Does one day make a difference?

[PlutosRHM55]

So I've begun pricing out a possible trip to DLR and I priced it out for a four day trip staying inside Disneyland with my sister, my parents and I (I'm 16 will be 17 when this trip happens). All prices seemed very feasible for us, but my mom said she would like the trip to be five days even though four days would be nice. We are first-timers (probably should've mentioned that at the beginning) and are mostly familiar with Disney World, which is very different to DLR in terms of size and a day there makes a lot of difference. So I was wondering if it's really worth adding on that extra day especially with how much money it entails (which includes another night of stay, dining, park passes, etc.)?

Thank you

 

[skiingfast]

When are you thinking of going? If it's a busy time and extra days really helps. If it's a slow time 4 days should be fine.

DLR guide for WDW vets

 

[PlutosRHM55]

When are you thinking of going? If it's a busy time and extra days really helps. If it's a slow time 4 days should be fine.

DLR guide for WDW vets

I believe it would most likely be in July or August, which I know is generally known to be busy for WDW, but I don't know how that works for DLR... I'll have to look at the link you gave me. Thank you for your help!

 

[IBLarsen]

Something we often do... We fly in, so we generally arrive to our hotel about 2:00 in the afternoon. We plan for 4 full days in the parks. However I will buy 5 day hopper passes because then we can go into the parks for a few hours on our arrival day. We are already there and paying for the hotel and you have to eat anyways, so I figure the only added expense is that 5th day, which generally isn't a huge price difference over that 4 day pass. We feel like those extra few hours that first evening help out.

If you arrive too late to make it worth it, then my plan doesn't work

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Something we often do... We fly in, so we generally arrive to our hotel about 2:00 in the afternoon. We plan for 4 full days in the parks. However I will buy 5 day hopper passes because then we can go into the parks for a few hours on our arrival day. We are already there and paying for the hotel and you have to eat anyways, so I figure the only added expense is that 5th day, which generally isn't a huge price difference over that 4 day pass. We feel like those extra few hours that first evening help out.

If you arrive too late to make it worth it, then my plan doesn't work

That sounds like a good idea. I believe we did something similarily on our first trip to WDW. But is this with a time change or are you closer to DLR. We live on the East Coast so we have time change and a lay over, which, while still being a long flight, we are three hours ahead of Cali maybe more and by leaving early in the morning (around 6-ish), we are said to arrive in Cali by 11, almost 12. Would that allow more time or would we still have limited time at the parks on arrival day? And which airport is better to come into LAX or the Orange County Airport (SNA)?

 

[Stitch35]

That sounds like a good idea. I believe we did something similarily on our first trip to WDW. But is this with a time change or are you closer to DLR. We live on the East Coast so we have time change and a lay over, which, while still being a long flight, we are three hours ahead of Cali maybe more and by leaving early in the morning (around 6-ish), we are said to arrive in Cali by 11, almost 12. Would that allow more time or would we still have limited time at the parks on arrival day? And which airport is better to come into LAX or the Orange County Airport (SNA)?

If you arrive at noon, the park usually closes at midnight, so that would give you about 10-12 hours at the park depending on where you fly into and how long check in takes. I've always found no matter how tired I am, I wake right up and stay awake on arrival day (sometimes this is even after a non stop over night 18 hour drive!) Lax is a very large airport and takes about 30min to get checked luggage and an hour drive to DLR. SNA is about a 15 min drive and a very small airport. I always prefer lgb or SNA over lax anytime! Unless there is a large price difference

 

[Zbugz]

We did five days last August/September and felt like we were able to do it all thoroughly. With Carsland opening, I think five days would be preferable if it is financially feasible.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

If you arrive at noon, the park usually closes at midnight, so that would give you about 10-12 hours at the park depending on where you fly into and how long check in takes. I've always found no matter how tired I am, I wake right up and stay awake on arrival day (sometimes this is even after a non stop over night 18 hour drive!) Lax is a very large airport and takes about 30min to get checked luggage and an hour drive to DLR. SNA is about a 15 min drive and a very small airport. I always prefer lgb or SNA over lax anytime! Unless there is a large price difference

Oh that's good to know, thank you! I'm the same way when I go to WDW, not sleepy at all, but the flight is only about 6 hours and this will probably be a bit longer with the lay-over, but I guess the magic doesn't falter even over long distances. I'll definitely be sticking with SNA since it's closer and knowing my anti-Disney father who probably won't even go to the parks for the full five days, especially if we take off from one of our busier airports at home.

We did five days last August/September and felt like we were able to do it all thoroughly. With Carsland opening, I think five days would be preferable if it is financially feasible.

Yeah and I actually think I put in for four NIGHTS which is the equivalent of five DAYS so it's feasible. Hopefully if plans to raise money for this trip go as planned, of course, we won't be overshooting ourselves.

Thank you both for your help!

 

[hootey]

Yes, one day can make a difference. We go once or twice a year to relax and unwind( as the budget allows ). This is usually for six to ten days at a time. Yes, we are those people taking their own sweet time you get behind when you are in a hurry to get to the next ride. Anyway, we take life easy when we are on vacation. Sometimes it takes a day or two to unwind so we can enjoy being on vacation and having plenty of time is one of the key components of that. Sometimes you have to remember to take time to RELAX...

