First timer - 4 days or 5?

[ProfJenn]

Hey everyone!
We're WDW vets venturing out to DL for the first time. With only WDW as a guide, I'm not sure how many days we'll need for see the parks. Here's the things weighing into my decisions between 4 or 5 day park hopper tix

1. We've got 3 DS (8, 5, 1) that will need a mid-day break (and mommy too) after our early mornings at the parks.
2. We are pretty slow-moving, take-in-the-sites type folks - if the kids want to splash in a water area, we just let'em. Not at all commando-type tourists.
3. Not sure that we'll ever make this trip again (at least not in the near future).

So, what do you think? With a $20 difference between 4/5 day tickets, would you go ahead with the 5 day? Or is it really a waste?
Thanks thanks thanks!!!

 

[DangerMouse]

What time of year are you planning on going? Park hours can make a big difference in how much you can accomplish. If you aren't planning on taking advantage of longer park hours (early opening to closing), then I'd suggest getting the 5-day.

 

[ProfJenn]

Right now we're planning to go May 30-June 7th (give or take).
We're definately planning to be at the gates for opening, but we'll have to break mid-day. I thought we'd head back to the parks after our 'naps,' but even then I don't think we'd stay much past 9ish; mom (opps, I mean the kids ) wouldn't make it!

 

[DangerMouse]

Right now we're planning to go May 30-June 7th (give or take).
We're definately planning to be at the gates for opening, but we'll have to break mid-day. I thought we'd head back to the parks after our 'naps,' but even then I don't think we'd stay much past 9ish; mom (opps, I mean the kids ) wouldn't make it!

That's a great time of year to go. Knowing that this is your first and possibly only trip to DLR, I'd get 5-day tickets. Make sure you check closer to your trip for Grad Night parties (they take place on Thursday nights in early June) when DL closes early and then it affects the MM's on Fridays.

Have fun planning your trip and make sure you check out Hydro's tips sticky at the top of this page. He has an awesome thread about DLR for WDW vets.

 

[ProfJenn]

Thank you - that's where I was leaning. Just needed my DISers to confirm!
I searched for the grad nites and the only one around our visit is June 4th. Does it affect DL's parks similarly to WDW? (good in the morning, crazy after 4pm?)

 

[HydroGuy]

Others will disagree, but I think five days at DLR is too much. We did four days once and that was too much for us. Now we usually we do 3 days. But we hit the parks hard. Not commando, but focused in the morning and at night with mid-day breaks of 4-5 hours.

For a first time visit I would say four days would be a good choice for most.

Be careful about which days of the week you choose. Early June is still off-season. I would overlap your visit with a Friday and Saturday. See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

 

[DangerMouse]

Others will disagree, but I think five days at DLR is too much. We did four days once and that was too much for us. Now we usually we do 3 days. But we hit the parks hard. Not commando, but focused in the morning and at night with mid-day breaks of 4-5 hours.

For a first time visit I would say four days would be a good choice for most.

Be careful about which days of the week you choose. Early June is still off-season. I would overlap your visit with a Friday and Saturday. See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

I initially leaned toward 4 days as well, Trey (actually 3-days works best for our family), but I took into consideration the young age of her kids and the fact that they really like to take it slow. I don't think they'd burn out with 5 days, especially that time of year when they can take advantage of the wet areas and entertainment should be going strong Fri-Sun.

 

[ProfJenn]

Yeah - those are the reasons we're waffling...don't want burn out, but would rather add an extra day then drag the kids screaming through the park (overtired, or because we can't ride Buzz one more time)
Thanks for the reminder about off-season. June feels like it should be the summer, doesn't it?

 

[HydroGuy]

I initially leaned toward 4 days as well, Trey (actually 3-days works best for our family), but I took into consideration the young age of her kids and the fact that they really like to take it slow. I don't think they'd burn out with 5 days, especially that time of year when they can take advantage of the wet areas and entertainment should be going strong Fri-Sun.

Callie, I understood originally where you were coming from and the fact they had a 1-year-old, etc., but still thought four days would be better. It is really a toss-up and will depend a lot on the particular family and situation. Fir first timers four will be better for some while others may want five. For vets like you and I three days will often be about right.

 

[HydroGuy]

Yeah - those are the reasons we're waffling...don't want burn out, but would rather add an extra day then drag the kids screaming through the park (overtired, or because we can't ride Buzz one more time)
Thanks for the reminder about off-season. June feels like it should be the summer, doesn't it?

DLR is such a "locals" resort that crowds tend to follow local schools and holidays a lot. Most of the SoCal schools get out mid-June and that is why DLR ramps up hours starting in mid-June usually.

