DL v.s. DCA: Which One Should You Prioritize?
Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure - both are pivotal theme parks that share large differences from each other. You can’t have one without the other, and no one would want to. But let’s say you have a one-day ticket, no park hopper, and you have the decision of DL or DCA, well, consider this the only blog post you’ll ever need, and consider me your professional in residence.
The first thing we need to cover is that these two theme parks are vastly different. One is a theme park, and the other might as well be Downtown Disney with a couple of rides. They both have different qualities that make them great, but you shouldn’t compare the two. They both serve their purpose and shouldn’t be judged by what theme park has and what the other lacks.
Let’s dive in!
Are you bringing kids? This is one of the most important questions to ask when deciding which park to spend the day at. Disneyland is known for being the family friendly park with 19 attractions suitable for kids. Of course, this varies on what your little Mouseketeer likes and dislikes.
Disneyland is also home to Toon Town, a favorite of kids everywhere, and home to Minnie, Mickey, and their pals! Character experiences are not hard to find; Disneyland is home to Pixie Hollow and the Royal Hall. Your child’s favorite friends will most likely be free-roaming the park for most of the day.
Disneyland also offers plenty of dining spots where your kiddo is sure to find something on the menu to enjoy, with over 7 locations that offer kid-friendly options.
Disneyland offers live entertainment options that include: Fantasmic!, Fantasy Faire, and Storytelling at Royal Theatre.
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DCA has significantly fewer attractions for the kiddos than Disneyland. There are 9 attractions specifically geared towards children, but again, that is based on your child’s preference for dark, fast-paced, or thrilling rides.
The character experiences are not limited to this park; in fact, more characters tend to stay out later in the evening than those at Disneyland do.
There are also some live entertainment options in DCA, including: Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off! In addition, DCA is home to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, where little ones can explore, climb, and play in a wildlife park.
Dining Options are similar to Disneyland, in terms of finding something the pickiest eaters will enjoy!
Courtesy of The Midnight Monorail || Disney’s California Adventure
Are you looking for fine dining or a quick bite? Both locations offer delectable options at varying prices and atmospheres! It depends on the type of cuisine you’re looking for and your budget!
Disneyland has 46 dining options, including quick-service locations and fine dining. You can find cheaper options such as Alien Pizza Planet, Bengal Barbecue, and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, or reservation locations like Blue Bayou Restaurant, Cafe Orleans, and River Bell Terrace.
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California Aventure has 52 dining locations, including quick service options! Cheaper food locations are Award Wieners, Smokejumpers Grill, and Cozy Cone Motel, while finer dining locations are: Carthay Circle Lounge, Lamplight Lounge, and Sonoma Terrace.
Courtesy of The Midnight Monorail || Disneyland
Are you going to want to shop? There are over 30 merchandise stores in Disneyland alone; plenty of places to get your ears, pins, and spirit jerseys. You can find the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A., the biggest Disney store in the park.
You can find art, collectibles, and houseware items at various locations in Disneyland, making it hard not find what you’re searching for!
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There are 22 shopping locations in California Adventure. You can find apparel, accessories, food, gifts, and housewares on the pier at Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff or art and collectibles at The Collector’s Warehouse.
Courtesy of The Midnight Monorail || DCA
How much time do you have? Disneyland is the bigger of the two theme parks. Disneyland needs a day, and even then, most visitors can’t do everything they want in that time constraint. There are more rides to ride, characters to meet, and live entertainment to enjoy.
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DCA is a smaller-sized amusement park with more dining locations, shops, and photo opportunities than rides and entertainment. DCA can easily be done in a day, or if you’re lucky half a day!
Courtesy of The Midnight Monorail || Sleeping Beauty’s Castle
So, in short, Disneyland has the classic rides, whimsy vibes, and historical finds for the avid Disney fan. Disneyland is going to be the best theme park for families with young children and Star Wars fans! Disney is more fast-paced and home to long lines and no place to put them, so before you go, please keep in mind that you might have to navigate through large crowds.
Disney’s California Adventure has the modern California aesthetic and serves an older audience, as there are more thrilling rides and better quick service options that might not cater to kids as much. DCA is much more relaxed than Disneyland and offers options for visitors whose main priority is dining, shopping, grabbing a few photos, and going on a ride or two.
If this is your first time visiting Disneyland, my advice would be to go to Disneyland. It’s Walt’s park, so everything about your first time will be special. You have to take in all the magic! Nothing beats your first time on Indiana Jones Adventure, your first bite of a churro, and your first time waiting in a 107-minute line!
DCA is a great park with different offerings! It’s something that can be done at a later time, especially if you have kiddos! Let them enjoy the magic Disneyland has to offer them before walking around Avengers Campus and Pixar Pier.
Both parks are absolutely treasure troves, but again, they each hold a special place and a special day. If you can splurge on the Park Hopper, I always say that Disneyland is a day park and DCA is a night park. You can easily do so much stuff towards the evening at DCA once Disneyland has closed.