 

[KCmike]

We planned on just doing four days (DL VETS HERE and WDW VET) and we went ahead and bumped up to the 5th day for only $5 per person. Definitely worth it especially for a newbie to DL!

Please heed my warning and do Disneyland for 5 days. You will enjoy staying at the resort hotel, relaxing, soaking in downtown disney, and then figuring out how to ride the Lilly Belle, deciding to do a tour like Walk in Walt's Footsteps, and seeing World of Color one more time!

Disneyland needs to be savored. Their shows are so much better than WDW's. Fireworks, parades, WOC, Fantasmic!, etc. It all has to be seen. Plus you don't want to miss the smaller things like Storybook Canal Boats.

Mike

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Yes, one day can make a difference. We go once or twice a year to relax and unwind( as the budget allows ). This is usually for six to ten days at a time. Yes, we are those people taking their own sweet time you get behind when you are in a hurry to get to the next ride. Anyway, we take life easy when we are on vacation. Sometimes it takes a day or two to unwind so we can enjoy being on vacation and having plenty of time is one of the key components of that. Sometimes you have to remember to take time to RELAX...

We are going to be in SoCal for two weeks and we are usually a go-go-go family with trips, we like having plans and ideas of what we are going to do so this will be a nice start and then we'll use the weekend and a few days to relax and enjoy the rest of the area, but I think having 5 days now versus 4 will make all the difference for how we tour especially since I know we do sleep in at times.

Thanks for your help!

We planned on just doing four days (DL VETS HERE and WDW VET) and we went ahead and bumped up to the 5th day for only $5 per person. Definitely worth it especially for a newbie to DL!

Please heed my warning and do Disneyland for 5 days. You will enjoy staying at the resort hotel, relaxing, soaking in downtown disney, and then figuring out how to ride the Lilly Belle, deciding to do a tour like Walk in Walt's Footsteps, and seeing World of Color one more time!

Disneyland needs to be savored. Their shows are so much better than WDW's. Fireworks, parades, WOC, Fantasmic!, etc. It all has to be seen. Plus you don't want to miss the smaller things like Storybook Canal Boats.

Mike

I think we're definitely going to consider the fifth day, but I'm guessing it will happen when we are there. We will probably have hotel reservations for those five days but then four days for the parks and then just add the extra day while they were. It seems that looks like the best way.

Thank you for your help!

 

[dmband]

So is 3 days not enough?
I was thinking of flaying to lax around 2, hit the parks mon, tues, wed and fly home thurs
We have done wdw in 5 days a few times and didn't miss much of what we wanted to do

 

[Eeee-va]

So is 3 days not enough?
I was thinking of flaying to lax around 2, hit the parks mon, tues, wed and fly home thurs
We have done wdw in 5 days a few times and didn't miss much of what we wanted to do

If "what you wanted to do" is primarily rides, I'd try to get at least 4 days for the Disneyland Resort. Everything is much closer together than at WDW, so transportation takes much less time. But there are about as many rides at DLR as there are at WDW, so it may take you quite a while to go through all the rides and attractions at DLR.

If "what you wanted to do" at WDW includes substantial time at the resorts, restaurants, etc. you may be able to manage DLR in 3 days, because there are fewer attractions at the resorts. And while there are lots of nice places to eat at DLR, there are overall fewer restaurants.

That said, you can definitely have a good time at DLR in 3 days, and I don't know what your priorities are or how much you are okay with "missing."

Have a great trip, whatever you decide!

 

[dmband]

If "what you wanted to do" is primarily rides, I'd try to get at least 4 days for the Disneyland Resort. Everything is much closer together than at WDW, so transportation takes much less time. But there are about as many rides at DLR as there are at WDW, so it may take you quite a while to go through all the rides and attractions at DLR.

If "what you wanted to do" at WDW includes substantial time at the resorts, restaurants, etc. you may be able to manage DLR in 3 days, because there are fewer attractions at the resorts. And while there are lots of nice places to eat at DLR, there are overall fewer restaurants.

That said, you can definitely have a good time at DLR in 3 days, and I don't know what your priorities are or how much you are okay with "missing."

Have a great trip, whatever you decide!

Rides

My plan will really be decided for me as I am tying it into a wedding
So once other decide on the weekend it will tell me if I have four days or only three
Thanks for the info

 

[rramstad]

If it helps, I agree with one of the PP, we always get hoppers that include both our arrival day and our departure day. Even if we only get a few hours on the arrival day, that's helpful (and fun!), and on departure day we can typically get an entire morning in (which usually is the most productive part of the day) before heading out for lunch and the road... so five nights, six day hopper really means one evening, one morning, and four full days for us. Four nights would work the same way, five day hopper, afternoon plus evening on arrival day, possibly almost an entire day on departure day, and three full days.

 

[ballarinamom]

I think there is a big misconception that because WDW has more parks that there is more to do at WDW than DL and DCA (without the water parks). But when you list the actual ride totals for each resorts, you will find them very close to each other. We do 5 full days at DL with a half day on our return day. If you just want to ride each ride one time, you'll be fine with 3 days maybe four. But as we also like to do the character meals, shows and parades plus multiple visits to each ride, we need the extra time