Yeah.. I’ve heard all the tales about rough it is. I went ahead and completely spoiled it with a POV video this week. It definitely is showing its age
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It seems on week nights there is an 8:30pm & 9:30pm Star Wars projection show. RotR does stay open until 10pm on nights when the park closes at 10pm.
That seems to be the constant closing time. On nights DL closes at 12am RotR still closes at 10pm
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Well that is good news at least! So you should get the projection show and RotR in the evening.
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I mentioned it earlier, I’m going to Phoenix that weekend to see a friend. The plan is to leave on Monday late afternoon to go to Anaheim.
However, I now may need to leave Arizona very early that morning. I would arrive in Anaheim and be able to be in either park by 2pm
I can’t “change” my package now that I’ve paid for it - even to add a ticket. I can’t justify park hopper for a single day. I don’t mind paying $65 for three days, but not just for one. So, I need to pick a single park.
I could go to DCA and that would give me almost two full days there and then 2 full days at DL.
Or I could go to DLR which is open an hour later and then use my already “paid for” park hopper tickets the next day or so to do DCA things. I’m really trying to get value out of the park hopper I’ve paid for! 
I’ve worked on my plans for so long that I hate to change them. I’m leaning towards just going to DCA even if DL is open an hour longer. I could go to explore downtown Disney or the hotels after.
I’ll know for sure by the weekend.
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More Disneyland is a good problem to have!
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The lesson I’ve learned and will pass on is…
Don’t pay for any part of your DLR package, except deposit, until the final day. Once you pay anything towards it at all the package is “locked in”. By dumping all my Visa Points into the package in mid-March, almost 3 weeks “early”, I am unable to remove park hopper or add an extra day at a discount.
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I know it sounds dumb, but I’m really struggling with which park to add - if I arrive early.
I like all my plans for the rest of the trip as they are already planned.
My brain says, “Go to DCA if I arrive early on Monday. That will give you 2 days at each park”
Then my heart says, “You’ll have been at DLR for two days and not step foot in DL that way. It makes sense on paper due to DL limited hours on Tuesday, but feels odd.”
Here’s my DCA plan… Have I “done” DCA in a single day?? Would it be crazy to go to DL 3 days and DCA only one?
I do wish there was more time for any entertainment / characters. I didn’t put in any of the boardwalk “off-the-shelf” flat rides in my plans, but do like those types of things. I am in all the lands, but I don’t really have time to “explore” or appreciate them only look as I walk around.
What would you do?
- 2 days DCA and 2 days Disneyland
- 1 day DCA and 3 days Disneyland
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I’m only voting 2 and 2 because I’d rather spend more time in DCA and DL. Shocker, I know!
But you have a park hopper. Definitely take advantage of it. My plan would be 2 1/2 days in DCA and 1 1/2 days in DL.
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I want to. It’s hard making a park hopping TP not having a good understanding of distances.
I know they are extremely close. However, is it really practical to bounce back & forth or do you completely split up the day doing one until mid-day and the other until close?
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I’ve read that gate-to-gate is about 300 feet. That’s the length of a football field.
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I’m ok with doing it half and half. Go in one park and stay until you’ve done what you wanted, then walk across the esplanade to the other park. If you want to hop back and forth, go for it!
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Ok, so initially I was team you can’t be at DLR 2 days and NOT step onto Main St. And so I voted 3 days DL and 1 day DCA.
But then I looked over your DCA plan and it is definitely a full day and will be a great one if that’s your only day there, but I feel like you need more time to wander so I changed my vote.
For wandering, Redwood Creek, The SanFransokyo new area, and even more than what you have in Avengers Campus would fit in better with more than the 1 day.
So do DCA that full first day. Then on your next DCA day if you get restless to see Main St and are happy with your time in DCA, hop hop hop hop on over!
We used to hop a lot more but it was mostly driven by paper FP and trying to fit in parades and shows at both parks (5:15 Pixar Play parade in DCA, 6:30 Soundsational parade in DL, back to DCA for Sha-boom song/turning on the neons at sunset in Carsland and a few rides in Bug’s Land at dusk, back to DL at 8:30-8:45 to get a spot on Main St for FWs or position for 9pm F!, back to DCA for 10:15pm WOC, etc. etc.).
Now our hops are more around if we want food in the other park more than the current one we’re in and/or around midday break. I do also love it when DL is open an hour or so later than DCA, then I’ll gladly hop back even if it’s just for Main St (but usually we also fit in a few Fantasyland or Tomorrowland rides at night, or if the little kids are sleeping, Pirates and Indy).
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There is an awesome thread that Jeff started and compiled great comparison info on the two parks. My favorite part is the distances and how he was able to explain how crazy compact DLR is vs. WDW with just the below snippet. But goes into more detail on the distances (and other great things) over in Disneyland for WDW Veterans
And yes, walking between the parks really is like walking between the area formerly known as Future World and World Showcase, but with that whole area being a wide open plaza instead of the pathways and lagoons that exist between the two areas in Epcot.
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This is amazing! I guess with it being from 2021 I didn’t see it!
@Jeff_AZ - Well done!
Being able to understand that DLR is the size of EPCOT puts the parks in terms I can relate to. I was just there and walked back & forth from Cosmic Rewind / Main Gate to FEA or Remy multiple times in the same day.
I haven’t been able to get over the mental hurdle of the logistics of “leaving a park” then “entering another park” that takes place at WDW and UOR.
You still have to go through entrance taps though, right? Like the gates might be close, but are there “wrong” times could you get stuck in a massive crowd when trying to hop to a different park? (Other than RD or right before a major night show)
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Yes, but not security! DD, DL, and DCA are all one secured area.
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I get that, but can I get “stuck” behind a family of 8 that doesn’t know how to use the App while every other entrance has a line 10 - 20 people deep at say…3pm?
At UOR it may be a longer walk, but 90 minutes after RD you can stroll right through the taps barely even having to pause to show your ticket (face scan) for the rest of the day
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Yes, I’ve gotten stuck behind an influx of guests at the gates. It’s annoying, but it usually doesn’t take too long.
The busiest times tend to be around sundown, especially if there is a parade or entertainment. You’re not going during a party or after-hours event, right? That’s another thing that can cause a backup. (Maybe Star Wars Nite?)
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There is a SW Nite on Tuesday. As of now, I’m planning on being in DCA all day to avoid it.
I assumed it would be that way when something popular is happening / show. I wanted to verify that DLR isn’t infamous for shutting down almost every tap entry or something after 10am that causes chaos!
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Here’s what I think will help me even more… (I may have already asked! Sorry! )
On average how long does it take you to get from Fantasyland to Cars Land? (Those seem to be about the middle of each park)
No running or fast walking! INCLUDE GOING THROUGH ENTRY
- Less than 5 minutes
- 5 - 10 minutes
- 10 - 15 minutes
- 15 minutes or more
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