Huge Disney Fan, never been to DL

[Albytaps]

Hey all. I'm pre-planning a trip to Disneyland but I'm not sure how soon... possibly 3 years from now....

So I've never even been to California before (except for a brief stop at the airport in LA) but I'd like to go where it all started. So I have a few questions hopefully you guys can help me with

1. How many days should I visit for?

2. How many days would it take to enjoy Disneyland and California Adventure?

3. Is there anything Disney other than these 2 parks to do in the area?

4. Is there any other tourist attractions that I should do during a trip to Disneyland?

Thanks for you help!

 

[BELLEDOZER]

If you want to really take your time and enjoy the parks, then 5 days is enough to see both parks. If you get 5 day hopper passes then you can "Hop" between the parks during the day. The parks are alot closer together then you think, so hopping can be handy if DL is getting crowded, you can hop over to CA to get away from the crowds. I would spend 3 days in DL and 2 in CA, but it can be done over 5 days hopping between the parks. You can book tours to Universal Studios, Knotts Berry farm, San Diego zoo with Graylines (Disneyland Express) of Anaheim. You are going to need either them or Super Shuttle to get from LAX to your hotel. Am going to use Super Shuttle for the first time in Oct. There is a couple of dinner theatres in the area that you can book with Graylines of Anaheim, Medieval Times, and a Pirate themed show as well. Check out their website for info about tours and airport transfers. If you are looking for a hotel Howard Johnsons Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn are the 2 top off site hotels in DL. HOJO's offers a 15% DIS board discount to members of this forum. You are best to contact them by phone and ask for in house reservations, as their staff are very helpful, and it's a great hotel to stay at as it's a 7 to 9 min walk from the hotel to DL. Any further info, I'm sure that the SO-CAL members can give you alot more info about what are the must see attractions around DL. Hope that this helps you out. We're all a bunch of severe over planners and DL addicts on the board, and welcome to our addiction!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

1. How many days should I visit for?

Depends on what exactly you want to see. This may become more clear after my additional answers and the answers of others chiming in.

2. How many days would it take to enjoy Disneyland and California Adventure?

Do not be deceived by size. Despite being smaller than the MK, Disneyland has a whole lot more to do. On the whole, the entire 4 parks of WDW have about 10 more rides than the 2 parks of the DLR. Disneyland itself is a 2 day park. Right now, DCA is a 1 day park, but I have a feeling that when you make your visit, it will be a 2 day park given all the new stuff that's coming in the next couple of years. I'd recommend 5 days for the DLR itself, thus giving you an extra day to revisit your favorites if your visit is 3+ years out.

3. Is there anything Disney other than these 2 parks to do in the area?

You can visit the El Capitan Theatre and Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store in Hollywood. I would only take the time to visit it though if they're screening a classic Disney movie though. Depending on the status and schedule of D23 when you come, you may be able to visit the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank if D23 is holding an event there, and you're able to get tickets. You will need to be a D23 member.

Thought it's located in San Francisco (6+ hours north), The Walt Disney Family Museum is a must experience for any Disney fan. The only other place like it I've seen is the Archives of the Walt Disney Studios and the museum is much more in depth than the few minutes I was lucky enough to spend in the Archives. Frankly, with the museum opening, I believe northern California is the best place to live for a Disney fan. We're a 6 hour flight from WDW, a 6 hour drive from Disneyland, and the offerings of the museum (lectures from historians, animators, Disney Legends, Imagineers, etc.) cannot be found anyplace else with such frequency.

4. Is there any other tourist attractions that I should do during a trip to Disneyland?

That depends on what you want to do. I'm from California, so Disneyland has been the only part of my SoCal visits for years. There are plenty of other attractions to see such as Universal Studios Hollywood and Sea World. Others will give you much better info than me.

 

[Albytaps]

Thanks guys, good feeback so far. I would probably plan on having a rental car so we will have some traveling flexibility. So five days for a relaxful time in the parks? Will that be overdoing it if the parks are not crowded?

I would love to see Hollywood so I'm gonna try to mix that into the trip.

 

[brocklesnar69]

Hey all. I'm pre-planning a trip to Disneyland but I'm not sure how soon... possibly 3 years from now....

So I've never even been to California before (except for a brief stop at the airport in LA) but I'd like to go where it all started. So I have a few questions hopefully you guys can help me with

1. How many days should I visit for?

2. How many days would it take to enjoy Disneyland and California Adventure?

3. Is there anything Disney other than these 2 parks to do in the area?

4. Is there any other tourist attractions that I should do during a trip to Disneyland?

Thanks for you help!

1. Since this is your first ever time to Disneyland, I would HIGHLY recommend 6-8 days. I live in California no more than 7 hours away from DL, and I went 8 days in '08 and had a blast! I actually wished I had more time there.

2. Depends on the crowd. But if you want to enjoy everything at a leisurely pace and do everything more than once so you'll remember it for a long time, I'd recommend 3-4 days in each park.

