How many days at DL for a first timer

[kateandy08096]

Hello all!
Im planning a surprise mom and daughter trip with my dd17 for March/April 2016.

I just booked our suite at Peacock Suites 4-1 to 4-8 I will be adding a day and checking out 4 9 the time share was a fri to fri
We are actually flying into San Dieago 3-29 and spening a few days there first but I wanted to ask how many days should we spend at DL?
We are WDW vets and heard we wouldnt need more then 2-3 days but the WDW planner in me feels we would need 5-6 days. Lol

Please tell me what you think
We will also be getting the LA go card while there for universal and hollywood

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Did you hear 2-3 days on the WDW forum? lol

There is SO much to do that you'll struggle to get everything done if you only spend 2 days. I would recommend a minimum of 3 days for both parks, ideally 4 if you want to really absorb the park details. Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the churros!

 

[AngiTN]

5 is the max number of days they sell in CA. So get 5 day Park Hoppers and just be done with worrying about it. We found we needed every bit of those 5 days to cover all of both parks to our satisfaction. Anything less would not have allowed us to do it all, and rest enough to enjoy ourselves. Park Hoppers was also a must. I never do them at WDW but with the layout in CA you'll find you treat the 2 parks as 1 big park and will be going back and forth multiple times a day.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

If you'll be back at Disneyland soon, 2 days will be frantic and fun! You'll get to whatever you miss on your next trip.

If this is your one time ever DL trip, 4 or 5 days would give you enough time to do everything and repeat your favorites.

 

[Canuck16]

We have been to DLR several times ad always always get the maximum park day ticket we can get. Now that is a 5 day ticket and we get the Park Hopper option so we can hop between the parks when we want since the FP system is not connected between the parks.

Have fun!

 

[kateandy08096]

Thanks all!!!!! Yes i heard 3 days for both parks and I thought that was insane. We arent talking about six flags its Disney. Hahaha
I think Ill go for the max ticket. Cant wait

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks all!!!!! Yes i heard 3 days for both parks and I thought that was insane. We arent talking about six flags its Disney. Hahaha
I think Ill go for the max ticket. Cant wait

Technically you can do it in 3 days but unless it's the only option you have I wouldn't. It would be 3 long and hard days. I'd rather add on the additional 2 and have time to slow down and truly appreciate it all. That's what we did and it really did work well. I didn't leave there saying "I'm sorry we didn't have more time to do X". Plus, in our 7 nights in the area they had to cancel fireworks on 3 of them, 2 days were in a row. I would hate to plan a 3 day trip only to have the fireworks cancelled.

The smaller size of DLR is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing to be able to just go back and forth between the parks and cover them both easily but also a curse in that they feel more crowded with fewer people. With so many rides most of their lines don't get horribly long (but for the few headliners) but the walk ways can so it pays to be able to take your time. Have a great trip.

 

[elaine amj]

I'm actually worried I will feel rushed with my 5 day hoppers! So wish they still sold 6 day tickets. Super excited about our first trip to DLR I booked 7 nights and have 1 break day in between.

 

[CalgaryTroy]

When you look at the cost difference of $15 to go from a 4-day to 5-day ticket.....why wouldn't go 5 days?.....$15!!!....that's crazy!

 

[GatorChris]

I do Disney one way - and this goes for either resort. You need two days at each park to fully appreciate it. When I go to WDW, I spend at least 8 full days in the parks so that I get 2 in each one. Same goes for DL. You really want 2 days at each park. That ensures you get to do everything you want, and do the fun stuff twice. That said, I prefer 5 days so that on that last day, we can park hop and do a few extra things. But I would say 4 days is safe - safe that you do everything and safe that you don't start saying "Didn't we just do all this?"

 

[YukonMommy]

I say 5 day's!! This way it gives you 2 days in each park and then 1 day to hit up all your faves!

Have a magical time!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

For a first-timer, 5 days, easily. WDW vets who haven't been to DLR think about size of parks only and not number of attractions. DL and DCA combined have nearly as many attractions as the combination of all parks at WDW. If you've been a few times, 2-3 days is fine, but for someone new, I'd definitely shoot for 5.

 

[TechGuy]

I have been buying 5 day hoppers fro the lat3-4 trips to DLR. It gives you all the flexibility you need to be be able to see everything you want without any stress. We had a goal one trip to ride every attraction in both parks, it was fun meeting our goal and then having time to see the other stuff.

it also allows you to have flexibility in case of crowded parks, cancelled fireworks or overlapping shows.

 

[Comicbookmommy]

For me, I'd go 7 every time! 5 is good, and 3 is bare minimum. But then I have small children, but even when I was single I'd try to go for at least 5 days!

I guess it depends on if you intend to do many sit-down meals (they eat up hours a day) and if you prefer taking your time, or if you're okay getting through everything on a schedule. Remember even though DL is much smaller scale, there is SO MUCH jam packed into every single crevice of the park. So much to see and explore!

No matter what you'll have fun!

 

[HydroGuy]

5 is the max number of days they sell in CA. So get 5 day Park Hoppers and just be done with worrying about it. We found we needed every bit of those 5 days to cover all of both parks to our satisfaction. Anything less would not have allowed us to do it all, and rest enough to enjoy ourselves. Park Hoppers was also a must. I never do them at WDW but with the layout in CA you'll find you treat the 2 parks as 1 big park and will be going back and forth multiple times a day.

Angie - I am interested to hear how your trip went. You were concerned about grad nights dominating your trip and I advised you they would affect you but not dominate things. How did that turn out?

