How many days??

[jandm]

We are planning a trip to Disneyland and San Diego. We will be there for 8 nights and I'm trying to decide between 5 nights at Disneyland and 3 nights in San Diego or do 4 at each. Our kids will be 12, 9 & 5 at the time of our trip. If we did 5 nights at Disneyland that would give us 3 full park days plus a swim day in between, yet I don't want to feel like we are cutting our time short in San Diego. Any suggestions?

 

[sonnyjane]

What attractions are you planning to hit in San Diego?

 

[jandm]

We for sure are doing SeaWorld, the beach, and a whale/dolphin tour (which is only a couple hours) so we may do the zoo after that.

 

[HydroGuy]

I would vote for 4 days each.

 

[sonnyjane]

We for sure are doing SeaWorld, the beach, and a whale/dolphin tour (which is only a couple hours) so we may do the zoo after that.

I work at the zoo, so knowing all that it entails, you need a full day to see it. If the whale tour is only a few hours, that might be a good beach day. Sea World is also a full day - so that's three full days right there of activity. When will you be traveling? Whale season is only from late December to early April. If you're going during those times, I highly recommend these guys with whom I used to work: http://www.flagshipsd.com/harbor-tours. If you're not going during whale season, they don't offer the whale tours but they still offer a harbor tour where you will see sea lions and likely a few dolphins.

I'm leaning toward telling you to split your trip 4/4 so that you don't have to rush here in San Diego. 4 days at Disneyland is a good number and you won't need a full day for pool time, you can just swim for an hour or two during a break from the parks.

 

[jandm]

I work at the zoo, so knowing all that it entails, you need a full day to see it. If the whale tour is only a few hours, that might be a good beach day. Sea World is also a full day - so that's three full days right there of activity. When will you be traveling? Whale season is only from late December to early April. If you're going during those times, I highly recommend these guys with whom I used to work: http://www.flagshipsd.com/harbor-tours. If you're not going during whale season, they don't offer the whale tours but they still offer a harbor tour where you will see sea lions and likely a few dolphins.

I'm leaning toward telling you to split your trip 4/4 so that you don't have to rush here in San Diego. 4 days at Disneyland is a good number and you won't need a full day for pool time, you can just swim for an hour or two during a break from the parks.

We were planning on fall time. I was looking at the Adventure R.I.B. whale/dolphin tours..it looks like a blast and it says they guarantee whale/dolphin sightings year round. I looked them up on Trip Advisor and they had 100% positive ratings. I better go back and look at their website to make sure it said year round sightings.
I was thinking the same thing about a pool day at DL...like you said, the kids can swim for a couple hours here and there. Thanks!!

 

[Hound 109]

No matter how you decide to split it......

I completely agree that you should (could) do a 1-2 hour "pool day" each day. Depending on where you stay, you can throw a rock from the pool & hit an attraction in DLR. (or vice versa) Plus....the time of day that you'd be swimming (mid afternoon) is the time of day that DL starts to get crowded.

DLR is nothing like WDW. Park hop each day. Take a pool (nap) break each day. Use your Central Time Zone body clock to enjoy the productive early morning hours in uncrowded bliss (each day).

If you haven't read thru Hydroguy's & MaryJo's tip threads, i recommend that you do so. Here are some good threads to review for the DLR newbie with kids:

HydroGuy's DLR for the WDW veteran tip thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599


Also, lots of good info in Mary Jo's tip thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084


Regarding touring DLR....the two most important things to remember is to:

- Get to the parks BEFORE opening &
- Know how to use FP at DLR.

30 minutes early is typically when security opens (so getting in THIS line 5-15 minutes prior to security opening is best). Being one of the first 8-10 families at Security will get you up front (probably first thru third family) in line at the DL turnstile. Being very near the front of the turnstiles is important (to me) so that:

- For MM I'm first on Peter Pan...if i'm first on PP then the rest of MM flows easily. & even if i'm not doing PP, i would want to be first on Matterhorn...or SM (or whatever) during MM.

"Critique of MM/EE" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392671


- Even on a non MM day, I want to be one of the first few the turnstiles so i can get to SM (or Indy) FP machine first (to start the FP collection clock). Then we'll hop on our first ride a minute or two later & begin the important first 90-120 min. of the day at DLR.



Read & Know these FP & Touring Tip Threads:

"Getting the Most Out of FastPass During High Season"

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885132


"FastPass for Dummies and Smarties - A Photographic Explanation"

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1186052


"Why I Park Hop" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1491961


If you have kiddos ages 4-11, then Jedi Training is a must:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1478699

.

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[jandm]

No matter how you decide to split it......

I completely agree that you should (could) do a 1-2 hour "pool day" each day. Depending on where you stay, you can throw a rock from the pool & hit an attraction in DLR. (or vice versa) Plus....the time of day that you'd be swimming (mid afternoon) is the time of day that DL starts to get crowded.

DLR is nothing like WDW. Park hop each day. Take a pool (nap) break each day. Use your Central Time Zone body clock to enjoy the productive early morning hours in uncrowded bliss (each day).

