Plan of attack for CA Adventure

[catigger]

Any ideas on the best way to see CA Adventure in a full day. It is just me and my daughter age 5. We will by pass TOT and CA Screaming. Curious if it is best to start with Soaring, or in the Bug land area or Pier area? What time do you find best for HSM and Aladin AM or PM. Any advise - tips are appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Since you are skipping TOT and Screamin', all you really need is a Fast Pass for Soarin'. You'll have plenty of time to do everything.

 

[got2travel]

I agree with the above advice. You are skipping the other major attractions so you won't need much of a plan. The rest of the park is very manageable. I'd probably start at Soarin', grab a Fastpass but then still get in the Standby line and ride. Then you'll have a Fastpass for later.
HSM is pretty doable any time, especially if you grab seats at the second stop by Golden Dreams. Aladdin is a must do, but it rarely fills to capacity anymore. The first show is going to be the least crowded but you can get good seats at any show.


As a general plan, I'd say start with Soarin' then head over to Bugs Land. Paradise Pier area next. Take some time at the Redwood Creek Challenge. Finish up in Hollywood Backlot. Just fit in the shows when you can.

 

[ballarinamom]

Start with Soarin' but get a FP before you get in line just in case you want to ride it again

 

[kiwitravel]

1. Get there no later than 0930, gates open at 1000
2. Get a FP for Soaring then ride it via the normal line
3. Get a FP for GRR its FP machine is not connected to the others so you can get one whilst you have one for soaring. Take a change of shirt and pants for GRR as you can get a little wet, if you want to stay dry sit in the middle away from the raft entrances, don't miss this ride, its a blast
4. Ride Monsters Inc, never much of a queue for this ride
5. Get a FP for ToT, you can get a new FP from the time shown at the bottom of the ticket, which should be about now...
6. Ride Mulholland madness, queue is usually not that long either
7. Ride Jumping Jelly, Orange Stinger, Mailboomer and Sunwheel NB The sliding carriages on the sunwheel have a longer queue and are rated by many as the scarest and sickening ride in CA and DL... The fixed carriages are fun though.
8. Have lunch and catch a show, alladin, muppets or Bugs life...
9. Go get a FP for Screaming as soon as you are able. This ride has been closed up until 1pm each day but I'm not sure what time they open the FP tickets
10. Ride GRR, if the queue is not to long and you want to ride it twice then line up, ride then ride again with your FP. There are free lockers to the left of the entrance for your bags.
11. Get changed and grab another show, look out for the timing of the Block Party bash or whatever parade it is now
12. Go to Fliks Funfair, mainly small kids rides but queues are always short
13. Ride ToT using FP (You can use FP anytime AFTER the window time shown on the ticket), not necessarily in the window time.
14. Get another Tot FP if you want to do it again, or what ever FP ride you want to do again
15. If you haven't already go do the Alladin show, or whichever of the three shows you haven't done yet
16. Go do Turtle talk with Crush
17. Go ride Cal Scream with FP
This should bring you to dinner time, you have ridden all the good rides, you should have two sets of FPs to do your favourites again. Plenty of time to catch ELP, grab more FPs and do other rides.

 

[DLR29]

1. Get there no later than 0930, gates open at 1000
2. Get a FP for Soaring then ride it via the normal line
3. Get a FP for GRR its FP machine is not connected to the others so you can get one whilst you have one for soaring. Take a change of shirt and pants for GRR as you can get a little wet, if you want to stay dry sit in the middle away from the raft entrances, don't miss this ride, its a blast
4. Ride Monsters Inc, never much of a queue for this ride
5. Get a FP for ToT, you can get a new FP from the time shown at the bottom of the ticket, which should be about now...
6. Ride Mulholland madness, queue is usually not that long either
7. Ride Jumping Jelly, Orange Stinger, Mailboomer and Sunwheel NB The sliding carriages on the sunwheel have a longer queue and are rated by many as the scarest and sickening ride in CA and DL... The fixed carriages are fun though.
8. Have lunch and catch a show, alladin, muppets or Bugs life...
9. Go get a FP for Screaming as soon as you are able. This ride has been closed up until 1pm each day but I'm not sure what time they open the FP tickets
10. Ride GRR, if the queue is not to long and you want to ride it twice then line up, ride then ride again with your FP. There are free lockers to the left of the entrance for your bags.
11. Get changed and grab another show, look out for the timing of the Block Party bash or whatever parade it is now
12. Go to Fliks Funfair, mainly small kids rides but queues are always short
13. Ride ToT using FP (You can use FP anytime AFTER the window time shown on the ticket), not necessarily in the window time.
14. Get another Tot FP if you want to do it again, or what ever FP ride you want to do again
15. If you haven't already go do the Alladin show, or whichever of the three shows you haven't done yet
16. Go do Turtle talk with Crush
17. Go ride Cal Scream with FP
This should bring you to dinner time, you have ridden all the good rides, you should have two sets of FPs to do your favourites again. Plenty of time to catch ELP, grab more FPs and do other rides.

