DCA & DL in one day, sort of...

[shepp]

Okay, so it's been a long while since I've been to DL, and never been to DCA. Been to WDW more, though, so there are really only a few DL attractions I haven't done, and would really like to: Indy, Space Mountain re-do, Fantasmic, maybe Roger Rabbit...wouldn't mind some time on the other mountains, too. I'd also like to do a bunch of DCA stuff I haven't done before at WDW, or would like to repeat. But it doesn't seem worth spending the extra bucks for a one-day hopper, and I only really have a single day for DLR available on my schedule.

 

So I read in the 2005 Unofficial Guide that if I have a 1-day DCA non-hopper pass, I can use it to get into DL after DCA closes. Is that still true?

 

On Monday and Tuesday, 6/5 and 6/6, DCA closes at 7, DL 4 hours later. So, experienced DLR hands, would it be reasonable to spend the day at DCA, then at 7:00 hit the single-rider line at Indy, head to SM, and get in whatever else I have time for before or after catching a Fantasmic? Or will the Fastpassers and general crowds on those dates make doing even that in four hours tough? And assuming - the info's not up yet - that there are 2 Fantasmics, would I be better off seeing the early one, then catching the rides right before closing, or the late one, which would be presumably be less jammed?

[Token Yankee Guy]

It is possible to do DL and DCA in one day in the off-season. i.e. during the winter season. I just did DL and DCA yesterday and we were at the parks from 9am - 11pm. And you are allowed to bounce between the two parks more than once, and when DCA closes, you can bounce over to DL for the remainder of the time. Just remember to always get your hand stamped whenever you leave one of the two parks

[shepp]

^ Yes, I'm sure that using a one-day hopper midweek in March, things are pretty simple. But my question was about early June, when things will be more crowded, and using a nonhopper pass to spend most of the day at DCA and just 4 night-time hours at DL.

 

Thanks anyway.

[J man]

I was able to do all the big Fastpass rides and more at both DL and DCA in one day. I just had to plan out what rides at what times and what rides we would get fastpasses for. We finished everything at DL by 12:00 and went to DCA do everything there. When DCA closed we went back and re-rode some of the DL rides again. I did this in June too. So it is possible.

[DerekRx]

I DON'T think you can do both parks with a non-park hopper (if they even still do that) simply because Space Mountain is so popular these days. I think your best bet will be to get the parkhopper and start off right at Space Mountain. When DCA opens, head over there, doing everything you want. I think your plan for the evening is feasible if you only want to do Indy and Fantasmic and such, but with Space now seeing very long stand-by lines and fastpasses selling out in mid-afternoon I wouldn't say you CAN'T do it, but I wouldn't risk it, especially if you like Space Mt and can only ride it once. Plus, don't forget, come May Rock It Mountain comes into being for the evening, I think.

 

My suggestion would be to get the $70 ticket, hit Space Mt and a few other Disney classics (like Indy, Toad, Roger Rabbit, Autopia, Jungle Cruise, Splash, Big Thunder, Astroblasters) then head over to DCA. Ride what you want there, then move back to Disneyland, either mid-day or at the end of the night. Then you'll have time to hit Rock It Mt before seeing Fantasmic! and may even be able to hit a few rides again. (maybe you'll even want to go back over to DL for a Space Fastpass before they sell out.)

[The Cheat]

You can easily do both parks if you know how to take advantage of fastpass and the single rider line.

 

Rides with fastpass:

Space Mountain

Indiana Jones Adventure

Haunted Mansion

Splash Mountain

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Select days)

Autopia

Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin

California Screamin

Soarin Over California

Tower of Terror

Mulholland Madness

Grizzly River Run

 

Rides with Single Rider

Splash Mountain

California Screamin

Grizzly River Run

Mulholland Madness

Soarin Over California

Maliboomer

 

So yeah, that should make it alot easier to do both parks. Also Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spins fastpass machines arent connected to the rest of the fast pass machines so you can over lap the times, same with a few of the BTMRR ones. What Im about to tell you isnt exactly allowed but I would reccomend it if necessary. Most fastpass machines have a button somewhere on it so it can spit out a fast pass without you putting a ticket in. If a CM sees you do it they will usually take away your Fastpass so you have to be really careful. I would try to ride as many rides as possible because a lot of the stuff at WDW is different in some way.

[coaster1]

Except haunted mansion doesn't have fastpass anymore, much like Pirates.