1st trip questions

[lmm2]

I am looking at planning our 1st trip to Disneyland. We have been to WDW many times but this is new for me. How many days should I plan for? Is 1 day for each park enough or should I plan longer? Also, we are planning to stay off property. Any recommendations for hotels?

 

[Imdboss]

You are going to get a lot of varying answers on this but I say to get at minimum a 3 day park hopper. We go once a year and always get a 5 day and still wish we had more time! Park hopping is much easier at DL than WDW so you will want a park hopper pass. You might want to check out HydroGuy's thread on DL for WDW vets. As far as where to stay, there are plenty of hotels/motels within walking distance, it just depends on how close you want to be or if you are willing to take the ART (Anaheim Resort Transit). There are several new hotels opening up soon also. Is there a particular chain you like to stay at for loyalty points?

 

[lmm2]

We usually use Holiday Inn or Marriot but also have rewards points at other places.

 

[jeepwreck]

3 or 4 days is a good trip i think but of course more days are better lol

the last 2 times we went we stayed at the Anaheim desert inn and suites we enjoyed it alot being across the street from the main gate is a bounce too

 

[Geemo]

I am looking at planning our 1st trip to Disneyland. We have been to WDW many times but this is new for me. How many days should I plan for? Is 1 day for each park enough or should I plan longer? Also, we are planning to stay off property. Any recommendations for hotels?

It might help to have a little more information.
When do you plan to visit DLR?
Are you limited to a certain length of stay?
How many in your group and approximate ages?

 

[Imdboss]

We usually use Holiday Inn or Marriot but also have rewards points at other places.

There are several Marriott choices, one being a new Courtyard that's opening in July.

 

[lmm2]

I am looking at July. It would be anywhere between the 4th-19th. Not sure how many days yet, probably 3. 4 would be the max # of days. We will be driving so that adds 2 days each way. It would be 2 adults and 2 kids 10 and 5.

 

[Geemo]

When staying on-site isn't an option, we like to stay on Harbor. The Tropicana when there are four in the group and when the group is 5+ we stay at the Desert Inn & Suites. Both are right near the crosswalk into the parks. Booking early will get you the best rate generally. Tropicana sometimes has a 5day special.

With it being your first trip 4days would be nice. During July the park hours will be longer. If you're planning for this July and not 2016, the sooner you book a room the better. The rates will only increase as the date approaches.

Geemo

 

[KeKy4]

I agree with 3 day hoppers at least. Gives you a full day to kind of focus on each park and a 3rd day to hit up anything you missed or want to do again. We have only stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn which has free bfast and a fridge/microwave in the room. We really love being right across the street. It's a 5 min walk back to the hotel for anything you might need or to rest.

 

[MouseEXP]

I am looking at planning our 1st trip to Disneyland. We have been to WDW many times but this is new for me. How many days should I plan for? Is 1 day for each park enough or should I plan longer? Also, we are planning to stay off property. Any recommendations for hotels?

I would say at least two, but 3 would be better. One at DL, one at DCA, 3rd day will be a park hop day.
Off property hotels, make sure it is in walking distance as some hotel transportation may be slow.

 

[elaine amj]

By the way, as I'm sure you've realised, July 17 is the 60th anniversary. I'm planning our first family trip for that week and I'm not even counting that day as a "normal" park day since I am sure it will be crazy and we may not be able to do a whole lot of rides. We have 5 days planned (we do like 10-12 day trips at WDW so I feel this is my bare minimum).

 

[YukonMommy]

The thing you need to know is while there is a huge land mass difference between DW and DL there is not a huge ride count difference (I think its like 2-3). You are going at a busy time with 2 kids so I would say to do your max time of 4 days (park hoppers) that way you can see and experience most of the magic!

Have a magical time!

 

[agamble]

If 4 is your max, then go with 4. There is so much to see and do. I've only been to WDW once. I was amazed at it's massiveness. The nice thing about the Disneyland Resort is that everything is within walking distance. Parks are literally across a short esplanade from each other and DTD is off to the side. As mentioned above, you have about the same number of rides to catch as at WDW. One day per park is really not enough. You need 2 for Disneyland, 1 for DCA, and 1 to finish everything you missed and hit repeats.

Book a hotel across the street from the entrance (Harbor) if availability and prices allow. Desert Inn can be cheap, but you're going at a busier time so the prices are likely higher. Park Vue Inn is highly spoke of and there is a Best Western there too and something called the Del Sol. Those hotels are all directly across from the entrance, and I believe they all have breakfast. Do a search of each hotel's website and see what you find. Since your dates are flexible, play with them a little to find the best rates. Lower rates also tend to mean less people at the park.

Have fun!

 

[coaches24]

By the way, as I'm sure you've realised, July 17 is the 60th anniversary. I'm planning our first family trip for that week and I'm not even counting that day as a "normal" park day since I am sure it will be crazy and we may not be able to do a whole lot of rides. We have 5 days planned (we do like 10-12 day trips at WDW so I feel this is my bare minimum).

Your probably right about the 17th. I was at DL for the 50th on July 17 2005 and it was crazy. But I also was clueless about DL and did not know it was the anniversary day until I got to the park before opening and found the park gates open and the park absolutely packed already. Arnold Schwarzenegger the governor was there speaking at that time and I had to fight my way through the crowd to try and get to space mtn which was where I wanted to start my day (wanting to ride it before the line got crazy, lol). At about 8:30 (park opened at 8) the line for Space was 3 hours long if I remember right, or something crazy like that and the FP return time was 6 or 6:30 at night. I didn't ride space that day. And I have since learned how to plan my trip MUCH better.

That trip I won 3 day park hoppers on a radio show and just so happened to pick that weekend to go. Didn't do any research before hand because I didn't even know I would need to. It was only my 2nd time ever being at DL and the first time was 1987 when I was a kid, so quite a big gap between the two trips.

 

[Carolynleanne]

Do as many days as you can. As someone previously mentioned, though the parks are close together, there are still almost as many attractions as you'll find at WDW just closer together.

 

[Nicolette11785]

I completely agree that you need at least 4 days for a busy time like this. 5 would be better but if 4 is your max I would define tell do that.

The thing you need to know is while there is a huge land mass difference between DW and DL there is not a huge ride count difference (I think its like 2-3). You are going at a busy time with 2 kids so I would say to do your max time of 4 days (park hoppers) that way you can see and experience most of the magic!

Have a magical time!

 

[Canuck16]

I agree with other people 3 would be the minimum and if you could fit a 4th day in even better.

I would recommend getting Hoppers with the parks being so close and the FP system not being linked together.

Have fun.....DL/DCA are awesome parks!!!