How Long?

[hsmamato2]

for Disneyland/DCA? we are total Disneyphiles....and we will be staying in Anaheim for 7 days in early October.
We want to see everything,probably some things more than once- judging by how the kids will see everything in WDW a million times and never get bored....
All the guides say a max of 4 days for both parks....since we've never been,and likely won't go again.....how long for people like us?
TIA!

 

[skiingfast]

3-5 Days. Halloween is an extra special time so I would go more than 3 if you do the halloween party or are there on a weekend when DL is extra busy. Also F! and fireworks will be a weekend, Fri-Sun event and the shows are different at DL so you haven't quite seen them. You should read the thread below, it's made for you.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[Flitterific]

3-5 Days. Halloween is an extra special time so I would go more than 3 if you do the halloween party or are there on a weekend when DL is extra busy. Also F! and fireworks will be a weekend, Fri-Sun event and the shows are different at DL so you haven't quite seen them. You should read the thread below, it's made for you.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Ditto to what skiingfast said and go for more than 3 days (5 if possible). If the Mickey's Halloween Parties (MHPs as they were called last year) are going to occur on the same nights as last year, they will be on Fridays and Tuesdays, and DL closes at 7pm on those nights (DCA will continue to be open until its usual closing time). MHP draws a lot of people to the parks, especially as it gets closer and closer to Halloween.

I am an AP holder and I went 4 days the weekend before Halloween and it was really crowded (although not as bad as Christmastime). During Halloween time, you will see characters in their Halloween costumes as well as some villains. It's a really fun time of the year to go. You may also want to check out the Halloween thread here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2560082

 

[goldies 5]

We go every year for 7 full days. We never get tired of it. It is nice to have more time for us so we feel more relaxed.

 

[jacs1234]

WE took my 4 kiddos, for 8 days and still didn't do everything. Mind you, we did do a lot of things over and over again. I think you'd need at least 1 1/2 days at DCA, it's hard to juggle all the show times to see everything, with Aladdin, Pixar Parade (not sure if it will be running then) World of Color, Crush, Playhouse, Bugs and the Muppets. It all takes up lots of time All worth it though of course, and then you would need at least 2 days at Disney to get most things done once. If you want to slow down and enjoy your trip and do things over and over then you'd need more time.

 

[Boo Bear]

That all depends on if you have anywhere else you want to go while you're around SD, OC, LA area.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We do 5-6 days to make sure we have time to do local attractions(if on the agenda) and to be able to relax a bit and get away from my commando style of touring. 4 days just does not seem like enough for us so we budget for 6.

Jack

 

[hsmamato2]

ok.....so a six day ticket option isn't too silly? I saw a special on mousesavers..... we have the room for 7 nights- the only other thing I know of in the area we want to see is Universal Hollywood- again, suggestions for things to see is great too!
I worry,never having been there,if I buy too many days at Disney,we'll feel like we're wasting time,but I would like to see all the shows,etc.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Our last trip with our DS6 was 4 days and though we did alot we still missed alot, Our next trip is already planned with 6 day hopppers so 6 days isn't crazy at all if you ask me.

 

[DLR29]

ok.....so a six day ticket option isn't too silly? I saw a special on mousesavers..... we have the room for 7 nights- the only other thing I know of in the area we want to see is Universal Hollywood- again, suggestions for things to see is great too!
I worry,never having been there,if I buy too many days at Disney,we'll feel like we're wasting time,but I would like to see all the shows,etc.

6 days is certainly not too much, especially if you want to see all of the shows. Most likely the fireworks and Fantasmic will only be showing on weekend nights. I think Aladdin only shows W-Su.

 

[hsmamato2]

so....I'm thinking after doing some more reading, we arrive on a Saturday-Sat.- if we have 6 day hoppers, we can hit the special weekend shows,or use them to focus on either shows or rides,depending on the day,what closes early,and what is showing.... the cost for extra days isn't so much,and we'd have flexibility.

 

[skiingfast]

so....I'm thinking after doing some more reading, we arrive on a Saturday-Sat.- if we have 6 day hoppers, we can hit the special weekend shows,or use them to focus on either shows or rides,depending on the day,what closes early,and what is showing.... the cost for extra days isn't so much,and we'd have flexibility.

That's a great way to do it when you have extra time. See the special shows on the weekends staying up late. Ride the rides during the week and catch up on sleep.

 

[DahliaRW]

6 is not too much. We did that last time and would ahve stayed longer if we could!

 

[Hound 109]

so....I'm thinking after doing some more reading, we arrive on a Saturday-Sat.- if we have 6 day hoppers, we can hit the special weekend shows,or use them to focus on either shows or rides,depending on the day,what closes early,and what is showing.... the cost for extra days isn't so much,and we'd have flexibility.

Definitely the right way to think about a once in a lifetime visit.

6 days gives you flexibility. See ALL the shows.

If on the last two days you feel like sleeping in, no problem.

Or if you want to go into the parks in the morning, visit the beach in the afternoon & return to the parks in the evening.....no problem. The only thing better than 6 days would be 7 days.

Definitely read Mary Jo's sticky & all of HG's tip threads. Know how FP works at DL & be prepared to get alot done the first few days early in the morning (because the time zone difference will be your friend).

Have a great time at Walt's Park.

 

[Captain Hindsight]

Another fun thing to do if you have alreay done everything is to dedicate 1 day to running around and just taking photos... You can do all the meet and greets and take photos here and there and everywhere...

 

[vew-tori]

The 6 day hopper is what we decided on. We will be there 7 nights in March. One day we aew renting a car and heading to San Diego and another day we are going in to LA. The price difference was so little that we added the 6th day so that we can either go into the parks for a bit the day we leave or the evening after LA. Based on the Dis Experts it sounds like the way to go!