Visit DCA first? Blaspheme!

[rentayenta]

ROFL. Now I sorta wanna try it. Go against the grain...hmmmm LOL

I triple dog dare you.

 

[bumbershoot]

If our first park day doesn't allow us to be at Disneyland at opening, we'll go to DCA first. We LOVE it.

bug's land is way more kid-friendly, in our opinion, than dark and scary Fantasyland. So if DS is tired it gets him more in the mood for fun, rather than being spooked by the gloomy line for Peter Pan (let's not even talk about Snow White, Pinocchio, or Toad), and the rest of the day and trip go much better.

It's wide open and pretty, and as long as they haven't changed the music in the last nearly-two-years, the music makes me so so happy.


During a trip if we just don't want to get up early, we'll do DCA first and sometimes only...


A far cry from the first two one-day visits, where we scoffed at the idea of a theme park about CA in CA! (the question I finally asked myself was *where else* should a theme park in CA be? does it make sense *anywhere*? no? then why not in CA?)

 

[Disneylovers2000]

DH said we should visit DCA before Disneyland during our upcoming holiday trip. His rationale:

We're staying at the GCV
I insist we end at Disneyland
DCA is a better park


And finally he suggested we let the kids choose when we arrive.

He's gone mad!

Does anyone visit DCA before Disneyland? It would feel like puiing on my shoes before my socks.

When we went on our first ever trip last Nov. we planned on going to DL first but when we got to the ticket booth to exchange our vouchers the wonderful CM at the booth told us about WOC fastpasses - I hadn't discovered the DIS boards before our first trip! - so we headed straight away to DCA to collect this fastpass. Once there we decided to stay since we were already there and the park was practically empty. BUT that said, if I had my time back I would have gotten the fastpass, picked up a fast pass for Soar'in, went to TSMM then headed to DL. Lucky us, we get to go on another trip in 2 weeks - probably the last one - and this is the way we will do things then! Have a wonderful magical trip!

 

[blackjackdelta]

If you do the same things, the same way every time, life starts to get boring and things are taken for granted. You need to step out of the box, take a big deep breath, and do it. I have a friend who moved to Mexico when most the people around him told him not to, and he seems to be as happy as a fat tick on a dog(even with the challenges).

Besides the summer times and going in to Disneyland at 1500-1600 in the afternoon is just crazy to me.

Jack

 

[TheEpicPancake]

Totally blasphemous!

The last time I was there, we were only going to have an hour before we had to go over to DCA to catch World of Color but I DRAGGED my husband at 150mph into Disneyland to go on Pirates and Haunted Mansion first.

It's simply not done!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I triple dog dare you.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

We always go later when the crowds back down and I am not so intolerant of stupidity.

Jack

Well said!! I totally agree!!!

 

[starshine514]

Cra-zy! Makes sense thought with MM and to save it for your group. I know of a good therapist though for the kids.

 

[Sherry E]

Oh yes I have! I grew up with Disneyland in the '70s (when DCA wasn't even a glimmer of a thought, let alone a full-fledged park) and it was good enough for me. But I, too, admit to being an infidel and I have ventured to the other side!

Not only have we visited DCA first in a day, before DL, but we have visited DCA instead of DL in a given day! There have been times when we didn't even hop and we stayed in DCA!

 

[starshine514]

Worse yet, I think we'll be doing it again for our October trip, too! This time, though, we'll be arriving during the Halloween party (and I don't want to shell out the extra $$$ for us to attend the actual party), so we'll be headed to CA instead. We'll hit DL bright and early on our first morning there, though!

 

[M4travels]

There were times - when we lived in the L.A. area - that we were at the park every weekend. That park was DCA. We went for dinner at The Vineyard Room (yes, we did this every weekend) and spent our time in DCA and DCA only. D'land was the park across the way and it was just too much to get there from where we were. It was almost halfway into the year of the 50th anniversary before we actually saw the parades and fireworks at D'land.

LOVED closing DCA; it was always a special feeling to be escorted out of the park.

Miguelito

 

[PinkBudgie]

We always go to DL first just because it opens first. Why would we waste an hour or two when we could be collecting FPs and enjoying less crowds at DL? When we arrive in the afternoon, we do head to DCA first sometimes. In fact, this trip we arrive Sunday afternoon and plan to head directly to Mermaid. May as well. There are no FPs anyway, and it seems like the line goes down a little in the afternoon from what I can tell. But until DCA opens at 8am, we'll head to DL first for full days. Of course, I'll have to see what Carsland does to the crowd dynamics next summer.

 

[mrswh]

I'm with your DH. DCA is the far better park of the two. When I enter DCA I feel so happy I could skip! (And hey - there is actually enough room for me to skip if I wanted to!) When I enter DL I am prepared to be annoyed at the crowds and the lines and the tiny walkways. I am happy to wander around DCA and check out every nook and cranny. At DL I need a plan - get in, do what we came to do, get out. Breathe sigh of relief. Don't get me wrong, I love DL too but we spend the majority of our time at DCA. I liked it better when everybody thought DCA stunk.

My apologies to those who look like this when reading my post:

 

[Sherry E]

Woo hoo! I'm glad to see so many other infidels like myself! We're takin' a walk on the wild side and breaking all the rules...'cause that's how we roll on the DIS!

 

[rentayenta]

Woo hoo! I'm glad to see so many other infidels like myself! We're takin' a walk on the wild side and breaking all the rules...'cause that's how we roll on the DIS!

Not YOU too? I feel like I hardly know you anymore.


