Help me with your Land!

[3kidz4dis]

I am a DVC member at Disneyworld (Saratoga Springs) and we are going to be staying at Marriott Newport Coast and want to visit Disneyland. I have 10 day non expiring park hopper passes that we have only used 3 days of so far and was wondering if I should just pay out of pocket for new passes since we will only be visiting DL for 1-2 days. I understand that DL is cheaper than DW so maybe that would not be a good idea to use the passes I have. I do have a few other questions if anyone has the time to help. I really am clueless as far as DL goes.

First of all, do you have just Magic Kingdom and is it the same layout as DW.

Do you have Epcot, AK ect or any other park?

If I only have 1 day, what is the best way to visit?

Can I do it in one day or is it necessary to stay 2?

Do you have character meals similar to DW?

Do you have a particular resource to help? I have the Unofficial Guide to DW and the Passporter but I hate to buy more books for a one day visit?

Thank you so much for your help!! I really do appreciate it!

 

[eduk8r26]

Disneyland is similar to Magic Kingdom, but much smaller. You can go on the official website(Disney.com) to find out just what we have. We don't have all the other parks, except for California Adventure, which does not compare at all with the other WDW parks. One day is not enough time to really experience both parks, IMO. Even 2 days is hard, but can be done if you plan. There are character meals at each of the Disney resorts. allearsnet.com can give you all the menus and prices. Again, the disney.com site can help you plan. Enjoy your trip!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I have never been to WDW but I can answer a few of the questions.

Do you have Epcot, AK ect or any other park?

We have California Adventure (DCA). It is a half-day to 1 day park. It is about 200ft from Disneyland.

If I only have 1 day, what is the best way to visit?

Disneyland

Can I do it in one day or is it necessary to stay 2?

Depends when you are coming. On a rainy weekday in December you can do both parks in one day. On a sunny day in July you will miss half of Disneyland.

 

[mikey13v]

Your 10 day park hopper from WDW is not valid at DL. You may only use those at WDW and no other Disney Theme parks.
DL is smaller in size, but has many more attractions than MK.
You may be able to see all attractions at DL and DCA in two days if crowds aren't too bad, but 3 to 5 days will give you the time to see everything as well as time to smell the roses. Not being busy at DL resort is probably the best time spent.

 

[almostGoofy]

Your 10 day park hopper from WDW is not valid at DL. You may only use those at WDW and no other Disney Theme parks.
DL is smaller in size, but has many more attractions than MK.
You may be able to see all attractions at DL and DCA in two days if crowds aren't too bad, but 3 to 5 days will give you the time to see everything as well as time to smell the roses. Not being busy at DL resort is probably the best time spent.

No that's not true if these were purchased prior to the newer "Magic your way" passes and may still apply even with "Magic your way" passes with no expiration date. I've used old WDW park hopper passes at DL. When I purchased the WDW passes, I was told I could use them at DL when the agent found out I live in CA. Heck, they'll take an old E-ticket and give you credit towards another pass if you had one. It probably would be worth more if you sold it on E-Bay though.

Disney will honor whatever the originally conditions were placed on the passes and any WDW park hopper pass purchased prior to the "Magic your way" tickets will be honored at DL. Call DL and verify for your own peace of mind, especially if your pass is a "Magic your way" ticket. I don't know what the rules and conditions are on the newer ones.

That said, WDW annual passes are only good at WDW.

 

[3kidz4dis]

Thanks for everyones replies. I decided not to use my WDW passes mainly because it is more expensive to go there anyway. Now, do you have an independent discount company that you can buy your tickets through? I purchased mine through a company called Orlando Discount Vacation and they were cheaper than buying through Disney. Do you have any websites of different companies I can purchase through?

 

[wackywexler]

Hi! Just wanted to say glad you are coming!! IMHO I would allow at least a day in each park. Also, you will love the Marriott Newport Coast. Maybe you can to Disneyland one day, take a day off at the beach the next and then go back and do Disney's California Adventure. You will love your vacation villa, It is not as themed as a DVC resort but is very spacious and nicley done. I stayed there once to hear their timeshare presentation (we own Marriott out in Palm Springs) and my Mom owns at Newport Coast,. Enjoy!!!!!!!

