Is one day at DCA enough?

[jupers123]

Hi everyone, a little backstory. East Coaster WDW vet. DVC member. Going to Disneyland for a 5 day trip doing 1 Day in LA Tour and have 4 park days...after looking at the ride list and thinking about what a Disney fan I am instead of doing 2 days at each park I'm thinking of doing 1 at DCA and really soaking in Disneyland...What do you think? When I looked at DCA rides I just think there are a few I'd like but all the history and the rides I went to focus on are at DL. Also, is Guardians like Tower of Tower with that big drop or a coaster like in WDW? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Hi everyone, a little backstory. East Coaster WDW vet. DVC member. Going to Disneyland for a 5 day trip doing 1 Day in LA Tour and have 4 park days...after looking at the ride list and thinking about what a Disney fan I am instead of doing 2 days at each park I'm thinking of doing 1 at DCA and really soaking in Disneyland...What do you think? When I looked at DCA rides I just think there are a few I'd like but all the history and the rides I went to focus on are at DL. Also, is Guardians like Tower of Tower with that big drop or a coaster like in WDW? Thanks for your thoughts.

One day in DCA is enough.

Guardians is like Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios in WDW not like the coaster at Epcot.

 

[reddog21]

We went last year for the first time in about 20 years, and personally, we felt two days was just right. We wanted to take it slow and enjoy everything without feeling like we missed anything. You could get it done in a day, sure, but why rush if you don’t need to?

 

[hardcorestitch]

Hi everyone, a little backstory. East Coaster WDW vet. DVC member. Going to Disneyland for a 5 day trip doing 1 Day in LA Tour and have 4 park days...after looking at the ride list and thinking about what a Disney fan I am instead of doing 2 days at each park I'm thinking of doing 1 at DCA and really soaking in Disneyland...What do you think? When I looked at DCA rides I just think there are a few I'd like but all the history and the rides I went to focus on are at DL. Also, is Guardians like Tower of Tower with that big drop or a coaster like in WDW? Thanks for your thoughts.

I think it's more of a half day park, considering DCA is smaller in comparison to the main Disneyland park. I'd start DCA slightly later in the morning instead of rope drop and just do some of the rides in standby (of course RSR screams "must LLSP"). Disneyland could be 1 1/2 days in your case. Or if you just want 1 day in Disneyland Park, you could just go to Downtown Disney and have a nice meal early or late.

 

[Pluto468]

Yes, 1 day in DCA will be enough. 3 days at Disneyland will give you enough time to really take your time and see everything ")

 

[LKing]

You could do one day in DCA. I would recommend LLMP that day.

 

[Genie+]

A park hopper would make this easier but gosh is that expensive!

$100+ just to switch 1 park midday is probably not a good solution

 

[Bigmace]

For a 4 day trip to the park l would probably do:
Day 1: DLR
Day 2: DCA
Day 3: DLR
Day 4: Park Hopper. Could also do something else one of the days like Universal Studio Hollywood but I hear its kind of lame if you have been to Universal Studios Orlando. There is also Knotts Berry farm and some other parks in the area.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We're WDW vets and went to DL for the first time in 2022. We loved both parks so spent 2 days in each and loved it!! The opportunity to redo attractions was great! I will say, adding the PH was also a good choice due to the proximity of the 2 parks and the freedom to come and go as we pleased. We don't often purchase LLMP at WDW but considering we would not be going back to DL for a while, adding it was well worth the cost for us.

 

[KPeterso]

I would seriously consider getting park hoppers. The parks are literally right across from each other. It is so easy to hop at Disneyland. This would then allow you to go back and forth between the parks. And if you find you really loved something at DCA, you will get additional chance to re-ride.

That said, if you decide against hoppers, I would think 1 day at DCA is enough. Honestly, I am a local with a MK (so always have hopping available) and find I will always choose Disneyland first. Probably only 1 time in 10 will I start at DCA and I always hop to DL as things get crowded at DCA.

 

[Wedgeout]

If one park daily tickets then yes. Otherwise with a hopper, I’d still start DCA twice.

 

[irlandaise]

For a 4 day trip to the park l would probably do:
Day 1: DLR
Day 2: DCA
Day 3: DLR
Day 4: Park Hopper.

You cannot buy hopping for just one day of a Disneyland visit unless it's a separate ticket. But a 3-day single-park ticket plus a 1-day hopper ticket could end up costing more than the hopper add-on for four days, depending on the pricing of the separate tickets.

It sounds to me like the OP will be fine doing a four-day single-park ticket and just spending one day at DCA.

@jupers123 Don't forget to make park reservations for the days you want.