We're planning on going to DCA sometime soon, probably in August. Though we live in Los Angeles and have been to DL many times, this is our first trip to DCA. I feel like someone who's going to DL for the very first time!

It'll be me and my sis, and our parents (in their 60s). My parents don't really like fast-moving rides, like Matterhorn or Space Mountain. They've rode them the past two trips at DL (in June and July), but they don't want to go on them again.

So, based on that, I think these rides will be out for them: ToT, California Screamin', Mailboomer, Mulholland Madness, and probably Orange Stinger. I think some of the rides, like Soarin' - they would probably go on just to be able to say they rode it. How about Jumpin' Jellyfish and Golden Zephyr? They do ride Splash Mountain, so I think Grizzly River Run will be okay (though more bumpy).

I don't want my parents to feel bad because they won't want to ride some of the rides, but I'm sure we'll have a good time. Seems like a lot of the rides are the type you would see at a carnival or Knotts/Magic Mountain, so that should be fun since they haven't really been on those types of rides.

Also, the GRR FP is not connected with the FP system, right? So we can get FPs early on and then use them in the afternoon when it's hot?

What time is the Electrical Parade? I've never seen this, so I can't wait! (Our very first trip to DL was when we first arrived in the US - I was almost 2 years old at the time and my mom wanted to wait for the Electrical Parade, back when it was at DL - except that we had to get to the airport for our late night flight back to NY!).

DCA is great, but does have less to fill your day. Because your folks are not keen on California Screamin', Tower of Terror, Maliboomer, etc.. does that mean you will not go on them or just that they will do something else while you do?

I would get a FastPass for Soarin' - maybe ride it first if the line is decent, then make a tour. Get your GRR FastPass too, then check out the Brother Bear Area. Continue on to Golden Dreams one time, then I'd make a left and head toward the Hollywood back lot. Do Monster's Inc., Muppets 3D, check out the shopping, perhaps there is a stage show, then make sure you're setup for seeing Aladdin at the Hyperion. Perhaps someone will want to ride Tower of Terror while you are over there.

Do not miss the animation building. You can kill a good hour or two there if you take in everything, Turtle Talk with Crush, all of the drawings, the Sorcerer's Lair, Off the Page store, animation workshop, etc..

I recommend the Wine Country Trattoria for lunch or dinner. Take a load off, get some table service and some good lasagne.. perhaps a glass of wine.

Take in It's a bugs life, get your free tortillas at the Mission factory and if you're lucky, you might get some live music down at the Pacific Wharf area. The Cove Bar by Ariel's Grotto is also a nice place to relax, watch the coaster riders and maybe enjoy an appetizer.

The park closes earlier than Disneyland, but if you can catch the Electrical Parade and some of the other live events that roll through, I think you'll find it a great family day.

Enjoy!

if your folks are real prone to motion sickness but want to go on Sorain',
myabe you can request row 3, that's the bottom row and not so high up in
the air. Also, Aladdin is dark on Mondays & Tuesdays, a must-see. The
parade usually happens about 8:30 if the park closes at 9. I had lunch at the Trottoria, excellent. I like the Zephyr, but if there are high winds, they close it down. I managed to spend 8 hours there on the 18th, but then again, I did Tower, Screamin' & Aladdin twice. So you mght end up repeating some things to fill out the day.

My sis and I will probably ride ToT, Mailboomer, and the other rides like that - this is our one big shot, since it's unlikely we'd spend $ to go just to DCA (considering the price of a one-day ticket for DCA is the same as for DL).

The animation buildings looks cool. I love behind-the-scenes stuff like that.

BTW, do they have those free buttons at DCA, like the birthday or princess buttons? Last time we went to DL, they didn't have any princess or pirate buttons....