pls help with one day ~ two parks itinerary

[rockin_rep]

We're going to DL / CA for only one day this summer, as it's only a brief part of a long out west road trip. Having been several other times i'm familiar with both parks but wondered if all you wise and wonderful experts could help me make a combination plan to maximize our time.

In previous years we've always had at least one day at each, and often would end our CA day at DL for fireworks. (We love using FastPass and we've learned to do it well! )

So, which park should we visit first, and for approx how long, and in what order would you do all the attractions?

I greatly appreciate any and all ideas!

 

[HydroGuy]

We're going to DL / CA for only one day this summer, as it's only a brief part of a long out west road trip. Having been several other times i'm familiar with both parks but wondered if all you wise and wonderful experts could help me make a combination plan to maximize our time.

In previous years we've always had at least one day at each, and often would end our CA day at DL for fireworks. (We love using FastPass and we've learned to do it well! )

So, which park should we visit first, and for approx how long, and in what order would you do all the attractions?

I greatly appreciate any and all ideas!

If you want to maximize how many rides you can go on, check out RideMax www.ridemax.com. I recently posted some RideMax comments in item #7 in this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=847633

 

[LucyKate]

The Unofficial guide to Disneyland also has great touring plans.

But it depends on whether you have young kids - I'd recommend a very different plan for a couple than I would for a family with young kids for example.

Best advice is, if you can choose the day, to go mid-week, as crowds are much smaller mid-week than on weekends, especially Wednesday.

Go to Disneyland first (it opens an hour before DCA).

Get a ticket that offers early entry if you can, so you can beat the crowds.

Queue at least half an hour before opening then go straight to Peter Pan, and, if you have young kids, Dumbo. (These have the biggest queues in Fantasyland). Head straight to Matterhorn, then get some fast passes for a ride like Splash Mountain or Indiana Jones, while riding the other. Do the same for Haunted Mansion and Pirates.

Head to DCA around lunchtime and get fast passes for California Soarin, then ride Grizzly River Run and Tower of Terror. There are other rides in DCA, but these are the three must dos - if time is very tight I'd just do these three, and maybe California Screamin if you like coasters.

I'd then return to Disneyland for more rides, parades and fireworks.

Must do rides at Disneyland include:
Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Indiana Jones, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Matterhorn, Star Tours, Peter Pan, Winnie The Pooh, Small World (and these weren't open when we were there but they sound good) Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain.

If you have young kids you will need to add in rides like Mad Hatter, Alice, Pinocchio, Snow White etc, and possibly ditch a few of the above.

 

[rockin_rep]

Thank you both so much for your replies! I will check out the links hydroguy.

LucyKate, your plan sounds excellent. I have tons of guidebooks etc for WDW but on prior trips we've always had at least two days at DL / CA so time wasn't a problem.

We do love all the rides altho we have older teens (they're great at running for fast passes which saves lots of time!) so we'll try to get in as much as we can.

We'll be there on a thursday so hopefully it won't be too too bad....?

Thanks again SOOO much!! Open to any other comments from anyone!

 

[rockin_rep]

Just back and topping with an update in case it helps someone else.

Loved the one day park hopper, perfect for this trip -- a 3 1/2 week road trip out west! Been several times before, including WDW so we were very satisified with our one day.

We did everything we hoped to do, and more! Have two older teens who love running for fast passes (so do i actually, i'm a runner and love the exercise!)

Matterhorn
Sleeping Beauty
Pirates of Carrib.
Space Mountatin (with FP - 915ish)
Indian Jones
Splash Mountain (with FP)
Pooh
Haunted Mansion
Snow White Theatre

Lunch at Pacific Wharf - DCA - about 1230ish

California Screamin' (20 min. wait)
Tower of Terror (20 min. wait)
Muppet Vision -- somewhere in here we got more snacks, yum!
California Screamin (with FP)
Alladin
Tower of Terror (with FP)

Red Rockets Pizza -- approx. 530sih (had snacks in there somewhere)

Small World
Buzz Lightyear (with FP)
Shopping!

Soarin' over CA -- thanks ONLY to the BEST CM ever!! (one side closed, no FP's available but he let us in!!!!! (let me know if you want more details)

Fireworks
Buzz Lightyear (with FP)
Pirates
Dumbo
More shopping! Woo hoo!

Back to Best Western Park Place about 11pm -- RIGHT across the street, you cannot get closer. We don't think staying on DL property is worth it - would rather have more nights on the road! (But totally think staying on property IS worth it in WDW which is HUGE in comparison.)