I am at the pool but will properly post to the anarchy when my hands aren't full of sunscreen.

 

[blackjackdelta]

not you too? I feel like i hardly know you anymore.


I am at the pool but will properly post to the anarchy when my hands aren't full of sunscreen.

look where you are...is it busy.

Jack

 

[meg8182000]

It's funny to see this post as this has been a big question for me and my upcoming trip to DL/DCA in August. I've been to Disneyland before but this time I'll be traveling with my best friend who hasn't been yet. We'll be arriving late on Saturday and staying that night at the Sheraton Anaheim before switching over to the GCV on Sunday. As we probably won't be able to get to DL for magic morning I figured we could get to DCA for when they opened at 9am or 9:30am (depending on when they do open) and get WOC fast passes and then go ride LMA and Soarin which is one of her fave rides in WDW.

I did ask her if it would bother her to be in Disneyland and not go to DL first. She said it really didn't bother her so we are planning to begin this trip with DCA and then head over to DL late morning. I know that it will be crowded but I think it will still be good.

Can't wait to experience Disneyland with her and get her reactions - I'm sure she'll love being in the original house that Walt built.

 

[Dobie]

The world has gone mad! First as in that day or first park of the trip?

Take a Xanax, woman! First for that day!

Sheesh!

 

[rentayenta]

If our first park day doesn't allow us to be at Disneyland at opening, we'll go to DCA first. We LOVE it.

bug's land is way more kid-friendly, in our opinion, than dark and scary Fantasyland. So if DS is tired it gets him more in the mood for fun, rather than being spooked by the gloomy line for Peter Pan (let's not even talk about Snow White, Pinocchio, or Toad), and the rest of the day and trip go much better.

It's wide open and pretty, and as long as they haven't changed the music in the last nearly-two-years, the music makes me so so happy.


During a trip if we just don't want to get up early, we'll do DCA first and sometimes only...


A far cry from the first two one-day visits, where we scoffed at the idea of a theme park about CA in CA! (the question I finally asked myself was *where else* should a theme park in CA be? does it make sense *anywhere*? no? then why not in CA?)

I think I'm a Disney creature of habit. I don't think there has ever been a trip that we did DCA first. I do like the sleep in idea a lot. I agree about it being nice and spread out. I love DCA just not as much as Disneyland.

When we went on our first ever trip last Nov. we planned on going to DL first but when we got to the ticket booth to exchange our vouchers the wonderful CM at the booth told us about WOC fastpasses - I hadn't discovered the DIS boards before our first trip! - so we headed straight away to DCA to collect this fastpass. Once there we decided to stay since we were already there and the park was practically empty. BUT that said, if I had my time back I would have gotten the fastpass, picked up a fast pass for Soar'in, went to TSMM then headed to DL. Lucky us, we get to go on another trip in 2 weeks - probably the last one - and this is the way we will do things then! Have a wonderful magical trip!

Why will it be your last trip?

If you do the same things, the same way every time, life starts to get boring and things are taken for granted. You need to step out of the box, take a big deep breath, and do it. I have a friend who moved to Mexico when most the people around him told him not to, and he seems to be as happy as a fat tick on a dog(even with the challenges).

Besides the summer times and going in to Disneyland at 1500-1600 in the afternoon is just crazy to me.

Jack

No way Jose! I step out of my box in real life. I have zero desire to change the way I do my Fantasyland. I'd move to Mexico before going to DCA first! If our arrival was at 3 pm, we'd hit the pool and go later in the evening. I do however change the tunnel up once in a while although I do prefer the right side.

Oh my I sound ridiculous.

Totally blasphemous!

The last time I was there, we were only going to have an hour before we had to go over to DCA to catch World of Color but I DRAGGED my husband at 150mph into Disneyland to go on Pirates and Haunted Mansion first.

It's simply not done!

Exactly!!!! Woot woot! That is something I would totally do!

 

[rentayenta]

Well said!! I totally agree!!!

Jack 1, Jenny 0

Worse yet, I think we'll be doing it again for our October trip, too! This time, though, we'll be arriving during the Halloween party (and I don't want to shell out the extra $$$ for us to attend the actual party), so we'll be headed to CA instead. We'll hit DL bright and early on our first morning there, though!

Do it again? My anxiety level is increasing at the mere thought. I wouldn't want to shell out the cash either though. Very tempting.

There were times - when we lived in the L.A. area - that we were at the park every weekend. That park was DCA. We went for dinner at The Vineyard Room (yes, we did this every weekend) and spent our time in DCA and DCA only. D'land was the park across the way and it was just too much to get there from where we were. It was almost halfway into the year of the 50th anniversary before we actually saw the parades and fireworks at D'land.

LOVED closing DCA; it was always a special feeling to be escorted out of the park.

Miguelito

I agree that DCA has a special feeling. DH loves it there and could skip Disneyland altogether. Love closing the parks too. Ahhh,,,,,, but strolling down Main St and taking that final glance at the castle, tears streaming down my face? DCA will never get that kind of love.

We always go to DL first just because it opens first. Why would we waste an hour or two when we could be collecting FPs and enjoying less crowds at DL? When we arrive in the afternoon, we do head to DCA first sometimes. In fact, this trip we arrive Sunday afternoon and plan to head directly to Mermaid. May as well. There are no FPs anyway, and it seems like the line goes down a little in the afternoon from what I can tell. But until DCA opens at 8am, we'll head to DL first for full days. Of course, I'll have to see what Carsland does to the crowd dynamics next summer.

CarsLand is going to be so cool! I love that DCA has hit puberty. It's totally filling in.