Which park on arrival day?

[KateDrake]

We're only a couple of weeks away from our trip and I'm trying to work out the last minute details! Wahoo!

The big question on my mind is the plan of attack for arrival day. We should be dumping our stuff at our hotel and at the parks by around 2:30 that afternoon. I would normally just hit DLR, because for me, a trip starts and ends on Main Street. However, there is a Halloween party that night (Tuesday) so I know our time will be limited. So should we start at DL, or just head straight to DCA? We have WOC dinner ressies at Carthay Circle that evening, so we'll be spending that time at DCA, but I'm not sure what to do with the three hours or so in between.

At DL, I'm thinking we might be able to hop on a couple of rides, but might be limited since the party crowds will start arriving about the same time we will.

Over at DCA, I know we couldn't get on any of the Cars Land rides, but maybe we could do a few others? Or the other idea I had was to wander through Cars Land and BVS to check out the shops, atmosphere, etc. so that we won't be tempted to linger when we are trying to make a bee line for Cars Land at opening.

Anyway, what would you do? Is there another idea I'm missing? I have tickets for that day, so I'd like to spend it in a park and not just at DTD...

TIA!

 

[jsebsirois]

Even if I agree with you about starting and ending a trip on Main Street U.S.A., I would start this trip over at California Adventure for one simple reason : a lot of people will be at Disneyland until the Park closed to make way to the Halloween Party and will then go to California Adventure. You starting there, you will have been able to enjoy some of the attractions before crowds comes in.

 

[Girimama33]

I would skip DL on the arrival day too.

 

[Tehls]

I would probably hit DL and jump on the train. Get a nice view of the park and the decorations and relax from your journey. That is my plan ay least in 10 days

 

[Tehls]

double posting because I just saw the replies.

Only reason I would not go to DCA, is that I don't consider there to be many "icons" that I would want to see quickly. I the new stuff I want to be able to enjoy with more time.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

I would have to go with Tradition. My wife would not stand for Main Street not being the first thing we see in the parks. But at the same time, we've reached a point in our trips where our pace has slowed and we don't worry about park strategies nearly as much.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We go often, but I still make the basic outline of a plan to get us started. In July I had it planned that right after we checked into our hotel we would go to Disneyland for a couple of hours and try for about 4 rides. Then we would cross over to DCA to check out the new Buena Vista Street and Carsland at a leisurely pace so we wouldn't just run by everything on our way to RSR the next morning. As it turned out, when walking over to the parks, DS11 kept saying he wasn't sure if he could wait a couple more hours to see DCA. Once we passed through security, the rest of us started asking each other how could we be so close to the new DCA we had been waiting for for so long and not go right in. We turn toward Disneyland, and every turnstile had a line of at least 20 people sticking out of it. We turn toward DCA, and there were no lines. DCA it was!

I was really glad it worked out that way though because Buena Vista Street was beautiful and the impact of that for the first time was amazing. We spent a lot of time enjoying the details. We caught the Newsboys show. We went to Carsland, admired all the details there, rode Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, and ate at Flo's. We kept saying we would cross over to Disneyland before we went back to the hotel, but we were having such a good time that there at DCA that we never made it.

So I guess my suggestion would be to start with DCA, especially with the party going on at Disneyland and the likelihood that crowds will pick up later at DCA. I think you will find more than enough to keep you busy in DCA before your dining reservation.

 

[rgnok]

Hard to keep me from heading to Main Street to start my visit, but I've got to agree with CA for this one. Given the time of arrival, Main Street might be the only upside to heading to DL first (now...that's one heck of an upside, as far as I'm concerned, but still....). I vote CA.

 

[jsebsirois]

But at the same time, we've reached a point in our trips where our pace has slowed and we don't worry about park strategies nearly as much.

Amen to that! We feel the same way. We try to plan as less as possible!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Agree about seeing DCA first. When the party starts at DL, the non-party crowds will head to DCA and DtD. Going to DCA when you arrive will give you time to see and enjoy(!) the new things and performers (there are some great musical acts) without feeling rushed or crowded. Going to DL first may have you sandwiched between the early party goer crowd there and the non-party goer crowd when you get to DCA.

 

[MrsMears]

Husband and I always start with DL.. Nothing will change that.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Whichever one closes later!