One day trip to DL - help!

[koquinn]

I'm going to be at DL for one day - the last Sat in May, going with DD (1yr) to visit a girlfriend of mine just for the weekend. I've never been to DL but have spent a lot of time at WDW. Is it worth it to try to do both parks in one day? How close together are they? If not, which one should we do? DD will sleep in the stroller so I think we can cram in a lot in one day. Are there must-dos that I won't have seen at WDW? Or things that are different yet similar that I should see just cuz it's cool to see what's different? I am tempted to buy a guidebook but it seems silly for a one-day trip. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[PinkBudgie]

It is easy to hop between both parks in about a minute. If you only went to one I would say pick Disneyland. Since you have never been before I would lean towards just going there. You will have more than enough to do. But if you wanted a quick overview of both parks, you could get the parkhopper. I believe it is $93 vs $69, so you need to decide if that is worth it. Be sure to arrive before park opening so you can get in when the gates open. This will get you some good uncrowded park time in the morning. Although, Fantasyland will already have people in it from the magic morning, that can't be helped.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Here's a good start.

From the "DLR FAQs" thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=43446

"ºoº Attractions Unique to Disneyland & California Adventure from WDW" by MaryJo ºoº
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084
Note: Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is currently not running.
Mr. Lincoln is expected to return on Dec. 17, 2009.
Note: Golden Dreams in DCA is permanently closed.

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" by HydroGuy
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

HTH

 

[koquinn]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

 

[avalon451]

The book "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland" has a great pull-out plan in the back for if you can only spend one day in DL. There's several plans, but this one is geared toward little kids, so less of the big scary rides and more stuff for your little one to enjoy. It's called "Dumbo or Die in a Day" It tells you how to fit everything in while spending the least amount of time waiting in lines, and hitting all the highlights. By the way, you can usually find the guide in the library, or buy an older edition online. It doesn't have to be the current year, because the basics don't change that much. The plan will not be much different from year to year.

I agree about just limiting yourself to DL. CA would be too much. If you want to do DLR right, you really need a minimum of 3 days-- 4 or 5 is better. Even though CA is right across the Esplanade, a one minute walk, there is plenty to see in DL without overwhelming your toddler. I would save the parkhopper trip for when your DD is a little older and you can devote several days to it, to enjoy it in a leisurely way.

SS Columbia's links to the tips threads are right on target. They will give you lots of good info.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[koquinn]

Hee hee... I'm being selfish, not going for my toddler!! She gets to go to WDW in Oct too and we'll do more kid-friendly things then. I'm just planning on dragging her through one parent swap after the next on this trip. Bad mom, I know, but it's probably the only time I'll ever go to DL, so I'm planning to make the most of it! There'll be no Dumbo for us!!!

 

[Hound 109]

Hee hee... I'm being selfish, not going for my toddler!! She gets to go to WDW in Oct too and we'll do more kid-friendly things then. I'm just planning on dragging her through one parent swap after the next on this trip. Bad mom, I know, but it's probably the only time I'll ever go to DL, so I'm planning to make the most of it! There'll be no Dumbo for us!!!

If that's the case then I'd get a hopper & do both parks. After reviewing all the great comments & links posted above, I would do the following if you just have one day.....:

- Get there early!! (35 min. prior to rope drop on a weekday & 45 day prior on a weekend).
- Have a plan.
- Zig when others are zagging.
- Know HydroGuy's FP strategies & use them.
- Hop to DCA after 2.5 - 3 hours (or if it gets crowded in DL).
- After reading HG's "DLR for WDW vets" thread & Mary Jo's thread (which will give you a good feel for the parks), look at his "how to use FP on a busy day" thread & also my "one day visit" link below, which will give you a feel for how one can visit DLR in one day by employing all the strategies discussed in this thread.
- Get there early!!!

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's park.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hee hee... I'm being selfish, not going for my toddler!!

I think you're being realistic. At 1, they go where you go. Our first trip (a one day trip on an longer trip to so cal) was when DS was 17 months, and it was a trip for us, with him along in the mei tai most of the day. He didn't care about the rides all that much, though he did enjoy the rides where he got to have his milky meals (POTC for one, and Small World for two, though that was when they did NOT have cameras in that highly lit ride, LOL). He just liked seeing things and smiling at people over my shoulder and just hanging out with us and his uncle and aunt.

