How to make the most out of DCA

[wisheruponstars]

So my family purchased the CA resident tickets. We have 1 day remaining. I was hoping that they would let me change the ticket to park hopper for the last day, but it doesn't look they will. So for the last day, we were planning on going to DCA, it's a teenage boys birthday and he loves avengers. My only thing with DCA, while I enjoy many things about it, it seems like, there isn't as much to do there (it's not as big as Disneyland). Any tips on how to make the best out of the day?

 

[smeg3030]

Try to get there for rope drop?

Then either head to Carsland for Radiator Springs (Honestly about 85% of the opening crowd goes that direction). Or Pixar Pier for Incredicoaster \Toy Story Mania. (You can probably ride these 2-3 times before it gets busy.)

Make sure you get Web Slingers boarding group
Depending on when you get your Web Slingers boarding, there are multiple shows occurring like Spiderman, Dora Milaje, Dr Strange, and more over at Avengers campus. Check the Entertainment times in the app. You can also go line up for Guardians of the Galaxy, it seems like it's a 45 minute or so wait nowadays.

Don't forget about Soaring either. Then there's Animation Academy where you can draw Disney characters. Older kids enjoy this as well.

Hope that helps

 

[Epicnemesis]

If you rope drop you will probably be able to knock out most rides a teenager would be interested in in a few hours. Avengers has a lot of shows that can fill in a day though. Pre avengers you could be done with the park by 1, now you can actually have a full day there at a relaxed pace.

Also, your teens would probably want to skip the later ride, but it’s a lot more fun than it looks.

 

[DLRExpert]

Like everyone said get to the park for Rope Drop. For an 8am opening, you want to to be at the park entrance by 730am. I usually get the VQ for Web Slingers at 7am, then head to the park or entrance.

You basically want to be as close to the rope (near the Carthay), so you can make Radiator Springs Racers your first stop.

If the line for rope drop heading to Cars Land is crowded when you get there and before park opening, you want to go get in line for Soarin Around the World.

Park opens, ride Soarin, then walk through Hollywood Land and head to and ride Guardians. You should be done with both of these attractions by 840am.
Your GOAL is to be in Pixar Pier before 9am. For example, if you are in the park at 830am, ride Guardians then head to Pixar Pier. If you are in the park at 845am, head to Pixar Pier

Now head to Pixar Pier, ride Toy Story Midway Mania first, then Incredicoaster, then Pal Around. It should be close to 930am at this point. Now ride Goofy's Sky School and Symphony Swings. Goal is to be out of Pixar Pier by 10am.

Ride Grizzly between 950am-1010am.
If you do not ride Racers first, then that is a ride you are going to have to wait. Anything that is 45 minutes or less for Racers is good to get in line at.

If you ride Racers first, cut across to Guardians and ride, then to Pixar Pier and follow the direction above. Soarin will be the line you will need to wait in. Just wait for the app to say it is a 30minute or less wait.

Don't worry about the Web Slingers return time. You can join that line at anytime once it is called. I just wouldn't wait for it if the line is past the main entrance to the attraction.

ME

 

[Marssiful]

It could be fun to get the giant Pymini sandwich at Pym’s. Or maybe go have some fancy mocktails at the Lamplight.
Maybe make a photo scavenger hunt? We’ve done that before with a group in Disneyland and it was really fun.

 

[mel2014]

Don't forget that since you're going at Halloweentime, Guardians transforms to Monsters After Dark at 3 pm, so you may want to go early in the day and then again later for both experiences.

Also, I love doing Incredicoaster and RSR at night, both feel like a totally different experience than daytime.

And I'm a big fan of the single-rider lines to avoid long waits, though the Incredicoaster single-rider line tends to move slowly, so it's often faster to just use the regular line.

You could always take a break in the middle of the day and do a leisurely lunch in DTD or even pop out to a local restaurant at Gardenwalk.

For Animation Academy, take a look at the schedule board early in the day and pick a favorite character or characters to an schedule around those rather than dropping in for a random character.

While there are fewer rides at DCA, my kids would happily cycle through Incredicoaster/Midway Mania/Guardians/RSR all day long.

 

[wisheruponstars]

Thanks for the replies! Sounds like I definitely need to get there for rope drop! Can't wait!

 

[Kit Jackson]

Riding Radiator Springs Racers during the day and at night if you can is wonderful. It's a different experience at night. Maybe try to be in CarsLand when the sun goes down, the lights come on, and "Sh-Boom" plays. I've never been there for the "Sh-Boom" moment, but it's on my list of things I'd like to do. I don't know what your budget is, but the Midway Games at Pixar Pier are fun, but there is an additional charge. If it is playing when you are there, considering seeing World of Color.

 

[wisheruponstars]

Oh I've never heard of the "Sh-boom" moment. Is it right as the sun sets? I'll have ti try and plan right. Thanks!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Oh I've never heard of the "Sh-boom" moment. Is it right as the sun sets? I'll have ti try and plan right. Thanks!

It's a little before sun sets and they don't announce the time. I recommend going.

 

[Ladyslug]

Maybe try to be in CarsLand when the sun goes down, the lights come on, and "Sh-Boom" plays. I've never been there for the "Sh-Boom" moment, but it's on my list of things I'd like to do.

