Would it be a crazy idea to visit Disneyland CA whilst staying in Orlando?

[OP95]

Hi everyone ,

I have always been interested in visiting Disneyland as it has been on my bucket list for ages. I will be visiting Orlando solo again for two weeks from the uk and have been pondering of the idea of flying over for a short stay mid trip for maybe 3 days or so then fly back to Orlando. Would this be a waste of money or a bad idea? Have any of you done this before if so how did it go?

If anyone could talk me out of this or give me some advice that would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Hi everyone ,

I have always been interested in visiting Disneyland as it has been on my bucket list for ages. I will be visiting Orlando solo again for two weeks and have been pondering of the idea of flying over for a short stay mid trip for maybe 3 days or so then fly back to Orlando. Would this be a waste of money or a bad idea? Have any of you done this before if so how did it go?

If anyone could talk me out of this or give me some advice that would be greatly appreciated!

If you have the time and money, go for it. but you need to manage expectations.

I fly from Europe so I am used to long flights. Depending on the route you are looking at a 5 to 6 hour flying time. Add in 2 hours at the airport before the flight, and then about another 2 hours from landing to actually checking into a hotel in Anaheim. So realistically your travel day will be about 12 hours, so your arrival days and departure days will be no park days.

Disneyland California is very compact with both parks in the same security bubble across the esplanade. I did a solo 2 day park hopper this year, rope drop to late at night with Genie+. You can read my trip report here https://www.disboards.com/threads/s...vel-home-to-ireland-saturday-june-29.3949675/

 

[AgentMama]

We're all about maximizing time visiting new places. It's totally doable if you're comfortable hitting the ground running and managing travel exhaustion. You could take a red eye back if you can handle that option. Have fun!

 

[Spinster Travel]

When is your trip planned? Breeze Airways has a nonstop from Orlando to Orange County Airport in CA but it is only certain months of the year (and is about to go on hiatus for the winter) - but that would make the trip a ton easier.

 

[miksicnarf]

I vote no on the back & forth. If you could manage to start on one side and end on the other that'd be much better.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Life is short go for it!

 

[kathy884]

I personally would just stay in Orlando and think it would be a waste of money and time. Only you can decide though.

There is a charm to Disneyland California that I feel even stronger than in the other similar parks (maybe it's Walt's touch) that makes it feel a little more storybook than let's say the Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando or the Disneyland Park outside of Paris. It's a charming place (wonderful vibe). So I guess If you really want to do it sure, but I have a feeling that after you do it you very well might feel it really wasn't worth the time and expense. It's a long way to go from Orlando to California (a good full day of travel each way -- takes up two of your vacation days, and air is not necessarily super cheap). I also like all four of the Orlando Disney parks better than the California Adventure park (the second park besides Disneyland that is there in California -- that second park really didn't do anything for me, but of course since I went all the way there I wanted to visit it too). I also prefer the lodging choices and dining choices in Orlando.

Now me, having done it once (the California parks), I wouldn't do it again because despite Disneyland, CA being my very favorite park it is just so similar to the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL) and the Disneyland Paris park too. WDW is where I always go, as there is just so much to do in Orlando - not just Disney, Orlando has it all (the most number of different Disney experiences), it's the easiest for me to get to, I have relatives there, the list goes on and on as to why that is where I go for a Disney fix.

You only go thru this life once though. I know my son, for example, who is a HUGE Disney fan always wanted to make a sojourn to the California parks and that's why we did that trip once. Hey and for him when we went to Paris and another European destination, what do you know, we added three more days to our trip so he could experience Disneyland Paris. That though was only about an hour drive from where we were. (Maybe for you it's more like the fact that on our European trip we flew to Belfast as DS is a Huge Titanic fan and spent three days there too. But they we did an open jaw flight to keep from back tracking too much and flew home from Dublin).

Anyway, have a blast on your Disney adventure whatever you decide.

 

[goofyernmost]

Disneyland is certainly worth seeing, but as someone said it would seem to me like I would either put Disneyland first and then fly to Orlando and go from there to home. It wouldn't save any airtime, but it would be much easier than possibly going there in the middle of your stay at WDW. Logistically it is just easier. It really seems like I would fly to Anaheim or close to it from UK and after the whatever number of days you chose to stay their fly to Orlando do your WDW thing and fly from their back to the UK. Or just the opposite. WDW first then to Disneyland then back to the UK.

 

[OP95]

Thanks all, I think for this trip I’ll just stick with WDW. Maybe in a later date I can do a proper trip and vist CA. Hopefully one day! Might of underestimated the travel time

 

[OP95]

I personally would just stay in Orlando and think it would be a waste of money and time. Only you can decide though.

There is a charm to Disneyland California that I feel even stronger than in the other similar parks (maybe it's Walt's touch) that makes it feel a little more storybook than let's say the Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando or the Disneyland Park outside of Paris. It's a charming place (wonderful vibe). So I guess If you really want to do it sure, but I have a feeling that after you do it you very well might feel it really wasn't worth the time and expense. It's a long way to go from Orlando to California (a good full day of travel each way -- takes up two of your vacation days, and air is not necessarily super cheap). I also like all four of the Orlando Disney parks better than the California Adventure park (the second park besides Disneyland that is there in California -- that second park really didn't do anything for me, but of course since I went all the way there I wanted to visit it too). I also prefer the lodging choices and dining choices in Orlando.