 

[3kidz4dis]

Hi! Just wanted to say glad you are coming!! IMHO I would allow at least a day in each park. Also, you will love the Marriott Newport Coast. Maybe you can to Disneyland one day, take a day off at the beach the next and then go back and do Disney's California Adventure. You will love your vacation villa, It is not as themed as a DVC resort but is very spacious and nicley done. I stayed there once to hear their timeshare presentation (we own Marriott out in Palm Springs) and my Mom owns at Newport Coast,. Enjoy!!!!!!!

Thank you!! If we do it your way (I was thinking the same) do you think it is necessary to spend the extra money on a park hopper?

 

[Rapunsel]

YES!!!

The park hopper option is ggod. As wehn DL gets busy go over to the other park.. DCA is not an all day thing. So you would be waisting your time.. IMHO.

We have annual passes so we can go to either park. I think that they are having discounts right now. On park hoppers over 2 days.. So check out the DL website and go to tickets only...

There are the prices . You have to buy them online to get the discount though.

I don't know when you plan on coming but from about the beginning of JAnuary till April and in the fall they have great discounts avaliable..

 

[wackywexler]

I love being able to go from park to park with a hopper option but it does expend a bit of time and some energy and wear and tear on your feet to do so even though they are so close together.

I respectfully disagree, I do not think DCA is a half day park. You can hit the highlights in half a day but you can spend a whole day there and you will have seen everything. The new Monster's Inc ride has long lines and no fastpasses. There are not that many showings of Aladin so you have to time it right. The bugs land rides are fun even for adults. Take your time and play in the farm area. Take the bakery tour and the tortilla tour, play some games on the boardwalk. Ride the sun wheel and the merry-go-round, do a character meal or a fine meal at the winery. If you see everything in the Animation building you could easily spend two hours there. Play in redwood creek challenge then do some shopping,, see a parade. The pace is more leisurely in this park.

I guess the definition of all day could vary to, if you mean extended summer hours of 8am to midnight, yeah you may run out of things to do if you plan to spend 16 hours. I know you can easily fill 8 to 10hrs and have really seen the park.

It can be nice to to spend the day at DCA then park hop over to Disneyland to enjoy their nightlife. I love Disneyland at night.

Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[rsschneck]

Thanks for everyones replies. I decided not to use my WDW passes mainly because it is more expensive to go there anyway. Now, do you have an independent discount company that you can buy your tickets through? I purchased mine through a company called Orlando Discount Vacation and they were cheaper than buying through Disney. Do you have any websites of different companies I can purchase through?

In case you are wanting to see other attractions:


Southern California CityPass® Information:

Ages: 10 and up
Admission to the following six attractions:
3-day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket* valid for admission to both Disneyland® Park and Disney’s California Adventure® Park
1-day admission ticket to SeaWorld Adventure Park® San Diego <
1-day admission ticket to the San Diego Zoo® or San Diego Zoo® Wild Animal Park <
1-day admission ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood™©
Booklet expires 14 days past date of first use
First day of use must occur by January 2, 2007


adult $174.99 and child $139.99
these prices are through Costco

 

[3kidz4dis]

In case you are wanting to see other attractions:


Southern California CityPass® Information:

Ages: 10 and up
Admission to the following six attractions:
3-day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® Bonus Ticket* valid for admission to both Disneyland® Park and Disney’s California Adventure® Park
1-day admission ticket to SeaWorld Adventure Park® San Diego <
1-day admission ticket to the San Diego Zoo® or San Diego Zoo® Wild Animal Park <
1-day admission ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood™©
Booklet expires 14 days past date of first use
First day of use must occur by January 2, 2007


adult $174.99 and child $139.99
these prices are through Costco

Wow, that seems like the way to go! We are only doing Disney for 2 days, San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld and we will still get our moneys worth! Now, I would assume you would need to be a member of costco? Would we need to purchase through the Costco in Cali?

 

[HeatherinNC]

You can purchase the So Cal pass at Costco.com. Thats what we are planning on doing. And you don't have to be a member to buy, but they charge an extra fee if you aren't. I think it was $35 charge to buy 4 tickets.

 

[MissKIA]

The city pass is not only available at Costco. I've seen it offered on many travel websites.

 

[rsschneck]

http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/hollywood/website/tic_sccp.html

This is from the Universal Studios web site

I know the tickets show up on the Disneyland web site if you search for city pass.

 

[3kidz4dis]

The city pass is not only available at Costco. I've seen it offered on many travel websites.

Do you know offhand one or two for me to look at?

 

[MissKIA]

Expedia, Universal Studios' website and I'm pretty sure I even saw it offered on Disney's website.