Is 7 days too long

[mort1331]

Looking at doing our first DL trip. We normally go to WDW for 7 or8 days. If we head to DL is 7 days too much. What else is close to do if we are staying at the Grand?

 

[BrookeMQ]

When are you going? I don't think you need 7 days for Disneyland. We usually do 5- days at WDW. We just did our first Disneyland trip a few weeks ago. We did almost everything we wanted in 2 days. I think three would have been perfect for us.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Who’s traveling? We take our disabled toddlers. We can only be in the parks about 3 hours at a time. 5ish hours total. SO we go 6-7 days.

The highest pass sold is a 5 day hopper. We get ours at last minute travel. Then we upgrade to an ap. Our first trip will be 3/2018. next trip will be 3/19.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Maybe, it kind of depends on how you do the parks. My DW does indeed get "Disney'd out" but personally, after about the third day I get into a relaxed routine where I don't feel like I have to do things. I search out lesser attractions, sit and watch and look closer at the details and landscaping. For many (most maybe) this would be boring but for me that's when the vacation starts to turn somewhat relaxing. Disney vacations are great fun but seldom restful and relaxing - this routine gets me part way there.

 

[Geemo]

Looking at doing our first DL trip. We normally go to WDW for 7 or8 days. If we head to DL is 7 days too much. What else is close to do if we are staying at the Grand?

What are your dates?
Will you have a car?
How many and what ages?

7 Days for DLR can be a challenge ticket wise. Due to the basic tickets maxing out at 5days.

As far as other things to do around DLR....
California Science Center with the space shuttle
Universal Studios Hollywood
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach
Knott's Berry Farm
Legoland
Great Wolf Lodge water park
Queen Mary
Catalina Island

SanDiego Zoo or the drive through park
Sea World

Beaches
Shopping

Geemo

 

[Bossy22]

Everyone is different, that is for sure. We always do 5 days and leave feeling like we still have so much more to do. We do have a 3 year old as well as 7 and 8 year olds so we do everything from California screaming to the carasoul. If you only have older kids it might be different but we plan on always trying to do everything but we never get more than 75% done (including shows) especially once you add in doing your favorites over and over!!! We also like a 2 days off where we sleep in, swim and hangout so we're full of energy on the other days!!!

 

[mort1331]

Thanks and sorry should have mentioned. 2 adults 2 dd 11 and 7. They have been on most at wdw since we go at least once a year. Looking at end of august. Prob need to rent a car. Just wasnt sure what driving was like.
We dont drive at wdw
Just bus it. I know DL isnt the same. And wasnt sure how close the other things were.

 

[blue888]

I like 5 days in the park and 2 days for the pool/relaxing/character meals etc.

 

[siskaren]

We just did our first Disneyland trip a few weeks ago. We did almost everything we wanted in 2 days. I think three would have been perfect for us.

Wow, I just back from Disneyland too, and there's no way I would've felt 2 days was enough.

7 Days for DLR can be a challenge ticket wise. Due to the basic tickets maxing out at 5days.

Yep. I wanted 6 park days for my trip (I did a no-park day in the middle), and I bought a 5-day park hopper with my package and then a separate 1-day single park ticket.

 

[smartlabelprint]

We never rent a car. Fly into sna. Stay off site.

 

[lalasmama]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/ Here's the link for "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" thread. Pay attention to the first 2 posts, and then the last few pages.

For our first trip to DLR, we did 7 days, and it was GREAT! My daughter turned 8 on that trip, and it was just her and I. I liked the length for the first trip, as it allowed us to spend all the time we wanted in the parks, and we didn't feel rushed. When we needed sleep in, we slept in. When we decided to leave early because it was pouring rain, I didn't feel like we were wasting money. The more relaxed tone was really nice.

Over my several trips, we've only had a car once (when we drove from Oregon instead of flying in). There's no need for a rental car. You can easily fly into the area (I prefer SNA and LGB over LAX, as the former 2 are smaller and closer, and have cheaper transportation options), and there are many walkable hotels.

 

[Geemo]

Thanks and sorry should have mentioned. 2 adults 2 dd 11 and 7. They have been on most at wdw since we go at least once a year. Looking at end of august. Prob need to rent a car. Just wasnt sure what driving was like.
We dont drive at wdw
Just bus it. I know DL isnt the same. And wasnt sure how close the other things were.

A rental car for the entire trip isn't really necessary.
The cost for the days you go no where plus the parking charge can add up for a week.
If you decide to venture off for a day or so, get a rental car for that period of time.
Costco rates are usually fairly good. Plus there is an Alamo rental car office right around the corner from the GCH.
There are several rental agencies right there in the area.
It would be a short taxi ride away, if the agency didn't pickup or drop off.
I returned a car to Enterprise at the Hilton last October and the taxi was about $10 to the GCH. It was so easy!!

