How long to get between Disneyland and DCA

[cesariofamily]

I have been to Disney World 5 times but never to Disneyland. My husband has a conference there in June. I will arrive June 23. My plan is to go to DCA on Thursday June 24 and together we will do Disneyland on Friday June 25. I was noticing that Disneyland opens 2 to 3 hours earlier than DCA. Can you do a few things in Disneyland and be at DCA at rope drop? Is it worth the work? Any tips!

Thanks!
Amy

 

[HydroGuy]

I have been to Disney World 5 times but never to Disneyland. My husband has a conference there in June. I will arrive June 23. My plan is to go to DCA on Thursday June 24 and together we will do Disneyland on Friday June 25. I was noticing that Disneyland opens 2 to 3 hours earlier than DCA. Can you do a few things in Disneyland and be at DCA at rope drop? Is it worth the work? Any tips!

Thanks!
Amy

Yes, you can easily do DL before DCA. And should. How long? How fast can you walk? The distance is about 50-100 yards from gate to gate. Maybe a minute.

See http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8092124&lon=-117.9188132&z=19&l=0&m=b

 

[cesariofamily]

Thanks for your help!

I found out about this confrence about 1 week ago and got a plane ticket Sunday night. I am a big WDW planner but this is new and different and I don't have much time to plan. Any other tips on shows? WDW has alot of fireworks shows at closing. What shows are not to be missed? I read on the boards that fantasmic is closed?

 

[stevejanelle]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!! Do DL first for the couple of hours. Get at least 2 FP's then go to the rope drop at DCA. Then before you leave for the hotel go back to DL and do your FP's. Def. worth it to me.
STeve

 

[skiingfast]

Thanks for your help!

I found out about this confrence about 1 week ago and got a plane ticket Sunday night. I am a big WDW planner but this is new and different and I don't have much time to plan. Any other tips on shows? WDW has alot of fireworks shows at closing. What shows are not to be missed? I read on the boards that fantasmic is closed?

Fantasmic is better and will be open then. Since the fireworks will have some changes for Summer Nightastic it may be worth seeing too if is close to the regular DL show than definitly. And in DCA will be WoC a new show, it will be crowded but unlike anything WDW has to offer. That's a lot to pack in, in two days.

Also see the Aladdin Musical in DCA.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/special/summer/index?name=Summer

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for your help!

I found out about this confrence about 1 week ago and got a plane ticket Sunday night. I am a big WDW planner but this is new and different and I don't have much time to plan. Any other tips on shows? WDW has alot of fireworks shows at closing. What shows are not to be missed? I read on the boards that fantasmic is closed?

Fantasmic is closed at the moment because there has been a major refurb on the Rivers of America and that is where F! takes place. But it will re-open in late May and will show when you are there.

But if I were you I would see World of Color over Fantasmic or fireworks because it is so unique. See my signature line for more WOC info. Also, go see Aladdin at DCA! Don't miss it. It will close in August after a near 10 year run to make way for a new show, but it is the best Disney stage show I have seen aside from Tarzan at DL Paris. Better than any of the current WDW stage shows. If you have two nights you do have time to catch WOC one night and Fantasmic the other. And Fantasmic is very good and better than at DHS - even though they do nto have a stadium at DL.

 

[skiingfast]

Just seeing the topic of this thread makes me laugh. Nothing wrong with it though, it's a fair question from somone who hasn't been there since the buidling of DCA, and a really good question from somone who has only been to WDW.

 

[Huff]

Don't forget that Downtown Disney is also just a few minute walk from either park.

DCA has the Pixar parade which is lots of fun. Aladdin show is a must see as is Fantasmic at DL. Be warned though, crowds can be horrible for Fantasmic. Viewing is around the Rivers of America in similar fashion to Illuminations viewing. I've seen others have tips on where to go with a decent view without having to stake out a seat hours before.

You will most likely park hop back and forth a few times each day. I like to start out at DL, collect but not use as many fast passes as possible. Then go to DCA for late morning and afternoon. As evening begins head back to DL and start using your fast passes.

While you have DL fast passes you can also obtain DCA fast passes at the same time. With the two parks minutes apart park hopping is on a whole different level that WDW!!

 

[Hound 109]

Just seeing the topic of this thread makes me laugh. Nothing wrong with it though, it's a fair question from somone who hasn't been there since the buidling of DCA, and a really good question from somone who has only been to WDW.

It is funny.....would it be too much trouble to go from Tomorrowland to Frontierland?......or should i just schedule them for separate days?

OP....one should PARK HOP each & every day....& read the following tip threads:


"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132

"FastPass for Dummies and Smarties - A Photographic Explanation" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186052

"Which Fast Pass First?" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1107718 (see my post #4 in that thread)

"Strategies For Using DL and DCA Opening Time Differences to Collect More Fastpasses"
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1553197

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

"HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851

"HydroGuy's How To Avoid Long Lines Rules" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199856

"Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

"Critique of MM/EE" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671


Also....consider getting a 3 day hopper so you can visit the day your arrive (or the day you leave). It'll come in handy....plus it will give you MM (if you're not already staying onsite)...& it's not that much more.

