Enough days?

[BARBARAL26]

We will be going to DL in a week and half, my question is we will be there for 3 days will that be enough time to see all? My kids are older 13 and 15. Any ideas how to get the most out of this trip.
Barb

 

[LOVE2VACATION]

I keep telling myself it isn't nearly as large as WDW, so should be OK. Our first family trip to WDW was for only 5 days and we did a lot. We are staying at Disneyland for 4 days in August. I, too, have been stressing about, "Is this enough time!" I know it will be busy with all the special events going on this year. We have to tell ourselves to relax and enjoy the time we do have there! Have a great time!
Michelle

 

[lntsmom]

advice, as I have none, lol. But, I would suggest you get the Unofficial Guide. It gives touring plans, hints on how to save time and money, and general need-to-know info. I found it to be very reliable when I used it for a trip to DisneyWorld...and I'm going to stick to it this time around, too!

 

[lntsmom]

advice, as I have none, lol. But, I would suggest you get the Unofficial Guide. It gives touring plans, hints on how to save time and money, and general need-to-know info. I found it to be very reliable when I used it for a trip to DisneyWorld...and I'm going to stick to it this time around, too!

 

[BARBARAL26]

advice, as I have none, lol. But, I would suggest you get the Unofficial Guide. It gives touring plans, hints on how to save time and money, and general need-to-know info. I found it to be very reliable when I used it for a trip to DisneyWorld...and I'm going to stick to it this time around, too!

What is the unofficial guide and where do I get it?
Barb

 

[Dobie]

Barb26 you will have a blast.

There are three of us (two geezers and a teenager.) We always go in the summer, during the week, on a four day pass. We stay on site. We have three full days and a half day. We get their early, stay until 1 ish, spend the afternoon resting/swimming/shopping, go back to the parks in the early evening.

We always see and do everything.

Tips: Get a good guidebook--either the Official Guide or Unofficial Guide. Know what you want to see. Get to the park WHEN IT OPENS! Do one morning (EE) Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, another morning Adventureland, Frontierland, be in line at DCA one morning when it opens (you can do an hour and a half at DL first.) Save POC for evening. Watch the later fantasmic (do rides during the first.) Don't miss the electric parade at DCA, taste pilots grill, or Soarin'.

Have a great time and don't forget the trip report!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LucyKate]

3 days is the minimum needed to see both DL and DCA.

We had 4, which left us a day to revisit all our favourites, but we took it at a slow pace and had younger kids.

With 3 days you could comfortably see everything.

I'd also second "the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland" which is a superb resource and helps you get the most out of the parks.

 

[spendleb]

We just had a 3 day hopper and did everything easily and a lot of things 2 or 3 times, we normally spend a whole day in Disney at WDW but found hopping between Disneyland and CA easy to do within one day and allowed us to miss most of the long queues

 

[FanOfStitch]

We just had a 3 day hopper and did everything easily and a lot of things 2 or 3 times, we normally spend a whole day in Disney at WDW but found hopping between Disneyland and CA easy to do within one day and allowed us to miss most of the long queues

What time of year did you go? We will be there in 2 weeks. I have 5 day hopper passes and was wondering if we would be able to see everything. I am afraid with the 50th and all, it will be unusually crowded. Thanks!!

 

[Dobie]

What time of year did you go? We will be there in 2 weeks. I have 5 day hopper passes and was wondering if we would be able to see everything. I am afraid with the 50th and all, it will be unusually crowded. Thanks!!

Dear Fan: With 5 day hoppers, you should be able to see everything, and repeat some favorites, easily, even with crowds.

Tips:

1. Be there early.
2. Plan a 1st thing in the morning for Adventureland/Frontierland/NOS, go on Indy, Splash, BTMRR, Haunted Mansion as soon as the part opens. Go on POTC next. Grab and use fastpasses.
3. Be there early.
4. Use EE for fantasyland, go on Peter Pan and Dumbo, then other fantasyland rides. Finish fantasyland on a Wednesday at park opening.
5. Be there early.
6. Use a morning, FP Buzz, do Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Buzz, Star Tours, Autopia, HISTA in Tomorrowland.
7. Be there early.
8. On one of your mornings, leave DL at 9:30, line up for DCA to open at 10. Do soarin, grab a FP, go on Grizzly, grab a FP for Grizzly, do ToT, California Screaming, do Soarin again, go on Grizzly again, do Muppets, Golden Dreams, ITTBAB.
9. Be there early.
10. Leave the parks around 1, because they will be driving you nuts. Have lunch at a hotel or DTD or DCA. Swim in the afternoon. Return in the early evening.
11. Leave a night for Electrical parade at DCA. The DCA rides are fun at night.
12. Plan one night for parade at DL. Afterwars, go on rides while everyone else is at Fantasmic.

13. Plan one night for Fireworks at DL. Plan one night for Fantasmic at DL. You can see some of the fireworks after from where you are sitting. Get there early, find a seat, eat and relax, watch the crowds.

13. Did I mention get there early?

You will have a blast!

 

[FanOfStitch]

So do you think I should get the parks early? Thanks so much. I'm not much of planner, so this should help immensly. I'm going to print this out and use it as my "unofficial" guide book.

 

[Dobie]

So do you think I should get the parks early? Thanks so much. I'm not much of planner, so this should help immensly. I'm going to print this out and use it as my "unofficial" guide book.

Oh no, the pressure, the pressure!!

Quick! Must have churro!

 

[spendleb]

We went on the 28th April to the 12th May, had 3 days during this period including the day after the 50th started and even on that day the crowds were not that bad, still didn't use fastpass, it only seemed busy at night for the fireworks.

 

[geffric]

We know we will be at DL and DCA at the busiest time of the year..( July 1-11) but..

We are DVC, so we got to WDW for at least 2 weeks every year. this year is our second trip to CA. We are going for a family reunion, so might as well go to DL/DCA too. Last time we went, we had a 3 day pass and it simply wasn't enough for us. So this summer we have gotten the 4 day hopper pass.. I am hoping that will be enough.. or should I do 5 days???

 

[Ergens2]

Oh thank you for the info! We are planning our first trip to DLR for next Sept.. I just can't wait!!! The only thing keeping me going is the boards. ...must have disney fix... Now, which hotel to stay at...