While this is detailed and nice, the OP did say that they were going to pass on ToT and Screamin which makes their day much easier.

Some tips I would do:
-You don't necessarily have to get there at opening. Since the only ride that might get long lines is Soarin, and it has FP, there's no point in waiting outside DCA's gates when you could be riding stuff at DL. However, if you are only going for one day (which I personally don't think is worth the $), it would be good to get there before opening. Often the park will open at 9:30 for guests to ride Soarin, with the rest of the park opening at 10.

-Start by grabbing a FP for Soarin. Then Grizzly River Run if warm enough. Tour the park in a counter-clockwise pattern, going to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, followed by Paradise Pier rides, Bug's land rides, and finishing with Hollywood Picture's Backlot rides. Finish your time by takign a ride on Soarin.

-I'd recommend seeing Aladdin and HSM in the afternoon (considering I don't recommend going to DCA in the morning at all). HSM is not that hard to see so you don't have to line up or reserve a seat a while in advance. Aladdin you will want to get there at least 30 minutes in advance to secure good seats.

 

[garate55]

You going to do the Maliboomer with a 5YO? Just wondering, might be a little intense. And if you do Mulholland Madness might as well do CA Screamin' it's really not that bad, got our 8YO on it last year and he loved it. But different people have different tastes so just my $.02 not a recommendation at all.

 

[kiwitravel]

While this is detailed and nice, the OP did say that they were going to pass on ToT and Screamin which makes their day much easier.

.

This was meant as a general concept for all, of course any ride can be left out and the time used to repeat other rides. Whether a 5 yo will ride Cal Scream etc is dependant on them and their height, I just included all rides for completeness and just to show that DCA can easily be done in one day...

 

[farmfresh]

You 've probabaly got all the advice you need, but, as an earlier post says, the park actually opens for Soaring at 9.30. I'd do that, then get a fast pass for later (FP opens at 10am) if you liked it and pick up one from GRR.

then..(and here's where I differ a bit!) I'd do all the paradise pier rides, seeing's you are not doing TOT or Screaming. They are walk on first thing, and your child might enjoy some of these rides enough to do them twice (say the carousel, or the jelly fish..even the zephyrs, if there's no breeze!

Then I'd amble down to Monsters, which has unpredictable queues, but is normally no problem. Do GRR on your way, and pick up another fp if you want to repeat it. Bugs land wasn't a huge hit with my kids, and it is something of a dead end, but you'll have plenty of time to check it out in between show times. I would however, recoommendthe redwood trail.

The shows, and attractions like Golden Dreams and Muppets are pretty easy to get into at any stage, whereas these pier rides are short and not worth waiting too long for. I would def. avoid the swinging gondolas on the sun wheel if either of you are fearful...they are quite strange!

So... as usual, strat early, use Fp and you 'll easily see DCA in a day! Have fun!

 

[fairycat]

The only thing I want to add is plan on spending time in the Animation Studio. Besides Turtle Talk with Crush we have all had a great time learning how to draw charecters at the Animation room (walk up and ask the CM which one you will be drawing to get your favorite, they change through out the day), I have seen even very small children do this and everyone has fun. There is also side rooms to find out what charecter you are most like in the Beasts library and so much more.

I personally love DCA and have often spent all day there, don't miss Bug's Life and you will both love Soarin'. Have fun!