I've been to Disney World every year since I was born at leaset once. I currently live in FL near Disneyworld. I have been planning a pilgramage to Disneyland for year and have finally budgeted some money for it. I want to stay on Disney property so that bumps up the price of the room some. I was planning on geting a 3 day park hopper but am nearing the max I wanted to spend.
My question is, can i do disney land in one day and C.A. in one day. Disneyland in one day is probably tough had I not been to DW so much. Which brings me to my second question. Which attractions are exactly the same as DW that I can skip to save time? Thanks

You can definitely do California Adventure in a day.

As for DL, eh, not really. Unless it's a very light attendance day. If I were you, I'd skip Haunted Mansion as it's exactly the same at Magic Kingdom. I'd skip Splash Mountain too as the one at MK is superior I think.

Let me put it this way: definitely go on Matterhorn, Indiana Jones Adventure and see DL's POTC, since that one is better than MK's. Same with Small World.

Disneyland's rides are tweaked just enough so that they're different from Magic Kingdom's. With the exception of HM, which to me is exactly the same.

Where are you staying at DL? I stayed at Paradise Pier and really enjoyed it!

We are actually going to stay at Paradise Pier also. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. Its a little less expensive than the others and I'm trying to cut corners. I guess I'll have to get a 3 day hopper. I don't wanna miss anything. Thanks for the response. It was very Helpful.

I agree with Tina, DL in a day is hard. If you did sacrifice the rides that are the same you might but if you could do the 3 days that would be better and spend 2 days at DL. Matterhorn and Indiana Jones are a MUST as are DCA's Screamin and Aladdin show.

Alright, here's what I would do if I were wanting to cut down from a 3 day to a 2 day...Take the first day and make it a full Disneyland day, get in as much as you can and really go for it. Next day, get up at Disneyland's opening(usually at 8 ), there are no crowds until around 10. In these two hours, whenever I go I usually get in a solid 7-10 rides, and all E-tickets at that. Then when DCA opens at 10, get there for opening, get a fastpass for an E-ticket of your choice, and then do all of DCA. You can probably get the full experience in by around six oclock, if you include meals and even a parade if you like those types of things. Then around 6, you can head back over to DL and have a full 6 hours there if it's summertime or the weekend, and you'll be able to see the fireworks and fantasmic either both in one night or one each night, or both both nights I guess too, if ya really like 'em. Every 2 day trip I've had to DL, I have gotten in everything I want to do, and then some. Just make sure you utilize as many fastpasses as possible, and I say you should be fine in 2 days.

And as far as rides go, as Tina said, HM is pretty much spot-on the same, except for the fact that our first chamber thing actually goes down and WDW's doesn't. But I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree with Tina about Splash. Overall, WDW's may be a bit better, but they are pretty different actually and DL's has its own little things that make it cool. Other than that, Star Tours is exactly the same, as is Peter Pan. The rest range from just a bit different, to astonishingly better.

Whew! Hope that helped shed some light on things!

I would agree with Tina. CA can easily be done in a day...or less. As for DL, it would be tough to limit it to a day. Although many of the rides exist in both WDW and DL, they do have many differences between the parks.

Have a great day!

Tyler's right about Star Tours. It's exactly the same as the version at the Disney/MGM Studios so I'd skip that one as well.

I stayed at Paradise Pier too as it was the cheapest, money-wise. But I thought it was a nice hotel and the staff was very courteous and friendly. Plus it's a pretty short walk to Downtown Disney and DL and DCA.

Whenever you do go, have fun!

I don't know how big of a Disney fan you are, but if I were you I would ride everything that you can at DL. Some of the rides are completly different and some are the same, but if you are anything like me, you will kick yourself for not riding them while you were there, expecially since it sounds like you are going to be only there for a short period of time, and might not have the chance to get back there anytime soon. This is the only park that Walt ever walked though so everything has more meaning, just remember that when you are walking through it.

CA can definately be done is one day, there is really only 4 or 5 rides and the rest are shows and tours.

I was thinking about doing that 2-day park hop plan you suggested Tyler. I do like to "marathon it." But I don't want to miss anything because I will regret it. I guess I have some decisions to make but you guys are making it a lot easier. I am as big a Disney fan as one could be, Disney the company and Disney the man. A large part of the reason I want to go to DL is because that was Walt's place. I could probably spend A whole day just walking around geeking out. Thanks again for the help.

But I don't want to miss anything because I will regret it.

Well, keep in mind that if your nearing the end of your second day in the parks and don't think you've gotten all you want done, then you can always add on another day to your 2-day for the same price as the 3-day would have been had you bought it originally.

I guess another question is when are you going and what days of the week are you going? During the week off season will mean less hours but less time in lines. It made a huge difference for me and my colleagues when we were in LA on business and a 1 day hopper and they followed me around the park we did lots. Not everything but everything I wanted to do.

I plan on going at the beginning of May which is one of the slower times of year.

This would take precious time from your already crammed scheduled but something to think about for maybe for the next time: DL offers a "Walk In Walt's Footsteps" tour every morning. they take you around to specific things and attractions in the park and tell stories of Walt and how certain things came to be. the tour is about 3 1/2 hours long and ends at the Disney Gallery above the POTC ride. but for any Disney geek it is way worth it. My wife and I did it the last time we were there and it was really cool!

check it out HERE

For Disneyland dining I recommend Rancho del Zocalo and Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. The Hungry Bear is also a very good place to eat. I ate there based on a very good recommendation.

Blue Bayou is good and the Count of Monte Cristo sandwich is good but may plug an artery or two.

I concur with Tina's recommendation on Redd Rocket's Pizza Port and Northern's recommendation on the Count of Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou. It will definitely take a couple months off your life but it is worth it.

Have a great day!

Thanks for the reccomendations on food. I ordered a book to help me out with fine tuning my trip, The Unoffocial Guide to Disneyland. I have The Unoffocial Guide to Disneyworld and it is an excellent tool for planing a trip. Hopefully the Disneyland version will be as inclusive. The best part about the book is the included computer generated touring plans. They save hours of waiting in line. Listen to me, you would think I was the author if I wasn't so clueless about Disneyland.

"Blue Bayou is good and the Count of Monte Cristo sandwich is good but may plug an artery or two."
Blue Bayou is Awesome and it sits right inside the POTC ride so you get to see the boats go by!

"Blue Bayou is good and the Count of Monte Cristo sandwich is good but may plug an artery or two."
Blue Bayou is Awesome and it sits right inside the POTC ride so you get to see the boats go by!

We loved it. I would definately make a priorty seating reservation if you are going this route. We had lunch at the time it opened and we asked for a table next to the water and got it.

Blue Bayou is good and the Count of Monte Cristo sandwich is good but may plug an artery or two.

lol.....we always get these when we are at DL!

i got a souvenier cookbook at Half Price Books a few weeks ago with WDW and DL recipes, and we tried to make a Monte Cristo the other nite for dinner....

all i can say is they must use some sort of a basket thing to fry them, because we made a mess but they tasted fine!