Advice on how long to visit

[LKM]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering how long my family (Hubbie, daughters ages 5 and 8, and myself) should plan for our Disneyland visit. We have found five days to be ideal for WDW, but I know that DL is smaller and easier to change parks than WDW. Plus, of course, there's only two parks. So, if five days is ideal for us for WDW, what length of time would be the best for DL? Thanks!

 

[Jennifer03]

I think three days is the perfect amount of time.

 

[teatime]

WOW I was gone to WDW and a week was not even enough , I can not imagine doing it in 5 We go for a week to Disneyland, there is just so much to see and do and small things that one might miss by running thru the parks.
When will you be coming ? if its the on season you will find it very buisy , long lines etc. if you go off season I say you can do it relaxed in 3 or 4. and thats seeing everything, really taking it all in and so forth. but we like doing the week thing, we can really do everything relaxed, go back to the motel and swi during the day, see alladdin , and disney play house, draw , and just soak in the parks

 

[PinkBudgie]

I always think 3 days should be the minimun to feel like you got a good sample of the park. You won't get to do everything, but with small kids that is probably ok anyway. If you think 5 days at WDW is good for your family, then I would think 3 would be enough for DLR.

 

[MaiynaMouse]

I hear people say all the time that 3 days is enough in Disneyland. We've ALWAYS gone for 5 and I still don't feel like we've seen everything. We go once a year and seriously....there are so many things I still want to do/see. By the end of the 5th day, we are ready to be done, though. So, we break it up into 5 day, annual trips. I know this isn't a possibility for everyone but my vote is for 5 days. It's the minimum we go.

 

[carolannec]

I think a 3 day minimum trip as well. That's what we're doing and I am already wishing we could stay longer(and I haven't even been yet). lol

 

[Niele]

uh-oh, we're only going to be there for 5 days, 4 days in the parks ... thought we'd do DL 1st day, DCA 2nd day and go from there ...

 

[SoCal Belle]

I think you should be totally fine with 4 days. Of course, it depends on how much time you can spend in the parks each day... HAVE FUN!

 

[Edel1975]

Am planning on 3 days in Disneyland for our 1st trip and sure if we don't get to see everything then it gives us a great excuse to come back next year.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I think 4 is perfect.

 

[AustinTink]

We've never been to DL/DCA for more than a day. We stay in San Diego and make it a day trip. *sigh* Do you think we'll accomplish anything in a day's time? Any hints would be highly appreciated.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I don't feel like 3 days is enough for us either, so that is why we are going for a week this summer. We have never been there that long before so we'll see how it goes. I can't wait to have time to try all the things that we usually miss. But it will be just DH and I. With small children I think you get worn out faster.

A day trip is better than nothing! In fact I was just reading a blog on this site written by someone who only have a day at DLR. You should check that out. With good use of FPs I think you can get in the highlights of DL. We went for a day over the holidays just for the purpose of seeing the decorations and HMH and IASW. If you pick out a few must sees, then anything else is bonus.

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

We've been twice, both times for three days, and we STILL haven't seen nearly everything. I am hoping to plan for four days next time, we always end up just doing 1/2 day at DCA and there is lots there (and more coming) that we have neglected. I would love one full DCA day from start to finish. And we do stay open to almost close at DL, there is just not enough time in a Disney day!!

 

[avalon451]

Both times we went, we had 5 days-- 3 full days and 2 half days. We arrived in the afternoon, strolled around and explored, did fireworks and leisurely stuff. Then 3 full-on, open to close days, although we always had time to take a midafternoon break back at the hotel, to swim and rest and let the crowds have at it in the heat of the day. Then the last day we re-did all our favorites and did last-minute souvenir shopping, and took a late afternoon flight out.

Like PP said, you still can't see everything, but for us, 5 days felt just right.

 

[kiwitravel]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering how long my family (Hubbie, daughters ages 5 and 8, and myself) should plan for our Disneyland visit. We have found five days to be ideal for WDW, but I know that DL is smaller and easier to change parks than WDW. Plus, of course, there's only two parks. So, if five days is ideal for us for WDW, what length of time would be the best for DL? Thanks!

I would say 5 days is the ideal, whilst DL is smaller there are more rides/shows and the quality of some of the rides that are in both DL and WDW are better at DL and you may want to do them more than once (IASW, POTC, Space Mountain)

 

[mystic_path]

Yeah agreed. DL is much smaller but if you want to take your time and walk around at a leisurely pace then I would say 4-5 days.

Although there is a City Pass where you can get like 3 days at DL, and a day at the Zoo, Sea World Etc. If you also want to take in other attractions.

 

[LKM]

Thanks, everyone. I was actually looking at the southern Cali pass that would give us three days at disney, and a day at universal, sea world, and the san diego zoo. It would save us some money, too. But i think we're going to get the 5 days for the price of 3 ticket and do universal and sea world separately. My hubbie and I thought it would be nice to take in disney more leisurely and be able to go to hotel pool and relax every afternoon. We did do disneyland several years ago--DD1 was 2 and I was pg with DD2--in four leisurely days and it was nice. Besides, this time I can ride all the rides (and so can my kids) and I plan to ride the Matterhorn ALOT. They don't have that at WDW.