After you read all the links above, post again. Have fun planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

It is not funny to laugh at this question. Until we were at Disneyland in January, we had no concept of how far apart the parks are.

Amy, to answer your question from the perspective of a WDW vet and DL newbie, you can be standing in DL and turn around and actually see the Tower of Terror over in California Adventure, which is just too freaky for me. And you can be in California Adventure and see the train station over in DL.

DL is closer to CA than the train station is to Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom.

You will not need to do near as much planning for DL as you do for WDW. If you read this Board and check out the stickies at the top, you should be more than prepared.

You will definitely be able to do some things in DL and be at CA for opening. In one of the stickies at the top is a list of the attractions at DL that are not at WDW that you might find helpful.

I understand your stress in planning this trip, I felt the same way, but DL is far easier to negotiate as far as transportation is concerned, no busses, etc. You didn't say where you were staying, but if you are at one of the DL resorts, you walk DL from your hotel, to DCA from DL and you actually walk tru DTD to get to DL. Most dining there does not require an ADR, not like WDW at all.

I am no pro at DL, been there and to CA for 1 day each only, but I was hoping that these thoughts from another DL newbie might be of some help.

Good luck with your trip and have fun doing some planning.

 

[brenda1966]

It is not funny to laugh at this question. Until we were at Disneyland in January, we had no concept of how far apart the parks are.
QUOTE]

Oh, but it IS funny! Just the same as it is funny to see how small the Castle at DL is. I prepare myself every time, but every time I see it I still want to laugh.

Funny. Good, Disney loving Funny.

Once you park hop at DL, you don't want to park hop anywhere else. It's SO easy.

 

[Canadian Traveler]

No time at all.. Nothing like WDW and you can go between parks during the day..

 

[cesariofamily]

With all of your help I have a better understanding and can see why you would get a good laugh at my question. Nothing at ALL like WDW. Thanks again everyone Keep sending the sugestions I am going to do as much as possible. I may even get a ticket for Wed! I am staying at the Hilton Anaheim.

Amy

 

[Somegirl]

With all of your help I have a better understanding and can see why you would get a good laugh at my question. Nothing at ALL like WDW. Thanks again everyone Keep sending the sugestions I am going to do as much as possible. I may even get a ticket for Wed! I am staying at the Hilton Anaheim.

Amy

My family will be at DLR that same week, we arrive on the 21st, and it's supposed to be really busy, although it may calm down by Wed. Also Thursday the 24th is a Grad Night and DL closes down early that night so plan accordingly.
My DH is also attending a conference as well. I'm glad he's going because DD and I get to tag along have fun at DL!

 

[pixiewings71]

Just to kind of give you a time frame, it takes about 45-60 seconds to walk from one park to the other. It's not a silly question, it's a good one. I hope you enjoy your hopping!!

 

[nunzia]

When I go next week I must: See Aladdin one more time before it leaves forever, ride Star Tours one more time before it changes, and see Captain EO before it goes away again. To me, DLR is just so EASY while WDW is daunting and tiring to even think of.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

DL is closer to CA than the train station is to Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom.

Thank you for this reference! I, too am a WDW Vet stressing our first trip to DLR. I "know" the two Parks are close together but the above helps me realize just exactly how close.

I am trying to relax and not be in WDW plan mode but it is hard to break that habit!

 

[Huff]

Found this great aerial photo of Disneyland Resort. Disneyland is the upper center portion and California Adventure is the bottom center. Slightly right of center of the photo is a small brownish square. That is the plaza you walk across between Disneyland above and California Adventure below. You can see the semi circle gates of both parks on the upper and lower portions of the plaza.

Note that the parking lot shown in the lower right corner of California Adventure is now gone. They are building Cars Land there. This was all that was left of the original Disneyland parking lot.

 

[HydroGuy]

Found this great aerial photo of Disneyland Resort. Disneyland is the upper center portion and California Adventure is the bottom center. Slightly right of center of the photo is a small brownish square. That is the plaza you walk across between Disneyland above and California Adventure below. You can see the semi circle gates of both parks on the upper and lower portions of the plaza.

Note that the parking lot shown in the lower right corner of California Adventure is now gone. They are building Cars Land there. This was all that was left of the original Disneyland parking lot.

Huff, someone did a great job on the interactive map I linked to earlier. I really like how you can zoom and click on things to identify them.

Yes, you can easily do DL before DCA. And should. How long? How fast can you walk? The distance is about 50-100 yards from gate to gate. Maybe a minute.

See http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8092124&lon=-117.9188132&z=19&l=0&m=b

 

[Huff]

Huff, someone did a great job on the interactive map I linked to earlier. I really like how you can zoom and click on things to identify them.

Ah heck! Thats what I get for not ready all the posts!