 

[HydroGuy]

Hello all!
Im planning a surprise mom and daughter trip with my dd17 for March/April 2016.

I just booked our suite at Peacock Suites 4-1 to 4-8 I will be adding a day and checking out 4 9 the time share was a fri to fri
We are actually flying into San Dieago 3-29 and spening a few days there first but I wanted to ask how many days should we spend at DL?
We are WDW vets and heard we wouldnt need more then 2-3 days but the WDW planner in me feels we would need 5-6 days. Lol

Please tell me what you think
We will also be getting the LA go card while there for universal and hollywood

I would say 2 days at at DLR feels like about 4 days at WDW. Enough time to hit all the headliners and see a few shows, but not nearly enough time to take most everything in.

3 days at DLR feels like 5-6 days at WDW. Enough time to cover most of the parks and no need to feel extremely rushed. But you know you still missed a lot.

4 days at DLR feels like 7-8 days at WDW. Enough days for a very solid visit, time to stop and smell the roses, and enough time that when you leave you feel like you really experienced a lot without killing yourself.

5 days at DLR feels like 9-10 days at WDW. Enough days to feel like you really enjoyed the resort at a slow pace and did not miss anything you really cared about while also seeing a lot of things you usually would just skip.

The most days I have ever visited DLR is 4. I have done 10 days at WDW on two occasions.

 

[AngiTN]

Angie - I am interested to hear how your trip went. You were concerned about grad nights dominating your trip and I advised you they would affect you but not dominate things. How did that turn out?

They ended up being nothing at all so I'd say they didn't affect us in any way.
We did take 1 of the nights with them off from the parks totally. We rented a cabana at the resort (DLH) and loved it! Had a great time and hope to do that in WDW on our next trip.
The 2 days we went to the parks with the Grads were fine. Maybe we got lucky and the kids we had there at the time were just good kids and always well behaved. But had I not known from the board here that it was Grad nights I probably wouldn't have even picked up on the grads there. Though maybe I would have wondered something just because we saw so many wearing Mickey Grad ears.
But we had no bad language, excessive PDA or mob behavior at all. The most I saw was a few shouts across the crowds when 1 group saw another group they knew.
Crowds wise in general I didn't have much to compare it to, I'm not sure what DL/DCA crowds are like but compared to WDW it was just normal.
Honestly, the busiest day of our entire trip was the last Monday, 6/8. I think some of the local kids were starting to get out of school. DL was way more crowded on this day than on any day with Grad Nights. DCA didn't seem to be as impacted by the crowds on Monday as DL did.

 

[AngiTN]

I would say 2 days at at DLR feels like about 4 days at WDW. Enough time to hit all the headliners and see a few shows, but not nearly enough time to take most everything in.

3 days at DLR feels like 5-6 days at WDW. Enough time to cover most of the parks and no need to feel extremely rushed. But you know you still missed a lot.

4 days at DLR feels like 7-8 days at WDW. Enough days for a very solid visit, time to stop and smell the roses, and enough time that when you leave you feel like you really experienced a lot without killing yourself.

5 days at DLR feels like 9-10 dats at WDW. Enough days to feel like you really enjoyed the resort at a slow pace and did not miss anything you really cared about while also seeing a lot of things you usually would just skip.

The most days I have ever visited DLR is 4. I have done 10 days at WDW on two occasions.

Gosh, this should be in a sticky somewhere (if it's not already)

 

[HydroGuy]

They ended up being nothing at all so I'd say they didn't affect us in any way.
We did take 1 of the nights with them off from the parks totally. We rented a cabana at the resort (DLH) and loved it! Had a great time and hope to do that in WDW on our next trip.
The 2 days we went to the parks with the Grads were fine. Maybe we got lucky and the kids we had there at the time were just good kids and always well behaved. But had I not known from the board here that it was Grad nights I probably wouldn't have even picked up on the grads there. Though maybe I would have wondered something just because we saw so many wearing Mickey Grad ears.
But we had no bad language, excessive PDA or mob behavior at all. The most I saw was a few shouts across the crowds when 1 group saw another group they knew.
Crowds wise in general I didn't have much to compare it to, I'm not sure what DL/DCA crowds are like but compared to WDW it was just normal.
Honestly, the busiest day of our entire trip was the last Monday, 6/8. I think some of the local kids were starting to get out of school. DL was way more crowded on this day than on any day with Grad Nights. DCA didn't seem to be as impacted by the crowds on Monday as DL did.

I am glad everything worked out so nicely for you!

 

[kateandy08096]

I would say 2 days at at DLR feels like about 4 days at WDW. Enough time to hit all the headliners and see a few shows, but not nearly enough time to take most everything in.

3 days at DLR feels like 5-6 days at WDW. Enough time to cover most of the parks and no need to feel extremely rushed. But you know you still missed a lot.

4 days at DLR feels like 7-8 days at WDW. Enough days for a very solid visit, time to stop and smell the roses, and enough time that when you leave you feel like you really experienced a lot without killing yourself.

5 days at DLR feels like 9-10 days at WDW. Enough days to feel like you really enjoyed the resort at a slow pace and did not miss anything you really cared about while also seeing a lot of things you usually would just skip.

The most days I have ever visited DLR is 4. I have done 10 days at WDW on two occasions.

Thats perfect! I think we will buy the 5 day but go at our own pace. Ive done 12 at WDW last year but that was for our honeymoon and included 3 days at food and wine fest alone