Is 2 Parks 1 Day doable?

[exbjd]

We are going to Disneyland on Wednesday, May 11th and only have one day to explore. Was just wondering if anyone has done 2 parks in 1 day. If so any special attack plan. I'm buying the Ride Max service (have used it for Disney World and loved it), but wanted others input. Thanks......

 

[HydroGuy]

We are going to Disneyland on Wednesday, May 11th and only have one day to explore. Was just wondering if anyone has done 2 parks in 1 day. If so any special attack plan. I'm buying the Ride Max service (have used it for Disney World and loved it), but wanted others input. Thanks......

We have done it several times on day trips. You are able to hit lots of headliners. We have hopped back and forth as many times as five times in a day. As for plan of attach, start early. Not sure if you will need FPs on a Wed in May, but get them all the same.

 

[SplashMo]

One thing that worked really well is that we hit the rope drop for DL and rode the rides until 9:20. Grabbed a fastpass at INDY and went over to DCA and caught the rope drop there rode some rides an caught a fastpass before going back...

 

[calidreamz]

The park hours are not great that day, both parks are only open from 10am-8pm, but according to Touring Plans.com they project low attendance (1 out of 10) so hopefully they are right. Still I would focus on your favorites and not stress about the rest, just have fun!

 

[exbjd]

Thanks for the great tips! We are only interested in hitting the headliners. Another question - Would it be better to go to DL or DCA first?

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for the great tips! We are only interested in hitting the headliners. Another question - Would it be better to go to DL or DCA first?

There is no good answer. Entirely depends on your priorities.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Well, DL does open (usually) one to two hours before DCA. I always start there. Get there at rope drop, hit the headliners that don't have FP, and grab FP along the way.

We then head over to DCA 15 minutes before opening and grab a Soarin FP on our was to Toy Story Mania. Stay in DCA through lunch. There are some good CS choices there. Then we head to DL, use our FP, have dinner, and watch the night time entertainment.

Are you hoping to see World of Color, Fantasmic, or the Fireworks?

It would be helpful to list your must-sees. Don't discount something because you have experienced it at WDW. We didn't see Peter Pan during our first two trips because the line was always long and we thought it was just like the ride at WDW. Wrong. We hit it first on our last trip and it was pure magic. No ride is identical to it's WDW counterpart.

Have fun!

 

[Hound 109]

I agree that you should list your 10-12 "must do" rides & 2-3 must do activities (in both parks) & you'll get lots of opinions on a plan of attack.

Also agree to not discount the non headliners like Alice, Pinocchio, Toady, Storybookland, Heimlichs & Monsters that are non WDW rides & are great.

Read all of Hydroguy's tip threads (especially his DLR for WDW vets thread & ALL of his FP threads). Also my one day trip report linked in my siggy below might be helpful.

Have a great time planning your one day visit to Walt's Park.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

You can do it! We spent one long day *8am-11ish ~ park was open till 12am* mid July 2009 - *Here's* what we did

Good luck and have fun!

 

[exbjd]

Thank you for all the great tips! I'll be sitting down this weekend and marking all my 'must do' rides.

I've been to WDW Magic Kingdon 47 times and I can't tell you how excited I am to see the original!!!!!!

 

[exbjd]

I compiled a list of rides we want to go on. I'm signing up for RideMax at Disneyland (we've used it at WDW and served us well).

DL:
Indiana Jones
Big Thunder Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
Space Mountain
Matterhorn
Buzz Lightyear
Alice in Wonderland

DCA:
Soarin Over California
Tower of Terror
California Screamin
Toy Story

If there's any ride that you guys think I should experience that's not on my list - please let me know. (Splash Mountain and Star Tours are closed).

We plan on using Fast Pass and the Single Rider line as much as we can.

Thanks again for your input!

(we are also going to Six Flags Magic Mountain - but are purchasing the Platinum Flash Pass)

 

[HydroGuy]

I compiled a list of rides we want to go on. I'm signing up for RideMax at Disneyland (we've used it at WDW and served us well).

DL:
Indiana Jones
Big Thunder Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
Space Mountain
Matterhorn
Buzz Lightyear
Alice in Wonderland

DCA:
Soarin Over California
Tower of Terror
California Screamin
Toy Story

If there's any ride that you guys think I should experience that's not on my list - please let me know. (Splash Mountain and Star Tours are closed).

We plan on using Fast Pass and the Single Rider line as much as we can.

Thanks again for your input!

