Which Park for a Late Start?

[IvyWinter]

I've only been to DL once since i'm on the east coast, but am lucky to have 2 days there in october. One of those days we'll be driving down from Simi Valley (have a wedding there) and so ideally will be at the parks by noon. Which one do you all recommend for a late start? I was thinking DCA, but open to suggestions!

 

[chickapin parterre]

what is that you want to do at Disneyland or DCA....are you interested in Pixar elements or walt Disney texture?

 

[madjohn]

I am not the greatest expert, but I did just get back from 5 days. Did some very early starts and some later starts. I think DL is better for the late start. More rides and the FP do not disappear as fast. CA the FP go very quickly and there is less rides they are good for. Just my thoughts.

John

 

[IvyWinter]

So ive been to WDW dozens of times, and will be skipping exact duplicate rides. Care more about the history and Walt rather than Pixar. Husband is coming with and he's not the biggest disney fan but will be plenty pleased with the more thrilling rides and with good food/drinks.

 

[skyblue17]

I think experiencing the differences of the DL vs. WDW versions of the classic rides is pretty fun, so I wouldn't rule out going on rides you think are exact replicas, in a lot of ways, they are not! Since DL has the later hours most of the time, that might be best for the later start, then you can make the best use of FP at DCA the next day.

 

[Becca1007]

So ive been to WDW dozens of times, and will be skipping exact duplicate rides. Care more about the history and Walt rather than Pixar. Husband is coming with and he's not the biggest disney fan but will be plenty pleased with the more thrilling rides and with good food/drinks.

So if you are driving in and think you will be at DL by noon are you eating lunch outside the park first? Do you have hoppers? If you are not eating lunch on your drive in and you have hoppers I would suggest the following strategy. Start at DCA, grab a fastpass for Gaurdians, have lunch at the wharf and bribe your other half with an adult beverage. Then make your way over to RSR and ride single rider.

 

[IvyWinter]

Won't likely have hoppers. Have a close CM friend getting us in for our first day, and then will be getting a 1 day 1 park pass for the next day. love the idea of lunch in the park!

 

[chickapin parterre]

Won't likely have hoppers. Have a close CM friend getting us in for our first day, and then will be getting a 1 day 1 park pass for the next day. love the idea of lunch in the park!

.........well there you go....DCA on Saturday and take in all the food and new photo opps at Pixar pier, bugsland if still around..and send your husband....if he cops an attitude....off with his head and send him to the baseball game across the street....don't know you date of arrival.

 

[mel2014]

I would do DCA for your late start day and save DL for your full day. While it's true that the FPs go faster at DCA, 4 of the big rides have a single rider option, which would work well for two adults, leaving GOTG as the only major uniquely DCA attraction that would require a FP (since you have Soarin' and TSMM at WDW). The other smaller rides tend to have shorter lines throughout the day. Bugsland will be gone by October, so there aren't that many rides to tackle.

 

[IvyWinter]

I think experiencing the differences of the DL vs. WDW versions of the classic rides is pretty fun, so I wouldn't rule out going on rides you think are exact replicas, in a lot of ways, they are not! Since DL has the later hours most of the time, that might be best for the later start, then you can make the best use of FP at DCA the next day.

Oh im talking the EXACT copies, like Toy Story, or some of the dark rides. Not things like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder, Splash which are pretty different! And ill probably skip Soarin (not my fav). I did a very in depth run through of both parks last trip, so i am OK with missing a few things this time around (like alice in wonderland dark ride, dont really need to do that again!).

.........well there you go....DCA on Saturday and take in all the food and new photo opps at Pixar pier, bugsland if still around..and send your husband....if he cops an attitude....off with his head and send him to the baseball game across the street....don't know you date of arrival.

We will be there Oct 7th and 8th.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Hmmmm......typical Disney today is the 7th....and you cannot plan 60 days out for a MHP on your visit. ..In other news, it is unlikely that Angels will make the play-offs, and since you are skipping alice nestled up against the bulwark of the castle and shady trees....off with his head not such a good idea!!

 

[IvyWinter]

Hmmmm......typical Disney today is the 7th....and you cannot plan 60 days out for a MHP on your visit. ..In other news, it is unlikely that Angels will make the play-offs, and since you are skipping alice nestled up against the bulwark of the castle and shady trees....off with his head not such a good idea!!

That's ok about the Angels, we're Yankees fans anyway

 

[Becca1007]

Won't likely have hoppers. Have a close CM friend getting us in for our first day, and then will be getting a 1 day 1 park pass for the next day. love the idea of lunch in the park!

Cast member sign ins will get you a Hopper unless they have changed that recently (in the last 6-7 months). So you will be able to hop on that day. That being said I would still do DCA first and then devote your single day 1 park ticket to Disneyland.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We just did a one day park hop with a fairly late start (11 am): One Day Late Start DL & DCA Plan?. Our guests were WDW folks who did not want to do the duplicates, but did have some specific requests, e.g. POTC and IASW. You can get an idea of what we were able to do using MP. Our guests weren't super fast movers, so if you can really hustle, you'll be able to do more. But, I will say that pulling off the nighttime entertainment triple play/trifecta did leave us pretty breathless!
ETA: If you purchase MP, don't forget to keep looking for FP cancellations. Getting a late start might lead you to think that you'll miss out on FPs for the big rides, but it's really not hard getting cancellations for parties of 2 people (much harder for large groups). So even though a headliner might be out of FPs for the day, you might get lucky with someone else's cancelled FPs -- grab them quick because they disappear as soon as people see them on the app!

 

[msteddom]

DL will typically have better Fastpass availability later in the day.