Crowds at Disneyland vs California AdventureDisneyland is always a little more crowded than Disney California Adventure, but it is also a bigger park and has more rides and attractions.
With a good strategy, you can see and do all of California Adventure easily in one day. In fact, with my plans, you can typically have all of the park's attractions completed just in time for a late lunch.
Certain attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Break Out and Soarin' Around the World are not at Disneyland. Really, the only reason not to go to Disneyland is if you want to experience the attractions and experiences that are only available at Disney California Adventure.
Theme Parks – Frequently Asked QuestionsCan I visit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in one day? A: Yes. It is possible to visit both Disneyland Resort theme parks in one day using either a Park Hopper Ticket or Magic Key pass.
Plan on staying for the entire day and not taking a break so you can maximize your time in the park since you only have one day to spend. If you are driving to Disneyland, read our guide to parking at Disneyland.
You really need a full day in California Adventure Park to experience it to the fullest. Plus, the wait times for many rides are between 20 minutes to 2 hours, so you will need the full day to sit on most rides, even with Genie Plus.
How Many Days do you Need at Disneyland California Adventure? 1 – 2 full days is enough to see and experience everything in California Adventure. Although DCA does not have as many rides as DLR, it does have some of the most popular ones.
Best Age to Go to Disneyland 7-9Your kids are still excited to experience all of the Disney magic. By 9 your child can probably ride all of the rides at both Disneyland and California Adventure. We typically do Disneyland more and at the age of 10 we do a special 10-year-old trip to Disney World with each of our kids.
Genie Plus is definitely worth it for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and if you don't like early starts, you might consider it for Epcot and Animal Kingdom. If you are park hopping, Genie+ is even better value as it maximises the number of rides you have access to.
For a longer trip complete with luxury accommodation and visits to multiple parks, Walt Disney World in Orlando might be your best bet. If you live on or near the West Coast and you're looking for a short getaway teeming with nostalgia, Disneyland is the way to go.
The general consensus in most Disney and travel forums is that Disneyland should be your first choice, and moving on to California Adventure afterward. If you are trying to get everything done in one day, staying in a hotel on-site the night before is a good idea.