How many days?

[TinkBride]

Hi!

I am a veteran WDW visitor and planning a trip to DL. We are planning to visit DL for the 1st time!

My question is how many days do you recommend for visiting both parks? I was thinking 3 - but I want to make sure we have time to see it ALL!

I am so psyched!

 

[mystic_path]

If you want to go at a non rushed pace and see it all I would recommend nothing less then 3. I would say like 4-5 days. Even when you rush, you can barely see it in 2 days. Everything is so compact in DL and DCA that there is no commuting like WDW which saves you loads of time. There are more rides at DL but more shows at WDW. So its a toss up. But there is still TONS to see non the less.

Remember that the fireworks and Fantasmic and all the other bigger shows only play on weekends (Starting Fridays)

 

[TinkBride]

Oh wow - I had no idea about the shows - thank you for that piece of info!

So, can you walk from DL to DCA?

I think we may go ahead and plan on 4 days - I don't want to miss any of Walt's original magic!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Oh wow - I had no idea about the shows - thank you for that piece of info!

So, can you walk from DL to DCA?

I think we may go ahead and plan on 4 days - I don't want to miss any of Walt's original magic!

Yes, it's a short walk (just minutes) from the gates of DL to the gates of DCA. So much different than WDW. It's also a short distance (walking) to DTD which has some nice restaurants (CS and TS) as well as some interesting stores. I love WDW but DLR has my heart. Have fun!

 

[mystic_path]

Yeah the Main Entrance to DL and DCA are facing each other. Its like you walk out of the one park and your directly looking at the next. The walk to each park is about a minute.

The great thing about both parks is that they are basically connected to Down Town Disney as well. You can stand in the plaza entrance between both parks and look beside you and stare at DTD. Everything is so compact. Its amazing.

I would say good choice on 4 days. You really dont want to miss anything.

Also if your looking into hotels... I would suggest an off site hotel. There are plenty of close and cheaper ones (even closer then resort hotels) to the main entrance. I personally love the Howard Johnson and Tropicana. (5 Minute walk to the main gates of DL quite ltierally) Others that are just as close could be Park Vue Inn, Carousel, Ramada Main Gate at the Park, and Candy Cane Inn.

If you stay at one of the resort hotels, then there is a monorail that will take you right to the park.

I would suggest looking at hotels on "Harbor". Look up Disneyland hotel maps and look for harbor and it will show you which hotels are available.

Good Luck!

 

[goofycathy]

We always do 5 days....plenty of time to see things more than once...

 

[S. S. Columbia]

This wikimap will help give you a lay of the Land...

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8090029&lon=-117.9187864&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2

 

[RanCan]

I agree with the above posters... 3 days minimum and that would be at a leisurely pace. In one day at DCA you ought to be able to do and see everything. Two days at DL ought to be good. I have been to both numerous times but spend most of my time going to the same places, same rides and same restaurants. I am a SoCal local so I do both parks in one day. I feel rushed each time I go. It would be sooo nice to be able to just wander around with no timetable and just soak it all in. To be able to see and do all the things that the parks have to offer would be great.

Good luck on your trip...Our family is going back again next week for two days......woo hoo!!!!