Now me, having done it once (the California parks), I wouldn't do it again because despite Disneyland, CA being my very favorite park it is just so similar to the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL) and the Disneyland Paris park too. WDW is where I always go, as there is just so much to do in Orlando - not just Disney, Orlando has it all (the most number of different Disney experiences), it's the easiest for me to get to, I have relatives there, the list goes on and on as to why that is where I go for a Disney fix.

You only go thru this life once though. I know my son, for example, who is a HUGE Disney fan always wanted to make a sojourn to the California parks and that's why we did that trip once. Hey and for him when we went to Paris and another European destination, what do you know, we added three more days to our trip so he could experience Disneyland Paris. That though was only about an hour drive from where we were. (Maybe for you it's more like the fact that on our European trip we flew to Belfast as DS is a Huge Titanic fan and spent three days there too. But they we did an open jaw flight to keep from back tracking too much and flew home from Dublin).

Anyway, have a blast on your Disney adventure whatever you decide.

Those both sound like great trips. Thank you for the advice!

 

[Douglas Dubh]

We live near WDW now and flew out to LAX last year and are going again next year. Our non stop to LAX is almost 6 hours. I’m not a fan of flying that far for only a couple days. When we used to live on the west coast and would fly to WDW we’d stay for at least two weeks whenever possible.

That said, I’d recommend at least four full days for DLR. We usually went for five nights, plus there’s plenty to see in Southern California if one wanted to add another week.

 

[kathy884]

Thanks all, I think for this trip I’ll just stick with WDW. Maybe in a later date I can do a proper trip and vist CA. Hopefully one day! Might of underestimated the travel time

I think that's a wise choice.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OP, if you're looking for something different from Disney to knock off your bucket list, I'd do a short Disney cruise. Port Canaveral is only about a 1 hour drive from WDW and it's a very relaxing version of Disney. We find it a welcomed change from the busy and stressful crowds in the parks.
Disney offers ground transportation to/from Disney resorts and MCO so no stress about driving on the other side of the road.
Most people like to cruise after the parks but some prefer to cruise first, then do parks. There's no right or wrong way to do it.

Have fun planning!

 

[OP95]

OP, if you're looking for something different from Disney to knock off your bucket list, I'd do a short Disney cruise. Port Canaveral is only about a 1 hour drive from WDW and it's a very relaxing version of Disney. We find it a welcomed change from the busy and stressful crowds in the parks.
Disney offers ground transportation to/from Disney resorts and MCO so no stress about driving on the other side of the road.
Most people like to cruise after the parks but some prefer to cruise first, then do parks. There's no right or wrong way to do it.

Have fun planning!

Thank you. Have had a look at cruises before. But was always unsure about going solo on them. Maybe I’ll have a another look.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thank you. Have had a look at cruises before. But was always unsure about going solo on them. Maybe I’ll have a another look.

If you enjoy visiting a beach, you might like it. Nassau isn’t so wonderful; it has a high rate of poverty and high crime, but Castaway Cay is lovely. That is Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Unlimited food and non-alcoholic drinks are included. There are separate adult only areas too if you feel the need to escape the presence of children.

They just added another private destination in the Bahamas but I can’t comment on it yet. We’ll get to check it out in November.

They do offer 3-night cruises but those are so short. You are just getting to know your way around and it’s time to get off the ship. I would recommend at least 4-5 nights to get a good taste of it. JMHO.

 

[jimmymc]

I think it's worth it. Disneyland is unique enough from Disney World that every Disney fan should try to visit both.

I would personally try to start or end my trip with Disneyland, to reduce the number of travel days. Breeze offers direct flights a few times a week from Orlando to John Wayne Airport, which is the closest to Disneyland. While they're a low-cost carrier, you could arrive at Disneyland and be checked in, ready to go to the parks, as early as 1 pm.

 

[Minnie1222]

I think it would be a great idea if you don't come to the US often. I personally would fly directly from LHR to LAX (11.5-ish hours) instead of LHR to MCO (9.5 hours).

 

[CoachBeard]

I would plan it as a separate trip. When I fly to Florida or the east coast or even Midwest, it eats a full day. Plus with the time difference it just messes everything up. At least going east. Coming back west you gain 3 hours but it’s tiring.

I’d say go visit Miami or something closer.

 

[brad813]

Hi everyone ,

I have always been interested in visiting Disneyland as it has been on my bucket list for ages. I will be visiting Orlando solo again for two weeks from the uk and have been pondering of the idea of flying over for a short stay mid trip for maybe 3 days or so then fly back to Orlando. Would this be a waste of money or a bad idea? Have any of you done this before if so how did it go?

If anyone could talk me out of this or give me some advice that would be greatly appreciated!

If you were American or Canadian, I would say no, but being that you are British, it’s a good idea. Two days is all you need for the California parks, which are much smaller and you can walk between, and there is a lot of overlap between MK and DLR, but they aren’t identical. A third day could easily be used for Knotts Berry Farm or doing a couple tours in L.A. Three to four days is a good way to get a taste of the area.

 

[CoachBeard]

If you were American or Canadian, I would say no, but being that you are British, it’s a good idea. Two days is all you need for the California parks, which are much smaller and you can walk between, and there is a lot of overlap between MK and DLR, but they aren’t identical. A third day could easily be used for Knotts Berry Farm or doing a couple tours in L.A. Three to four days is a good way to get a taste of the area.

Two days? I’m sorry but there’s no way that’s enough time given the crowds and lines these days. Transportation is a factor as well.

I’ve lived in the L.A. area over 40 years and still haven’t scratched the surface. I’m a tourist in my own town.

BTW if you go to downtown Cole’s is the better of the French Dip spots.