Here are a few of the thread I share with people planning a trip to DLR
Figment_jii's 2018 Calendar of events
https://www.disboards.com/threads/2018-calendar-of-events-school-breaks-and-dlr.3635162/
Disney's closure list (subject to change)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/plan.htm#rehab
Block out calendar. The locals with AP's can and do affect park volumes.
Use the drop downs for the different annual pass levels to see details.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/blockout-dates/#
HydroGuy Tips Compilations
https://www.disboards.com/threads/hydroguy-tips-compilation.1520483/

 

[tarheelalum]

7 days sounds fantastic to me. I'd pass on the car rental and take uber whenever you need to go somewhere.

 

[minnieralyks]

7 days - too long? Nonsense! There's so much to do and you won't feel rushed. I think 7 days is perfect.

 

[mort1331]

Thanks all will check out the smaller airports. But flying from Toronto with Westjet so I think LAX is it. Will check about uber or cars to DL from there

 

[Cactus girl]

Ok, I’ll be a voice of dissent here. For our family, 4 seems to be the sweet spot. Sometimes I think there must be a reason the most days they sell together is a 5 day ticket—other than the fact that people were selling unused days on longer tickets.

Seven days in California is perfect, though. You could spend 1 day going to Griffith Park. See the original carosel, hike to the Hollywood Sign and just enjoy some green. See the observatory and Walt’s barn. Go to the beach. It’s and hour and a half drive to San Diego. Go to the zoo there or the wild animal park. Mix things up. Because of the small ticket price difference, get a 5 day. Plan the first three days in a row and then plan California time for the next two days. That leaves you with two days where you can split time or go back to DL and enjoy your highlights. There are times we have just hit the park for the first 2-4 hours and did everything we wanted to do.

Now, on our longer trips, we try to mix things up. I try to have a “game day” where we have an old Gumball rally packet or a MouseAdventure that I get from Third Gate Games. That is a fun way to all play together without feeling like we are just going on the same rides over and over. We have done all the tours. Many years ago, I would have recommended the Family Magic your for you. Now it’s been stripped down so much that I would pass. You might enjoy the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps and if the kids are real Disney nerds, they might like that too. That being said, I’ve always felt that one was geared more towards adults.

Anyway, you will have fun. Welcome to the completely packed—with both crowds and rides/attractions—Disneyland.

 

[pigby]

We have been a few times for 7 nights (then with another 7+ nights stay in Hollywood). We buy 5 day pass - don't use on our first day as we are jet lagged anyway and spend a day at Knotts Berry Farm - you can catch a bus outside DLR main gates on S Harbor Drive - journey takes about half an hour. We have also been to the beaches on the 'Woody bus' in the past - we never hire a car. In the 5 days in the parks, we have time to go back to the hotel pool mid afternoon and go back in the evening - perfectly do-able from the Candy Cane plus they have their half hourly free shuttle bus if you do want to walk the 10 mins walk or so. P.S. Also thinking of a return visit at the end of August.

 

[PollyannaMom]

As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as "too long" for a Disney trip. Mine are pretty much limited only by money and guilt. (I hate leaving my pets for too long.)

That said, there are a lot of things I'd like to see in California besides Disneyland! So I like the suggestions to do a few park days (3? 4?) and toss in some other sightseeing as well.

 

[gottalovepluto]

5 is our sweet spot, more would be too much. I'd rent a car one day and go do something else. San Diego Wild Animal is cool and the San Diego zoo is very cool. We drove from Anaheim to the Wild Animal park & back one trip, drive was 90 mins back (we were last to leave the park because we did a special sunset tour so we didn't have to fight traffic on way back) but like 2 hours there (some traffic but I think we missed prime rush hour). Zoo is in a totally different place in the area but probably a bit longer since it's more in the city but it's a world class. It's so cool you can't even see the whole zoo in one day (but you can see most of it!).

If you go for it I'd look into adding a special experience at either place, we did a sunset tour of the savanna at Wild Animal park where they drove us down into the savanna and we learned a lot from the zoo keepers and we got to feed a giraffe & a rhino!

ETA: San Diego Zoo Safari Park is what I mean by Wild Animal Park (they changed the name years ago but it never clicks with me!)

(Took the fam to WDW this fall- woah we could have easily done 2 weeks seeing everything & we stayed onsite st Beach Club to make transit to Epcot quick. Very different.)

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thanks and sorry should have mentioned. 2 adults 2 dd 11 and 7. They have been on most at wdw since we go at least once a year. Looking at end of august. Prob need to rent a car. Just wasnt sure what driving was like.
We dont drive at wdw
Just bus it. I know DL isnt the same. And wasnt sure how close the other things were.

FYI parking at GCH is $20/day if you have a car.