What would your ideal DCA day be?

[Pluto468]

We have some single day tickets leftover from our last trip and are going to use them for a DCA only day, since we've never done that. We've either rope dropped and hopped around 12 to Disneyland, or arrived late in the afternoon on arrival day. I'm not sure how I'd fill up a whole day with just DCA. The only thing I know for sure is I'd want to end the day with WOC dessert party.


Any ideas? What are your favorite things to do at DCA? Any out-of-the-way attractions that would be worth a look, or favorite areas for a relaxing break?

Thanks!

 

[Foxhound3857]

Hit up Radiator Springs, Guardians Tower and Incredicoaster, get my picture taken with Judy and Nick, have a couple of drinks at the Terrace, some snacks at Pym and a Shawarma, tickets for Rogers musical, and grab an Iced White Mocha from Starbucks on the way out.

Wish I could find Bolt at DCA; I've heard he was there once before but haven't seen him.

 

[irlandaise]

I really enjoy walking along the Grizzly Pass Trail behind Grizzly River Run. You get some nice views of the ride (including the big drop), and there are waterfalls and lots of trees.

Also, even if the people in your party are too big to do the activities in the Redwood Creek area, the theming there is very nice, so you could walk around or sit for a while and enjoy that.

 

[mdmost]

If you enjoy Incredicoaster, you can ride it multiple times in a row with very little wait at rope drop. We usually do that and then go around Pixar Pier since it's all fairly low waits. Then we head over to Guardians. We will do the ILL for Radiator Racers.

We've never done the Animation Academy. Feels like that's something fun to do. I also enjoy getting lunch at Pym's and watching the Avengers shows across the way.

 

[DizMe]

Are you passholders? I love the upstairs MK terrace.

I also LOVE Turtle Talk with Crush!!

My sister and I love to go around taking goofy pictures of ourselves next to something different in the park, from a maybe weird angle.

Also....Ghirardelli's.

Pizza at the outdoor bar & grill at GCH is yummy.

Catch the short parades they hold periodically.

 

[irlandaise]

Ghirardelli's.

Always!!

 

[starlite_]

A DCA day is a chill day. Go with the flow and you'll do everything you want and more. Maybe hang out around Avenger's Campus to see characters if you like Marvel.

 

[nalabear]

ALL day: If never been to DCA:
Rope Drop: PixarPier: Incredicoaster > Mania > Swings > Goofy Sky > Golden Zephyr
Coffee Cart: Quick order pickup -- Get PM dinner time at LampLounge
mid-AM: Little Mermaid >Maters> Cone Snack: Queso: while in line for SingleRider Radiator Springs.
Lunch: Quick order Pym's Kitchen. Time with AC show of choice.
Early PM: Webslingers/Guardians depending on times > Animation academy: Turtle Talk, Animation. Watch the film loop. - perfect down time in academy for recharge and nap here.
Mid PM: Schmoozies/Award Wieners snack. : Monsters/PhilharMagic.
PreDinner: Soarin' and Grizzly Peak with Redwood Creek if open
Dinner Lamplounge
Post Dinner: Incredicoaster/Mania/ Pixar Wheel: swinging if loving nausea or non-swinging
Finish: WOC Dessert

Caveats: If you are Cars fan - catch the evening turning on lights event - it's really cute and callback to the movie scene.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I love CarsLand, so Radiator Springs Racers is an absolute must. If you are trying to fill a day, consider riding once in daylight and again at night. It is a very different experience at night. Also, CarsLand all aglow in neon is a wonderful sight to behold. Try to catch the Sh-Boom moment. I haven't done it, but it's on my Disney bucket list.

As many readers here know, I am a bit of a nerd, so I love Sorcerer's Workshop in Disney Animation Building (it's the room with the zoetropes in the same building as Turtle Talk with Crush and Animation Academy). I have zero artistic ability, but it's still fun to hear the person leading Animation Academy talking about the character's design. Turtle Talk with Crush is fun.

I like the Little Mermaid ride and Toy Story Midway Mania. Mickey's Philharmagic is dated but still enjoyable.

If you've already been to DCA before, you probably have some favorites so you can try to ride those at some point during the day.

If you've done everything you wanted to do in DCA and still have tons of time to kill before check-in for the WOC dessert party is there a reason you can't leave the park and spend time browsing in Downtown Disney?

I love your idea to end with the WOC dessert party. It's a fantastic way to see the show.

 

[irlandaise]

If you've done everything you wanted to do in DCA and still have tons of time to kill before check-in for the WOC dessert party is there a reason you can't leave the park and spend time browsing in Downtown Disney?

And/or the Grand Californian, which is a beautiful place to wander around in.

