Which starting park would you recommend?

[ultimatefans]

Traveling this Saturday (Thanksgiving weekend) with hoppers and have purchased MultiPass. Originally made reservations for DL so we could get a virtual queue for HM at 7am and LL for Tiana's first, but now that HM no longer uses the VQ we're wondering if DCA is the better starting park since DL has early entry for onsite guests (which we are not). Any recommendations? Does it matter? WDW regulars but first time at DL.

 

[LKing]

How many days are you spending at the parks? Are you traveling to the parks on Saturday or will you be visiting on Saturday? How many days do you have to see the parks?

What are your priorities? Rides, shows, decorations, food?

 

[ultimatefans]

Visiting on Saturday for 1 day only. Rides are top priority, shows second.

 

[LKing]

Yikes, that's a lot to do on a busy holiday weekend. Have you looked at Brian L's list comparing the parks?


DL Exclusive Attractions:
Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye (uses same ride system as DINOSAUR at AK)
Snow White's Enchanted Wish
Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Mister Toad's Wild Ride
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Alice in Wonderland
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
Roger Rabbit's Car-Toon Spin
Chip & Dale's Gadget Coaster
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
The Matterhorn (note this uses the same ride system as Space Mountain at MK)
Space Mountain (same theme but completely different ride)

DL Similar but not exactly the same:
Enchanted Tiki Room - longer show
Pirates of the Caribbean - longer with more show scenes
Haunted Mansion - even without the Nightmare overlay it is slightly different
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Big Thunder Mountain - some additional effects and scenery
Autopia - much longer than the Tomorrowland Speedway, but basically the same
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - removable laser blasters make it a little better

DL Exactly (or basically) the same:
Peter Pan's Flight - technically some minor differences
Dumbo
King Aruthur Carousel
Milennium Falcon: Smugglers Run - all of Galaxy's Edge is practically identical
Rise of the Resistance
Mad Tea Party
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway - The queue is very different and cool - may be new to you and is worth it if so.
Star Tours
Astro Orbitor - though at ground level

CA Exclusive Attractions:
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout - based on Tower of Terror, though the DL version works a little differently
WEB Slingers
Radiator Springs Racers - this is like a massively bigger Test Track
Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters
Incredicoaster
Inside-Out Emotional Whirlwind
Silly Symphony Swings - though this is an off-the shelf "wave swinger" ride
Jumpin' Jellyfish
Golden Zephyr
Goofy's Sky School

CA Similar but not exactly the same:
Mater's Junkyard Jamboree - the same as Alien Swirling Saucers
Grizzly River Run - longer version of Kali River Rapids - definitely a wet ride!

CA Exactly (or basically) the same:
Mickey's Philharmagic! - smaller screen though
Turtle Talk with Crush
Ariel's Undersea Adventure - same as Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Jessie's Critter Carousel
Soarin' - though note sometimes they run it with the original Sorain' over California, in which case it is a must do!

 

[ultimatefans]

Yikes, that's a lot to do on a busy holiday weekend. Have you looked at Brian L's list comparing the parks?


DL Exclusive Attractions:
Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye (uses same ride system as DINOSAUR at AK)
Snow White's Enchanted Wish
Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Mister Toad's Wild Ride
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Alice in Wonderland
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
Roger Rabbit's Car-Toon Spin
Chip & Dale's Gadget Coaster
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
The Matterhorn (note this uses the same ride system as Space Mountain at MK)
Space Mountain (same theme but completely different ride)

DL Similar but not exactly the same:
Enchanted Tiki Room - longer show
Pirates of the Caribbean - longer with more show scenes
Haunted Mansion - even without the Nightmare overlay it is slightly different
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Big Thunder Mountain - some additional effects and scenery
Autopia - much longer than the Tomorrowland Speedway, but basically the same
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - removable laser blasters make it a little better

DL Exactly (or basically) the same:
Peter Pan's Flight - technically some minor differences
Dumbo
King Aruthur Carousel
Milennium Falcon: Smugglers Run - all of Galaxy's Edge is practically identical
Rise of the Resistance
Mad Tea Party
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway - The queue is very different and cool - may be new to you and is worth it if so.
Star Tours
Astro Orbitor - though at ground level

CA Exclusive Attractions:
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout - based on Tower of Terror, though the DL version works a little differently
WEB Slingers
Radiator Springs Racers - this is like a massively bigger Test Track
Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters
Incredicoaster
Inside-Out Emotional Whirlwind
Silly Symphony Swings - though this is an off-the shelf "wave swinger" ride
Jumpin' Jellyfish
Golden Zephyr
Goofy's Sky School

CA Similar but not exactly the same:
Mater's Junkyard Jamboree - the same as Alien Swirling Saucers
Grizzly River Run - longer version of Kali River Rapids - definitely a wet ride!

