If you had just ONE day . . . ?

[KelliLee702]

If you had just a ONE DAY park hopper pass on a Saturday . . .
What is your MUST see or DO ??

 

[Pucka1378]

I would do RSR and Toy Story at rope drope.... then head over to DL jungle cruise, pirates, haunted mansion, petting zoo, big thunder, Matterhorn, space mountain, buzz lightyear, Indiana Jones..... Those would be my must do items.

Then I would fill in from there with other things. I would also make time for a dole whip and corn dog.

 

[tarheelalum]

Just pick 4 rides you really want to do and do them first. Get a FP at DCA and then wait in line to ride something at DCA. After that, while you are waiting for your DCA FP time to come up, go to Disneyland and get a FP and wait in line to ride something or go back to DCA and do your FP ride. Then just take it as it comes. Ride what you want and use the FP to your advantage. And like the prior poster said, get a corn dog and a dole whip float. Have a great time but don't try to do everything. Enjoy every moment!

 

[ehrawn]

...sigh. I'll play. First assumption is that it's a solo trip. I'd stick to DL and enter just after rope drop. I do a semi-CCW pass: Space FP, ST, Matterhorn, back to Space. Then across the hub to BTMRR, Indy FP, Splash, HM, Pirates, Indy, JC, Tiki Room...and then break for lunch at Bengal Barbecue. I might head back to the hotel for a nap and dinner before venturing back for IASW, fireworks... whatever I feel like. Parades and F! would be skipped, for sure; just focus on the rides. A Dole Whip and a Churro would be incorporated, too.

 

[Amommy21]

I haven't done one day in so many years. But a few years ago as part of a longer stay we did have my father and auntie join us and did a one day marathon for them to see both parks. This was before RR. We were able to hit everything. But RR totally changes that. I might start in DCA and move to DL. You could waste a lot more time that you think going back and forth too much. Especially on a Saturday when locals are coming in all day long. I wouldn't plan any sit down meals or long shows to make sure we could get in as many attractions as possible.

 

[Imdboss]

I would start at DCA and get a FP for RSR then ride TSMM and CS then go to RSR if it's time, otherwise I would fill in my time with whatever else until FP time. Then I would go to DL and get a FP for Space, BTMRR, or IJ. Then my other must do rides are BLAB, POTC, and SM so I would just start picking shortest wait times and go from there while going on my FP ride.

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

This is how a very dear friend spent one day in both parks *pre Cars Land ~ RSR single rider* http://www.disboards.com/threads/we-did-it-dlr-wed-7-15.2232766/

 

[Rescue Pooh]

DCA:
RSR
TSMM
TOT

DL:
HM
POTC
BTMRR
Indiana Jones
Jungle Cruise
Matterhorn
Space Mountain

 

[KelliLee702]

Wow! So many of you are saying to Start at DCA. To clarify this trip would be a turn and burn as a Middle School Group Chaperone or I would just ride with them and be on my own possibly with my 16 DD. I think I need to have some clarification on some abbreviations . . .

...sigh. I'll play. I do a semi-CCW pass: Space FP, ST, Matterhorn, back to Space.

What is semi-CCW?

This was before RR. We were able to hit everything. But RR totally changes that.

What is RR?

I would start at DCA and get a FP for RSR then ride TSMM and CS then go to RSR if it's time.

What are RSR and TSMM?

Thanks everyone!

 

[DisneyDreamer1229]

What are RSR and TSMM?

RSR = Radiator Springs Racers
TSMM = Toy Story Midway Mania

 

[ehrawn]

What is semi-CCW?

CCW= counter clockwise. It's long standing debate that predates DCA and the FP system about which is better: clockwise around the Park, hitting Adventureland, Frontierland, then Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, or heading the opposite way. All my favorite rides and favorite theming are on the left side of the Park. I'd knock out Tomorrowland attractions early in the day, before the crowds, so that I wouldn't have to deal with the heat of the concrete later.

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

Star Tours is missing on a lot of these lists but is an absolute must for me. it's very well done (particularly if you are a Star Wars fan, but regardless, I think). It pairs well with a Space Mountain fast pass.

The matterhorn is worthwhile solely from a nostalgia/history perspective. The ride itself is painful and not worth a wait in excess of 20 minutes, in my opinion.

if you want more bang for your time, consider doing single rider when you can (don't know if your family set-up would allow, or if it would be a bummer for you and yours). RSR single rider obviously can save massive amounts of time. In DLP the best single rider option, hands down, is Splash (if standby is busy). My friends/family and I have accepted the fact that it's ok if we don't ride Splash together, and I haven't waited longer than 5-10 minutes for Splash in years doing single rider. Indy single rider can save quite a bit of time too, but I don't like the experience (miss most of a pretty neat queue, fighting your way against the stream of exiting people, and most of all the elevator).

 

[goldmay]

In Disneyland (in no particular order), Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Mad Tea Party, Star Tours and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. In DCA, Radiator Springs Racers, Aladdin, Animation Academy, Grizzly River Run and Midway Mania. I'd definitely get a cheddar cheese stick in DCA, Dole whip and a garlic cheddar twist in DL. Plus shopping for souvenirs!

 

[Amommy21]

Sorry RR meant RSR ... see I'm still not used to it! I really can't imagine trying to do a one day park hop to show people both parks and hit everything these days.

 

[KelliLee702]

Keep them coming . . . this is very interesting!

 

[agamble]

One day, both parks, can be difficult. We've done some one and one and a half day trips. We went one day in September for Halloween-stayed in Disneyland the whole day. And one and a half days in December for Christmas-whole day at Disneyland, rainy morning at DCA. My husband and I did one Saturday last June for our anniversary. We did Parkhop, and had a great time. I don't know what we did, in what order. We were just so happy to be without kids. We mostly did rides that we never get to do together because we're always swapping with the kids. It's so much easier to maneuver the parks without little ones. We also knew we were coming back in 8 days for a week long trip with our kids plus other family, so we didn't mind skipping Fantasyland, etc.

 

[KookyDisneyFam]

Splash Mountain, Pirates, Indy, and TMR are my top 4 favorites in DL and then at CA I couldn't miss Soarin', Screamin', and TSM. I'm not a big fan of ToT---huge chicken here!

 

[KelliLee702]

I am still keeping my fingers crossed that I am able to go . . . send some Pixie Dust my way, please!!

 

[D1sneyfam1ly]

DCA: RSR single rider at rope drop, TOT, Soaring

DL: Castle Walk Through, Peter Pan, Mr. Toads, Splash FP, Pirates, Haunted, Splash, Indy FP, Dole Whip, Thunder Mountain, Indiana, Space FP, Buzz Lightyear twice , Star Tours, Space, IASW, Alice, Pinocchio, Snow White, Casey Junior, Peter Pan again

Dinner/Lunch at Hungry Bear Restaurant.

 

[Dizzy4DL]

If I had only one day, I would skip TSMM. It's a great video game/ride, but eats up so much time.
DCA: RSR, TOT, Screamin', Silly Symphony Swings(I know I'm alone on liking that one) and Soarin'.
DL: Splash, Space, BTMRR, Pirates, Indy and IASW.

I actually think this way on multi-day trips ever since becoming ill on our second day a few years ago. I do my absolute favorites on the first day, just in case. Everything else I get to do is just gravy.