One-Day Disneyland Itinerary for WDW Vet

[steph0808]

Hi all! I'm a long-time DIS user, though I usually hang out on the runDisney boards.

I have been to WDW about eight times, but next month, I'll be heading to Disneyland for the first time.

Because I'm there for a work conference, I only have one day to do both DL and DCA.

What rides do I absolutely need to hit to give me that California Disney experience?

I'm happy to skip rides that are similar between the World and the Land (i.e. Rise of the Resistance, Runaway Railroad, Peter Pan, Small World, Dumbo, etc.) unless there is a good reason to ride it (I hear Pirates of the Caribbean is much better at Disneyland, etc.).

I also wouldn't mind authentic Disneyland dining experiences - though I probably won't have time for an extended meal.

I plan to be at the parks all day from 8am-10pm except for a two-hour break for work stuff.

Thanks in advance!

 

[BrianL]

Definitely don't skip POTC - it's worth it. I'd probably say Haunted Mansion is too, though the changes are not as significant. Space Mountian is completely different, so do hit that. Over at DCA, I do recommend Guardians, even though it i svery similar to Tower of Terror. Do check out CArs Land and Radiator Springs Racers for sure. Soarin', Little Mermiad, Toy Story Mania - all of those are identical excepting some exterior trappings.

 

[irlandaise]

Focus on Disneyland, and take some time to soak up the atmosphere of Walt's original park. Look for the lamp in the window of his apartment over the fire station, walk down Main Street to the Partners statue. At least go see the outside of Small World even if you don't ride on it. As Brian said, be sure to go on Pirates; the version at WDW is a shadow of the original one. Indiana Jones is much better than Dinosaur in my opinion; not sure whether it will be open by the time you visit.

By all means allow some time to leisurely explore Cars Land over at DCA. The whole Highway 49 area near Grizzly River Run is also different from anything at WDW, but Cars Land is a higher priority with amazing theming. And Radiator Springs Racers is a must while you're there. If you get a chance, stop by for some good sourdough at the Pacific Wharf Café. Have fun!!

 

[Kit Jackson]

CarsLand, especially at night, is amazing, fantastic, and wonderful. It is a glowing retro neon delight. Radiator Springs Racers is a must do if you can.

Ride Pirates because it is very different from the WDW version.

 

[MouseyMin]

There are a few rides in Fantasyland that are not in WDW, such as Alice in Wonderland and Mr. Toad. Also, the Small World ride is the original from the NY World's Fair and is much more elaborate.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Definitely don't skip POTC - it's worth it. I'd probably say Haunted Mansion is too, though the changes are not as significant. Space Mountian is completely different, so do hit that. Over at DCA, I do recommend Guardians, even though it i svery similar to Tower of Terror. Do check out CArs Land and Radiator Springs Racers for sure. Soarin', Little Mermiad, Toy Story Mania - all of those are identical excepting some exterior trappings.

Soarin' switches to Soarin' Over CA next month for DCA's Food & Wine Festival. That might be worth seeing if the OP has never experienced that version before.

 

[BrianL]

Soarin' switches to Soarin' Over CA next month for DCA's Food & Wine Festival. That might be worth seeing if the OP has never experienced that version before.

Oh, right! If it's switching back to the original, don't miss that for sure!

 

[glocon]

Soarin' switches to Soarin' Over CA next month for DCA's Food & Wine Festival. That might be worth seeing if the OP has never experienced that version before.

How long will it stay Soarin’ Over California?
I’d love to see it in early June!

 

[2siamese]

How long do they typicaly run Soarin over California for. We are there April 30-May 9 and that version is very special to me so hoping it will still be running.

 

[steph0808]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I forgot about Small World being the original, so I'll definitely keep that on my list.

I just looked up Soarin' Over California - looks like it runs until April 25. I will try to hit that, too!

And Tower of Terror is my favorite ride, so I'll definitely check out the Guardians version!

 

[BrianL]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I forgot about Small World being the original, so I'll definitely keep that on my list.

I just looked up Soarin' Over California - looks like it runs until April 25. I will try to hit that, too!

And Tower of Terror is my favorite ride, so I'll definitely check out the Guardians version!

Yeah, Small World has enough differences to be worthwhile. There are a few that you might find similar but different that you might not expect:

Matterhorn - Space Mountain MK - the DL Space mountian is very different, but Space Mountain at MK is very similar to the Matterhorn as it uses the same ride system. Matterhorn is the world's first tubular steel coaster.