Side note: I generally never do one park all-day without visiting the other. Most of the time I will do both parks every day. It just depends on how I want to split them up. Usually it'll be about 30% DCA, then 70% DL. Right around there. But I would give yourselves an extra day and a half to do and see everything in Downtown Disney. All the shops and restaurants there are great. You should also check out the three Disney hotels themselves. They are really unique and pretty.

3. Not that I know of. Everything is right there on the DL property.

4. Universal Studios Hollywood is roughly an hour north of DL and I'd highly recommend going there for at least one day. There isn't as much to do there (that's why you only need one day) but it sure is fun!







By the way, if you are going in 3 years, in 2013, then I'd HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend 8 days. They are completely overhauling DCA with new additions. By the time you get here, is will be an almost entirely different park. Much more to do and see. With 8 days at DL you can't go wrong.

Disneyland Resort: 8 Days (Including time to see Downtown Disney)
Universal Studios Hollywood: 1 Day

Misc: I'd highly recommend you try a non-theme park dinner at Midevil Times. It's a blast!

 

[Belle Ella]

Hey all. I'm pre-planning a trip to Disneyland but I'm not sure how soon... possibly 3 years from now....

So I've never even been to California before (except for a brief stop at the airport in LA) but I'd like to go where it all started. So I have a few questions hopefully you guys can help me with

1. How many days should I visit for?

2. How many days would it take to enjoy Disneyland and California Adventure?

3. Is there anything Disney other than these 2 parks to do in the area?

4. Is there any other tourist attractions that I should do during a trip to Disneyland?

Thanks for you help!

General "rules" are bound to change as the DCA expansion continues. But that aside, I think the answer really depends on your touring style and how much you want to do outside of Disneyland itself and experiencing other Southern California attractions. At the very, very bare minimum I would say 3 days at Disneyland, but being your first time 4-5 or more would probably be best. I can't imagine doing any less than 4 days ever again, and I'm a little more seasoned.

As for other thins to do in the area, if you rent a car and can get to San Diego the Zoo is phenomenal. I also love Sea World but I can skip Universal Studios. It just does nothing for me personally since I'm not a big ride person. I would definitely recommend the Disney Soda Fountain & touring Hollywood Blvd. -- even if the El Capitan isn't showing a Disney movie. You'll be on Hollywood Blvd. with all the "stars" and right across the street from the Chinese Theatre. I've always wanted to be that 'tourist' and finally got the chance last September and had an absolute BLAST!

 

[skiingfast]

1. How many days should I visit for?

2. How many days would it take to enjoy Disneyland and California Adventure?

3. Is there anything Disney other than these 2 parks to do in the area?

4. Is there any other tourist attractions that I should do during a trip to Disneyland?

Thanks for you help!

1. I would aim for a week you can easily go longer.

2. I would do 3 days in the parks. If over a weekend add 1 day. With park hopping you can fit a lot in to maximize your time.

3. Coming from NJ I would visit a surfing beach, Hollywood, and Venice Beach. They are all real close.


4.San Diego had many attractions and also their beaches. San Francisco in my opinion is the best city to visit in the US. It's not near LA but takes about a day to drive there or a short flight. LAS Vegas is also about 3-4 hours away.

 

[AmyPond]

I would say 3 to 5 days is a good amount of time to spend in the parks. Remember you can hop between the two parks really easily (walking distance.)

There are TONS of non-Disney things to do in Southern California. This website would probably be pretty helpful for you - http://www.visitcalifornia.com

 

[Disneylvrforever]

I'm an annual passholder & I did every show & attraction (plus re-visited some) in 5 days & took my time too! So I personally think that's enough.
One other Disney thing that no one mentioned was Carolwood Barn in Glendale (or maybe it's in Burbank, something like that). It was Walt's barn that he used to have in his backyard & he worked on his trains in there. It's a mini museum w/ his trains & such. It's free, but since it's a non-profit organization, they take donations. The only thing is, is that they're only open on the 3rd Sunday of each month.

 

[aristocat65]

I'm going to agree with Belle Ella and say skip Universal Studios, especially as I see you are going to Universal Orlando in a couple of weeks. (So jealous-would love to see the new Harry Potter part!). The only advantage the California Universal has over Orlando is that is a real working studio and has the tram tour of the back lot. Aside from that, having been to the Orlando one you would find it a waste of time. Much, much more at the Orlando one.

If you are going to do the Hollywood area, Santa Monica Pier is a nice stop.

Also depending on the ages of your kids Legoland in Carlsbad is great! It is about an hour or 2 (depending on traffic) south of Anaheim. It is best if your kids are under 8 though. Not much for older kids.

 

[Albytaps]

Wow! Thanks for all the feedback guys

California is always a place I've wanted to tour, and I know there are TONS of places I should visit. By the time I finalize this trip I could be there for a month

Thanks again!