Dilemma: Should I stay an extra day?

[court88]

My boyfriend and I are going to Disneyland May 21, 22, and 23 (Wed, Thurs, Fri). We are staying at the Candy Cane Inn those three nights. We are flying into SNA really early Wednesday morning and we plan to spend the day at the parks, along with Thursday and Friday. Since this will be my boyfriend's first trip we are spending the night on Friday so that we can watch Fantasmic and the fireworks and stay at Disneyland until midnight. We then planned on flying back home early Saturday morning ( 8:10 am). We are about to book everything and now I am having second thoughts. Since we are spending the extra money to stay at the hotel Friday night I am now thinking it might be better to do 4 days 3 nights as opposed to 3 days 3 nights. To upgrade to a 4 day park hopper would only be an extra $15 per person. They have a flight Saturday evening that leaves at 8:10 pm. However I am worried that since this extra day in the park will be a Memorial Weekend Saturday it might not be worth it to stay if the crowds are unbearable (he would miss another day at work if we stayed). What does everyone think, I am so torn I need advice Thank you all so much!

 

[bonita_babe232]

Its hard to say, since its his first trip you will probley leave without seeing a few things, but you also won't have kids tagging along so that will make it quicker traveling for you too..... I don't really know if i would stay the extra day, just because as you pointed out its a holiday weekend which means you might not get all that much done saturady anywayz plus you would only be able to stay till maybe 4-4:30 because you have to check in at the airport 2-3 hours ahead, and with having stayed till 12 the night before you will be tired the next day and might not get to the parks to eairy where as even with an eairly flight you can snooze on the plane or while waiting ect... I don't know if it would be worth him missing more work when you might not get to do much anywayz.... IMO..... But then again disney is great and even only doing 1-2 rides might be worth it... but it would be stretch

 

[avalon451]

Wow, $15. isn't much more. One suggestion might be: how about you book it (or at least get your park tickets) through GetAwayToday, so you'll have 2 magic mornings. Then you can do just a few hours on Sat. morning with your second MM and get in the last of your favorite rides once more. Even on a holiday weekend, you can enjoy a couple of hours before the crowds get crazy, then maybe have a late, leisurely breakfast (or early lunch)somewhere, either in the parks or in DTD... then take an afternoon flight out?

You might want to check flights into LAX or Long Beach, too. They're often cheaper and sometimes have more flights you can choose from, depending on your airline. If you don't want to wait for an evening flight, that is.

Sounds like a really fun trip! I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you choose.

 

[Dobie]

If I were planning this trip, I would try to fly out around 2 or so on Saturday. This would give you all Saturday morning, and you should be fine until around 11 or so, crowdwise. That would give you plenty of time to get an early afternoon flight.

Or, conversely, you could spend the entire morning doing rides, make a PS for lunch, enjoy a leisurely lunch, do some shopping, etc, and catch a late afternoon flight. We have done this before (but on a Friday, not a Saturday) and are usually very ready to leave by 2.

 

[noryglory]

Definitely spend the $30 total. I like Avalon's idea of getting two MMs and just doing the park on Saturday morning until it starts to get crowded. You can get a lot done by 10 a.m. if the park opens for you at 7!