Half day in California Adventure?

[Rubygoose]

Hi,
We will be flying in to Disneyland on Sept 22 and flying home on the 26th. We will have our five year old and almost three year old with us. Originally I was planning on getting three day, one park per day passes (did park hopper last time and only "hopped" once, so don't want to spend an extra $90 on that). We will do Disneyland on Sunday to see the fireworks, California adventure on Monday for WOC, then Disneyland on Tuesday, fly home on Wednesday morning. But now I have noticed that four day passes are only $20 more, so I'm trying to decide whether or not to do California adventure on the Sartuday when we arrive. Our flight gets in at 2:10pm at John Wayne. Would it be worth the extra $60 (two adults, one child, one free) to be in California adventure on a Saturday from 3:30pm until closing? We will see WOC on Monday, so hoping to do Cars stuff while others are seeing WOC. Will it bee too busy on a Saturday night? How late are they open on Saturdays in September?

 

[tanyaewa]

I am wondering the same thing myself for our Dec trip.... So hard to say but I am leaning towards more time in Disney even if it costs a bit.

 

[WendyandTheLostBoys]

It looks like it would be another $70 for your family to have that half day in the park. Personally, I wouldn't do it. I'd spend the remainder of the day swimming, napping, maybe strolling DTD. And, from what I'm hearing, Carsland is going to be mobbed no matter what time of day. I'm hoping to get some FP for the Racers to be able to ride at least once. Whatever you decide, I hope you have fun.

 

[rtfelt]

All the SC AP are blocked out that day, so it might be less busy than the week--certainly less than Sunday. It's hard to predict what September will be like--especially in DCA--with CarsLand being open now. It may change the ballgame.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

id do it

 

[kailuagirl]

I'd do it Unless you are going to be back anytime soon. And unless you are coming in from a way different time zone and they need to really sleep. There was once we arrived at it was in the early evening, and we went to downtown Disney to enjoy and walk around, and all we could do was look at the gates at DL and we wanted to go in so bad, my daughter couldn't understand why we couldn't, she was only 2, but still and it was her first time and she knew there was something cool back there, she just didn't know what. It was really hard.

Another reason I'd do it is for the fireworks, do they run during the week when you are there? I'm always so scared to have fireworks scheduled for only one night and then they get cancelled that night and we miss it.

It's a hard decision to make, and I'm not sure of your financial situation, but whatever you decide, you will have a wonderful time with your family!! Have fun

 

[ArchOwl]

It is hard to predict what the September hours will be now that DCA is much more popular. Previously, DCA would close very early and I would have told you not to bother. But who knows, maybe they will stay open late enough to make it worth your while.

Personally, I like to watch shows and other entertainment on days I am not in the parks early. I am not at a disadvantage as far as FPs go and it is a leisurely way to explore the parks. I would be tempted (if the park was open late enough) to schedule a WOC dinner that first night. Explore BVS and see Carsland, watch Aladdin and a parade maybe, have a nice dinner and see WOC.

Then on my next DCA day, I could focus on getting FPs and the rides.

 

[Eeee-va]

I'd definitely do it, but I think I'd check into WoC FPs on Saturday, if you can see it then instead of Monday. There may very well be FPs available, and then you can get it "out of the way."

IF the Mad T party appeals to you, that MAY be your only option to visit it as well--I don't know if there's confirmation that it will run on weekends in September, but it's not likely it will run during the week. Like ArchOwl said, it's a great time to see any shows and parades you wanted to see.

I imagine Cars Land (well, especially RSR and Luigi's) will be busy any time of day, but you can still have fun in DCA and see Cars Land at night that first night. You can get to Cars Land at opening on your full day in DCA....hopefully by the time you visit, RSR will actually be running in the morning instead of being down at park opening!

Have a great trip!

 

[Rubygoose]

Well, maybe I'll just play it by ear. We're coming in from Victoria, and we have to leave the house at 5:45am to take a ferry then bus to the airport in Vancouver. No time zone changes, but the kids will probably be exhausted. If they sleep on the plane they might get a second wind, though. Maybe I'll just get our passes at the gates when we get there instead of buying them online this year, since there's no discount for buying online anymore. Last year I got the passes when the Canadian dollar was higher, so I saved a bit that way.
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[larina]

Hi,
...We will do Disneyland on Sunday to see the fireworks, California adventure on Monday for WOC...

Will there be WOC on Monday when you are there? It is weekends only during slower seasons, as are F! and the fireworks at DL. Something to think about.

 

[Eeee-va]

Will there be WOC on Monday when you are there? It is weekends only during slower seasons....

Is this new? In November 2011 it ran once a day even on the slowest day. The show doesn't take any actors--just some technicians and crowd control--so it has to be relatively cheap to run...I don't know why they wouldn't run it daily, unless they are doing maintenance (which happened I believe this spring?).

 

[larina]

You know what? I'm out of my mind today (that's what happens when you spend 24 hours as the only adult with six 9-year-old girls lol). It is the fireworks I am thinking of. Sorry! I'm not going to attempt to answer, or talk about, anything requiring real thought or brain power today.

 

[Eeee-va]

You know what? I'm out of my mind today (that's what happens when you spend 24 hours as the only adult with six 9-year-old girls lol). It is the fireworks I am thinking of. Sorry! I'm not going to attempt to answer, or talk about, anything requiring real thought or brain power today.

...

You are SO brave!

Anyway, you raised a good point that sometimes WoC MAY not run nightly in the off-season, but the original poster can look into that before purchase. If there is really no discount (and I think she's right), and IF you don't have to buy in advance to get Magic Morning, then I think the original poster is right on to wait.

 

[Rubygoose]

...

You are SO brave!

Anyway, you raised a good point that sometimes WoC MAY not run nightly in the off-season, but the original poster can look into that before purchase. If there is really no discount (and I think she's right), and IF you don't have to buy in advance to get Magic Morning, then I think the original poster is right on to wait.

Do I need to buy in advance to get Magic Morning? I'll want to use Magic Mirning on the Tuesday, since the disneyland may not open until 10am.

 

[Eeee-va]

Do I need to buy in advance to get Magic Morning? I'll want to use Magic Mirning on the Tuesday, since the disneyland may not open until 10am.

I can't say with 100% certainty. I always THOUGHT you got a Magic Morning when you bought at the ticket booth, but I recall for some reason my mom bought a several-day hopper at the booths a couple years ago and she did NOT get a Magic Morning. This was back in 2009 or 2010 when you DID get discounts for buying in advance. The rest of us had APs at the time so it didn't really affect us (she would not have gotten up to visit the parks early without us anyway).

Anyway, it might be worth making a new post to ask that question, if no one comes by with an answer. Surely someone here has recent first-hand experience.