Wow ~ that's a lot of good information there cy1229! I agree with a lot of it ~ although I would recommend World of Color if you have time wewantsdaredhead. It is so different from anything WDW has that it is worth it. But definitely get a FP so you have some assurance of getting a good spot to watch it.
Pirates is on my must-do list at DL because it is so much better than the WDW version. Longer too. And Radiator Springs Racers is really fun, and cute, and very doable with single rider. Indiana Jones is good with single rider as well.
My brother and sister-in-law treated us to lunch at the Blue Bayou so of course I had to try the infamous Monte Cristo. It was ok. I ended up eating the inside ham and cheese because it was just a bit too greasy and weird for me. But I can say I tried it now anyhow. And it was huge!
As much as I like it, I would skip Soarin' unless you can use the single rider line. It is the same as Florida so you wouldn't be missing anything unique...except possibly for the dent Figment left on one of the trash cans in the queue in 2013
This is my list of what I would do if I was going just for a day. Sorry, not as organized as Caryn to have a plan laid out for you, but I'm always happy to throw my two cents in
DL:
Alice in Wonderland (cute, and unique to Cali, but skipable if it is a long wait)
Autopia (longer track, fun scenery and signs, skip if a huge wait)
Indiana Jones (use the single rider line, it's not always available though, so if it isn't, check back. I don't think they utilize it until they get busy. And this attraction goes down quite a bit with the complicated ride mechanisms...sort of like test track does, but even more so it feels like)
Matterhorn Bobsleds (because it is an original to the park. Very, very,
very rough though!)
Mr. Lincoln (as Caryn said, must see. Another unique show and very enjoyable)
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin (a fun one, but a good one to have a FP for as lines get long)
Haunted Mansion (enough differences from WDW that it worth doing in my opinion. Fastpass is a good thing to have for this one as lines get long)
Pirates of the Caribbean (much, much better and longer than WDW as I said up there ^^)
Disney monorail (if you have time. It was interesting to me when we first went in 2003 because their monorail windows are open!)
DCA:
Animation Academy (if you like to draw as you can't do this at MGM anymore
)
The Bakery Tour (not as much fun as it used to be as the whole movie tour wasn't playing when we were there, but it's a good place to wander in as they give you a couple pieces of sourdough bread to munch on. Then you can just wander back out if you want ~ and Ghiradelli is nearby so you can get a square of chocolate for your snack dessert!)
California Screamin' (must do! Very smooth, very thrilling, and a loop de loop around Mickey's head! And a single rider quick on and off. Not always available though as I think they just use it when it gets busier)
Bug's Land (as Caryn said, lots of theming, fun to walk through, but you can likely skip riding anything here)
Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters (cute if there is no line, otherwise I would skip it)
Mickey's Fun Wheel (again, if you can get on with little to no line, worthwhile as it gives you a good view of the park. The swinging cars are fun, but generally have a longer wait. I would skip it if the line was very long)
Radiator Springs Racers (yes, yes, yes!! Smooth, fun, cute story, great music, and with the single rider line, generally pretty quick)