If you haven't read thru Hydroguy's & MaryJo's tip threads, i recommend that you do so. Here are some good threads to review for the DLR newbie with kids:




Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

Awesome! Thanks so much for all the info! I will read through it all --lots of helpful tips!

 

[HydroGuy]

Hound FYI - your links are mixed up. The first one that claims to go to the DLR Guide goes to your JTA thread.

OP, here are links to the first two that I think Hound intended:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Second there is Mary Jo's sticky thread: * DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!

No matter how you decide to split it......

I completely agree that you should (could) do a 1-2 hour "pool day" each day. Depending on where you stay, you can throw a rock from the pool & hit an attraction in DLR. (or vice versa) Plus....the time of day that you'd be swimming (mid afternoon) is the time of day that DL starts to get crowded.

DLR is nothing like WDW. Park hop each day. Take a pool (nap) break each day. Use your Central Time Zone body clock to enjoy the productive early morning hours in uncrowded bliss (each day).

If you haven't read thru Hydroguy's & MaryJo's tip threads, i recommend that you do so. Here are some good threads to review for the DLR newbie with kids:




Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks Hydroguy......I need to take a cutting and pasting refresher course.

I'll try to fix it.

OP....you'll have lots of good info to digest....come back & ask away with new questions after you review.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks Hydroguy......I need to take a cutting and pasting refresher course.

I'll try to fix it.

OP....you'll have lots of good info to digest....come back & ask away with new questions after you review.

Well, there is an "Edit" menu at the top of your screen to the left. Below that there are menu items that say Cut, Copy and Paste. You go the original link and you...

 

[jandm]

So if we get a fastpass for World of Color can we still get other fast passes that day? Silly question, I'm sure, but I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly.
Also, is fall a good time to visit? The kids have a few days off the middle of Oct. Everyone says there is no "off-season" anymore, but hopefully it wouldn't be as crowded as spring break or summer. Thanks again for all the advice, I'm taking notes!

 

[oumagic]

So if we get a fastpass for World of Color can we still get other fast passes that day? Silly question, I'm sure, but I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly.
Also, is fall a good time to visit? The kids have a few days off the middle of Oct. Everyone says there is no "off-season" anymore, but hopefully it wouldn't be as crowded as spring break or summer. Thanks again for all the advice, I'm taking notes!

We like going in the fall, but you do need to be aware that also has drawbacks like more closed rides and reduced hours and entertainment. World of Color fastpasses are not connected to other fastpasses and Calif Adventure is not connected to Disneyland fastpasses either. FWIW, my kids get two weeks off in fall and we like traveling to DL then better than summer because we travel to see family in the summer and would rather be there during pool season than cold season. We did a fall trip to San Diego a few years ago and also had fun. We did not think 3 days was enough though so I would vote for 4 and 4 between the two.

 

[jandm]

We like going in the fall, but you do need to be aware that also has drawbacks like more closed rides and reduced hours and entertainment. World of Color fastpasses are not connected to other fastpasses and Calif Adventure is not connected to Disneyland fastpasses either. FWIW, my kids get two weeks off in fall and we like traveling to DL then better than summer because we travel to see family in the summer and would rather be there during pool season than cold season. We did a fall trip to San Diego a few years ago and also had fun. We did not think 3 days was enough though so I would vote for 4 and 4 between the two.

Thanks! Glad to hear you had fun in San Diego as well. I'm leaning towards the 4 and 4...that would give us 3 full park days. I'm not counting the day we arrive, as our flight probably won't get in until late afternoon --by the time we get to the hotel we will have dinner and maybe swim for a couple hours. That would give us a full 3 1/2 days in San Diego. How was the weather when you were there? We just don't want to be hot...we went to WDW last May and it was over 90 degrees the whole week...not fun! I'm assuming Oct in CA will be much cooler!

 

[oumagic]

We were there the week of 9/19 last year and it was chilly. We are from AZ so we were in sweatshirts during much of the day. We did do some water rides and then change clothes. The kids got into the pool a few times, but I stuck to the hot tub. They got blasted with a heat wave shortly after we left. We have done fall in CA 3 years straight and love the weather. Warm enough for shorts and short-sleeve shirts during the heat of the day but chilly enough for light jackets in morning and evening. I think last year was just a little cooler than normal.

 

[sonnyjane]

For October in Anaheim your average high is 74, average low 59.

 

[jandm]

That sounds perfect!

 

[HydroGuy]

So if we get a fastpass for World of Color can we still get other fast passes that day? Silly question, I'm sure, but I just want to make sure I'm understanding correctly.

Yes. See "World of Color Superthread" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37986447

Also, is fall a good time to visit? The kids have a few days off the middle of Oct. Everyone says there is no "off-season" anymore, but hopefully it wouldn't be as crowded as spring break or summer. Thanks again for all the advice, I'm taking notes!

Good time for what? Low crowds? Warm weather? Cool weather? Minimal rides being refurbed? Maximum entertainment? Lower cost?

IMO Fall is a good time to visit DLR for frequent visitors but a poor time for less frequent visitors.

It really depends on your priorities and the mix of people in your group. Small children? Teens? Grandparents? Mobility issues?

See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889