advice for first time DL visit this April?

[seakat]

I am taking a 14 and 11 year old on their first DL visit the week of April 9-14. Do we need 3 or 4 days to see everything? Should we avoid Sunday and go weekdays? Crowds that time of year? Any other suggestions.
Thanks very much!

 

[kristenhh]

Spring Break. The weekdays may be just as crowded. I think you need 3 good days to see most everything -- but you may want 4 days because of the crowds.

The good new about going this time of year is that they have extended hours, and all of the shows and parades running.

Your best bet is to get to the parks early and do all of the big ticket items. Then you can see other less popular things and shows.

Have fun!

 

[AFMom]

If you can go for 4 - do it! More time and less stresas to enjoy everything. It will be crowded - but if you know you have 4 days - and that's plenty - you'll not mind so much!

 

[viluvsdisney]

We'll be there the 25th-27th. Do the crowds thin out by then?

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Are you recomending 4 days to just see Disneyland, or 4 days to do disneyland and california adventure?

 

[SunshineOR]

We always think 4 days is the perfect amount of time, and we even go on the off-season. I think in 3 days you could take in most of it, but with four days you could do it in a more relaxed style! We usually find it takes 2 days to see most of DL, 1 day to do most of DCA, then we like to have an extra day to revisit favorites, take more leisurely meals, stop and enjoy the little details, and go off the beaten track a bit.

We went April 18th-23rd, 2004, and the weekend was busy, but the weekdays were not crowded at all! The 9th-14th might be hitting the spring break time more though, not to mention the extra crowds for the 50th celebration this year.

 

[Wendebird]

viluvsdisney,

Disneyland has been unusually busy due to the 50th celebration. With all the advertising, it's really been pulling in the crowds. So I don't think you can plan on it being slow.

You are going on weekdays, so that will be a HUGE help. Especially mid week.

Disneyland's web site says DL is open from 9AM-10PM. That's a good sign that they don't plan on being swamped. (when it's 8am-12am they plan on it)

My advice though is if you really don't like crowds, be at the gates before 9. (The gates will open at 8:30, but it will be roped off at the end of Main Street until 9) As you walk past an attraction that has FP, grab one & ride it standby. Collect FP's as you go through the day. Take a break after lunch. Go back to the hotel, go for a swim, take a nap, rest. Then go back refreshed & ride using your collected FP's. If the time has expired on them, they're still OK to use.

Also, be sure to do what I call a Fantasyland Blitz. Get there at rope drop & head for Peter Pan. If you don't get on that one first thing, fuggataboutit.

What else do you need to know? Locations of bathrooms? What's on the menu at each restaurant, lol. I have wayyyy too much info on DL. I just can't get you into Club 33.

 

[mickeysgal]

I'm not the OP, but this is our first trip there also, and I have appreciated the advice in this thread. We too are going in April and after a lot of thinking we decided on a 4 day hopper instead of 3 due to the potential crowds. We're staying on property, so going back and forth to the parks won't be an issue. Excellent advice from Wendebird on the Fantasyland Blitz! Thanks!

 

[seakat]

We will do 4 weekdays as suggested. All of your information was really helpful! I obviously have lots of investigating to do!