How Many Nights at DL?

[ct7878]

We will be traveling from Florida the first week of February with my family of 4- myself and DH, DS18 and DS 15 months. The baby is creating a bit of a wild card for me. Right now, we have a split stay booked with 2 night at Paradise Pier followed by 2 night at DLH. We have 3 days booked for the parks (1 at DCA, 2 at DL)

I still have to make hotel plans for our final night- this is actually two full days to be planned as we do have a 11 pm red eye flight home.

Options are:
- extend our DLH stay and have a resort day (although not sure if there is enough for a whole day). On departure day, rent car and explore a bit - maybe around Malibu or Huntington Beach so I can get my Hulu pie fix from Dukes.
- get a hotel by SoCal beach- preferably a Marriott as I have status, and could do a 4 pm checkout which would be nice since we have a redeye flight
- travel north a bit - up to Ventura or Santa Barbara for the night. DS18, loves road trips. Without the baby, this would be the choice for our family, hands down - but traveling with a little one does make things a bit different.

Would welcome anyone’s thoughts or feedback - especially those with littles. This trip is really for the 18 year old (it’s surprise for his birthday). He loves exploring out of way places, nature, finding large stick () . Loved Muir Woods more than San Francisco. Iceland was his favorite vacation just give you a sense of him - cities are not really his thing. Really want to make this a special trip for him but also keep the baby happy- because if he isn’t, no one is going to enjoy the time!

 

[Pluto468]

I'm sure you could find enough to do for one more resort day, especially if you are taking breaks with the baby.

Where are you flying out of? The drive to Malibu and back to SNA would be long on a travel day.

If you are doing another night somewhere besides Disneyland..... I used to live in Ventura and it's nice but if your son likes wild areas I bet he would like the Malibu mountains (hills?). We used to hike there all the time. Also there are some nice beaches in Malibu that are not as crowded as Santa Monica or Venice. Santa Barbara is pretty.

There is a really nice park in Santa Monica called Will Rogers state park. They have nice walking trails up into the mountains. It's very unique.

 

[ct7878]

Thanks- we are flying in and out of LAX. Would have liked to gone into SNA but LAX is our only direct option from Orlando and direct was key with the baby.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

So we are actually considering heading to CA instead of our London trip this year (haven’t made the call yet) and we have been discussing it…4-5 days is a definite because we’d want to spend one whole day in Avengers Campus

 

[gottalovepluto]

So we are actually considering heading to CA instead of our London trip this year (haven’t made the call yet) and we have been discussing it…4-5 days is a definite because we’d want to spend one whole day in Avengers Campus

I’m kinda in shock anyone can spend one whole day in AC. You’ve reviewed its offerings right?

Personally I love 4-5 day DLR trips. Plenty of time to take it slow, take breaks, redo favorite rides, etc so the 4-5 day timeframe I totally get.

 

[Chickinvic]

I have had as much as 8 days park hoppers in the past and never once got bored. You will have plenty to do for another day.

 

[Timandalicia]

I am tempted to say Huntington Beach. Maybe even surf lessons for the 18 y.o. Play on the beach with the little one (I don't know how mucked up the beach is right now though). We are doing a similar trip in March and staying in Santa Monica for part of the trip. You gotta go to the beach when you go to Cali. Right?

 

[Chickinvic]

I’m kinda in shock anyone can spend one whole day in AC. You’ve reviewed its offerings right?

Personally I love 4-5 day DLR trips. Plenty of time to take it slow, take breaks, redo favorite rides, etc so the 4-5 day timeframe I totally get.

I park hop every day at DL. They are so close to each other, I can't imagine not hopping.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

I’m kinda in shock anyone can spend one whole day in AC. You’ve reviewed its offerings right?

Personally I love 4-5 day DLR trips. Plenty of time to take it slow, take breaks, redo favorite rides, etc so the 4-5 day timeframe I totally get.

I agree. I'm a huge super hero fan and I couldn't imagine spending an entire day in Avengers Campus.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I’m kinda in shock anyone can spend one whole day in AC. You’ve reviewed its offerings right?

Personally I love 4-5 day DLR trips. Plenty of time to take it slow, take breaks, redo favorite rides, etc so the 4-5 day timeframe I totally get.

Here’s the thing: it would be our first trip to DLR. so while 4-5 in general is great, yes we would like to spend one whole day in AC.

 

[Shellyred8]

A few years ago when we went to DLR we were initially planning on 4 days. We were having so much fun that we decided to add on a 5th day. And that was before GE, AC or the Pixar Pier revamp!

I agree with some of the other posters that I'm not sure how one would find enough to do in AC to spend all day there. But I guess to each their own.

 

[smartlabelprint]

With the baby switch to staying in one hotel all 5 nights.

 

[Chickinvic]

A few years ago when we went to DLR we were initially planning on 4 days. We were having so much fun that we decided to add on a 5th day. And that was before GE, AC or the Pixar Pier revamp!

I agree with some of the other posters that I'm not sure how one would find enough to do in AC to spend all day there. But I guess to each their own.

Back when Soarin was actually the good version (IMO) I could have rode that several times. Grizzly River Run a few times. TOT multiple times (haven't been since it became Guardians), and probably thrown in the coaster a couple times. And of course, Radiator Springs Racers.