2 parks 1 day?

[a2grafix]

I know this has probably been asked before, but is it possible to do California Adventure and then the Magic Kingdom -- or reversed, all in one day?

I've done two and three, and now four parks in a day (and Dowtown Disney / Pleasure Island / Adventurer's Club) at WDW all in a day, so I'm sure 2 parks at Disneyland can be done.

I'm in the beginning stages of setting up a weekend trip to Anaheim in mid-December and I'm only in for the weekend - Saturday - Monday. I'm also considering a side trip to Knotts Berry Farms too.

I need my Tower of Terror fix as well as I need to taste Ghost Rider.

Thanks!

 

[primetime52]

You didn't specify, but if this is your first ever visit to DLR, I wouldn't recommend it.

It can be done, but you probably won't have time to see everything, especially since you will be there on a weekend. You'll have time to hit all the E-tickets in both parks and maybe some extras, but you're bound to miss alot.

I've never been to Knotts, but I'm sure most of the people on this board will advice you to add a 2nd day at DL and skip Knotts.

 

[coasterphil]

If the reason you want to go to Knott's is Ghostrider, I'd suggest just skipping it and staying for a second day at DL. I couldn't believe how disappointing it was when I rode it for the first time during my trip to California last year. It's glory days are long gone.

 

[a2grafix]

Thanks for the information and input.

This is my second trip to Anaheim in 9.5 years. My last trip to Disneyland (and only) was June 1999 during the California Adventure development.

I want to make the most of my weekend, so, it's a toss-up if I want to add Knotts into the equation. I dig rollercoasters and Knotts is now owned by Cedar Fair, which also owns Cedar Point. CP s 45 minutes east of me.

Now, where to stay? Somewhere on Katella me thinks.

Thanks again --

 

[coasterphil]

Knowing now that you're interest for going wasn't solely for GhostRider, I'd definitely recommend a day at Knott's. If you really enjoy coasters, there is going to be more than enough at Knott's to make it a better choice than DCA. Silver Bullet and Xcelerator are top notch rides (although Raptor and TTD at CP are better IMO) and Sierra Sidewinder and Montezuma's Revenge are also great rides. The park has some nice theming and a decent collection of flats as well. I'd much rather spend the day there than DCA, but the problem is that it's difficult to get everything at DL, plus the things at DCA you'll likely want to ride (California Screamin', ToT, and possibly TSMM?) in just one day.

As for where to stay, I stayed at the Howard Johnson on Katella. I got the Entertainment book rate, which was $55 a night. Walking distance to DL and easy freeway access to make a trip to Knott's if you so choose.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

I've never been to Knotts, but I'm sure most of the people on this board will advice you to add a 2nd day at DL and skip Knotts.

I second that motion.

 

[TP2000]

Knott's is pretty trashy. It's like an old Six Flags, with just a tad more theme. But the employees are pretty bad, the customers can be scary, and the park has seen better days. You can always find discount tickets for Knott's for like 30 bucks at local grocery stores, but that should tell you something. You've been warned.

(Ghostrider is a fun coaster though, but I'm not sure it's worth a trip specifically)

As for Disneyland and DCA on a weekend in December, the parks will be very busy then! Disneyland is done up entirely for Christmas, unlike the Magic Kingdom which just does decorations on Main Street. Haunted Mansion Holiday, Small World Holiday, Christmas Parade, Christmas Fireworks, Snow Castle Show, Santa's Reindeer Ranch petting farm in Frontierland (with real reindeer shipped down from Alaska!), Decorations and special Christmas entertainment in almost every land, special holiday menus in the restaurants, etc.. Disneyland goes ALL OUT for Christmas, and the locals arrive in droves on the weekends to see it all. It's one of the busiest times of year, even before the two peak weeks of Christmas Day/New Years Day.

As such, you are going to need to use your time very wisely. Disneyland will be open 8AM to Midnight on December weekends, again because of the huge crowds, and you will need to plan each day carefully to use the time the best. Fastpass, early mornings, afternoon naps, late nights, etc. all need to be in your arsenal of attack.

It can be done in one weekend, but you have to plan this thing like the invasion of Normandy.

 

[a2grafix]

TP2000, Rufus, coasterphil, everyone else --

Thanks for the advance insight. It's just going to be me and unfortuantely the flight I need to take from Detroit to LAX won't leave until 8 p.m. ET Saturday night. I won't get into LAX until right around 10-11 p.m. PT.

I'll probably crash for a few hours at the USO Lounge at LAX before getting a ride to Anaheim due to the time change. So, I won't be hitting Disneyland or DCA until Sunday and Monday.

Yeah, by the looks of it, two days on Disney should just about do it, although I would love to test the rollercoasters at Knotts. If I time it well, I could make the most of my stay in Orange County. I don't even leave for Detroit until close to midnight.

I have a few months to decide. I look to make the most of it.

Thanks!