Can we do it in 3 days?

[MomofSandT]

Be straight with me - can we get a lot done in 3 day (May 22-24)? I have 2 kiddos (1.5 and 10), and both will want to go back to our condo for dinner and decompressing before bed, so we will have from opening until about 5.

I haven't been to DLR with kids, but we took the oldest to WDW about 4 years ago, and I feel like even with the old GAC, we didn't do as much as he would have liked some days.

We are not planning on going back for a nap, and I intend on us splitting up the kids a bit so they can each do things they enjoy (4 adults and 2 kids are going).

Am I crazy, or should we add a 4th day?

 

[NewbieMouse]

I think you'll be fine. You don't need as many days as for WDW. Get a hopper to maximize flexibility.

 

[nutshell]

Might be tough with a 1.5, but I would recommend going back for a nap from about 2-4 or so then doing a few more hours at night. Will they want to see the electrical parade?

I've never done more than three days. If you plan well. you can do a lot. Have fun!

 

[NewbieMouse]

I guess I would also say that ticket-wise it is relatively inexpensive to add the 4th day now rather than later, so if the budget isn't too tight, you could add it and play it by ear. Every year we get 5 day hoppers and I always swear next time we only need 3 days, but I still get the 5 day hopper and use it. I really do think you can see a lot (i.e., enough) in three days - especially if you can split up the 1.5 year old and 10 year old as their wants will be very different - but the incremental cost of the extra day on the ticket is small. It's the extra hotel days and food that really ramp it up.

 

[YukonMommy]

Can you get a lot done......this depends.
-what is your idea of a lot? If you are talking every ride, show and parade....no, sorry that is not going to happen. If you are talking everyone's favorite ride in a day, absolutely! A lot is going to depend on crowds, fp times, and the attitudes and tiredness of the kids (and adults).

If you can I would add a 4th day!

Have a magical time!

 

[StormyCA]

It depends entirely on your kidlets. BFF took her sister in law and 8 yr old niece and it was a nightmare of whining, tears, and dragging feet. Not much got done at all as the child would plop down and refuse to budge. Both of mine were always very easy at Disneyland and we got a lot done and we never found the need to really split up. There are 5.5 years between them so not as big a gap as yours, but still a gap as far as riding some of the rides. Do the baby-pass (I think they call it something else now), it's a life saver.

If the 10 yr old is up for it and your 1.5 yr old is a good stroller rider and napper you'll be fine. But if your 10 yr old is the type that gets 'grumpy' or easily tired or your 1.5 yr old isn't happy in the stroller you may find that it's not worth it to do the rushing around needed to do 'everything'. If so, just focus on everyone's favourites and leave the rest for another time.

 

[MomofSandT]

Might be tough with a 1.5, but I would recommend going back for a nap from about 2-4 or so then doing a few more hours at night. Will they want to see the electrical parade?

I've never done more than three days. If you plan well. you can do a lot. Have fun!

He will probably be too geeked up to nap - he's my FOMO kid. And neither one of them will want to stay up for any parades. They both go to bed pretty early, even on vacation. My 10 year old has to take medication at night, and it knocks him out, so to keep him from being drowsy the next day, he has to go to bed early.

And no, we don't intend on hitting every ride, and probably won't see any parades or shows with the kids, although DH and are heading back into the park one evening on our own, so I have the Electric Parade on my radar.

Thanks everyone! We'll confer with the grandparents and see what they want to do.

 

[DLfan4]

i would say 3 days are great for DLR. but i would suggest getting park-hoppers. the parks are right across from each other, so it is very easy to hop over.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Based on your plan for splitting up the kids to go on different things of interest, 3 days is completely reasonable. Since you plan on leaving the parks at 5:00pm each day, you'll miss all the crazy crowds/traffic jams that happen in the evening for parades, WOC and the fireworks. You do want to get there at park opening. The first hour is the best time to get things done.

 

[agamble]

I think three days is fine. We like to go for 5, but I know a lot of people who go for three. You go and do what you want and can in three days. Make sure you're there for rope drop each morning and head back to your hotel for dinner and bed as your kids need. Then in a few years you can always take them to DL or WDW again when your little one is older and in another phase. Have fun!

 

[AmberK24]

Is this going to be a yearly trip or will this be a once every 8-10 years trip? The extra ticket cost for an extra day is pretty minimal, so if the travel times & hotel budget accommodate, I would go with 4, even if one is a partial day prior to flying out.

 

[MomofSandT]

We will go back in 3-4 years after the excitement about Star Wars land dies down a little, and Little Brother is a bit older. The 10 year old has requested a trip to the beach (he has career goals of being a lifeguard and living on the beach, even though he's only been once, and we live in Oklahoma), so we want to take him. I think we'll stick with 3 days.

 

[Midnightred]

How far away is your condo? You should look at Hydroguy's graph of crowd levels at various times of the day. It's best to nap and swim between 2-4 when the crowds are big. People get tired and start going home sometimes as early as 5 like y'all are planning to do. . As for doing everything, I think it's always nice to save something for next time. I still haven't been on Grizzly River, Toy Story Midway Mania, and more. I have never seen the fireworks! Making those a priority this trip!

Midnightred