3 days enough?

[Flyin2MCO]

Opinions on whether or not 3 theme park days are sufficient for a visit to DL and DCA? We are East Coasters and this might be our only trip to DL.

Mind you we tend to be TPCs, among the first in and last out of the parks, with no trips back to the hotel, no naps, no dips in the pool.

TIA for the advice.

 

[HydroGuy]

Opinions on whether or not 3 theme park days are sufficient for a visit to DL and DCA? We are East Coasters and this might be our only trip to DL.

Mind you we tend to be TPCs, among the first in and last out of the parks, with no trips back to the hotel, no naps, no dips in the pool.

TIA for the advice.

Three days is considered the minimum to have a solid DLR experience and four days is better. As a WDW vet you can appreciate it depends a lot on what time of year you go. Any ideas yet?

 

[kristie73]

Well I'm only doing 2 nights at DLH and 3 days in the parks, but I have two young kids. So we won't ride all the rides and experience everything, but that's okay with us. We will go back to the hotel for naps and the pool. I have done 2 days too and that's fine for us.

 

[TechGuy]

Three days of hard core DL should be enough to make you want to come back some other time since you had such a blast the first time.

Really, you should be able to get enough done each day that you will not notice what you missed. Make sense? I have been going to DLR for the past 40 years, I have been in park 20+ times and I don't think I have done everything at both parks.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

I also agree that 3 days at a minimum for a solid Disneyland/CA trip. However, I have to say that 4 days is my personal minimum during the Christmas season. It's just so pretty then!

 

[Flyin2MCO]

Thanks for the helpful info so far. We would be going in mid to late August and staying at VGC, so on one hand I suppose (although I'm not sure) crowds may be a challenge, but our proximity would build in some efficiency.

This is my first DL related post and I must say I'm impressed with the quick responses....questions on the WDW side can linger for days without any action. Maybe we are a bit jaded out this way!

 

[heatherleigh]

I think 3 would probably be sufficient, but the general rule of thumb is 4. We did 3 on our very first trip to DL (we're open to closers as well) and missed a few things. I attribute that to us not knowing or researching prior to the trip though, and not on account of the shortness of our stay.

 

[Dobie]

For the Dobie's first family trip in 2002, right after DCA opened, we had three and a half park days and were ready to go home.

Since then, more cool experiences have opened. However, we don't feel a need to do every little thing. We do the headliners, most of them multiple times, Fantasyland once, and spend the afternoons swimming.

For us, we just like being there. And we are ususally ready to go back the next year!

You will have a blast at the villas. Make sure to have a Grizzly River Run fastpass or two when you hit the pool in the afternoon--this ride is literally right outside the hotel door and it is so fun to throw a shirt and shorts on, leave the pool area, ride the raft, and go back to the pool on a hot afternoon!

 

[Mugglemama]

Keep in mind that this is coming from somebody who could go to the parks 14 days in a row and not get sick of it (I haven't actually had an opportunity to do that yet, but it's definitely on my list of things to do before I die, LOL), but being that you are going in August, are coming from so far away, and that this might be your only trip to DLR ever, my personal suggestion would be to try to get 4 days in the parks.

If you can't, then 3 days is enough to do most things (and some things more than once) if you put forth the effort to get there early, utilize MM, use FP's, etc. However, a 4th day would give you time to go back to your favorites!

 

[skiingfast]

I find 3 to be perfect. I park hop a lot and go open to close. But I also avoid the core of summer. Also weekends can be much worse than the weekdays with so many local a car ride away.

I attached a blackout for SoCal passholders which is real key to crowds in late August. The blocked out days are the typical busy days. But without the APs can be rather nice. However the day they get unblocked can be crazy busy. Especially a weekend day.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...nualPassholderSoCalSelectBlockoutCalendarPage

 

[NancyIL]

I had a 5-day ticket way back in 1998 when there was just one park! However, my last visit in early May was only 2 days, and it was long enough. DLand was terribly crowded on Sunday, so I hope most of your planned days are week days.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

My personal preference would be 4 or 5 days. If you can't or don't want to do that many full days, then I would suggest also going on your arriving and/or leaving days in addition to 3 full days. If you're going this August, the 5 days for the price of 3 tickets will still be available for your time period.

 

[Flyin2MCO]

Thanks all for the additional perspectives....I should have clarified that this is for a 2011 trip (WDW is on tap for this Sept), so we have plenty of time to plan and build a strategery.

We would likely do Universal Hollywood for a few days and then move down to DL, targeting our park days Tues-Thursday.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

We've only done 4, 5 or 6 days (all low-season)... and for us 4 days is a minimum--hardly got what we wanted to do done... with 6 we rode everything (low-season) as much as we wanted... and had pool time... we're doing 5 in October (no longer low-season)... most of the people on here would tell you to do as many days as you can!

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for the helpful info so far. We would be going in mid to late August and staying at VGC, so on one hand I suppose (although I'm not sure) crowds may be a challenge, but our proximity would build in some efficiency.

This is my first DL related post and I must say I'm impressed with the quick responses....questions on the WDW side can linger for days without any action. Maybe we are a bit jaded out this way!

