be my only trip to Disneyland.....
5. Solo

I should add, I was making a touring plan for DL, and realized that there are quite a few things there that I don't want to do (most of these: Astro Orbitor, Autopia, Dumbo, It's a Small World, Gadget Coaster, Mad Tea Party, Pooh, Mr. Toad, Roger Rabbit). I thought that skipping these might free up enough time to hop over to CA for some time.....

If I do decide to hop, which night show is better?

Sounds to me like its a park hopper then

My personal favourite is Fantasmic. I do the first show as part of Blue Bayou dining package and then stay in my spot to watch the fireworks.

Fantasmic has more to it, IMO.
Fantasmic has live performers, the ships, special effects and the music and animations projected onto the water fountain screens.

World of Colour is just special effects and the music and animations projected onto the water fountain screens.

 

[Beachwood58]

Sounds to me like its a park hopper then

My personal favourite is Fantasmic. I do the first show as part of Blue Bayou dining package and then stay in my spot to watch the fireworks.

Fantasmic has more to it, IMO.
Fantasmic has live performers, the ships, special effects and the music and animations projected onto the water fountain screens.

World of Colour is just special effects and the music and animations projected onto the water fountain screens.

Thank you! And how do I add one of those countdowns like you have at the bottom of your posts?

 

[BrianL]

I should add, I was making a touring plan for DL, and realized that there are quite a few things there that I don't want to do (most of these: Astro Orbitor, Autopia, Dumbo, It's a Small World, Gadget Coaster, Mad Tea Party, Pooh, Mr. Toad, Roger Rabbit). I thought that skipping these might free up enough time to hop over to CA for some time.....

If I do decide to hop, which night show is better?

Don't discount Mr. Toad now...ha ha! To be fair it and other Fantasyland rides are classics. Do you ever go to WDW and are you familiar with rides like them? Just curious - I'm not saying that you have to ride them. I do think any of the spinners are an easy skip, as is Autopia. If you really are most interested in thrill type rides then I probably would do a hop to DCA as you will have Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy, two of the most intense rides at DLR. I think it's manageable.

For nighttime shows, it will depend on what they are running. It's very hard not to recommend World of Color at DCA - it is beautiful! That said at DL you can probably do both Fantasmic! and Fireworks, assuming both are running. The Fireworks show lately think has been Mickey's Mix Magic, which is just okay really. If you've seen Fantasmic! at WDW then I'd probably go with World of Color.

 

[BrianL]

Thank you! And how do I add one of those countdowns like you have at the bottom of your posts?

http://www.distickers.com/ticker/main.php
Make one here and paste the proper code into your Signature, which can be found when you click on your name in the top right.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Some good threads for you:
* DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here! -- from the sticky threads at the top of the first page -- tons of great information here!
From that sticky:
A DLR Guide for WDW Vets -- a classic thread and a must read!
HydroGuy Tips Compilation -- so many helpful threads here!
World of Color Superthread -- WOC is an amazing, unique show -- if you can swing the Dessert Party, do it! -- read the first post carefully, then ask any questions in that thread!
Look at videos on YouTube for F! (make sure they are recent and for DL, not WDW) and for WOC -- then decide which appeals to you more -- we love both!
Maxpass/Fastpass Superthread: an overview and some strategy -- so much good help here!
Rise of the Resistance BOARDING GROUPS Superthread *No Ride Spoilers Please* *PLEASE READ POSTS 1-3* -- keep up with this thread, especially in the week or two right before your trip in case there are any changes
Download the free DLR app now (make sure you get the latest version and check for updates before your trip) and start playing with it to get used to how it works on your phone. If you have a credit card on file, you'll be able to buy MP as soon as you activate your ticket at the gate and use Mobile Ordering at CS locations. You can also "play along at home" with trying to get a BG for ROTR!
** February 2020 Check In ** -- did you say you were coming at the end of this month? If so, join this thread to keep up with all the news for this month in the parks!
First solo trip and first trip to DL? -- just for encouragement!

 

[WonkaKid]

... there are quite a few things there that I don't want to do (Dumbo, Mr. Toad)

I vote strongly in favor of Mr. Toad and Dumbo is also a recommendation+ (but not as strong as MT). Mr. Toad is a DL classic. It was there the day the park opened and DL is the only park that has it. The first time I rode it was when I was 7/8 at DW. For us, it’s something of a family classic and I rarely miss it.

If it were me, I’d only do DL and I’d be sure to rope drop. When/if you do, you can get Mr. Toad and Dumbo done in virtually no time. You could probably also add Alice and Pinocchio. If you do RD, get to Alice first. Then MT and then Dumbo. Actually, if you’re a really skilled and efficient rope-dropper, do Peter Pan first. Then Alice, etc.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Advice please! Coming to Disneyland for ONE DAY ONLY and am wondering if I should only do Disneyland or try to do some stuff at California Adventure also? Should I park hop or not?

If you think you might visit again, then doing DL alone for a day should be fine. But if you really think you might not come back, then I would try to park hop. There really are things worth seeing in DCA, e.g. Cars Land, GOTG, the charm of BVS and Pixar Pier, WOC, etc. By the end of this month, the Food & Wine Festival will start, which might be interesting if you can hit one or two booths for a quick meal. There is no way to see everything in both parks in one day, but you could see the highlights -- enough to decide whether you'd want to come back for a future trip.