Disneyland and CA Disney doable in one day?
 

Can two adults (no kids) enjoy all of Disneyland/CA Disney in one day? We have lots of energy and don't intend to go to restaurants, just have quick meals in the park. We do want to be able to go to shows and the parade, in addition to the rides.

Well... I am not really sure. We have annual passes and often bounce back and forth - but we know exactly where we want to be and when to be there. If you go and get your fast passes - and run back and forth (not for the faint at heart but can be done) I suppose in theory you could go to both. Get there when it opens - and get to California Adventure when it opens as well (Usually a few hours after DL).

I would suggest going straight onto Toy Story in California Adventure when it opens as they do not have fast pass and the lines can be VERY long. Don't miss Soaring over California -it is a great ride.

If you post on Trip Advisor in the Anaheim section you will get good advice. Not much of a DL group here. :)

No - not IMO. For instance, you can't just show up and see the parades. You need to claim a place to sit long before the parade. Otherwise you really can't see much. So the hour you are just sitting there waiting - you aren't on any rides or seeing anything. DL alone really takes a full day by itself. CA can be done in about half a day, or a bit less if you skip some things.

That is the thing right Janis - I guess that is why I put "in theory" because I guess you *could - but it would not be very enjoyable. I would save the money on the admission to California Adventure and only go to DL if you have never been. We actually often prefer spending the day at C.A. because it is less crowded ...

From my son, his wife and their three children, who live close by: Disneyland, 1 day. California Adventure, 1/2 day.This corroborates janisj.

I'm like MomDD..we know exactly where to go and when to do it, and make use of double fastpasses and single rider options (most of the rollercoasters have single rider). There are a few lines that are always long, so you do need to pick one at each park and head straight there at opening. At DCA it's Toy Story. At DL it's either Peter Pan, Matterhorn, or the Submarines.

There are a few things you may have to give up if you do both parks. Usually it's hard to see the Electrical parade in DCA and also catch the fireworks in DL, but if you can position yourself near the Electrical parade start, you might be able to dash over to DL and catch the fireworks on Main Street. (Running will be required). In summer there should be a second Fantasmic.

This is the last year for the Electrical Parade and for Aladdin. So it might be worthwhile exhausting yourselves.

Also it isn't true that you need to reserve a seat at the Parades, Fireworks and Fantasmic. You CAN just show up. You just may not have the best seat in the house. In any case, the only parade at the moment that's worth seeing is the Electrical Parade. The others are skippable.

OK - what is Disney CA? I was at Disneyland the first year it was opened, many times in the 60s & very early 70s, had my High School reunion at the Disneyland Hotel, was a parking lot attendant at the Disncylnd hotel - but that was 40 years ago. I've never heard of Disney CA - what's there - where is it??

Stu Dudley

Disney now has "California Adventure" in addition to the Magic Kingdom. It's a whole separate park -- I believe it was built in the Disneyland parking lot.

Is the "theme" any different from the normal Disneyland? Where do you park cars now? - I remember it being crowded in the 60s.

Stu Dudley

Stu, sf7307 is right. It's right next to Disneyland. here's a link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney%...Adventure_Park

I also went to Disneyland not long after it opened. It was a pretty good experience then because there were no long lines, for some rides no lines at all. Somewhere along the line, the Disney management discovered, probably by accident, that people would stand in line for an hour or more for a 3 minute ride on something. I really believe they didn't anticipate this docile behavior.

The theme is California. As far as characters they focus more on the Pixar side of Disney, although there are some Disney characters (often in surfing attire). Some of the better rides are at DCA, ie Tower of Terror, Soarin' over California (an IMax type ride), Grizzly River Rapids, and California Screamin' (fast coaster with a loop).

There's a giant parking structure now, and shuttle or hike to the parks.

They also serve alcohol.

To be nitpicky, Magic Kingdom is in Florida. Disneyland (the original) is in Anaheim.

IMO it ALL depends on

are you willing to stay O/C (that's open-close)?

are you absolutely determined to see every ride, every show, etc., etc.?

are you wanting to see the new "Disney's World of Color" which begins this year (the rehearsals have been reported to be 'problematic')

If the answer is "I'm wiling to be flexible, stay until the cows come home, use FastPass, and not get hyper because you didn't see Mickey at every turn, buy every french fry, see every show, etc..yes you CAN..I know because I've done it at least twice..came home very satified, too.

Disney is NOT the place to "be anal."