CA Exactly (or basically) the same:
Mickey's Philharmagic! - smaller screen though
Turtle Talk with Crush
Ariel's Undersea Adventure - same as Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Jessie's Critter Carousel
Soarin' - though note sometimes they run it with the original Sorain' over California, in which case it is a must do!

Yes I’ve seen the list but thanks for posting, it’s very helpful. Do you have a recommendation for a starting park knowing that DL is open a half hour early for on-site guests? We realize we won’t get to everything but are trying to maximize the time we have.

 

[mel2014]

I would start with DCA. Because there are fewer rides there, the LLMP times quickly get pushed out much later in the day and it's harder to pick up multiple-experience passes or find canceled reservations through the "modify" trick.

With only one day to tackle everything, I'm assuming that you're not planning on many re-rides and you're going to want to just hop from LLMP to LLMP as quickly as possible and I think that's easier starting at DCA, while mixing in the standby rides.

My "foolproof plan" as Rocket would say, would be to start with Pixar Pier, knock out Incredicoaster and Midway Mania, book Guardians, ride Radiator Springs single rider, redeem the LLMP at Guardians, pick up Web Slingers, grab Soarin after Web Slingers (unless you want to skip since it's a WDW clone) and then start booking rides over at DL. You'll probably have a time gap to fill with snacks/lunch.

The wild cards are always Indy and Space Mountain. If they go down for extended periods, that can eat up a lot of the LL availability for the whole day. On the plus side, you can often pick those up through diligent "modify" activity in the app.

 

[KimberMama]

We were at Disneyland last Saturday. Through the gates at 7:47, so in time for rope drop. It was an EE day, but I don’t think it made a huge difference. Star Tours was 5 minutes once we got into Tomorrowland, when we got out of Star Tours, Space Mountain said 30 minutes (we’d gotten a location return time prior to rope drop so we weren’t impacted by that). Did both of those, then got a location return time for Peter Pan, which had a 30 minute wait at that point (it was probably longer right after rope drop). After PP, Matterhorn said 75 in the app, 50 on the sign and the Lightning Lane line was long (no location return times for Matterhorn), so we went to IASMH instead, which said 30 minutes but was faster.

I’m no expert on starting park because I like to start my day at Disneyland. But when I went 11/18, starting at DL definitely impacted us. Incredicoaster always has decent return times, but Guardians was at 9PM when we looked after lunch, and Racers was even later.

 

[Wedgeout]

Also to keep in mind Saturday 30th is a Candy Cane day at DCA. I’d start at that park. Arrive early and queue up for that.

 

[disneychrista]

Also to keep in mind Saturday 30th is a Candy Cane day at DCA. I’d start at that park. Arrive early and queue up for that.

If I only had one day to enjoy both parks I would NOT waste my time in line for a Candy Cane.

 

[Wedgeout]

If I only had one day to enjoy both parks I would NOT waste my time in line for a Candy Cane.

Not much of a waste. It’s walk up at start for initial supply with return queue times for remainder being made that morning.

 

[ultimatefans]

Also to keep in mind Saturday 30th is a Candy Cane day at DCA. I’d start at that park. Arrive early and queue up for that.

I had to look up what this is. Looks delightful! Since we only have one day we will probably skip this but good to know ahead of time what it is.

 

[ultimatefans]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[bakofarmgirl]

i would start in disneyland theres more to do, we get as much done here and then hit dca after

 

[Pluto468]

I always start at Disneyland.

 

[mdmost]

Always Disneyland. Especially if it is your first time. DCA is great but starting at DL and walking through that tunnel for the first time is an experience you need to do. I love DLR in the morning. You can get so much done before 11AM.

 

[irlandaise]

Always Disneyland. Especially if it is your first time. DCA is great but starting at DL and walking through that tunnel for the first time is an experience you need to do.

Absolutely. It's Disneyland, people!! You didn't come all this way because of California Adventure!