WDW Vet Planning 1st DL Trip - Is one Full Day Enough?

[GeorgiaHoo]

We are DW vets and just spent 2 days in Disneyland/California Adventure. Arriving at rope drop and staying till close I think we could have seen everything we wanted in a single day by doing something along the following:

California Adventure at rope drop, FP for Radiator Springs then in order Toy Story, California Screamin (single rider if needed), Tower of Terror (hopefully all standby with short waits) and over to Disneyland where I'd grab FP for Big Thunder, ride Indy single rider, ride Pirates, Haunted Mansion, grab FP for Space Mtn and ride Buzz standby. Grab a FP for Roger Rabbit and then ultimately hit Fantasy Land late at night and ride whatever you want there.

Couple thoughts on the rides -- Pirates is certainly different at the beginning of the ride but the latter half is very similar to Magic Kingdom's version. There isn't enough of a difference in the Haunted Mansion or Big Thunder to make them "must do's." Mr. Toad, Alice, Pinocchio, and Story Book Canal are all neat (we really like Story Book) but aren't anything I'd feel concerned about missing if it didn't work out (though I'd ride those before Haunted Mansion/Pirates if that was the decision point).

 

[Eddygirl]

I had one day to myself in DLR during a business trip and I found it was a very long jam packed day.....and that was the 3rd time there for me.

I would try for a minimum of 2 days if you can. I agree with other posters...the Hollywood side of LA is kinda "Meh". A lot of people find it a bit on the sketchy side. If you have time I would cut a day off there for an extra day at Disney.