California Adventure tips?

Delete *** Edited 2/1/2008 1:07:36 AM UTC by Spinout***

I find this topic kind of funny. You have people that say that DCA is a 3-4 hour park, but yet you have people giving you a detailed list of what to do in order to get everything done very fast.

My favorite rides are Tower of Terror, California Screamin', Mullholland Madness, Sun Wheel (Swinging Cars) and It's Tough Be a Bug.

A mouse (Mullholland Madness) is going to have a long line no matter what, and when I was there in March, California Screamin' was pretty darn long. Monster's Inc dark was packed, and so was the Sun Wheel. Both of those were 20 minutes.

Of course, you can get everything done if you plan a fastpass for every ride in just 3 hours or so, and you don't go on everything that the park has. That park has an Aladdin theatre show that's supposed to be good.

These are the attractions that the park has that I can think of:
Muppet's 3D (show)
Aladdin (LIVE show)
Animation Building
Soarin over California (You sit on seats, and watch a stupid movie.)
Sun Wheel (Intamin Coaster Wheel) Some cars move along a track in the middle of the wheel.
Monster's Inc (Dark Ride)
Mullholland Madness (Mack Mouse)
California Screamin' (Intamin one looper with hills, and curves)

Flik's Flyers (Zamperla Balloon Race Ride)
Kids Bumper cars that go really slow
There's another funky kids ride in that Bugs Life area.
Tower of Terror (Without some scenes like MGM-I think it's better, but a lot of people probably don't agree.)
A parachute ride. It's not that high up.
Wave Swinger in an Orange (Orange Stinger)
S&S Tower
There is a flat ride that goes around in a circle. The cars swing out while it's going around. It's looks like a really old ride, but it's probably a reconstruction of that ride at Riverview.

Two Factories where they give you free food (Tortillas, and Bakery I think)
Some Theatre where there's a show in it. I never went in that theatre. I don't even know if there is a show.
Carousel
It's Tough to Be a Bug (It might be considered 4D). It's one of the only shows I get scared. I'm not like screaming, but yah.
Rafting Ride- Themed Rock Work

I unlike other people don't think that a park hopper for one day is worth a $100. Stick with one park.

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Regarding Magic Moutain, I was only there when it wasn't that packed, but here's what I have to say.

X was packed even when the park was pretty empty. It takes awhile to get on that ride. They close X an hour before the park closes so you must be in line. On the steep hill, you have Ninja, Superman, and I believe Tatsu is there? There's no going back. It's really steep. It's really high up there. It's probably the steepest hill I've ever been on. It's steeper than those hills when you were a kid, and you went down. I get out of breath when I get to the top!

I don't believe that Scream! gets really crowded so I would save that for later. Goliath however does. Speaking from experience, go on Deja Vu when you see that's open. When you are in Deja Vu area, that is a dead end. So, only go there if you see it working. You will waste time going back and forth in that area. Go on another ride, and you will see if they are sending trains or not. I imagine that Gold Rusher will not be that crowded because it's an Arrow Mine train coaster.

I was kind of suprising shocked that people do like Riddler's Revenge even when it was running more than one train. Remember, that Superman only runs one side, and it only holds 15 people per car. That's a long wait!!!

I suspect the longest lines at SFMM are: X, Goliath, Superman, and Deja Vu. The shortest lines SHOULD be Gold Rusher, Collosus, Scream!, and Viper (Arrow).

The DCA portion of Spinout's post was brough to you by the Department of Redundancy Department.

Firesign Theater! Hooray! Welcome tooooo the FUTURE!!!!!!!!! ;)

I don't understand why people continue to say that DCA can be experienced in half a day...especially for someone who hasn't been there before. There is so much to enjoy and no reason to race through it all. I visited in 2004 and again in 2007. In 2004 we spent two days at Disneyland and 1.5 days at DCA. In 2007 we spent 4 days at Disneyland and 2 days plus three hours another day at DCA. We repeated many attractions but no more than we would during any enjoyable vacation to a park .

DCA is a wonderful park with a relaxing atmosphere. It's a great park in and of itself, and it's a welcomed contrast to Disneyland. There is a sense of openness and clarity to DCA rather than the overwhelming nature of Disneyland. Together they make the perfect vacation for me.

Here is what I remember experiencing during our two+ day visit in 2007. We visited from 10am - 8pm each day plus three hours another morning.

California Screamin 2X

Soarin Over California 3x

Block Party Bash 2x

Sun Wheel 1x

Orange Stinger 1x

Golden Dreams 1x

Mulholland Madness 1x

Malliboomer 1x

Miner 49ers show 1x

Grizzly River Rampage 3x

Jumpin Jellyfish 1x

Sorcerer's Workshop 1x

Monster's Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue 3x

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 3x

Aladdin: The Musical 3x

Mupet-Vision 3D 1x

King Triton's Carousel 2x

Mariachi Divas show 1x

Drawn To The Magic show 2x

Turtle Talk with Crush 2x

Animation Academy 2x

It's Tough to Be a Bug 1x

Bakery Tour (where we won Year of a Million Dreams Prizes) 1x

Tortilla Factory Tour 3x

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail 1x

Brother Bear Show 1x

High School Musical show 2x

Took photos with Disney characters on several occasions throughout the days.