I heard that for Halloweentime the song changes to "I Put a Spell On You" instead of "Sh-Boom" when they light up the neon. I'm looking forward to seeing it with the Halloween music.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

It is "I Put a Spell on You" when the Halloween decorations are up. It's definitely cute to watch. Just be warned that if you're going on an OBB night, the sun doesn't set until during the party, so you can't see it as a regular park guest.

 

[wisheruponstars]

It is "I Put a Spell on You" when the Halloween decorations are up. It's definitely cute to watch. Just be warned that if you're going on an OBB night, the sun doesn't set until during the party, so you can't see it as a regular park guest.

Ooh! I can't wait. Thankfully we're going on a day when there isn't OBB, so happy! So you would agree, it happens like right before sun set?

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Ooh! I can't wait. Thankfully we're going on a day when there isn't OBB, so happy! So you would agree, it happens like right before sun set?

Yeah, I just use whatever time my iphone tells me "sunset" is and get there a few minutes before. There's usually a crowd. You can ask CMs, in Carsland, too.

 

[SherylLC]

Boy, you can learn something new every day! I had no idea...thanks!!

 

[RunnerMom71]

I would also recommend getting one of the outdoor tables at Pyms - facing the Avengers building for lunch time. It's pretty fantastic to eat your lunch & watch the shows, characters, etc. We all really enjoyed it (12 yo, 17yo, 19 yo girls to the much older parents!). Also if you imbibe the cocktails at Pym's Test lab were really good and fun.

I love having dinner at Lamplight Lounge overlooking Pixar Pier or of course Carthay Circle.

My teenage nephew also likes the games at Pixar Pier: and my sister got a print on Pixar Pier that was custom made. I don't know which location it is? But it sounds pretty great: she had it framed and they are shipping it to her (she did this a few weeks ago). I feel like I missed out on this. Would be a great gift for you to do for his birthday? *anyone on this board know which shop this is?*

 

[wisheruponstars]

I would also recommend getting one of the outdoor tables at Pyms - facing the Avengers building for lunch time. It's pretty fantastic to eat your lunch & watch the shows, characters, etc. We all really enjoyed it (12 yo, 17yo, 19 yo girls to the much older parents!). Also if you imbibe the cocktails at Pym's Test lab were really good and fun.

I love having dinner at Lamplight Lounge overlooking Pixar Pier or of course Carthay Circle.

My teenage nephew also likes the games at Pixar Pier: and my sister got a print on Pixar Pier that was custom made. I don't know which location it is? But it sounds pretty great: she had it framed and they are shipping it to her (she did this a few weeks ago). I feel like I missed out on this. Would be a great gift for you to do for his birthday? *anyone on this board know which shop this is?*

Oh, sounds fun. Do you know if you need a reservation at gyms? Or can you just walk in? Or the lamplight lounge or Cathay circle sound good too. I've never been to any of these places. Are reservations needed?

Are the games like the kind at a fair? And are they pretty reasonably priced?
What kind of print was it? Like one of those cartoon sketchers?

Sorry for all the questions, but these all sound very interesting!

 

[RunnerMom71]

All great questions!!!

Pym's is first come first serve for a table: and man it can be competitive. But worth it IMO! We did mobile order for our food while I staked out a spot (group of 6 so a little trickier) and we also grabbed drinks ahead of time. Really nice to be able to sit down, relax and watch all the fun of Avengers after a morning of running around and rides. The SpiderMan show is also good fun IMO!

You do need reservations for Lamplight and Carthay. My bet is a teenage boy would prefer Lamplight Lounge to Carthay. We loved the potatoes, of course the nachos and their burgers are really good. We really enjoyed dinner there a few weeks ago. Great service too. If you can't snag a reservation right away sign up for a free alert on MouseDiningdotCom

The games are like the fair but of course better. Very reasonably priced IMO. Print was like a cell image from a movie I think? I haven't seen it yet: my sister described it to me on our way home and I definitely had FOMO. Hopefully someone on the boards who is much more of a DCA expert than me can help out (we live in Seattle and go to DL around 1x a year). All I know is that it's on Pixar Pier.

And have fun!

 

[Kit Jackson]

@RunnerMom71-My guess about the print, and this is only a guess, is that it was a custom sketch at Knick's Knacks. There is a giant book of sketches and you get to pick which one you want the artist to create. They have classic characters, more modern characters, and everything in between. They even have obscure characters you would never expect to be options. On my last visit, I was pleasantly shocked to find that Kit and Balloo from TailSpin was an option, because I thought I was one of half a dozen people who remembered the show.

You tell the artist which sketch you want by number (each sketch has an ID code). You can pick which colors you want (a single character has two colors, two characters have three colors). When I asked for Robin Hood, the artist showed me on a chart which shade of green he normally used for Robin Hood, but I asked him to go a shade or two brighter, which he did.

The artist then creates a custom sketch for you which you pick up later in the day. They are expensive. It is a splurge for most people. However, it is a one of a kind custom peice that you will only get in the park.

@wisheruponstars-Here is a link with the desciption of the games.
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...xar-pier-in-disney-california-adventure-park/
It is $5 per play. https://wdwnt.com/2020/02/photos-ne...e-at-disney-california-adventures-pixar-pier/

 

[avalon451]

If they’re old enough to be on their own, encourage single rider for RSR. We just got back, and marveled at the people who were standing patiently in the 60 minute queue, while we breezed past in the single rider line and literally walked right on. You can do it multiple times if you want.