Indiana Jones - DINOSAUR - these rides are actually pretty much identical other than the scenery. Indy is brighter so you can see the track. There are debates over wish is rougher.

Radiator Springs Racers - Test Track - These both use the same ride system with self-driving cars on a road-like track, but don't be fooled, RSR is WAY more alaborate than Test Track, though it won't quite reach the same top-speed.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree - Alien Swirling Saucers - These are the same falt-style spinners with different theming and music, but otherwise mechanically identical.

 

[gatorlisa]

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree - Alien Swirling Saucers - These are the same falt-style spinners with different theming and music, but otherwise mechanically identical.

The execution of the ride system is so much better with the Mater Jamboree theme. When I rode this for the first time at DCA back in 2016 I laughed the entire time. It was so funny and whimsical. Aliens, not so much. Just kinda feels like you are being thrown around for no reason.

My list of must dos is from the perspective a WDW regular who rarely visits DLR. Please keep in mind, I love classic dark rides and Disney history, and as I've gotten older, am much less into thrills than I used to be.
Must Dos
Disneyland Park - Pinocchio's Darning Journey, Snow White and whatever her ride is called now (was Scary Adventures last time I was there), Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (I will never forgive Winnie the Pooh for evicting Mr. Toad!), Pirates of the Caribbean (nearly twice as long and much better than WDWs), Storybookland Canal Boats, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Haunted Mansion (really, only because it's my favorite ride...it's not that different from WDW's other than the Hatbox Ghost)

DCA - Radiator Springs Racers (don't be fooled by the "same ride system as Test Track" - this ride is amazing and should not be compared in the same breath as Test Track), Cars Land in general is amazing and should be enjoyed for the immersive theming and attention to detail, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout (I haven't actually ridden this yet...5 more days..., but Tower of Terror is probably my second favorite ride ever and I truly love the sensation of the drops and I do like the MCU), Web Slingers (again, haven't ridden this yet, but it's something WDW doesn't have), Monster's Inc., Mike & Sully to the Rescue, Grizzly River Run (if open)

 

[Kit Jackson]

I just looked up Soarin' Over California - looks like it runs until April 25. I will try to hit that, too!

I think Soarin' Over California is far superior to the global version. It looks better because it's real people and real footage and I find the scents are more appealing. If you can ride Soarin' Over California please consider adding it to the must do list.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Radiator Springs has a single rider lane - so don't bother using your $$$ on that. I do use Genie+ for Soarin and Mission Breakout there. I would do DL in the morning (rope drop with coffee in hand is my happy place), a few nearly walkon rides and then use Genie+ for a couple. Take a Break during the day. Come back right after sunset to DCA to eat and maybe grab a glass of wine (Flos has a great view of Radiator Springs, Cozy Cones is near too) and ride Radiator Springs at DCA, then to Disneyland fireworks or night stuff, see if you can dash back into DCA in time for World of Color afterwards before calling it a night.

If there for an evening without the parks, just wander Downtown Disney and maybe grab something at or near Trader Sam's (by the DL Hotel). My favorite eating place is Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney if I'm not in the parks - piano bar inside or tables upstairs on the balcony. It might be closed for renovations.

 

[Kender]

Radiator Springs has a single rider lane - so don't bother using your Genie+ on that. I do use Genie+ for Soarin and Mission Breakout there.

RSR is an ILL$, not a G+ ride.

 

[chezcurrie]

I’d tackle it similar to what others have said, and definitely utilize G+. As a single rider it‘s actually pretty doable to get a lot done.

Rope Drop the FL rides (you can knock these out pretty quickly in the am), do the castle walk through and then head over to Pirates and marvel at its superiority (it does not offer a LL so good to get this one when the line is shorter.) Check out the exterior at Haunted Mansion but I’d skip if - WDW is getting the hatbox ghost so the differences are minimal. If its important to you and you brought a poncho so as to not get wet do Splash (LL) one last time as it hasn’t changed over. If you did this on your last WDW trip, skip it. If you don’t have a poncho, skip it - you will get WET! Then I’d head over to small world (LL) and do single rider Matterhorn if you don’t mind getting your teeth jostled around (so bumpy!) Then do Space if you’re able to get a decent return time on LL. If not I would potentially skip or try later on in the night. I’d skip Galaxy’s edge and toontown completely.

