Has anyone ever flown to Anaheim for just 1 day at Disneyland?

[LAS2AMS]

Probably not worth it. I almost never make my whole vacation about Disney. When I go to Japan, it's never for just Tokyo Disney. It's Tokyo + Tokyo Disney + Kyoto or Osaka or another city we've never been to. When I go to Hong Kong, it's never just for Hong Kong Disneyland. It's Hong Kong Disneyland + Hong Kong + Macau + Singapore maybe

Welcome to the DISboards, where “off site” is a trigger word for many and being a world traveler meals you’ve drank around World Showcase during the festival .

Nothing wrong with a Disney day. Many people do it to WDW - where cheap and short flights + inexpensive transportation make it more viable.

 

[irlandaise]

Probably not worth it. I almost never make my whole vacation about Disney. When I go to Japan, it's never for just Tokyo Disney. It's Tokyo + Tokyo Disney + Kyoto or Osaka or another city we've never been to. When I go to Hong Kong, it's never just for Hong Kong Disneyland. It's Hong Kong Disneyland + Hong Kong + Macau + Singapore maybe

Although Pluto hasn't said where they live, their mentions of arrival times lead me to believe that they live on the West Coast, so considering a day trip to Disneyland is hardly the same as considering a day trip to Tokyo or HK.

Once when I was in high school and couldn't find any new school year clothes I liked in our part of the Bay Area, I convinced my mom to go shopping in LA for the day. It's very doable.

 

[MissMindy1984]

Probably not worth it. I almost never make my whole vacation about Disney. When I go to Japan, it's never for just Tokyo Disney. It's Tokyo + Tokyo Disney + Kyoto or Osaka or another city we've never been to. When I go to Hong Kong, it's never just for Hong Kong Disneyland. It's Hong Kong Disneyland + Hong Kong + Macau + Singapore maybe

For me, I look at my day trip to Disney as a little piece of magic to keep me going until I can take a true vacation (time off from work is the key factor there).
By using air miles for my flights, I won’t be spending more then someone who chooses to go to a major sporting event or concert on the weekend - it’s just my preferred special interest/hobby and I think it’s worth it to fill up my cup!

 

[DizMe]

Probably not worth it. I almost never make my whole vacation about Disney. When I go to Japan, it's never for just Tokyo Disney. It's Tokyo + Tokyo Disney + Kyoto or Osaka or another city we've never been to. When I go to Hong Kong, it's never just for Hong Kong Disneyland. It's Hong Kong Disneyland + Hong Kong + Macau + Singapore maybe

That would be wonderful, but the point is it's a "budget" trip where you've shaved off most of the external costs (hotel, air by using points etc, minimal food, DL tickets, and so on). It's a way to get a really fun mini Disney vacation without spending a fortune. It definitely can be worth it when you factor in the amount of fun/pleasure you get, and it sort of becomes a challenge to see how much you can do on the cheap.

Not worth it as a main vacation, I agree, but that's a different animal.

 

[LKing]

I was at a conference in Dallas last year. On the plane, I sat next to a family of six, dressed in Cowboys fan gear, who flew out for the football game and were flying back on the same day. They said that they do it a couple of times a season. It is a 3 hr flight from LA to Dallas.

 

[Pluto468]

That would be wonderful, but the point is it's a "budget" trip where you've shaved off most of the external costs (hotel, air by using points etc, minimal food, DL tickets, and so on). It's a way to get a really fun mini Disney vacation without spending a fortune. It definitely can be worth it when you factor in the amount of fun/pleasure you get, and it sort of becomes a challenge to see how much you can do on the cheap.

Not worth it as a main vacation, I agree, but that's a different animal.

I agree. I also think alot depends on expectations going into the trip. For me, if I'm going for one day I'd focus on just walking around and seeing the Christmas decorations and eating as many holiday treats as I can lol. If I could see the parade that would be icing on the cake, and a few rides would be fun but I'd go into it planning on flexibility.

One issue for this proposed trip in particular is that my daughter is desperate to try the new Tiana ride but I'm not sure if we'd have time or be able to get a virtual Q since we'd be arriving at 10am or later. So if we go I'll warn her that it might not happen, but we could still check out the new Bayou Country etc.

 

[MissMindy1984]

Probably not worth it. I almost never make my whole vacation about Disney. When I go to Japan, it's never for just Tokyo Disney. It's Tokyo + Tokyo Disney + Kyoto or Osaka or another city we've never been to. When I go to Hong Kong, it's never just for Hong Kong Disneyland. It's Hong Kong Disneyland + Hong Kong + Macau + Singapore maybe

For me, I look at my day trip to Disney as a little piece of magic to keep me going until I can take a true vacation (time off from work is the key factor there).
By using air miles for my flights, I won’t be spending more then someone who chooses to go to a major sporting event or concert on the - it’s just my preferred special interest/hobby and I think it’s worth it to fill up my cup!

I agree. I also think alot depends on expectations going into the trip. For me, if I'm going for one day I'd focus on just walking around and seeing the Christmas decorations and eating as many holiday treats as I can lol. If I could see the parade that would be icing on the cake, and a few rides would be fun but I'd go into it planning on flexibility.

One issue for this proposed trip in particular is that my daughter is desperate to try the new Tiana ride but I'm not sure if we'd have time or be able to get a virtual Q since we'd be arriving at 10am or later. So if we go I'll warn her that it might not happen, but we could still check out the new Bayou Country etc.

