How many days to spend at Disneyland?

[Planogirl]

We are planning to go on our first trip to Disneyland late this year and I'm starting preliminary planning. I was thinking of spending some time at the Disney parks, maybe spending another day exploring Hollywood and so forth, and then heading down to San Diego for the rest of the trip. But I'm uncertain of how much time to allow for Disneyland? I was thinking of two complete days for the original park and one day for California Adventure, the Disney resorts and so forth. Does that seem reasonable?

Also, would a hotel at Disneyland be a good base of operations for any touring of Hollywood & other areas or would it be wiser to move to another hotel? That would make three hotels (including the one in San Diego) and that's a lot of moving!

Thanks!

 

[supercarrie]

I think two days at DL and one at DCA would be enough time. Maybe one more day if you want to see everything including the resorts and Downtown Disney (depends on what time of year you go - if the parks close early you could visit the hotels/DD at night.) About the hotel, if you are only going to spend one day in Hollywood, I think you could stay in Anaheim and make the drive back up to LA, but if you are going to spend two or more days there I would consider getting a hotel room in the Hollywood area.

 

[LuvTigger]

3 days total sounds good for both parks. We spent 4 days in October and it was very nice and leisurely. Hollywood is about a 45 min.-1 hour drive, depending on traffic. We usually just stay around Anaheim to avoid having to move to another hotel. For San Diego, it would be best to stay in the area. San Diego is about a 1 1/2 hour drive each way, so it would be difficult to commute. San Diego is a nice area too, lots of nice things to see and do in the area.

 

[darner]

If you get a package through Disney Travel Co. or AAA, you could qualify for a bonus attraction depending on the length of your stay... These bonuses include tours of Hollywood/LA, Universal City, Knotts Berry Farms, Hollywood at night, even Catalina Island, Legoland, San Diego Zoo / Wild Animal Park, etc. All are easily reached from a home base at a Disneyland Hotel. A shuttle picks you up at the hotel to take you on the tour.

Even if you don't get a package, an organized tour of Hollywood would probably be fun and relaxing... more so than you driving yourself, trying to maneuver through traffic, find parking, and see the sights by yourself... The tours hit all the highlights: Chinese Theatre, Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Bev. Hills, etc.
Plus, the tour guides are always fun to listen to when they're telling you the legends of which stars live where, etc.

We did DLR (4-1/2 days - including 1 day tour of Stars Home in Hollywood) and then drove down to San Diego for 2-1/2 more... Of course there's never ENOUGH time when you're enjoying a Disney Vacation!!!!

 

[WDWfanatic288]

we've been 2 times and have done 3 days
it works out really well!

the next trip we are going for about a week going to DL.DCA, hollywood and san Diego

i think a week for all of it! maybe a bit longer

 

[teri]

Well, after this week, I would say that 5 days is about the minimum if you REALLY want to have a great vacation. Downtown Disney and the resorts have so much to offer... if you are into dining and soaking in the atmosphere, really appreciating the attractions, then quite honestly I think the DLR is coming close to being a great destination resort, not just a great theme park with a few hotels attached. The only major drawback here is that they have underestimated people's need for local transportation between the resorts and the parks, and Downtown Disney. They really, truly need more trams or shuttles, or a truly functional peoplemover system throughout the resorts, DD, and DCA.

On the other hand, if all you are doing is going into the parks, eating whatever will tide you over rather than dining in the great restaurants, and not really spending time relaxing and enjoying the place, a couple of days would probably seems like enough.