In DCA as others have mentioned check out avengers campus (Guardians LL and single rider Webslingers) and CarsLand in general (single rider Racers), both which I think are better at night. Personally I’d skip Monsters and Hollywoodland in lieu of Pixar Pier and the Incredicoaster (LL or single rider). I love the theming of this ride. And cap it all off with Soarin’ over California.

If its running I would suggest checking our Fantasmic second showing - it is superior to WDW because it is on Rivers of America. And if you find yourself back in Dland at night I’d ride Big Thunder - I prefer this at night and while it is similar to WDW the effects are different and the ride sequence is as well.

Food wise Blue Bayou for a Monte Christo and mint julep is a Dland classic, but would take a little bit of time (although the last time I dined there it was rather speedy service.) Instead you could grab some beignets and a mint julep at Royal Street veranda (I think this is where they are now.) Bengal Barbeque skewers are also a local fave that you can’t get at WDW. In DCA the quesabirria tacos at Cocina Cucamongo and the lobster nachos at Lamplight lounge are my standout faves. The theming at Flo’s V8 cafe is adorable, especially the exterior portion. So if you‘re craving some Fried Chicken its really good.

And you must have a Disneyland churro. So far superior to WDW. Like if you didn’t get a churro did you even go to Disneyland!?!

EDIT: wow I used the word “superior” a lot - must get a thesaurus.

 

[TinkAgainU]

RSR is an ILL$, not a G+ ride.

Thanks, you're right.

 

[ktlm]

As someone who goes to both WDW/DLR- this my must do DLR list if I only had one day and was focusing only on things that are different from WDW:

CA -in order of importance to me:

Radiator Springs Racers- single rider line
Soarin only if the California version is running
Guardians
Monsters Inc. Ride
Incredicoaster- single rider line
Luigi's Rollikin' Roadsters
Web slingers

RSR/Soarin (California version only)/ Guardians (if I liked TOT like you) and Monsters Inc. would be the 4 absolute musts for me. The others would be ones I would want to do- but would be my second tier priority.

If I wanted a sit down break- I would head to the Animation Academy and draw a character and if I had time for a night time event or show it would be WOC or the WOC dessert party. If you get a chance-- see Carsland at night-- if you enter through the Pacific Wharf area- the view is breathtaking.

DL:

Alice in Wonderland
POTC (so much better at DLR)
Space Mountain (so much better at DLR)
The castle Walk through
Haunted Mansion (hatbox ghost- need I say more)
Small World
Indiana Jones (if open)--- I hate Dinosaur and I love Indiana Jones
Disneyland Railroad (specifically the part that runs from Fantasyland back around to Main Street)
Nemo (nostalgia for the 20,000 Leagues ride)
Toad
Snow White
Pinnochio

If you are there at rope drop-- you can probably knock out all the Fantasyland area rides pretty quickly.
Alice/POTC/SM would be my 3 absolute musts.

And yes-- I know Matterhorn isn't on my list. Every few years we say hey we haven't ridden that in a while-- we should go do it- and every time we get off and say- oh yeah that is why we don't ride it, we are good for a few years now. It is a rough coaster.

As far as food, my must have would be to get a churro at the cart by the castle. No churro at WDW remotely even compares to the DL castle cart churro.

Outside of that, in our opinion the CS at DLR is much better than the CS at WDW--- I'm sure because of the local crowd. Just look at the menus on line and see what appeals to you ---- If you are a Marvel fan, you might just want to go to a cart and try the schawarma. Cars fan? Flo's is pretty good and some tables have a great view of RSR. Beauty and the Beast fan? The Red Rose Tavern does have the Grey stuff. There are a ton of CS options.

 

[irlandaise]

Come back right after sunset to DCA

Steph, check with a DCA cast member about when they'll be turning on the lights in Cars Land. It's a short but very fun evening ritual.

And as TinkAgain said, be sure to ride Radiator Springs Racers at night if you can. The lighting in the Cadillac Mountains is beautiful.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

How long will it stay Soarin’ Over California?
I’d love to see it in early June!

How long do they typicaly run Soarin over California for. We are there April 30-May 9 and that version is very special to me so hoping it will still be running.

Soarin' Over CA will run for the duration of the F&W Festival. See the post below for the end date.

...

I just looked up Soarin' Over California - looks like it runs until April 25. I will try to hit that, too!