How many days do I really need at Disneyland?

mrsincredible3

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Planning to go in the spring break time (so fairly busy time) frame with dh, ds8 and ds3. How many days do I really need to see both parks? Ds3 won't be 40 inches yet so we will be utilizing fastpass and rider switch as much as we can. Have been to wdw twice but this is our first trip to the Land . We don't plan to see any night show or fireworks (I don't think my kids will make it up happily that late) but we will do afternoon parades at both parks. This year we did magic kingdom at wdw in 1.5 days. We are pretty efficient movers in the parks, arrive before rope drop and leave around dinner time. I was not planning to do hopper tickets as I think there will be plenty to do in each park without hopping. I was thinking one very full day for DCA and two full days for DL (by full I mean rope drop till about 5pm, like a work day, without the extended evening portion). Does this seem like enough time? Our last day will be a morning at DL and leaving by 1pm. Planning to stay on property so we will use emh every day. Can we see most of DL in 1.5 days? I want enough time to not feel too rushed but I also don't want to see everything and still have one or more days remaining there. Any thoughts appreciated, thanks. I have five days to play with on our itinerary.....
 
If you're there for 5 days, do 4 days in the parks and take 1 day off in between. So 2 days back to back at the parks, then take a day off to rest, then 2 more days at the parks.
 
We also do 5 days on our trips when the whole family goes. Our last trip it was just DH and I and we did 3 park days and a DTD day with breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen.
 

We did 3 last time and it wasn't nearly enough. And those were 3 full days (rope drop until park close at 12) Everything took so much longer than anticipated. The lines were long, for rides, characters, shows, food, etc. We had two 5 year olds that easily made it to the fireworks, fantasmic, WOC, then fell asleep in the strollers leaving grown up time for looking through the the shops, single rider, etc. we're back in 3 weeks and have about 7 days this time so we can't wait to do the million things we missed last year.
 
We go every year for 5 days and never have enough time to see it all. We skip fireworks, F!, and parades (unless it happens to be going when we are in the area) and there are still things I've never done. Now there are rides we repeat multiple times per trip. Keep in mind that between DL and DCA there are about that same amount of rides as all of WDW.
 
If you are on site, it would be a shame not to take advantage of an afternoon break. I like to be out of the parks from 2-5. I would strongly advise to consider naps and spending some time in the parks in the evening, even if you don't watch the fireworks, the park is beautiful as dusk falls, and the night is magical. 3 days is the minimum time to try and digest the parks.
 
We did 4 days. Rope drop (9 am) to 8ish every night (park closed at 10). 17 month old napped in stroller and fell asleep in it at 7ish each night but we didn't missed several attractions. Going again for 3.5 days and know we will miss a bunch of stuff. I recommend park hoppers at DLR. the parks are right next to each other and we go back and forth multiple times a day for shows and parades
 
We do 10 days in the parks out of, usually, a 14 day stay. I find that this is perfect for us. It's just enough to do all that we want to do, eat all that we want to eat, and see all that we want to see. We don't feel rushed and we usually skip any really busy days as we have the 4 days extra in our stay.
 
Honestly the answer to this is pretty subjective. There's no magic number. It depends on your touring style, stamina and crowd tolerance. We just got back from a 3 day hopper trip. We did not come close to doing everything but we did most of what we wanted and our favorites twice. We don't do any late night shows and were back to the hotel by 9 each night. Bed by ten. In line for rope drop by 6 thirty am. That's the most important tip I can give you! Those first few hours were the most productive. Oh, we also took afternoon hotel breaks every day from about 2-4 or 5. It was hot and really crowded and the kids were tired from waking at 6 so we needed that break. Have a great trip whatever you decide.
 
I grew up in Southern California, and had a Disneyland pass most of my life. I'm not there anymore, but we just took a trip this past May (after all the Spring Breaks) for 3 days. I would definitely advise taking longer if you can, especially if you have never been. This was supposed to be an "off" week, and it was still pretty busy. And I am still thinking of things we missed or didn't get around to riding. Also, because things aren't as spread out as they are in WDW, the crowds feel a lot heavier sometimes. I do think you are right that park hoppers are nice to have, but not necessary at Disneyland since there is tons to do at both parks. I agree with the other poster that even if you aren't planning on doing many night events, I would take a day to rest in your hotel in the afternoon and then go back out around dusk. It is just so beautiful and like a totally different park to me.
 
we always do 5 days and wish we had more time. 1.5 is not near enough. I always suggest 5 days but if you can not do that do the 4 days and one day off. We are having a day off in the middle of our trip this time and we are not starting the day we arrive. To make the trip last longer and be able to do some down time things. Also to be fresh and ready when we start our first day.
 
