How long for DL or Disney Adventure

[Samantha_Mommy]

Hi All,

We are visiting DL and Disney Adventure in January. How many days do you recommend for both parks. My daughter is 4 years old, so I would like to do everything we can possible do (for a 4 yr old) while we'll there.

Thanks!

 

[disneychrista]

It really depends on how you touring style is. If you are a go go go, then 3 days will be plenty. If you are a take it easy, go back to the hotel for naps etc, I would get 4 or even 5 days. And whichever you choose get the HOPPER tickets, not the single park tickets.

 

[evandmp]

At least 3 days would be best. I have a four year old as well and when you take into account meals, character pics, and naps or resting, its best to have at least 3 days so you're not rushed. We just did our first short trip of two days and while we did a ton, we did not do everything my kids wanted to do due to ride problems and lack of time. Also most people will tell you to get park hoppers instead of dedicating a certain amount of days in each park. The parks are right across from each other and take very little time and energy to go back and forth from. We usually do about 4-5 days per trip and that allows us to see everything, take nice meals, and go on our favorites multiple times.

 

[skiingfast]

Consider a few things.

Does you child still nap?, When I had a 4yo he was napping about every other day but not at DL, and after WDW it was never common for him to do. Too much excitement to sleep through I guess. During short hours in January leaving for naps can be a waste because 10am to 8pm hours give plenty of time to sleep at night.

Is 4yo old tall enough for the bigger rides? Mine could do all except a couple so we didn't skip some of those big rides with longer waits.

Are you going during a holiday period like the first week of the month of 3 day weekend?

Are you going to watch the fireworks or Fantasmic?

Other than the first week you will need to be there on a weekend for the night shows. I suggest 3 as a minimum. 4 if including a weekend. 5 if including one of the holiday periods.

 

[miss.potatohead]

I was at the parks in January this year, just after MLK day - it was great in terms of crowds and pretty good with the ride maintenance period (only its a small world was down for holiday overlay removal, and GRR in DCA, but this may differ each year).

We managed to see everything at Disneyland in one day, and all of California Adventure in 3/4 of a day, leaving another 1.25 days (we had 3 day park hoppers) for hopping between two parks as we felt like it.

Your daughter is still fairly young so I can imagine you'd spend a fair amount of time in Fantasyland and possibly Mickey's Toontown at DL (although there are plenty of other things elsewhere in the parks for young children!). I'd say a 3 day hopper would suffice but you can always add an extra day to your tickets if you need to do so whilst you are there.

Enjoy!!!

 

[DisSarahK]

Our first trip to Disneyland/California Adventure we went with a three day park hopper and that really was sufficient for our family with two young children (they were 2.5 and 4.5 at the time). However--we skipped the major headliner rides because we knew they weren't right for our family. So we didn't do rides like Pirates, Indiana Jones, Space Mtn, Star Tours, Screamin, and Soarin'. We did do two character meals and made time to meet lots of characters and we did pretty much all the other rides. If you will be doing the headliner rides, I would do four day park hoppers--that will also give you time to ride your child's favorite rides multiple times.

 

[rramstad]

Hi All,

We are visiting DL and Disney Adventure in January. How many days do you recommend for both parks. My daughter is 4 years old, so I would like to do everything we can possible do (for a 4 yr old) while we'll there.

Thanks!

It probably depends a lot on your 4 year old.

I went with my three kids, boys 11 and 8, and 5 year old girl.

My daughter was big enough to ride everything, and hasn't napped in a couple of years, at least not reliably.

So for us, we wanted to see and do everything, and so we were there for four nights, and had 5 day park hoppers.

We had a few things we didn't get to, but it was enough time that we could take afternoons off around the pool or eating and relaxing in the room (and napping! after a few days of MM!) so that was good.

I wouldn't have wanted to do any less time, actually, as the four nights made it feel like a vacation... if it was two nights, three days, it would have been a bit panicked.