For Tiana's, you don't have to be in the park to join the 7 a.m. Virtual Que. As long as you have purchased your Disneyland ticket, you can join from anywhere for the 7 a.m. drop (so assuming you are not in the air at that time, you should be good for trying to get a spot?!). You could also see if there is LLMP available for Tiana's after 10 a.m. and ride it that way. Extra costs though

 

[Pluto468]

For me, I look at my day trip to Disney as a little piece of magic to keep me going until I can take a true vacation (time off from work is the key factor there).
By using air miles for my flights, I won’t be spending more then someone who chooses to go to a major sporting event or concert on the - it’s just my preferred special interest/hobby and I think it’s worth it to fill up my cup!

For Tiana's, you don't have to be in the park to join the 7 a.m. Virtual Que. As long as you have purchased your Disneyland ticket, you can join from anywhere for the 7 a.m. drop (so assuming you are not in the air at that time, you should be good for trying to get a spot?!). You could also see if there is LLMP available for Tiana's after 10 a.m. and ride it that way. Extra costs though

Oh, that's great to know! My flight would be around 7:30 am, so I wouldn't be in the air yet. I would totally do LLMP if necessary since I'd be saving money on hotel and rental car Guess I'll have to read up on how to ride Tiana's.

 

[PiratesOfTheSea]

I was at a conference in Dallas last year. On the plane, I sat next to a family of six, dressed in Cowboys fan gear, who flew out for the football game and were flying back on the same day. They said that they do it a couple of times a season. It is a 3 hr flight from LA to Dallas.

My sincerest condolences.

Much like DCA, JerryWorld is a popular tourist attraction that has remained a mediocre product, complete with self-inflicted sun problems, despite the ungodly amounts of money spent on it.

 

[TarynM]

I flew to Disneyland from Seattle earlier this year just for the day. My friends and I took the first flight out and took the last flight back on a Saturday in January since we wanted to experience the Lunar New Year things. They say it was too much but I'd 100% do it again but only if I had a pass. If I had to pay out of pocket for the ticket, I'd have to really think about it.

 

[twodogs]

I can see doing this if we had MKs, flights on miles, and a good back up plan (hotel that was available with points) in case the night flight back home got cancelled. Heck, I’m about to talk myself into by reading this thread!!

PS I live in Dallas, and my one day trip to DL (if I had a MK and got the flight on miles) could cost less than just parking at Jerryworld!

 

[Jawwdoc]

I typically mix in a couple of days at DL when I’m in town for business. On my recent trip TBA was down most of the day and when I strolled past the attraction mid-morning there was a ride vehicle “stuck” at the top of the big drop, so if that is a major motivation for your epic visit, beware that TBA is still having some issues. I would definitely avoid LAX and use SNA. Have fun and report back if you complete the adventure!

 

[LKing]

I typically mix in a couple of days at DL when I’m in town for business. On my recent trip TBA was down most of the day and when I strolled past the attraction mid-morning there was a ride vehicle “stuck” at the top of the big drop, so if that is a major motivation for your epic visit, beware that TBA is still having some issues. I would definitely avoid LAX and use SNA. Have fun and report back if you complete the adventure!

It has only been open for four days. Which day were you there?

 

[Jawwdoc]

It has only been open for four days. Which day were you there?

I was in town 11/15-11/17. The morning of 11/17 was the day it was stuck at the top of the drop.

 

[LKing]

I was there the evening of the 16th when the ride went down just before 10 pm. There was a log at the top that had to be evacuated, along with everyone else on the ride. It sounds like they were working to fix Saturday night's problem on Sunday.

 

[Jawwdoc]

I was there the evening of the 16th when the ride went down just before 10 pm. There was a log at the top that had to be evacuated, along with everyone else on the ride. It sounds like they were working to fix Saturday night's problem on Sunday.

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Interesting, I noticed it never opened the morning of 11/17. I hopped over to DCA at 11:30 and left the resort early afternoon, so unsure if/when it actually opened.

 

[LKing]

Interesting, I noticed it never opened the morning of 11/17. I hopped over to DCA at 11:30 and left the resort early afternoon, so unsure if/when it actually opened.

According to Thrill Data, it looks like it opened sometime between 11 am and noon.

 

[RainyDayPixie]

This is such a dangerous thread! Now I want to come for a day of holiday merriment.

 

[monkeypat83]

I have had magic keys/annual passes off and on for the last 15 years and have done this a few times on years I had the pass (usually with a friend who also had a pass). We would fly out of San Jose and into either John Wayne or Long Beach whichever had the earlier flight the day we wanted to go. Flight usually left about 6:30 and landed 7:30ish and then we grabbed an Uber or taxi and were in the parks walking down Main Street before 9 AM. We would take whatever the last flight of the day was from either airport (usually 9 something so landing at 10 something) so I would be home and asleep before midnight. Benefits of living less than 10 minutes from the airport. We would have to leave the parks about 6 and be in an uber/taxi by 6:30 if we had a 9:30 flight home so we still got a good 9 hours in the parks.

I actually have a 3 and a 5 year old now so I am toying with the idea of buying them each a $50 child ticket and me a 2 day ticket and taking them separately 2 weekends in a row (so I can use one day of my ticket each weekend) and letting them have a mom day where they get all my attention and get to choose (within reason) what we do. I wouldn't do an up and back with them though. I would fly in the night before and fly home after the parks and let them sleep on the airplane since even when we go for multiple days we usually leave the parks by about 7 anyway because of their age.

 

[Pluto468]

OP here~
Well...I booked the trip! But I realized I have a free Hyatt night so we're staying at the Hyatt Regency Dec 13. Not walking distance but they have a shuttle, and this is one trip where I will NOT be spending much time in the hotel!

Thanks for all the input and sharing your thoughts. I would have done 1 day if I didn't have that free night available. I'll try the one day trip sometime when it's just me.

I'm crossing fingers and toes that this works out. I feel like early December is so up in the air due to weather and germs, but hopefully I'll make it