Is it worth it to do one day at Disney Land?

[asta]

Sorry if this is a frequent question but this is my first time on this part of the DIS. Over the years my family has gone to WDW many times but always for many days and a lot of planning. It turns out we will be in LA for a couple of days this summer and could fit in a day at DL. I don't know if one day is doable or if we will just be frustrated. The other options are to do something like a studio tour or sightseeing but loving Disney I would like to check out DL. I would love any advice from "are you crazy?" to "go for it".

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I grew up going to Disneyland for just day trips. We still go for day trips when we are down for holidays and other family members want to go for the day. My preference these days is to go for a minimum of three days and preferably 4-5, but absolutely you can visit Disneyland for a day and have a fabulous time. Just know you won't be able to see and do everything. We usually don't see and do everything even on our longer trips.

Different people will have different opinions on whether you should get a park hopper to see highlights from both parks. My own opinion is that there is so much to see and do at Disneyland that I would stick with just one park. Definitely go in with a simple plan of which attractions you most want to see. Get there at least 30 minutes before rope drop!

 

[SMD]

I guess it depends on what your expectations are. If you're not ok spending $100+ to potentially be hot, crowded and not go on all of the rides despite going commando style, you'll be frustrated. If you just want to have some kind of experience and want to walk down Main St to experience the size difference, see another castle, spend an hour having a sit down meal at Blue Bayou, ride Indy and the Matterhorn and anything else is a bonus, you'll probably come away with a better experience. If you could possible go down later the night before and get a 2 day ticket you can get a lot done in the last few hours during the summer, it might be more worth it. Or if you could possible fit in part of a day during your trip and drive down twice, since the tickets are good for 13 days. That being said, if I only had 1 free day in LA for any sightseeing, there are plenty of things that are probably closer to where you're staying to fill a day. Where are you staying and which studio tour are you thinking of? What else are you interested in doing in LA?

 

[DDhunter]

My family's first DL trip with 8 of us was a 1 day trip. We all had a blast. We managed to hit all the major rides, a few smaller ones, did some shopping, and caught the fireworks. We didn't feel frustrated by not getting "everything" done, it just motivated us to come back.

 

[GrrArrgh]

We just did a 2-day trip and honestly, one day would have been enough. If you start early in the morning, you can do a lot. In my opinion, you'll be more than ready for something more relaxing the next day.

 

[Jason2015]

Do it-I've had great times in just one day-mind you I don't park hope and I just focus on one park.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree that it all depends on what are your expectations...I think it's possible to have a lot of fun at Disneyland even for just one day, even on a busy day. I don't think you'll be able to do everything, but as long as you go in knowing that, then it's possible to have a good time.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I did a one day trip to epcot with my daughter and I still really fondly remember how enjoyable it was. I always advise people to see carsland and ride RSR if you possibly can. To pull that off you really need a park hopper. If you start at rope drop at DCA and hit carland and RSR, then move to DL until it gets too crowded, do late lunch at DL for a break and have dessert party reservation for WOC, you will have an awesome but expensive day and will have experienced the best the park has to offer in the summer. I would choose that over any sightseeing tours or anything. If it was just a single day at just DL versus a day at the beach, I think I would choose the beach but I would still choose that over a sightseeing tour.

 

[mjdis17]

I've been to DL once and it was just for one day, but I felt exactly like you before we went. I even stayed up late the night before studying a park map so that I could feel semi-prepared since I was overwhelmed about not being able to navigate it like the back of my hand as I do with WDW. We only went to Disneyland Park and were able to fit everything in that I wanted to go on. Big Thunder, Space, Splash, Finding Nemo Subs, Autopia, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Buzz Lightyear, Indiana Jones, Small World, Jungle Cruise, Matterhorn. Granted we went the Thursday after Memorial Day so it might be busier in the summer, but if you can channel your inner "old-fastpass" tips and tricks from going to WDW when they still had them, that will help you. I think it's definitely worth it, especially because while it's different from WDW, much of it is similar so you can skip some things without completely feeling like you missed out.

 

[asta]

I guess it depends on what your expectations are. If you're not ok spending $100+ to potentially be hot, crowded and not go on all of the rides despite going commando style, you'll be frustrated. If you just want to have some kind of experience and want to walk down Main St to experience the size difference, see another castle, spend an hour having a sit down meal at Blue Bayou, ride Indy and the Matterhorn and anything else is a bonus, you'll probably come away with a better experience. If you could possible go down later the night before and get a 2 day ticket you can get a lot done in the last few hours during the summer, it might be more worth it. Or if you could possible fit in part of a day during your trip and drive down twice, since the tickets are good for 13 days. That being said, if I only had 1 free day in LA for any sightseeing, there are plenty of things that are probably closer to where you're staying to fill a day. Where are you staying and which studio tour are you thinking of? What else are you interested in doing in LA?

Even though it is late in the process we are still just planning. For studio tours I am thinking Warner Brothers or Paramount. Right now we have reservations at a Hilton near Disneyland. One of my daughters would like to take one of those tours to look at homes of the stars. Maybe shopping. So far no interest in a beach. Does that sound too vague? Basically one of my daughters has moved near San Francisco and we have visited three times so on our next visit she wanted to meet first in LA. None of us have been there so we want to do some tourist type things.