(we are also going to Six Flags Magic Mountain - but are purchasing the Platinum Flash Pass)

I would recommend for a WDW vet on a day trip:

DL:

StorybookLand Canal Boats - the best time is dusk but lines can get long so settle for whatever time you can make it

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Roger Rabbit Cartoon Spin


DCA:

Monsters Inc

Disney Animation Building

Grizzly River Run (if it is warm enough)

Aladdin stage show

 

[exbjd]

It looks like DCA and DL open at the same time on Wednesday, Math 11th. Can anyone suggest which park would be better to go to first?

 

[HydroGuy]

It looks like DCA and DL open at the same time on Wednesday, Math 11th. Can anyone suggest which park would be better to go to first?

Wednesday is not a Magic Morning day and that makes it easy to choose DL as the starting park for me.

 

[Danibelle]

I would start in DL. Most of the best attractions are there. If I had just one day, I would probably just go to DL but others may disagree. I am a DLP junkie (I have been going there since 1957) so I am probably prejudiced in that respect.

 

[HydroGuy]

Deleted. Wrong thread!

 

[cmadara]

What may I ask is "Ride Max"? I am a WDW vet and have been to DLR a few times but I have never heard of this. Starting to worry that I am missing something!!!

 

[starshine514]

What may I ask is "Ride Max"? I am a WDW vet and have been to DLR a few times but I have never heard of this. Starting to worry that I am missing something!!!

It's a software that you can purchase a subscription to. It lets you put in the rides/days/times that you would like to ride and schedules them in the most efficient order during that timeframe. It also tells you if you are trying to pack in too much during the timeframe. I'm still on the fence as to whether I'm going to subscribe or not. I'm not sure if my group will follow a touring plan as well as I would like...

 

[Hound 109]

I compiled a list of rides we want to go on. I'm signing up for RideMax at Disneyland (we've used it at WDW and served us well).

DL:
Indiana Jones
Big Thunder Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
Space Mountain
Matterhorn
Buzz Lightyear
Alice in Wonderland

DCA:
Soarin Over California
Tower of Terror
California Screamin
Toy Story

If there's any ride that you guys think I should experience that's not on my list - please let me know. (Splash Mountain and Star Tours are closed).

We plan on using Fast Pass and the Single Rider line as much as we can.

Thanks again for your input!

(we are also going to Six Flags Magic Mountain - but are purchasing the Platinum Flash Pass)

Good list.

IMO, Start in DL & :

- go immediately to Alice & Matterhorn (no lines at opening, long lines later).
- (no Toady??.....if Toady is a yes, now would be the time...quick ride & short line early)
- Pick up SM FP. (& ride it if line is under 15 min. )
- A quick Buzz ride (or two) since you're there.
- BTMRR (probably walk on before 11am)
- Pick up FP for Indy (maybe ride single rider while you're there)
- HM
- Pirates
- Maybe pick up a FP at BTMRR before hopping to DCA.

Pick up a Soarin' FP when you enter DCA. I'd do Single rider on Screamin. Not sure how RideMax would list your 5-6 DCA items between noon - 3pm. Maybe others would comment?

From HydroGuy:

I would recommend for a WDW vet on a day trip:

DL:

StorybookLand Canal Boats - the best time is dusk but lines can get long so settle for whatever time you can make it

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Roger Rabbit Cartoon Spin


DCA:

Monsters Inc

Disney Animation Building

Grizzly River Run (if it is warm enough)

Aladdin stage show

I agree with Hydroguy's list.

But I'd definitely add Pinocchio (in the late afternoon after hopping back from DCA).....5 min. line & ride. & I'd add Toady in the early morning.

I'd dump Nemo. But i'm in the minority who thinks Nemo is an overated time waster....especially for the one day visitor.

If i had 15 min. to kill in DCA, I'd also check out the Flik area & hop on Heimlich's Chew Chew train....it's a cute area.

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree with Hydroguy's list.

But I'd definitely add Pinocchio (in the late afternoon after hopping back from DCA).....5 min. line & ride. & I'd add Toady in the early morning.

I'd dump Nemo. But i'm in the minority who thinks Nemo is an overated time waster....especially for the one day visitor.

If i had 15 min. to kill in DCA, I'd also check out the Flik area & hop on Heimlich's Chew Chew train....it's a cute area.

Hound and I rarely if ever disagree and even here I admit FNSV just barely makes it onto my list. It is different enough from WDW that I decided to include it.

FWIW Hound, I was pretty down on FNSV and last July we had five days at the park and I got to ride it twice more - which represented my 2nd and 3rd time ever. Now that the hype (and most of the lines) are gone, I started to appreciate FNSV a little more. I mean really, compared to the old Sub Voyage when I was a kid, I think FNSV is much better. Is it as good as some other rides at DLR? Not really. But worth doing? I think so.