Since we were with my brother and SIL, we were slowed down, and we did only go to DL. Same with the one day trip the following year as well. We also couldn't understand why they had a CA themed park in CA.

We're over that now and love DCA as much, if not more, than DL.

I would try to come up with things for one adult and the little one to do while the other adult is on a big kid ride...take it from me, sitting at the exit of Indy waiting waiting waiting for the first rider to come out is BORING for adult and 1 year old. I should have climbed Tarzan's treehouse instead. So figure out the closeby things that the little one can do while waiting through the swap. (who knows, you might end up on Dumbo anyway, LOL...or maybe Casey Jr, a totally fun little ride that I've been on even on a SOLO trip)

 

[koquinn]

I would try to come up with things for one adult and the little one to do while the other adult is on a big kid ride...take it from me, sitting at the exit of Indy waiting waiting waiting for the first rider to come out is BORING for adult and 1 year old. I should have climbed Tarzan's treehouse instead. So figure out the closeby things that the little one can do while waiting through the swap. (who knows, you might end up on Dumbo anyway, LOL...or maybe Casey Jr, a totally fun little ride that I've been on even on a SOLO trip)

Good point!

Also, sounds like you're a nursing mom too - is there a good link somewhere on places to BF at DL? I'm pretty much over the NIP thing, unless my girlfriend is weirded out by it which I'm doubting, but sometimes it's nice to be subtle since she's getting older and more active!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes indeed. From a long line of extended nursers, though it seems DS is at long last done.

I always liked nursing on rides. POTC is still a good one. Though getting out of the boat with a sleeping, tummy-full 1 year old is less than easy!

Many like the First Aid/baby care stations, b/c they have rocking chairs in a curtained off area, but I'll be honest, I don't like them for anything but getting ice packs when I have a headache (or twisted my ankle). I found the DL to be very cramped and smelly. (and I definitely hated the "toddler toilet", b/c it was too low for my kid! And the changing table was in the way; I couldn't easily get in there to help him while people were at the changing tables)

At the DCA one, the lady was VERY weird about me going in there with a 3 year old, didn't believe we were nursing...and we didn't normally nurse except at night or at home by then, but for some reason he was really really wanting and needing milk, and I was very much over NIP long before then, and it wasn't a comfortable experience for me at all.

But you'll see people sitting on benches with babies on their laps and blankets over them...but I liked nursing on rides (just know that there are cameras on all rides, so even if it's dark you can be seen) the best. Not Jungle Cruise though, LOL....can you imagine what the "skipper" would talk about?

I don't have as much experience in nursing at Disney as I should, because DS has always been extremely distractable, and at Disney he *still* forgets to eat, just like he would forget to nurse, with all that's going on around him. (but when he suddenly remembered (and remembers) that his tummy was (is) empty, oh boy the milk or food needed to be right there!)

 

[MAH4546]

I'm going to be at DL for one day - the last Sat in May, going with DD (1yr) to visit a girlfriend of mine just for the weekend. I've never been to DL but have spent a lot of time at WDW. Is it worth it to try to do both parks in one day? How close together are they? If not, which one should we do? DD will sleep in the stroller so I think we can cram in a lot in one day. Are there must-dos that I won't have seen at WDW? Or things that are different yet similar that I should see just cuz it's cool to see what's different? I am tempted to buy a guidebook but it seems silly for a one-day trip. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

In addition to the rides that are unique to Disneyland, the versions of Pirates and Space Mountain at Disneyland are far superior.

 

[koquinn]

Not Jungle Cruise though, LOL....can you imagine what the "skipper" would talk about?

Hee hee!!! Good to know about the baby care center, I liked the one last yr at WDW but it sounds a lot nicer than DL's. DD doesn't enjoy having the nursing cover over her anymore, and she's totally distractable too. We'll see how it goes. It's got to be more open minded there than here in WI!!!

How is Space Mountain different? It's one of my favs, I hope it's cool!!