How long in LA?

[bvkramer]

We're taking an October trip to see my dad in Monterey and he offered to drive us down to LA for a few days to go to DL. My son LOVES Cars so I know carsland will be a huge hit. I'm debating between two and three days in the parks and the Halloween party. Which would you pick for DL newbies? We're going to WDW for two weeks in Dec so I'm not crazy worried on missing out on the castle side. I was thinking wed DL thurs DCA fri DCA am DL Party pm. U could cut Wednesday or add Saturday depending.

 

[sonnyjane]

The longer the better, but since you're going to WDW a few months later I won't push too much on you

I like your proposed schedule, especially if you can easily afford the extra Halloween party tickets. If you did want to save money, I'd say you could buy a two-day ticket and then just buy a Halloween ticket since you can enter DL at 4:00 even though the party doesn't start until later, but if it's in the budget, the more park time, the better.

Where will you be staying? "LA" and Anaheim where Disneyland is are two different beasts. "LA" can be a solid hour from Disneyland, if not more during heavy traffic times. I recommend staying somewhere very close on Harbor. I personally have stayed at Tropicana, Ramada Inn Maingate, and Best Western Park Place Inn and would stay at any of those again.

 

[bvkramer]

We will most definitely stay in Anaheim! Do you think we should do 2 days in carsland and then just do DL at the Halloween party? I almost hate wasting a whole day ticket in a close at 4pm day. Adding a day is expensive at that lowday level even with my big corporate discount.

 

[sonnyjane]

We will most definitely stay in Anaheim! Do you think we should do 2 days in carsland and then just do DL at the Halloween party? I almost hate wasting a whole day ticket in a close at 4pm day. Adding a day is expensive at that lowday level even with my big corporate discount.

Carsland is just one land in California Adventure with three rides and a few stores/restaurants. No matter how much your kiddo loves cars, no need for two days lol. If you meant California Adventure in general then that makes more sense but I'd probably still do one day in DL, one day in DCA, then the evening at DL the last day for Halloween party. You could do pool or Downtown Disney on the morning of the last day before the party - maybe a character breakfast at one of the hotels.