Miscellaneous thought of the day...DCA is a half day park. I didn’t use to think so but being confined there without the ability to go to Disneyland exposed its flaws. It works great as a park to hop to to ride a couple of the E’s but on its own it needs some help. Explanation below...
So I’m kind of like the unofficial Disneyland tour guide for family and friends. This time my 27 year old cousin and girlfriend got 2 day 1 Park per day tickets and invited me and the fam to go along. As an AP, I usually park hop so it was a new experience being forced to stay in one park. Staying put in one park does a couple nice things. It makes Maxpass pretty much obsolete. It’s also much less walking and a lot more relaxing. In fact, I would never recommmed family and friends do a one day park hopper again. That just turns into a marathon from hell - especially late afternoon/ night when you ve accumulated a few FPs.
Anyway back to DCA being a half day park. I guess it might have been obvious for a few members here but it wasn’t really for me. DCA needs a solid 3 more E tickets to be a complete park. Hopefully Marvel land can help with that. I’d also say it could use some more transportation rides but it’s not really built for them and that ship has sailed. We spaced out the highlights throughout the day (because of FPs), left for dinner at Fuoco Pizzeria in Downtown Fullerton (excellent pizza) and went back to the park. We could have been done with the park by 3-4pm if we wanted to. I think DCA is only a full day park to a family with kids at just the right ages - one young enough to enjoy the kiddie / flat rides and one that can go on some of the bigger rides with their parents. Outside of that scenario - DCA is a Half day park. It’s a pleasant park with nice wide walkways and some great atmosphere but it doesn’t hold a candle to Disneyland. It’s just really clear to me fresh off this one park per day trip I just had. Of course half of the Pier / Screamin was down so that didn’t help but I don’t think that changes things much.
Speaking of the Pier, I really like the red scream tunnels and the blue (pal around ) wheel (SMH) doesn’t look so teal in person against the back drop of the blue sky.
Another thing - it’s funny how my cousin and his gf (who aren’t theme park nerds by any means ) were completely underwhelmed by Mermaid but still appreciate old school FL rides like Alice (nothing to do with nostalgia as my cousin first rode Alice as an adult and isn’t into the movie). In fact, every single person I have ever rode Mermaid with was underwhelmed with absolutely no commentary from me before or after they rode.
So I’m kind of like the unofficial Disneyland tour guide for family and friends. This time my 27 year old cousin and girlfriend got 2 day 1 Park per day tickets and invited me and the fam to go along. As an AP, I usually park hop so it was a new experience being forced to stay in one park. Staying put in one park does a couple nice things. It makes Maxpass pretty much obsolete. It’s also much less walking and a lot more relaxing. In fact, I would never recommmed family and friends do a one day park hopper again. That just turns into a marathon from hell - especially late afternoon/ night when you ve accumulated a few FPs.
Anyway back to DCA being a half day park. I guess it might have been obvious for a few members here but it wasn’t really for me. DCA needs a solid 3 more E tickets to be a complete park. Hopefully Marvel land can help with that. I’d also say it could use some more transportation rides but it’s not really built for them and that ship has sailed. We spaced out the highlights throughout the day (because of FPs), left for dinner at Fuoco Pizzeria in Downtown Fullerton (excellent pizza) and went back to the park. We could have been done with the park by 3-4pm if we wanted to. I think DCA is only a full day park to a family with kids at just the right ages - one young enough to enjoy the kiddie / flat rides and one that can go on some of the bigger rides with their parents. Outside of that scenario - DCA is a Half day park. It’s a pleasant park with nice wide walkways and some great atmosphere but it doesn’t hold a candle to Disneyland. It’s just really clear to me fresh off this one park per day trip I just had. Of course half of the Pier / Screamin was down so that didn’t help but I don’t think that changes things much.
Speaking of the Pier, I really like the red scream tunnels and the blue (pal around ) wheel (SMH) doesn’t look so teal in person against the back drop of the blue sky.
Another thing - it’s funny how my cousin and his gf (who aren’t theme park nerds by any means ) were completely underwhelmed by Mermaid but still appreciate old school FL rides like Alice (nothing to do with nostalgia as my cousin first rode Alice as an adult and isn’t into the movie). In fact, every single person I have ever rode Mermaid with was underwhelmed with absolutely no commentary from me before or after they rode.
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