Which half day would you suggest?

[MICKEYFIL]

So we are coming down on January 18th (Thursday) and leaving on January 23rd (Tuesday). We arrive in the early afternoon at Long Beach airport and could be at the parks by 5:00pm. We are leaving on a flight at 3:00pm on the Tuesday so we could go to the park until around noon. Therefore my debate is between California Adventures for the evening on the 18th or Disneyland on the 23rd in the morning.

I've been to the park enough times to know the morning is more productive for getting rides done. But a few variables force me to ask the crowd, what would you do? To increase your understanding, we have a five day pass for one park per day. We have four full days at the parks but purchased the extra day because it was such a small amount for an extra day.

1. On the 18th, there is a "Disney After Dark" event. How much of an impact on crowds will it be with park hoppers coming to California Adventures?

2. We are aware that California Adventures will have all the fastpasses for Radiator Springs and Toy Story Mania already gone.

3. It is a early entry morning on Tuesday for DL and we wouldn't have used our early entry yet by then. The park would therefore open at 9:00am for the early morning.

So which one would you use the extra half day on? Our original choice was the Thursday so that we could go to Downtown disney on our last morning and just relax, but this Disney After Dark event has got me worried, having never experienced it before.

 

[smartlabelprint]

it depends. I’m usually so excited I just want to get in there. But if it’s just 3 hours I don’t know if it’s worth it.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Take in the night at DCA to just explore the light features, no rushing around to attractions, watching folks on the tower, all the tiny features in RS. a 9;00 opening for early entry would mean more folks not sleeping in and at the gate on the 23rd and what are you going to do that morning that you have not already done other than eating breakfast in the ROA, just hang out and enjoy the quiet. So you have a quiet morning at ROA from 10-noon, or bright, magical, I am here lights on the first night. I would do the night all fresh and full of glee at DCA

 

[figment_jii]

I'm also another that usually can't wait to get into the parks, but I think I would play the waiting game to see how I feel after I arrive before making a decision. DCA closes at 10:00 pm on Thursday, which means you would have five hours to play in that park (assuming you arrived around 5:00 pm). You could try to catch WoC that evening; FP seems to be lasting fairly late into the day these days, so those might be available. I do think there might be an uptick in crowds in DCA when DL closes for the "Disney After Dark" event at 8:00 pm, but it is a Thursday and that will probably mean fewer people at the resort overall, so you might still be able to get quite a bit done in DCA in those five yours.

On the other hand, you can usually get a lot done those first few hours in DL. Still, I would potentially rather spend more time in DCA on arrival day, than fewer hours in DL on departure day (I always have this irrational worry about getting stuck on an attraction and missing my flight - we got stuck on PotC once in MK for about an hour on departure day and if it had been much longer we might have missed our shuttle to the airport!). Could you use your MM on Saturday so you won't lose out on the benefit?

 

[MICKEYFIL]

Still, I would potentially rather spend more time in DCA on arrival day, than fewer hours in DL on departure day (I always have this irrational worry about getting stuck on an attraction and missing my flight - we got stuck on PotC once in MK for about an hour on departure day and if it had been much longer we might have missed our shuttle to the airport!). Could you use your MM on Saturday so you won't lose out on the benefit?

Our only other option for Magic Morning is on Saturday. I really wanted to do California Adventure that day to avoid to early entry that occurs on most other days at CA. Also the park opens at 8:00am that morning so an early entry at 7 just seems a bridge to far for some of the other members who won't be able to wake up that early to get the benefit.

 

[chickapin parterre]

aah....the bridge to far....that is the hidden gem at Disneyland, many folks don't wake up early to reap the benifits, hence the beauty of arriving at the gate at 7:15 to board Peter Pan at 8:00, creating the 45 minute wait for Peter Pan the everyone endures. But it is a nice wait those early morning hours but as you have observe, the longer the stay, the less pleasant the early morning hours. DCA is looking all the better choice.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I would choose DCA at night.

 

[darph nader]

Either DCA or just hang out at DTD.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Either DCA or just hang out at DTD.

I would go with this since you have 5 park days already. While mornings are good for getting on rides, you will have already spent 5 days in the parks and by that time, should have ridden everything several times. DCA is very pretty at night and is more spacious for walking around.

Personally, I normally do Downtown Disney stuff if I only have a few hours and have to pay park admission. The hotels are nice, too. You could have dinner/drinks at one of the hotels on your first night and do some Downtown Disney stuff. However, I am not sure what the construction schedule is over there. The bowling alley isn't open, yet and at some point, they have to remove the movie theater and a couple restaurants to make room for the new hotel.

 

[tarheelalum]

Disneyland in the morning no question. DCA at evening/ night, all of the passes will be gone and the stand bye lines will be over an hour or more. Disneyland at rope drop you will be able to ride lots of rides in the first 2 hours if you hustle. Around 11/1130 the crowds really start to pour in and that is when I would head to the airport.