4 days or 5?

[dayvewc]

I made minor modifications to my initial plans for my DisneyLand trip. I'll be flying out on a Saturday and staying in a nearby hotel and then checking in to the Grand Californian on Sunday, checking out to return home on Friday. So, should I get a 5 day tickets and spend Sunday - Thurs in the parks, and do my GC checkin during my park breaks? or just do 4 day tickets using the Monday - Thurs (original plan) and spend Sunday touring the resort before and after checkin? Or maybe 4 day tickets and plan on a non park day Tues or Wed?

 

[Geemo]

I made minor modifications to my initial plans for my DisneyLand trip. I'll be flying out on a Saturday and staying in a nearby hotel and then checking in to the Grand Californian on Sunday, checking out to return home on Friday. So, should I get a 5 day tickets and spend Sunday - Thurs in the parks, and do my GC checkin during my park breaks? or just do 4 day tickets using the Monday - Thurs (original plan) and spend Sunday touring the resort before and after checkin? Or maybe 4 day tickets and plan on a non park day Tues or Wed?

Go with a 5 day ticket and have the flexibility to do what you want as you want. The additional cost isn't that much.

You may also find fireworks and Fantasmic! only show on weekends during certain times of the year. Having the option of Sunday might be a day not to miss.

You can check in REAL EARLY on Sunday(before parks open) and take advantage of early entry for onsite guests.

Geemo

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

I recommend going into the parks on the day you arrive (Sunday). There is so much to see and do at the resort, that even with five days, it still might not be possible to do everything, depending on the dynamics of your group. But for sure you should be able to get lots more done with five days. And it is only about 15 $ more per person to upgrade to a five day ticket. So worth it!

For resort time, you can have plenty of that if you opt to take afternoon breaks during the middle of the day to escape the heat and crowds. Spend a few hours at the pool, take a nap in your room, hang out in Downtown Disney, or have a nice sit-down outside of the parks. You will be refreshed and ready to stay late at the parks for the evening.

 

[figment_jii]

According to the ticket prices on Disneyland.com, a 4-day ticket is $250 and a 5-day ticket is $266, so the cost to add a fifth day is $16. Think of this way, a movie is $13 at the AMC in DTD (adult), so for only $3 more, you could spend an entire extra day in the parks. While I do thin touring the resort (hotels, DTD) is fun, it really didn't take me all that long and I like resort touring (maybe a few hours at most). So unless you're getting to DLR really late on Sunday, I think you'd have plenty of time to tour the resorts and go into the parks.

So, for me, I would definitely go with the 5-day ticket and plan to go to the parks everyday, if it's just for a couple of hours. I recently did a 6-day trip and we had originally planned only to do 5-days (because of ticket limitations), but ultimately decided everyone was having too much fun to spend a day not at the parks. There is just so much to see and do in the parks, that you can easily spend 5-days and still miss some things.

You mentioned in another thread that you'll be there the week before Easter, right? That is going to be a busy time of the year, so you have to keep in mind that the crowds will be there (so rides are unlikely to be walk on, except perhaps first thing in the morning). The trade off is that the park should be operating with long hours and a full entertainment schedule (though, depending on what is down for refurb in advance of the 60th, it's not clear if there will be fireworks or WoC).

 

[dayvewc]

I just saw a refurb list, and the Matterhorn, Splash Mountain, and Soarin will all be down while I'm there. WOC is due to be finished about a week before I arrive, so hopefully no delays. My dates are March 21-27, with park day options 22-26.

 

[GatorChris]

I'm always up for an extra day at the parks. Especially as such a cheap rate. Also, Sunday might be the only day you can catch Fantasmic! or fireworks. They may have them nightly because of Spring Break, but who knows when Disney will launch or not.

 

[TheChapman6]

According to the ticket prices on Disneyland.com, a 4-day ticket is $250 and a 5-day ticket is $266, so the cost to add a fifth day is $16. Think of this way, a movie is $13 at the AMC in DTD (adult), so for only $3 more, you could spend an entire extra day in the parks. While I do thin touring the resort (hotels, DTD) is fun, it really didn't take me all that long and I like resort touring (maybe a few hours at most). So unless you're getting to DLR really late on Sunday, I think you'd have plenty of time to tour the resorts and go into the parks. So, for me, I would definitely go with the 5-day ticket and plan to go to the parks everyday, if it's just for a couple of hours. I recently did a 6-day trip and we had originally planned only to do 5-days (because of ticket limitations), but ultimately decided everyone was having too much fun to spend a day not at the parks. There is just so much to see and do in the parks, that you can easily spend 5-days and still miss some things. You mentioned in another thread that you'll be there the week before Easter, right? That is going to be a busy time of the year, so you have to keep in mind that the crowds will be there (so rides are unlikely to be walk on, except perhaps first thing in the morning). The trade off is that the park should be operating with long hours and a full entertainment schedule (though, depending on what is down for refurb in advance of the 60th, it's not clear if there will be fireworks or WoC).

Those prices seem off to me maybe those are those are the one park per day tickets? You will want the hoppers for sure!

 

[krispin41]

Those prices seem off to me maybe those are those are the one park per day tickets? You will want the hoppers for sure!

I think you might be right, I just looked.

4-day: $250 + $39 for park hoppers = $289
5-day: $266 + $39 for park hoppers = $305

Still not much of a difference either way, and I second the park hoppers.

I wish my recent trip was 5 days. I had two full days in the park, plus partial days on arrival and departure days. I had the 4-day park hoppers, and still missed doing a TON of stuff (granted, I focused on Holiday "stuff.") I still had a great trip though. But I am always on the "more days is better" team.

 

[figment_jii]

Those prices seem off to me maybe those are those are the one park per day tickets? You will want the hoppers for sure!

Yes, those are the prices for the base 4- or 5-day tickets. I just went with the base ticket prices because the cost of the park hopper is the same regardless of whether you buy a 4-day or 5-day ticket. The point was that the fifth day would only cost $16 more, but yes, the prices would be higher if the PH option is added. Sorry if that wasn't clear initially. I also agree that if you're going to be there for 4 or 5 days, then a park hopper makes a great deal of sense.

 

[dayvewc]

I am definitely planning park hoppers. Loosely thinking, at least until the trip gets closer, I'm contemplating 5 day tickets where day 1 is focused on touring the parks and getting a feel for layouts and locations. Riding what I can, but not really focused on attractions (unless F! or WOC are on limited shows). Then spend days 2-5 alternating the first park of the day to try to get as much done and seen as possible.