Be very careful about late August this year. The week of Aug 22 will be slammed with crowds. Just ask BlackJackDelta about his experience last August. The reason is the SoCal AP Blockout lifts on Aug 22 and there is no parallel at WDW to the DLR AP holder phenomenon. See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

As for going open to close without breaks, don't. DLR is different than WDW here too. For numerous reasons including walking distance hotels, a different crowd mix (way more local day trippers at DLR), longer park hours and easier parkhopping (1 minute flat by foot), you should plan afternoon breaks. It will make the days much more enjoyable - especially in the summer.

See "Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Hope you make it to DLR. DLR Rocks!

 

[farmfresh]

Just a note to say you won't need very long at Universal - a day is absolutely plenty, much smaller than Florida. Why not add that extra day to your disney plan?

Also - make sure you work your days to maximise your MM privileges, and to pick up the advantage of any block out days. If you are staying at GCH you can enter early every day MM is offered. That hour will make for much more pleasant touring, and of course will get you through rides more quickly if you do stick to three days.

Bear in mind that popular rides like Toy Story don't have fast pass- the best way to see this is to be there for park opening. (not sure how this will work once people start using their mornings to queue for WOC FPS, but no doubt people on this board will report in once it starts!) Likewise the subs have no FP and fantasyland (peter pan's flight for example doesn't have FP)...so the usual stragey is to do these on (different) mornings.

There are alternative options of course, like using parade times, or waiting in line at the end of the night, but, it all depends on your tolerance for queuing.

So that's three days sorted, just like that!

You don't mention if you are traveling with kids, so I'll presume you aren't. Therefore you can possibly cope without getting out of the parks.

But the atmosphere at DL and DCA is quite different from WDW -it's more intense. The areas are smaller, and the headliner rides, are , well, in two parks! So if it is busy, it really feels busy! That's why a lot of people here opt for breaks. And of course, because it's all walking distance, breaks are very easy.

 

[Flyin2MCO]

Be very careful about late August this year. The week of Aug 22 will be slammed with crowds. Just ask BlackJackDelta about his experience last August. The reason is the SoCal AP Blockout lifts on Aug 22 and there is no parallel at WDW to the DLR AP holder phenomenon. See "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

As for going open to close without breaks, don't. DLR is different than WDW here too. For numerous reasons including walking distance hotels, a different crowd mix (way more local day trippers at DLR), longer park hours and easier parkhopping (1 minute flat by foot), you should plan afternoon breaks. It will make the days much more enjoyable - especially in the summer.

Great advice and thank you....I'll be sure to consider the blockout lift implication for 2011 planning. Tough for us to take breaks, since our objective is to max out on touring time, and relaxation is not really a priority, silly as that may sound.

Just a note to say you won't need very long at Universal - a day is absolutely plenty, much smaller than Florida. Why not add that extra day to your disney plan?

You don't mention if you are traveling with kids, so I'll presume you aren't. Therefore you can possibly cope without getting out of the parks.

But the atmosphere at DL and DCA is quite different from WDW -it's more intense. The areas are smaller, and the headliner rides, are , well, in two parks! So if it is busy, it really feels busy! That's why a lot of people here opt for breaks. And of course, because it's all walking distance, breaks are very easy.

We'll likely stick with one UH day and then check out the sights in Hollywood proper before heading to DL. Yes on the kiddo factor...one 14 yo (in 2011). She was 7 during her first WDW trip and was able to hang with us for multiple 12 hour park days, no breaks and no complaining at all. She wouldn't have it any other way!

Props and to the DL crew.....You all are a wealth of info.

 

[ploeb]

Thanks all for the additional perspectives....I should have clarified that this is for a 2011 trip (WDW is on tap for this Sept), so we have plenty of time to plan and build a strategery.

We would likely do Universal Hollywood for a few days and then move down to DL, targeting our park days Tues-Thursday.

If it were me-I would stay 5 days. Lots an lots to do an see! Maybe WDWT will still offer the buy3 get2 for Free deal! Good luck

 

[disneywondergirl22]

edited to add: i confused the OP with a later responder, but my message still stands. so i'm not gonna rewrite it. that in mind, hopefully this makes sense



during non-peak season, you can literally do every single thing offered in each park in a day- meaning DLR in one day and DCA the second day. and not miss a thing.

during peak season, you should expect crowds and waits, so you may have to be a bit choosier. esp if you plan to go back and forth for naps. but you should be able to do most of the big things. esp in 3 days!

personally, as a USH employee (or a recent employee; i left about 2 months ago), you'll find that it's not a park for children. my whole time employed, i always wondered what the families with children did all day because besides character meets, there's practically nothing for children (younger than tween) to do, besides George's play area. and i can attest that most children at that park were experiencing their first character greets and did not enjoy them very much. kids in their first meets seem to do better at Disney.

while i love my friends who are all still there, and while i know that they've got some fun sounding entertainment additions that they just added (shows and characters) for summer peak, i can't see taking young children. and i'm not even sure what adults do all day. so i just don't know that i'd recommend it if your children aren't big enough to ride rides.

 

[HydroGuy]

during non-peak season, you can literally do every single thing offered in each park in a day- meaning DLR in one day and DCA the second day. and not miss a thing.

With the caveat that "everything offered" means that a lot less is offered. Limited entertainment and several rides down for refurb. I also think it depends on which off-peak you go because some off-peaks days have gotten very crowded in recent years. Also, not sure if by "everything offered" you mean things like Jedi Training Academy, Princess Fantasy Faire and Pixie Hollow. If so, then I would be surprised if someone could do all of that in Disneyland in a day. If not, then you are not really talking about everything. Just a lot of the things.