What park to start with?

[TXMNie]

My husband and I are taking our first trip to DLR ever to celebrate becoming SoCal residents (SD) and my birthday this weekend.

We are staying off site and are hoping to be there at rope drop Saturday and Sunday. My question is what park should we go to first? My heart says Disneyland because we have never been before, but it is early morning hours for DL hotel guests on Saturday. How much of a difference will this make crowd wise? Should we start with DCA instead? TIA!

 

[noodle73]

I don't have any advice but I'm curious to hear what others have to say... I'm struggling with the same decision for our first family trip in November. We'll be there on a Tues and Weds. Normally I'd start with DL but Tuesday is Extra Magic Hour there so should we go opposite and do DCA first?

 

[SteveH]

If you have hoppers I would say start with Disneyland then jump to DCA if needed. Give plenty of time to just take in the magic that is Main Street. Once you are in look to see if Tomorrowland or Adventureland is busier and decided from there. Enjoy the trip!

 

[figment_jii]

EMH/MM impacts Fantasyland and Tomorrowland (and Main Street) in DL, but not the other lands. Personally, given that this is your first trip to DLR, I would start in DL. I've found that after a few hours, the crowds from EMH/MM have dissipated/spread out and do not really impact the parks anymore (i.e., DL isn't noticeably more crowded on an EMH/MM day than on a non-EMH/MM day - I think this is because so many guests get park hoppers). If you do get there at rope drop, I'd start in the Adventureland/Frontierland/New Orleans Square/Critter Country/Galaxy's Edge side of the park. I'd do Pirates first because it doesn't have FP.

Are you going to get park hoppers and/or MaxPass? Both of those can really help you maximize your time at the parks.

 

[TXMNie]

EMH/MM impacts Fantasyland and Tomorrowland (and Main Street) in DL, but not the other lands. Personally, given that this is your first trip to DLR, I would start in DL. I've found that after a few hours, the crowds from EMH/MM have dissipated/spread out and do not really impact the parks anymore (i.e., DL isn't noticeably more crowded on an EMH/MM day than on a non-EMH/MM day - I think this is because so many guests get park hoppers). If you do get there at rope drop, I'd start in the Adventureland/Frontierland/New Orleans Square/Critter Country/Galaxy's Edge side of the park. I'd do Pirates first because it doesn't have FP.

Are you going to get park hoppers and/or MaxPass? Both of those can really help you maximize your time at the parks.

We are getting signature plus APs so I believe we will have both. Are you able to make MaxPasses for either of the parks or just the one you are in? Thanks for all the helpful advice! We are excited if a bit overwhelmed with the newness of it all!

 

[figment_jii]

You can use MP for either park as long as you've entered at least one park. I love having the ability to make a FP for RSR (for example), while I'm waiting in line for Space. You can also use MP to get a FP for WoC or F! (if showing) without impacting your ability to get an attraction FP. If you want to see either of those shows using a FP, I recommend grabbing a FP as soon as you can (F!, at least, tends to run out pretty quickly).

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

We are getting signature plus APs so I believe we will have both. Are you able to make MaxPasses for either of the parks or just the one you are in? Thanks for all the helpful advice! We are excited if a bit overwhelmed with the newness of it all!

Awesome! You will have MaxPass and park hopping privileges! You can get fastpasses at either park via the app once you’ve scanned into either park.

Adventureland is a great place to start at rope drop on a Magic morning! Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion (usually... however, it will be down this weekend for then holiday overlay). Tiki Room and Tarzan’s Treehouse if you are so inclined. Then you can hit Splash Mountain and Winnie the Pooh, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

 

[TXMNie]

You can use MP for either park as long as you've entered at least one park. I love having the ability to make a FP for RSR (for example), while I'm waiting in line for Space. You can also use MP to get a FP for WoC or F! (if showing) without impacting your ability to get an attraction FP. If you want to see either of those shows using a FP, I recommend grabbing a FP as soon as you can (F!, at least, tends to run out pretty quickly).

Awesome! That is great to hear we can get a nighttime show fast pass and still do attraction fast passes! For a first timer would you recommend world of color or fantasmic? I am leaning world of color because we have seen fantasmic before at WDW. We will probably only have time for one nighttime show unless a miracle happens for traffic from SD.

 

[chickapin parterre]

happy birthday!!!

Saturday has the letter "T" therefore folks with multi day tickets who have not used their MM entrance, in addition to the Hotel Guests will also be in Disneyland that glorious morning.

Curious to what you would like to do during those first few hours at Disneyland? That would help in giving you direction to maximize your morning,also, will you be using Maxpass,if so, then there shouldn't be any problem in touring..

And being that you are now So Cal folks, why rush around Disneyland when you have that first time experience and just take in the flavor of Main Street and that first time trip around Disneyland on the train before seeing any of the interior, like a Christmas present sitting under the tree for weeks.. Myself, as an alphabet book 8 year old, I have no recollection of my first steps into Disneyland. in my dreams, Will Smith shows up and says " I can give you the talent to slam dunk a basketball, or a cabin on the oregon coast or back to your visit as a 8 year old first walking into Disneyland....decisions, decisions !!!