We ate meals at Pizza Oom Mow Mow, Farmer's Market, Cocina Cocamonga, and Taste Pilot's Grill.

We did not visit Playhouse Disney, and we walked through A Bug's Land but did not ride anything there. Also, Toy Story Midway Mania will be open this summer giving more reason to enjoy DCA.

I loved DCA but skip the woopi goldberg movie if it hasn't been mentioned already. I forget what it's called but it's in the middle of the park where the replica of the san fran pne building.

It is pretty much a half day park if there are no lines, however there were a few attractions down on the day we visited and TofT wasn't done yet. Years ago for residents in the immediate Countys they were offering a 2for1 deal on the park hoppers (free second day, not two people for one price). The only way I knew about it was from doing a search on the internet and it was in a forum posted by disney employees. I didn't see it advertised anywhere including the gate, but we were luckily able to take advantage of it with a little preparation, so do your homework!

^^ Apologist! ;)

I'll admit I've had plenty of fun there. And it is relaxing compared to the busy park next door (then again, you can relax plenty on the DLRR)....but the mall-like architecture is pretty lame. I can't wait to see it plussed.

I'm not an apologist. In reality, I'm an idealist. Sure DCA could use more E-ticket attractions, but I've loved the time I've spent there as it is. DCA will be only better with some of the upcoming additions, but what it has shouldn't be dismissed, and there is certainly enough to make an entire day or more, especially for out of town visitors who aren't jaded by multiple frequent visits.

In my opinion the notion that DCA is a "half-day park" isn't based on the quantity or quality of attractions but that one rarely finds long lines. Last summer I went with someone who had never been to the park before and with the exception of the rides in Flick's Fun Faire we did absolutely everything, including multiple rerides on Screaming, Soaring, and Tower, in under 8 hours.

I like the park a lot. With the new Toy Story ride, new Radiator Springs themed section, and the planned remodeling it'll be even better. But let's be honest: no matter how great the park becomes it'll always be overshadowed by the park next door.

^Good point, Moosh. DCA will never, ever be Disneyland. Those expecting such will be greatly disappointed. The things they have in store for the near future sound like a step in the right direction. Now they only need to bring back Millionaire!! :)

...and I'll echo the In-n-Out recommendation. A MUST if you're in California!!!

*** Edited 2/4/2008 7:50:31 PM UTC by ShiveringTim***

Never been to DCA, but it seems to fall into a MGM studio park where you don't need all day if the lines are short..

My trip just got a whole lot more interesting. The production company I'm meeting with had to push some meetings back to Wednesday, which was my original return date. I couldn't rebook for a later time without incurring more than $500 in additional charges, so instead I booked a separate one-way ticket on Saturday (cheapest day to fly). Now I suddenly have time for two, maybe three parks. Woo hoo!

I'm thinking half a day at DCA, half a day at KBF, maybe a whole day at Disneyland. SFMM is still out, since it will be closed the whole time I'll be there (I fly back at 6:25 a.m. on Saturday).

What does everyone think about Legoland? Worth it, or not?

Unrelated note: my producers are taking me on a tour of Dreamworks/Amblin Entertainment. Hee hee. Just had to brag. :)

LegoLand rocks. I really expected to spend about 3 hours and leave bored. Ended up spending the entire day and almost closing the place. But it sounds like you're already kinda pressed for time...*if I were you*, I'd stick with DCA/DL/KBF, and then next time do LegoLand, Belmont, and SWSD....and DL again. ;)

Legoland may be close as the crow flies but the drive can be quite time consuming. As much as I enjoyed the park I'd rethink your visit.

Disney and Knott's are fairly close together, close enough to not have to suffer too much traffic. :)

I think he knows that, and I was referring to the drive from Knotts or the Disney Resort down to Legoland. While only about 65 miles it could take anywhere from 90 min to 2.5 hours depending on the time of day or other traffic conditions (accident, construction, etc).

Then it sounds like I have an itinerary. Legoland will have to wait 'til the next trip.

I may possibly hit Pacific Park again for a couple hours as well. A couple night, I'll be staying at my sister-in-law's place in Pacific Palisades, which is fairly close to Santa Monica pier.

Count me totally psyched. :)

Yah...if you were to drive the 5 in any direction on a Friday for example...fuggedaboudit. And on a nice Saturday weekend, the traffic gets bad with a lot of folks taking a little San Diego day trip.

If you ever have a longer trip, definitely do Legoland. And by that time, they'll probably have the hotel rocking and of course there will be the aquarium. Then you could take an extra day for Sea World and Belmont Park.