Disneyland in 1 day?

[David]

We are going to Hawaii in 2005 for our anniversary and I thought it would be fun to have a layover in LA to take in Disneyland. At the most, we would probably only have 1 full day, so I was wondering if that will be enough time to see all of Disneyland. I know you would need more time if we wanted to see Disneyland and Cal Adventure, but can you see Disneyland in one day and take it all in?

 

[Pat X]

Sure, if it isn't too busy and probably if you have a game plan as to what attractions you want to go on. You should be able to do the "highlights" at least. Go for it.

 

[xfkirsten]

Yup, I agree. You could definitely hit the highlights and gete in most of the major rides. But how thorough your day is would just depend on how busy it is when you go.

-Kirsten

 

[Disneynutcase]

When exactly are you thinking of going? And define "one full day."

If you're going during Chrismas Vacation, Thanksgiving weekend, or the week before or after Easter, expect Disneyland to be packed to almost sick levels. Popular rides will have 90-120 (or more) minute waits. Fast Passes will be gone by mid-day.

If you're going off-season, especially on a weekday, you'll probably walk on most anything you want, making seeing a majority of the park very possible. But park opens late and closes early. And there won't be Fantasmic or fireworks.

If you're going during Summer or on a weekend, park hours will be longer, all parades, Fantasmic, and fireworks should be going, and crowds could be moderate to heavy.

We go annually on the first Friday or Saturday of December and usually find a decent crowd. But by arriving early, staking out some kind of game-plan in advance, and using my one golden rule--GET A FAST PASS WHENEVER POSSIBLE--we end up hitting just about everything in a 12 hour park tour.

In other words, it is possible to see a lot of DL in one day, particularly if you stay ahead of crowds and use Fast Pass.

My advice--and it really works--get to the park when it opens then plan to hit Critter Country first and backtrack through the park from there. Critter Country is in a far corner of the park and is an area that usually doesn't get crowded until 11:00am.

We usually grab a Fast Pass for Indiana Jones along the way, then walk on both Winnie the Pooh and Splash Mountain (both rides get crowds later), then ride Canoes, and sometimes even fit in Haunted Mansion before heading back to Indy. Oh yeah, and we'll grab Fast Passes for Pirates or Big Thunder before riding Indy, then do Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room and other area attractions before the next Fast Pass time comes up.

Always have a Fast Pass. Learn how the system works--when you can get your next one. It will save you hours of waiting in line. I think when we go, we usually get 5-6 Fast Passes over the course of our visit and usually save 2 1/2 to 3 hours of stand-by waits.

 

[David]

We are looking at the first or second week of June to make our trip, and I would like to avoid a weekend in the park, if at all possible.

When I spoke of one full day, I antcipate doing like we do at WDW--be there when it opens, stay until it closes. It can be a little tiring, sure, but when I get the parks, we never go back to the hotel for a swim or nap. We can do that at home!

 

[RU42]

My type of Disney; the infamous death march. I am so like that - I can sit and relax other times, not while I am at WDW. (DL is a little different fo rme since I am an AP.)

Anyway, timing is pretty good. The crowds will be thickening up but not at critical yet. If you go before the 10th (excluding F-Sun) you should be ok. The following week local schools begin to let out.

And weekday helps keep the crowds down. Looking at the current calendar, DL is open from 9 to 9 on June 9. 12 hours should do you well.

As someone posted, hit the E's at 9:00 and use FastPass often. I say Matterhorn should be first then head into Adventure/New Orleans/Critter. Lots of FastPass rides in one area with lots of other attractions nearby that wont need FP (Tiki, Jungle, Tazan, etc.)

If you need any specific questions answered please do not hesitate to ask.

RU

 

[JackSkellington]

I think that California Adventure would be fun to see first, then Disneyland. Hit TOT, California Screamin', and Soarin' over California first thing. Then hit DL. If you hit DL first go to IJA or Tomorrowland first. If you go to IJA ride that, then head over to critter country and ride SPL Mtn, then Winnie the Pooh, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates. After that begin to use the FP, as you work your way to Tomorrowland. Hit Big thunder Mountain, forget Fantasyland, unless you have kids. Walk over and ride the MAtterhorn, then Autoipa. Finally finish off with Space Mountain and Star tours. Beware Star tours is a lot more popular in DL than WDW. Also Space mountain is not as bad as WDW.
The other plan is hit Tomorrowland first. Ride in this order, Sp Mtn, ST, autopia. Hit Matterhorn and walk over to IJA. Get a Fp and see tiki room. Ride IJA then go to critter country, hit sp mtn, WTP, HM, and pirates. Finish off with big thunder at night (oh yeah). Toontown is a toss up, I have been to DL many times, like 30 or more times. Anyway you might or might not go. The only big themed ride is Rodger Rabbit Cartoon Spin, where you ride through the movie, in the cab. and you can spin the car by turning the driving wheel. So it doesn't matter. And I chose not to mention IASWAA, (its a small world after all) because it gets on my nerves.

 

[Disneynutcase]

Space Mountain is closed until sometime well into 2005.

I know a lot of people recommend riding Matterhorn first--not a bad strategy, but only if you want to hang around Fantasyland and get on some of its rides before the real lines start. I know you can pretty much do Dumbo, Peter Pan's Flight, Mr. Toad, and Alice In Wonderland on days with decent crowds in about an hour. BUT only if you hit DL when it opens. After the first hour of operation, all those lines end up getting long--half hour waits at least (unless you luck out and go off season).

In all the years I've been to Disneyland--35 years and probably 100 trips--longest Matterhorn wait has been 30 minutes. Keep in mind that it has two tracks. Some people like to ride twice to do both tracks. But the line seems to move, unlike Indy or Splash Mountain. No Fast Pass for Matterhorn as of yet either.

Of late, when we visit, we either head to Critter Country first and backtrack through the park, or we work our way through Fantasyland first thing to get rides and lines out of the way. Only caveat in the Fantasyland first strategy is that you are kind of far away from Fast Pass rides--there are two in Tomorrowland--Star Tours and Autopia. And Big Thunder isn't too much of a haul from Fantasyland. Depends on how you like to do the parks.

If you know you're going when it's crowded, definitately get Fast Passes right away and keep 'em coming all day long, especially if you want to see as much as possible. Kill time between Fast Pass return times by seeing other attractions in the area.

 

[JackSkellington]

Disneynutcase is right about Matterhorn. We stood in a line that wrapped around as far as the bathroom next to the Alice in Wonderland ride. It only took a hour to ride, we even let 40 or so people go ahead of us, as we waited for the rest of our party.