First time - One day

[scbb11Sketch]

So I need everyone's help. I'm going to California for a business trip, and I am taking an extra day for myself to go the California Adventure since I've never been there. I'll only be there one night, so I'm curious what I should do for a hotel room. Any recommendations on where to stay? On or off property? Since I'll just be there the one night to sleep I don't want to break the bank, but I also don't want to be miles away. Also, what is the easiest way to get to LAX? I see there is a Disney shuttle bus, but does it go to hotels off property too? Disneyland seems so much different than WDW, so I'm a little lost here. Thanks for any trip planning help!

 

[Californian Elitist]

First, I just want to make sure you're getting a park hopper. You are planning on buying a park hopper ticket, right?

DO NOT STAY ONSITE. It's too much money and you're only staying for one night. Don't fork up the cash. There's a Best Western Plus hotel directly across the street from the resort. I've stayed there before and I was perfectly comfortable and the room was nice. There's also Desert Inn, which is also cheap and directly across the street. I'm talking a five minute walk from the gates of the two parks.

I'm pretty sure the shuttles pick up offsite guests. You can get to LAX that way or you can take a cab. You can fly out of closer airports, like John Wayne. Not only is it closer but it's less of a hassle.

 

[croboy82]

We used the shuttle bus to get from an off-site hotel to LAX, look if your hotel is in this (2nd page!):

http://graylineanaheim.com/docs/DRE Brochure.pdf

And ask at your hotel when the bus will stop and where, it was no problem for me. We drove with this bus to the Disneylandhotel and had to change to another bus that drove us to LAX. Very easy and no problems.

 

[scbb11Sketch]

Awesome. Thanks guys! I'll look into those hotels, and that flyer for the shuttle should help a lot. I'm not planning on doing a park hopper, though. I just want a day at one park so I can relax and see Carsland and World of Color and everything else DCA has to offer.

 

[croboy82]

Really? But Disneyland is really like 1 minute away from DCA. Imagine some rides being broken and you are stuck at DCA

 

[Californian Elitist]

Awesome. Thanks guys! I'll look into those hotels, and that flyer for the shuttle should help a lot. I'm not planning on doing a park hopper, though. I just want a day at one park so I can relax and see Carsland and World of Color and everything else DCA has to offer.

You should really consider going to both parks. They're only a few seconds apart. They're not far away from each other at all. You need not of transportation...you just walk. Might as well take advantage of that.

 

[Figments Friend]

Yeah, DCA and DL and literally right across from each other...100 feet from turnstile to turnstile.
I recommend visiting both, even for just a one day.
Have your priority list of what you definately want to do and see before setting foot in either.
Since you will be short of time, choose the attractions and shows you want to see the most and save the rest for another visit.

Have a great day there !

 

[thomas998]

If you are going for carsland then I assume you are also wanting Radiator Springs Racers... If that is true then I highly recommend you make a mad dash for RSR as soon as you get in the park. I wouldn't bother with the fastpass because when the rope drops the odds are there will be a terribly long long already started for the fast passes... Also because you will be aiming for the RSR first you will likely not be able to get the good fast pass for the world of color... However if they are doing 2 show that night you might get a pass for the later show... If not then consider the premium viewing area by buying the special meal deal.

If you truly only want to go to one park then you shouldn't need to worry about having time to see it all unless it is a weekend, I think you will have plenty of time to see CA in one day.

 

[scbb11Sketch]

Also because you will be aiming for the RSR first you will likely not be able to get the good fast pass for the world of color... However if they are doing 2 show that night you might get a pass for the later show... If not then consider the premium viewing area by buying the special meal deal.

OK, this is something I didn't know. Fastpasses for World of Color? If I don't end up getting a fastpass, is it going to be really tough to see the show, or is this something I need to make sure I get? World of Color is one of the reasons I want to go to DCA.
Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

[Californian Elitist]

OK, this is something I didn't know. Fastpasses for World of Color? If I don't end up getting a fastpass, is it going to be really tough to see the show, or is this something I need to make sure I get? World of Color is one of the reasons I want to go to DCA.
Thanks for all the help everyone!

You'll be fine without a Fastpass. Just head towards the front of the viewing area. If there are two showings, try and catch the second one.

 

[TP2000]

You'll be fine without a Fastpass. Just head towards the front of the viewing area. If there are two showings, try and catch the second one.

Will he? I've only seen WoC with a Fastpass, either from the machines or via a dining package. If you don't have a Fastpass, aren't you relegated to the back areas or the bridge off to the side? All those crowd control CM's seem to be there to keep people without Fastpasses from getting into the Fastpass viewing zones up front.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Will he? I've only seen WoC with a Fastpass, either from the machines or via a dining package. If you don't have a Fastpass, aren't you relegated to the back areas or the bridge off to the side? All those crowd control CM's seem to be there to keep people without Fastpasses from getting into the Fastpass viewing zones up front.

Yeah, he should be fine. I walked towards the front, the CM told me I was fine and I walked right past her, to the front, on the side a bit. I do this for the second showing, maybe it's different for the first showing. I only watch the second showings.

 

[croboy82]

It also depends how busy it is. I remember that at one night the CMS were asking people to come as it wasn't really full. So no one really needed a fastpass. But that was just luck I guess.