Are three days enough in mid- to late August?

[Figment&Piglet]

We are planning to visit Disneyland and California Adventure on August 20, 21, and 22. We've been once before, but it was several years ago. Will 3 days be enough to see most everything in both parks? We bought 3-day park hoppers, so I expected to spend one full day in each park, then split the third day between them. Should we have bought 4-day hoppers?

Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

I think it depends on what you mean by "see most everything"...in other words, do you really mean "everything" or do you mean the highlights? There are lots of attractions, shows, character meet and greets, dining options, etc. and I don't think there is any way to see everything or even most everything with only 1.5 days in each park (3 days total). I think you can probably see most of the highlights in 1 to 2 days per park, but you’ll have to make some trade-offs. I would prioritize which attractions, shows, characters, etc. you want to experience the most and start there.

One thing to note is that August 20th is the currently announced end date for MSEP in DL. So if you want to see MSEP, you’ll need to plan on watching it on the 20th. My guess is that it will be pretty busy that evening as guests come into see MSEP one last time (assuming they don’t announce an extension). Over in DL, there is also F! (debut date announced for July 17th) and fireworks. It’s not yet know how easy it will be watch one or more of the evening entertainment shows. DCA has WoC, which is still a time sink (if you want a good view) so you might want to consider splurging on the dessert party.

August 21st is the first day that SoCal and SoCal Select AP holders can return to the park after the summer blockout. I don’t know if that means larger crowds that week or not (my guess is mostly likely in the evenings after folks get off work or home from school). So while the mornings may be nice, expect some uptick in crowds in the evening (especially if they’re running F! nightly, which will be new and not have debut until after the SoCal and SoCal Select AP blockouts began so that will be their first chance to see the new show).

 

[goooof1]

3 days is NEVER enough for me!! Even with 4 days of hopping there is still plenty left that I didn't get to do!!

 

[BriannaRuth]

Personally 3 days would not be enough for us. As Figment said above, enough to see all the highlights but definitely not enough to do everything. We always do 5 days.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

It would definitely be helpful if you defined "everything." DD and I are in the airport heading home from 4 days in the park: 10-midnight, 8-midnight, 7-midnight, and 8am-6:30pm. These times included afternoon breaks on the first 3 days. This included 2 EMH mornings at DCA and 1 at Disneyland. Our goal was to go on every attraction that was an actual "ride" and we managed this by the very end of Day 3 (some attractions were ridden more than once or even multiple times). And let me tell you, I am exhausted. In fact, I am somewhere beyond exhausted. We walked over 100,000 steps over the last four days and I've slept a grand total of 15 hours. There were several things I really wanted to do including shows, parades, and fireworks that didn't get done. We didn't make it to Animation Academy even once. We didn't stop to enjoy the atmosphere. It was very much a commando style visit.

So, bottom line, yes, you can probably get every "ride" done in three days if that's what you are trying to accomplish. But when I go back for three days with just DH in a couple of weeks, I'm hoping to stop and smell the roses. Literally.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you can add a day, I would. During summer, it always helps to have more time to do things at DLR. That way you don't feel so rushed or hectic, even when there are crowds, if a ride goes down, or if you need a do-over for fireworks.

 

[MacMama0930]

It's amazing how much there truly is to do there. I've been wanting to take my son to Animation Academy so badly and he's been in the park 8 days over the last year and I still haven't made it happen!! I'm bound and determined to make it happen in October!

So anyways, you definitely won't be able to do everything but you'll be able to do a lot!

 

[ButterflyKisses77]

3 days is plenty! If you have the extra time and money, of course adding a day is always great, but you absolutely can do every ride at least in 3 days.

 

[22Tink]

You can get lots done in 3 days but if you have the option to add a day, do it. You won't regret it. We always do 5 day hoppers and could still do more!! It's way nicer to not feel like you have so much to cram into a smaller amount of time. That extra day would lessen the pace for you.

 

[tarheelalum]

I'd do 4. 3 is cutting it short with the crowds and the heat that time of the year.

 

[mfleeting]

The first time we went a few years ago we did 3 days (2 day Disneyland and 1 at California Adventure even though we had park hoppers). Did we do everything? No but we did everything we wanted to do plus had time to go to the pool one afternoon. We even did some rides multiple times and did not even use many fast passes.

We did find staying at the park hotels and getting the extra hour everyday really helped get the big rides done. However, if we would have used fast passes better we could have done even more.