Again, this might not work for everyone but for us it was perfect as just one day in a 25 night road trip across america.

Hope this helps!

PS: Go see the rest of america, it ROCKS!

 

[Tink33]

Sounds like a busy day. I would love to hear about the rest of your trip too.

 

[rockin_rep]

Hi Tink! Thanks for the reply! (It always amazes me to see how many *view* different threads compared to how many actually reply....??)

We try to do and see ALL we can while on our out west road trips, including national parks, major league baseball games, presidential museums (aka: their libraries), big cities, little villages, whatever is around. We plan for months and have a blast, there is so much to see and do! They're very busy trips (as compared to beach vacations) so yes, we ARE busy and love it! Which is why our one day at DL / DCA didn't seem busy at all to us. We loved it and would totally recommend it to anyone.

Every out west trip is different and most include parts of California. We've explored most of the national parks of the west so many from this trip were repeat visits -- we explored Yellowstone (our fave), Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, Grand Escalante, Joshua Tree, Badlands.

Then we spent time exploring Big Sur and Carmel / Monterey, breathtaking! We love california! We've explored LA, Sequoia, San Diego / LaJolla (love it!), OC (laguna and newport beaches) and San Francisco in previous trips.

While we absolutely adore WDW and DL, even our kids agree that exploring the rest of our beautiful country is important. And great FUN! Spending time at DL in the middle of the trip is just the icing on the cake!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

rockin_rep,

Sounds like a great trip! We just returned yesterday from a 16-day road trip.

We left home 7/23 and squeezed in; Mt Rushmore, Colo Springs area, Grand Canyon, LA area (Dodgers game, Hollywood, beach, 3 days at DLR ) quick stop in Las Vegas, Zion and Arches Nat'l parks.

We spent over 90 hours in the van, but we really saw a lot!

 

[LucyKate]

We came from Australia principally to see Disneyland, but of course, having come all that way we thought it would be a crime not to see the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, San Francisco etc.

So the planned one week "cheap" holiday blew out into a 3 week extravaganza.

But we don't regret a cent of it and Yosemite and San Francisco are two of the most awesome places I've ever seen (after Disneyland of course!!)

We'll be back!

 

[FastPass]

If we only have a day;

First thing - if you're staying at a DL Resort hotel, early entry is key.
Go to DL first. Space Mountain first, then Buzz Lightyear. Boogie over to Indie. Boogie over to Thunder Mtn. Keep boogie-ing and head over to Pirates or Haunted.

Pick your favorite and Fast Pass one of those right after SM and Buzz.

Get OUT of the park and get over to DCA. Tower of Terror, Soarin', and Rockin' Roller Coaster. If you're willing to get wet... the GRRapids.

Go back to DL, get an ice cream, eat, ride whatever is left and fast pass yourself crazy.

ENJOY the fireworks show from MAIN STREET! If it's busy, plop down in the middle of Main Street and wait. It's worth it. The fireworks show is a must see... so is Fantasmic.

 

[calvin3]

Sounds like a busy day.

I completly agree! You made me tired just reading it. But it sounds like you had a great day and thats what counts. I can't fit all that in on a 5 day hopper.

 

[rockin_rep]

I You made me tired just reading it. But it sounds like you had a great day and thats what counts. I can't fit all that in on a 5 day hopper.

LOL Calvin! Actually, we didn't feel at all rushed or tired (we're all runners).
Our philosphy is to do and see all we possibly can wherever we go, and DL is no different. We had a blast!!! And it makes a difference having older kids, as no one needed a nap etc. Originally, we hadn't planned on even going again having been several times (plus with WDW each spring) but when we found an extra, free day in our out-west road trip adventure (26 days) we thought it would be fun for a day. And of course, it was!

LucyKate, i totally agree with you; yosemite is amazing! But i actually like yellowstone better, have you been there? When are you returning -- let me know if you need any help planning. Try to see Sequoia / Kings Canyon on your next trip, too. Plus Olympic NP, Crater Lake NP, Arches, oh and Saquarro NP -- all are faves -- oh, there are soo many! We've been out west over a dozen times and never tire of them! (kinda like Disney!)

manchurianbrownbear, isn't road tripping a blast? We too had many many hours in the car (over 7,000 amazing miles) and it was totally 100%worth it. We budget all year for these trips but having 26 days alone with our kids, priceless. Its reeeeeally tough to recuperate and re-enter tho, isn't it? I wanna go back right now!