How many days in DL??

[Hound 109]

Thanks,
My children are 8 5 and 18 mos (he will be by then anyway).

I think we will drive up enter the park for a little big, then take a nap break and go back in for the evening.

I do not know what we will do the last day.

That's a great plan, Mommy26.

Not only does it make for a less stressful visit (& fewer late afternoon meltdowns).....DLR is typically more crowded in the afternoon than in the morning. So you can zig when others are zagging.

Plus early in the morning you can ride rides with fewer lines (especially in FantasyLand)....but also pick up FPs for rides you'll use that evening. (when it's crowded). Some of the FPs are for more adult rides, but some (like Buzz & Autopia) would be good to have in your pocket for evening touring.

Where are you staying Mommy26 (curious since you are mentioning an afternoon break)?

 

[mariezp]

I have to agree with Mrs. Bee. For us there is no such thing as too many days. I suppose we feel that way because we only go once a year and spend all year long dreaming Disneyland. We spend an average of 10 days. Now I know many folks get bored after just a few days but I don't go commando style. I rather enjoy taking in EVERYTHING and then doing it all over again. We usually include a tour and all the shows and having plenty of days allows us to do it all without feeling so rushed. We sleep in a bit and also always take about a 3 hour break in the mid afternoon so we are not there from sun up until closing time.

If I had to settle on 3 days I would come away feeling like I had not gotten my Disneyland fix! Of course, I realize the majority of folks would never care to spend the number of days our Disney crazy family does.

 

[honeymom]

We always like to spend part of the day by the pool, so 5 days would not be too many.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Our last trip was 7 nights and 8 days and it was by far our best trip yet. We were able to relax and enjoy our hotel and pool each day. Our 1st family trip was 4 nights and 5 days. My 6yo cried on the car ride back to the airport. He just didn't want to leave DL.

Our subsequent trips have been 6-8 days, with a short 3 day trip last summer. We do enter the parks on our arrival and departure date as we have APs, unless it's a blackout day. Our trip in Aug will be only 3-5 days since we'll be doing the grand canyon as well.

 

[LindaOwl1]

We (me, DH, DGD 5) just got back from 8 nights, 9 days and it was just right! We spent the first day (arrived afternoon) checking out the hotel (DLH - lots to look at!) and geting oriented with DTD & the entrances. On the longer weekend days, we went early, napped or swam, returned (fastpasses in hand) for evening parades, fireworks, shows, etc. On shorter days, we just stayed through. With so many days, I did not panic when it rained all day on Sunday, or when we had to wait around for a doctor for DGD's virus, because I knew there were lots more days left. It was especially nice to have 2+ early entry days for DL so we did not have to choose between FL & Nemo. Since we are on the east coast, we usually do WDW, and had not been to DL in 20 years, so I really wanted to do EVERYTHING! And we almost did - did not make the canoes, and a couple things were closed, but I felt we came close. Also rode the rides not found in WDW and a couple DGD's favorites more than once, and took a couple of tours. The last day, we went to DL for early AM, went back to the hotel to check-out, still got to swim, went back to DL for a few last rides, and took the red-eye home at 10PM! I would suggest (if possible) planning for enough days to allow for something to go wrong, or for everyone needing time out to rest.