 

[kailuagirl]

Last month we went for 1 day and had an amazing time. I would have never thought one day would work, but it does if that's all you got. Totally worth the money!! We got there are opening and stayed until closing, used fast passes and the ride time apps and made it work. And it was a really crowded day during spring break time. We went in knowing it might not be great and it was gonna be crowded. Didn't set our expectations too high, other than, we are going to Disneyland, and went for it. Was a blast. If we had the opportunity and could only do one day again, I would totally do it.

 

[SMD]

Even though it is late in the process we are still just planning. For studio tours I am thinking Warner Brothers or Paramount. Right now we have reservations at a Hilton near Disneyland. One of my daughters would like to take one of those tours to look at homes of the stars. Maybe shopping. So far no interest in a beach. Does that sound too vague? Basically one of my daughters has moved near San Francisco and we have visited three times so on our next visit she wanted to meet first in LA. None of us have been there so we want to do some tourist type things.

Here's what I would try to do:
-Fly into SNA, half park day (DCA)
-Full park day (DL)
-Morning WB Tour (or Paramount), drive to SF
or
-Morning WB Tour, afternoon Hollywood or Malibu star homes tour, fly out of BUR
2 nights Hilton, 1.5 park days, 1/2 day (or slightly more) Hollywood tourist stuff.

If you didn't want to pay a 1 way drop off fee on the rental car you could fly in and out of LAX, I'd price it both ways. If you wanted to spend more time in LA, I'd think about switching hotels after the Hilton or stay farther north and just drive down for the 1 Disney day.

 

[bumbershoot]

Our first two trips to Disneyland (as adults and with DS just a baby) were one day trips while on longer socal trips. They were fine for what they were. Then the 3rd year we did it up RIGHT, and it was a lot more fun.

DL and MK have similarities and differences, and it takes me 3 visits to MK in a trip to stop wondering where New Orleans Square is. It's very weird. So expect to have that dissonance at DL, of being surprised that "that is here?" over and over.

We just did a 2-day trip and honestly, one day would have been enough.

Fainting. Best trip so far was 8 nights at DLH and park days all but one of those days. That was before DLH became sooooo expensive. Doubt we could do that now.

 

[Whistlebee]

You can do ALOT in one day. To maximize your time I'd be at the security lines 45-60 minutes before the park opens. This will put you near the very front of lines to get into the park and ahead of the crowds for the day. I'd research which rides you want to go on and have a general plan. I'd probably start off in DL and hit the rides hard early. Hop to CA for lunch and a few rides then hop back to DL. Decide if you want to see the Disneyland Parade/Fireworks or WOC.
We just went to Disneyland for 2 half days and 1 full day. We did so much on our full day there. We started in DL and were 2nd in line at the gates to get in. We had lunch reservations at Carthay Circle, we went on 23 rides, watched Soundsational Parade from the curb in front of the train station (Town Square), stopped for lots of pictures and did a little shopping. We ended the night with WOC Dessert Party. We really had an awesome day!!! Crowds were fairly low-ish which did help us out.

My advice: Get the hopper, have lunch reservations at a table service restaurant or in Downtown Disney to give you a relaxing break, and the WOC Dessert Party is a great way to end the night!

If you know what attractions you want to do people on here will even help you make a "plan" or use a service like RideMax.

 

[robert_j]

You will definitely be left wanting more, but that is different from being frustrated. I think you should go! But maybe prioritize attractions that are different from what you already know from WDW. I could even see an argument for just doing California Adventure for the day. Disneyland and Magic Kingdom are not fungible -- so Disney fans will want to experience both (for Matterhorn, Alice, Indy, the Disneyland Pirates, etc., etc.). But realistically there is only so much you can do in a day, and for the WDW veteran California Adventure might be the better place to focus on for a day trip, with a greater number of unique experiences, such as Cars Land, Paradise Pier, Grizzly Hills, and World of Color. (Plus alcohol.)

 

[GrrArrgh]

If you do CA Adventure, I would totally skip World of Color. It takes FOREVER, you have to stand on concrete the entire time unless you have bought the dessert package, and for what? A clip show of Disney movies projected onto water? I've seen these movies; I don't want to watch them in 5-second clips! I felt like it was not just a waste of time, but total torture for my whole family. You can use that time to go on more rides while everybody else stands around to watch. And, once it's over, the park closes, so you can't even get in one last ride if you watch the show. Total waste of time if you're only there for a day.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I think one day is better than zero days. Just choose a few things that are important to you before you go and focus on getting those things done. If you have a go with the flow attitude, I'm sure you'll be very happy with your visit.

 

[panthergirl]

When I was a kid we went once a year for one day only each time. Of course there was only one park back then but we always had a blast. We were there opening to closing. Do it!!!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I would say yes because I've done 2 one day trips to Disneyland with the Robotics Club. It's been since 2013 but we spent 1/2 the day in DCA and the other half in Disneyland.

I tried to talk them into only doing Disneyland but they didn't go for that so we did miss alot but still had fun.

 

[VandVsmama]

That's like asking if it's worthwhile to breathe. Or like asking "should I open this present I got for Christmas?"

DUH, you silly goose! OF COURSE you should go to Disneyland even if you only have one day to visit!