 

[Disneylvrforever]

Are you going to both parks, bc imo, I'd do 5 days. I tried to do every single thing in both parks and it roughly estimated to 5 days. And since you have little ones, taking things slow w/ 5 days gives you plenty of time to do the things you want to do w/out the rush. You'll get to do the things your kids want to do, re-visit them, and maybe do a child swap/single rider ride for yourselves.

 

[BurnsideMommy]

We typically do 4 days, but our last trip we decided on 5. I'm SO glad we did for a few reasons.

We usually go mid-late September with low crowds, where we can ride Buzz over and over, so 4 days is plenty. Usually 1 day in CA and 3 in DL.

This trip we just came home, so the crowds were nuts compared to what we're used to. Long lines all over. We did 4 days in DL and a day in CA, but hopped over to DL for an hour or two that day as well. I feel like we didn't get to ride as many times on our fave rides on this last trip as we usually do on our shorter ones!

We stopped and hung out in the Thunder Ranch. Since it's Cmas themed, the kids sang in the Jingle Bell choir, decorated cookies, colored, looked around. We went in every house in Toontown and just played around. Obviously too cold for water play, but we still took it slow.

We aren't early morning folks, so no need for a mid-day break for us - but we probably end up having the same amount of hours in park as you.

We ate at Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe, etc - so lunch was at least an hour and a half for us rather than a quick sit down 20 minute deal. We colored, played stickers, chatted, and enjoyed our food. We stopped in stores we've never seen before (I had no idea you could build your own ear hat in Toontown and this was my 5th visit!). We waited in line for Pixie Hollow & Princess Fantasy Fair. The kids got their faces painted. We rode the train, and the monorail round trip. We really tried to experience all the things, not just the main rides/shows.

If this is your only trip to DL, I'd really say do 5 days just because you don't want to end up with busy crowds and feel rushed. Even now after 5 days there were still a LOT of things we wanted to do but couldn't due to time, crowds and being overtired from fighting crowds/walking/carrying. After our 2nd day I was worried we'd get burnout, but by day 5 I was wishing we didn't have to go, and upgraded to AP's to come back in the spring.

 

[pixiewings71]

We have AP's and went a lot last year. Our best trip was the one we spent 5 full days in the parks on. We got to do everything we all wanted to do and lots of things more than once. With the ages of your kids I would go for the 5 days definitely. However, if you're not sure buy the 4 day passes and see how you are feeling about halfway thru day 4, if you need to add day 5 you can do so at the ticket booths.

 

[lillybug]

5 days!

 

[jlmarr]

If the OP is a WDW vet then 3 days might be sufficient. But with the kids, particularly the 1YO, I'll vote for 4 days.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

4 days should be plenty of time, but if you plan on taking extra long breaks, you may need 5.

 

[KCmike]

I'm a commando. Yet the more of disney parks I can get the better. The first time we went to LA as a family we took one day to visit the lovely pacific ocean. The second time we had to go to San Diego for a few days with stop overs in Laguna and Newport and then for 5 days in DL. It was great. Are you going to go to the Ocean? Do Hollywood? By the way Hollywood is horrible so don't waste much time there. You will absolutely love DL. It is by far the best park in the U.S.


The kids will love Fantasyland. I love that part of the park.

 

[wannagoback]

I would say 5 days. I took DD3 in March and we had 5-day Hoppers. It was 3 whole days and 2 half-days on each end (4 nights). We went to both parks each day. I thought it was perfect.

I would especially take into the account the traveling on day one. Our flight was so early that DD was exhausted all day. I should have stayed in the hotel so she could nap, but who wants to take a nap when you just arrived at Disneyland?!?

I liked that we could move at a leisurely pace, and that we had time to do things multiple times if needed (Playhouse Disney). Next time we go, I will be taking DD2, so I would like to do 5 nights and schedule to arrive in the evening of the first night. That would give 4 whole days and one half day... that's my plan.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We just got back from our DL trip and had 6 day hoppers. There was only a $5 difference between the 5 and 6 day hoppers. We would have only done 5 days, but really, really, really wanted to see Alladin. And it didn't start until last Friday. It was a great show and worth the extra 1/2 day we spent at DCA - even though it was very crowded in that area of the park!

My recommendation - 5 days. It makes it easy to take it nice and slow - with no pressure or rushing. And I totally love the nap idea. We could have used more rest time - I am still exhausted!

 

[ProfJenn]

I love to hear all the thoughts and opinions!
We're planning to have a hotel/stay for 7 days
Day 1 - arrival, no parks
Days 2-6 - parks
Day 7 - travel frather south in CA
Since we're headed farther south after DL we won't do the ocean/etc while we're at DL.
thanks again! I love the DIS