We did 3 days this time. We felt rushed and didn't get everything done (though the things we skipped were mostly of the "oh, yes, let's ride this again and again" type). We did 4 days in the past and had time to spare (though it helped that we stayed at DLH and got the early admission). I'm seconding the VandVsmama's tip from the post above. Usually we didn't do much on the 4th day (which is why we only did 3 days this time), but that was partially due to exhaustion, so to have a break day between two park days each would have helped.
 
I think it also depends on how you look at visiting the parks. Many first timers look feel they must "do everything" and then they're done. After you visit, you find that doing everything isn't the end-all. You find you really want to stay in the "magic" and keep experiencing those things.
It's not as much like being on a long vacation and being ready to go home at the end.
Hope that makes sense.
 
I will be at Disneyland for 7 days in August/September ( staying at the Disneyland Hotel for 4 nights) then moving to the anaheim marriott ( for the disneyland half marathon). I plan to go to the parks in the morning, have lunch in the parks then back to the Disneyland hotel in the afternoon to swim in the pools then head back to the parks towards sunset/evening. I might go to Knotts Berry farm or go to Long Beach on one of the days and also got a couple of evening events ( the Disneyland HM 10th anniversary party and the Pasta in the Park party
 
For us 7 days is ideal, though they don't seem to sell the 7-day hoppers in Canada or the US anymore. This year we're doing 5 + 1, we bought 5 day hoppers (then realized it wasn't going to be enough, and added 1 more). We can easily do 2 days in each park just for rides, then a few days just wandering, doing shows, fireworks, etc.
 
This is such a great question. We are WDW vets and always spend 12 to 14 days there and have been 15 times. This april will be our first time heading to Disneyland. I thought for us (myself and my 17 yo) we could get it done in 4 days but now thinking may want 5 but will be in CA for 11 days 2 days for travel 2 days in San Diego the rest in disney and other CA things
 
We did 5 days and found Disneyland took us 3 full days to see everything we wanted to and California Adventure only took a day and a half btu then we're not big rollercoaster/fast ride fans so it would probably have been longer if we did all those as well
 
We typically get 4 day park hoppers for our family of 4 (now 5, but we haven't made the trip with our baby in tow, yet). We could see the parks in less time than that, but the 4 day hoppers allow us time to have a mid-day rest. It really makes all the difference in the world for us. I assumed for our last trip, with one child being almost 9, and one being 5, we wouldn't need the mid-day nap, but boy, was I surprised when my 5 year old ASKED for one! We would typically arrive around 9:30 ish, which was pretty much rope drop, because it was January, and later opening times, then we'd be ready for a break by 2:00 pm, head back to the hotel for a nap, a swim, and some pizza, and then come back into the park around 5 or 5:30. This worked really well, because we didn't miss any of the incredible night time entertainment, and were all well rested enough to really enjoy it. Besides WOC and Fantasmic, there's a Pixar parade which is incredible at DCA at dusk, and I've heard really incredible things about the new PTN parade, and Disneyland Forever Fireworks, though we haven't seen them yet.

As far as Park Hoppers go, I would reconsider that as well. Park Hopping at Disneyland is a lot different (and more convenient) than park hopping at WDW. The two resorts are literally right next door to each other, and it's almost more like one park with an atrium in the middle (albeit totally separate theming). There's no hassle of transportation, and waiting for trams, etc. It's actually really nice to be able to be bop back and forth. Especially if you are able to see WOC in the evening at DCA. It's definitely an increase in cost, but for me, it's worth the increase to have options, and the style of touring we do is much like that.

At WDW, we prefer to have at LEAST a full 7 days in the park, and we utilize the hoppers there, as well, mostly because, as I said, I prefer options. If I had to choose, though I could easily survive without hoppers at WDW, but would never go without hoppers at DL.

I don't think you can really have "too many days." When we went to DL the first time, having only been to WDW, I thought even 2 full days would be overkill (and this was before the DCA expansion), size wise, it was so much smaller, I just knew we'd see it all in two days. But, honestly, it just wasn't even close to enough. And that was with an 18 month old only! The 4 days work well for us. We live about 10 hours away, and drive. We usually arrive around 2:00 pm Cali time, and so our first day is a 3:00-close kind of day. But the next three are full days. And while that's a good number for us, we could easily spend another day (or even 2) to fit everything in. We usually go during slower times too, if you're going during a busier season, I think you will want more than 1.5 days at DL. No matter what you decide, you'll have an incredible time, though, have fun!
 
If you did the MK in 1.5 days you will need 2.5 - 3 days just for Disneyland Park. Add 1 - 2 days for DCA and you will need 4 -5 days.
 


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