How Many Days?

[Mickey527]

I am planning a trip to Ca for some time in Feb or April of 2010.
My son is in the Marines and just got stationed at Miramar near San Diego and he called and asked if I would come and visit. Of course I will. Then he asked "Can we go to DL?
I will probably stay on base housing for a few days and see some of the sites around the base, then I was thinking of using some of my DVC points and getting a room at Grand Californian so we can do DL.
I am a frequent visitor to WDW and know you need at least 4-5 days but have never been to DL.
We also have talked about getting to Sea World. What else should we see in the area?
He probably will get 3-4 days off.

 

[HydroGuy]

Sounds like fun! I am trying to picture a young marine telling his mother (or father ) "I want to go to Disneyland with you".

"Disneyland" is kind of used interchangably to mean the DL theme park or the whole resort known as "Disneyland Resort". The short form "DL" is more often meant to refer to the park itself. I hope you get to visit the whole resort. See "Disneyland Resort Lingo for Newbies" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2214012

If you had more days I would give the conventional answer that three days at DLR is considered the minimum and four is better. However in your case I would be inclinded to suggest 2 or maybe 2 1/2 days. That will give you time to visit Sea World and see more of SoCal.

Be aware that if your trip approaches April then early April is Spring Break for many and will be quite busy (like WDW). Late April is quieter but that has drawbacks - see "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889.

January-April will have the whole Rivers of America drained and hence Fantasmic will be down, as will all the ROA attractions. If Disney makes its schedule late April will see the grand opening of a major new show at DCA. See Al Lutz - New DLR Prez, World of Color to open April 24, Passes needed to see WoC?

There is of course lots of other things to do. Maybe visit the beach in La Jolla in San Diego? Too cold to go in the water but a beautiful spot. Or got to Mission San Juan Capistrano in San Clemente?

 

[Mickey527]

Sounds like fun! I am trying to picture a young marine telling his mother (or father ) "I want to go to Disneyland with you".

thanks for the tips, keep them coming if you have any more to share. I will try and go there after April so we can see more, want to see Fantasmic in CA. I was hoping we could do a day at DL and a day at California Adventure and maybe a day to go back and do whatever we liked or might have missed. So I do want to go during a slower time. Sea World is no biggie, but I do want to see other places in CA. I did read about La Jolla, and a few museums from a search I did on the 10 best things to see in the San Diego area. I also thought it would be fun to drive down to Mexico along the border for a day but he is not allowed to leave the country so I might do that on my own. Love the pottery and stuff I found at a little town on the Texas border a few years ago.
As to my son wanting to go to DL with me, well... He is not that young, he is 26. He went into the Marines later, I wanted him to go to college first since I worked at one and he got tuition free. I really didn't want him to go into the service and thought he would change his mind after college.
He and his brothers have been going to WDW with me almost every year since he was 4 and I was newly divorced. they know they can have a great time with their mom, plus, I will pay for everything, he won't have to buy a thing. Imagine a young Marine getting a free trip to DL. Plus, I buy him beer.

 

[JustAKid]

Sounds like fun! I am trying to picture a young marine telling his mother (or father ) "I want to go to Disneyland with you".

thanks for the tips, keep them coming if you have any more to share. I will try and go there after April so we can see more, want to see Fantasmic in CA. I was hoping we could do a day at DL and a day at California Adventure and maybe a day to go back and do whatever we liked or might have missed. So I do want to go during a slower time. Sea World is no biggie, but I do want to see other places in CA. I did read about La Jolla, and a few museums from a search I did on the 10 best things to see in the San Diego area. I also thought it would be fun to drive down to Mexico along the border for a day but he is not allowed to leave the country so I might do that on my own. Love the pottery and stuff I found at a little town on the Texas border a few years ago.
As to my son wanting to go to DL with me, well... He is not that young, he is 26. He went into the Marines later, I wanted him to go to college first since I worked at one and he got tuition free. I really didn't want him to go into the service and thought he would change his mind after college.
He and his brothers have been going to WDW with me almost every year since he was 4 and I was newly divorced. they know they can have a great time with their mom, plus, I will pay for everything, he won't have to buy a thing. Imagine a young Marine getting a free trip to DL. Plus, I buy him beer.

Will you be my mommy?

 

[mcmom]

As a member of the armed forces he can get in free to Sea World as well as 3 family members. He can also get discounted Disney tickets at MWR-ITT on base as well as discount tickets to most things here in So Cal. If he has not used his free Disney ticket yet he can get a multiday ticket free as well as buy 3 day tickets for cheap. DL does not take days to get through like WDW. It is a small park and as long as it is not a holiday or a special occasion (the halloween stuff going on right now) it should not be to bad. We can ride all rides in DL in a day plus hop over to CA and ride the hand full of rides we like there in just a 1/2 day. I know some people like to go slowly and see every detail but when you are short on time it can be done and you will still have fun. It takes about an hour and a half from Miramar. Easy drive up the 5. Enjoy your time with him.

 

[HydroGuy]

I was hoping we could do a day at DL and a day at California Adventure and maybe a day to go back and do whatever we liked or might have missed. So I do want to go during a slower time.

FWIW, the "one day one park" thinking often associated with WDW does not translate very well at DLR. Parkhopping is a different animal at DLR. We have never parkhopped at WDW and at DLR we do virtually every day and sometimes 2, 3 or 4 times!

See "Why I ParkHop at DLR" by Hound 109 www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961

I would say if your young but not so young marine can get time off in May that will be as perfect as you can get as far as moderate crowds and having the shows and rides be out of refurb. Plus WoC should be going by then - although it will be a zoo - and not like the zoo they have in San Diego!