 

[Tinkaboo]

I spend a lot of time in CA, mostly with the Avengers. Watch all the little shows, but make sure you see Dr. Strange after dark, SO MUCH BETTER. Do the meet and greets, most of them are really into their personas. Watch all the girls follow Loki wherever he goes…

Go dancing with Star-Lord…chat with Cap…ride Webslingers. Sit In the Sactum area, enjoying a beverage, adult or otherwise. It’s usually quiet unless Thor happens to be there. Take fun magic shots there.

Agree with all other posters…CarsLand after dark can’t be beat. The neon is awesome and something very seldom seen anymore. Def ride RSR after dark, so much better.

I can’t do GOTG anymore but I went through preshow which was pretty cool. Love TSMM though.

Some trips I spend more nights in CA than DL, usually less crowded unless it’s Food Festival time. Then it’s the opposite, more people just eating and drinking everywhere.

 

[SpaceMan5]

I really enjoy walking along the Grizzly Pass Trail behind Grizzly River Run. You get some nice views of the ride (including the big drop), and there are waterfalls and lots of trees.

Also, even if the people in your party are too big to do the activities in the Redwood Creek area, the theming there is very nice, so you could walk around or sit for a while and enjoy that.

I started thinking the same thing as I read the OP. I started to scroll down to see the other comments and then bam! Saw your post irlandaise, well said.

 

[spencerian]

I really enjoy walking along the Grizzly Pass Trail behind Grizzly River Run. You get some nice views of the ride (including the big drop), and there are waterfalls and lots of trees.

Also, even if the people in your party are too big to do the activities in the Redwood Creek area, the theming there is very nice, so you could walk around or sit for a while and enjoy that.

Best memory of my last trip was Redwood Creek at night with my son before World of Colour, getting to the show, then beelining it for Radiator Springs for a ten minute wait that caused us to pop up on Monument Valley right as the Disneyland fireworks are going. Great ride in the day and a perfect ride at night.

 

[brittlh]

We always enjoy an afternoon break at Carthay Circle Lounge. After being over-stimulated in the parks it’s nice to sit inside with a beverage and recharge for a bit.

 

[Pluto468]

Wow, thank you so much everyone for the great ideas! I think there's been alot I've missed out on

(Except I am usually one of the people following Loki around )

I like the afternoon break idea at a nice restaurant or exploring Grizzly Peak. I think I went there one time when my son was 3—14 years ago!

I'm not a passholder anymore, so no MK terrace, but I'll check out Turtle Talk Crush. We've never done that.

How do you do the pre-show but not Guardians? That would be fun to see. There's no way I can ride it.

We'll check out Radiator Springs at night for sure. We've seen it at night a couple times but haven't managed to see right when the lights come on.

it would be great if Rogers the Musical is still playing, but I think it till be over by the time I get there.

 

[irlandaise]

How do you do the pre-show but not Guardians? That would be fun to see. There's no way I can ride it.

There's always a way to bail out of a ride at Disneyland before you get on it. In this case, don't get in the elevator. Just tell the nearest CM that you wanted to see the queue but you don't want to leave your stomach a hundred feet above your body...

I bailed out once on Splash Mountain. I like Splash but it was late and I didn't want the adrenalin rush just before bedtime. My boyfriend kept saying, "But you like this ride!" So I gave up arguing and when he started to get on the log, I just stayed to the side and asked the CM to point me towards the way out.

 

[Kit Jackson]

How do you do the pre-show but not Guardians? That would be fun to see. There's no way I can ride it.

You go through the line and the pre-show. When it's time to get on the elevator or a little bit before then, tell a cast member you wanted to see the pre-show, but do not want to ride. They will direct you/lead you to a special exit.

 

[SpaceMan5]

Ok, despite the recent negative reviews of LL I would be remiss in saying that it is still a must do in DCA until disproven first hand.
Gonna book a dinner rezzie for this Jan and enjoy a Knob Creel Old Fashioned

 

[DizMe]

Ok, despite the recent negative reviews of LL I would be remiss in saying that it is still a must do in DCA until disproven first hand.
Gonna book a dinner rezzie for this Jan and enjoy a Knob Creel Old Fashioned

Well, the drinks are really good IMO so cheers!! I think you'll have fun. My main beef with LLL has been more about the service. I think I'm relatively invisible, or so it would seem.

Pluto468, I think you'll really like Turtle Talk! I don't know how they do it but it's so cool (totally).

I saw Loki walk out from backstage and this little kid made a beeline for him, crying out, "LOKI!!! LOKI!!!". Loki casually strolled up to him and bent down to talk. The little kid said, "Hi, Loki. Where's your brother?" Loki just grimaced and made some funny comment and the kid said, "yeah, but where's your brother? Where's Thor?" Loki told him to forget Thor because he was much better at everything and the kid said, "but Thor has a HAMMER!" Loki pointed to his horns and the kid said "ok", gave him a hug and walked away. BTW, the kid was my grandson. Kids, man.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Except I am usually one of the people following Loki around

Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that ! . People probably think I’m Cap‘s personal bodyguard by now… I have so much fun with those guys though.