How far is the walk.. and tips

[VeeHam]

How far is the walk from Candy Cane Inn to the entrance to the parks? We are going to CA on July 11 and DL on July 12. I would love any tips to make our first trip to DL a great one in a super crowded time. We usually go to DW. We are using touring plans. Planning to eat at Cafe Orleans (gotta try the monte cristo) and Flo's for sure. We will arrive at rope drop with breaks in the afternoon and plan to come back in the evening. No magical morning hours or whatever they call them at DL. We will try to see the fireworks, parade and WOC. No GOTG or CS for us. Thanks for any insight.

 

[momtotwolittleones]

The walk from Candy Cane Inn to the entrance is about 8-10 minutes - very easy, and you don't have to cross a big blvd. I posted a thread a day or two ago with my most recent tips from being in the park: Manage your FP return times (some are much sooner than others), ride Pirates sometime in the morning before the line gets too long. You'll be able to get multiple FP for Radiator Springs Racers, especially since you aren't getting a GOTG FP. Definitely try to get an RSR FP for in the evening - it's really cool when it starts getting dark out. Honestly, I would find it hard to spent an entire day just in CA, especially without GOTG or CS. Consider getting a park hopper for just that day if you can. And definitely watch the fireworks in DL! We watched them from the middle of Main Street and loved it. Download the Disneyland app to check out wait time and FP return times. Have fun!

 

[VeeHam]

Thanks momtotwolittleones. I will find your latest thread. I did download the app. Do you really think we'll run out of things to do in CA since we aren't riding those two. I guess that will allow us to not feel as rushed and ride a few rides a few times right.

 

[Malcon10t]

Add to the short walk, they do have a bus that leaves on the hour and 30, and the bus leaves the park on the 15 and 45. It runs ON TIME, so you know if you get there at 18 after, the bus will be gone and you can still make the walk before the bus can get back.

 

[YukonMommy]

1 day in each park is not a lot of time, especially if its crowded. Check out HYDROGUYs thread A DLR Guide for WDW Vets it has a lot of great information!

I would make a list of your top 5-7 things to ride/see/do in each park and anything else you get done is bonus! BTW I finally crossed off my Disney bucket list of having the Monte Cristo on our last trip and it was everything it is hyped to be!! Enjoy!

Have a Magical time!

 

[rentayenta]

The walk is easy! We stayed at the Anaheim Hilton and found the walk a breeze and the Candy Cane is even closer.

 

[goooof1]

Yep, less than 10 minutes....and on the same side of Harbor Blvd. as the parks....easy! I actually prefer to walk in the morning...the shuttle has to make a u-turn and then a left turn into the shuttle area to drop off.....almost the same amount of time! Though, I must say, after a long day at the parks, that shuttle is a welcome sight! (and yes, always on time!)
Agree that 2 days is not much time so as mentioned, prioritize.....Actually, add a couple more days for a much nicer experience!!

 

[DznyPrnces]

Thanks momtotwolittleones. I will find your latest thread. I did download the app. Do you really think we'll run out of things to do in CA since we aren't riding those two. I guess that will allow us to not feel as rushed and ride a few rides a few times right.

No, I personally don't think you'll run out of things to do in DCA if you skip GOTG and CS. We never ride those 2 (and a couple others) and still have plenty of things to do.

 

[VeeHam]

Thank you everyone. Great to know about the shuttle. Unfortunately we cannot stay longer than two days. We are doing a 2 week vacation including Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Yosemite and LA.
Hopefully all that heat will be gone by then.
Do you guys think we need to get park hoppers? We never do at WDW. I haven't bought tickets yet because I cannot decide. It would be great to not spend the extra money but if you guys think we will be able to go over to DL on our first day (CA day) then we might do that.

 

[DznyPrnces]

Thank you everyone. Great to know about the shuttle. Unfortunately we cannot stay longer than two days. We are doing a 2 week vacation including Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Yosemite and LA.
Hopefully all that heat will be gone by then.
Do you guys think we need to get park hoppers? We never do at WDW. I haven't bought tickets yet because I cannot decide. It would be great to not spend the extra money but if you guys think we will be able to go over to DL on our first day (CA day) then we might do that.

2 days will be ok. You won't see it all, but you'll see a lot. We only do 2 days when we go.

As for park hoppers, personally, generally we don't. The parks are so close that it's easy to, but we like to just focus on one park at a time. There's so much to do in each park that to us it's not necessary. The last time we went was the first time in years we hopped. We finished at DCA around 9, and hopped over to Disneyland just for the electrical parade. It was spring break, and I wasn't sure we would be back this summer, and at that time the electrical parade was going to end it's run in June. So, at the time, it was our only chance to see it, and my kids had never seen it. Now, of course, they've extended it through August, and we are going back next month lol

 

[VeeHam]

Thanks DznyPrnces

 

[SteveMP]

We stay at Candy Cane often. They have a pretty decent comtinental breakfast as well as good free coffee and candy canes in the lobby. The walk is about 10 minutes. There is a shuttle but I rarely take it unless the kids are really tired. The shuttle takes forever because it has to make a turn across several lanes of traffic to make a u-turn.

Personally I like to park hop(season pass holders the past 10 years) because we can run to the other park to get FPs for something while waiting for a show/parade/fireworks etc.

Plenty to do at DCA, especially if you watch the shows/parades and do the drawing classes etc.

 

[goooof1]

We always park hop!! Cannot imagine not being able to have the flexibility. If it gets crowded in one park, easy to hop to the other....they are so close.....If you do a search on this forum you will find lots of discussions about the short distance and ease and advantages of hopping.
We also like the Candy Cane Inn....have always had good stays there and the folks are friendly and helpful.

 

[HydroGuy]

OP, I hope you are planning to see World of Color. IMO it is the best Disney show anywhere anytime.

If you see WOC, then DCA is definitely a whole day park even without GOTC and CS.

 

[VeeHam]

Thanks everyone. Good to know about the hotel and shuttle. Yes hydroguy, We are going to watch WOC. I'm excited to see it. My favorite show is Lion King. I think it would be hard to beat that. We typically try to do everything in the park we are in. We would like to see/do most attractions and I assumed that each park with a break included would take all day, with maybe a repeat of a few rides. But you know what they say about assuming.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks everyone. Good to know about the hotel and shuttle. Yes hydroguy, We are going to watch WOC. I'm excited to see it. My favorite show is Lion King. I think it would be hard to beat that. We typically try to do everything in the park we are in. We would like to see/do most attractions and I assumed that each park with a break included would take all day, with maybe a repeat of a few rides. But you know what they say about assuming.

FWIW, others have told you about the CCI shuttle. When I have stayed at the CCI, one reason their shuttle is so good is it runs every 30 minutes - unlike some other hotels that do every 60 minutes.

Practically speaking, it seems I end up walking from CCI to DLR or vice versa about once each trip - for example, because I just missed a shuttle by 1 or 2 minutes and do not want to wait another 30 for the next shuttle.

Otherwise, I use the shuttle the rest of the time and it works great.

 

[Nevada Jen]

IF you are planning on WOC and Frozen, DCA will still take a whole day. That said, I would still get hoppers (although you can wait until you are ready to do it the first day you are there). Especially if you are taking a mid afternoon break. I almost always hit the other park quickly before I leave the parks. Buy your tickets through the app. Then they will show up on your app and you flash your phone at the turnstyles and they give you a paper ticket. Its way better than buying tickets at the gate in the morning. Those lines can get insane. You are not going to be able to do everything at each park in two days. Pick a few priority rides and/or shows and make sure you get those in.

 

[VeeHam]

Thanks. I didn't realize I could buy them through the app. Do they sell tickets at CCI?

 

[SteveMP]

Thanks. I didn't realize I could buy them through the app. Do they sell tickets at CCI?

Yes they sell them at the front.

Also, if you have AAA, show your card as they have a room discount for AAA. WHat I like about CCI is they give you a $10 gift certificate if you return, good for a year, and they let you combine that with AAA, so I usually get to save $20.

 

[GenGen22]

I wouldn't bother with Park hoppers if you are only going 2 days. There is a lot to do in CDL that you will be busy all day. I don't ride CS or GOTG and can still fill my day with things to do. There's still TSMM, Sourin, Grizzly river run, the little mermaid in addition to what others have stated. Make sure to see the Frozen musical as it's really good.