Is Two Days Enough?

[Rainforest_Elf]

*sigh* Logistics. I hate 'em.

My sister, the anti-Disney, as I am now reffering to her, has stated that 3 days in the parks is too much, and she will not budge on more than 2 days. I'm trying to squeeze another 1/2 day in there since our flight home leaves at 7, and even with being at the airport by 5pm, we're going to be really bored the day of checkout....

So, with that being said, am I over thinking this? Can the two parks be done in two days? And do you think I should pay extra for park hopper tickets, since we're staying on property anyway, and will use the extra magic hour once for DCA and DL?

 

[HydroGuy]

*sigh* Logistics. I hate 'em.

My sister, the anti-Disney, as I am now reffering to her, has stated that 3 days in the parks is too much, and she will not budge on more than 2 days. I'm trying to squeeze another 1/2 day in there since our flight home leaves at 7, and even with being at the airport by 5pm, we're going to be really bored the day of checkout....

So, with that being said, am I over thinking this? Can the two parks be done in two days? And do you think I should pay extra for park hopper tickets, since we're staying on property anyway, and will use the extra magic hour once for DCA and DL?

Two days is enough to have a lot of fun and experience a lot of DLR. Three days is enough to feel like you did most everything you wanted but you will leave feeling like you wished you had more time. Four days is enough to feel like you experienced just about everything you wanted but probably still missed a few things here and there.

 

[Eeee-va]

Oh, I'd be going crazy if I couldn't go to the parks that last day!

I'd look into any "Grand Adventures" your hotel offers. In the past they've offered things like an early-morning power walk through DCA, drawing Mickey Mouse, washcloth folding, etc. You may be able to have some fun on departure day without going into a park. (Even though some of those things are probably torture to a non-Disney fan. )

You can also spend quite a bit of time shopping, dining, even just sleeping in and enjoying your hotel. If you like swimming, there's that too.

On the one hand, 3 days is better than 2, but on the other hand, was this trip mostly about celebrating your sister, or am I remembering wrong? Given her dislike of Disney, I don't know if I'd try to push it past 2 days. (On the other hand, Disney doesn't generally, offer discounts for buying online anymore, so you can upgrade your tickets any time before the end of day 2 for the same price it would've cost to buy a 3-day ticket.)

Not sure about the hopper thing, but if you got 1-park/day tickets, maybe you could talk her into taking a long break on Day 2 and then entering the parks early again on Day 3. Then again, if she does not like Disney, she might just plain not go on Day 3, and then you may have only had 1.5 days in the parks! To people who really don't like Disneyland, they consider 2 days PLENTY of time to do EVERYTHING. For many people here, 5 days may not be enough.

This is a really tricky situation and I don't know your relationship or your sister's expectations well enough to know what will work.

For instance, my mom would be happy to sleep in and let me go play in the parks for a while and meet up with me closer to lunch time. My friend doesn't mind splitting up for a few hours our last night at the parks and having some solo time. But many other people would be very disappointed to miss out on the together time, even if "together time" means waiting in the hotel for your travel partner to get up. Sometimes you may both want to do very different things and if you need to stay together, it's possible that no compromise will make either of you happy. Not sure how to help you with that, unless you upgrade your ticket to an AP and make a solo trip later. If you know you're coming back, it'll be a lot easier to miss out on things this trip.

 

[disneychrista]

Tell your sister, fine you want to only go 2 days no problem. But the rest of us will be going for 3 days.

 

[ArchOwl]

You can accomplish a lot in two days, but you won't see everything. If the trip is for your sister and you want her to have a good time, I would prioritize what you think she would like and plan a return visit without her.

Two days is a lot for non-Disney people. I would make sure she has an amazing time those two days and start mentioning other things that you could do, but that would take more time. Maybe you can get her to want a third day! You can always upgrade your tickets if you decide to enter the parks on the third day.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

Haha you guys and gals are always so helpful

I showed her the replies on this thread, and she agreed to spend another 1/2 day at Disney

It's tough. I love my sister (and we're very close), and I want her to have a good time, but her last trip to Disney was as a 6 year old. She couldn't ride anything and she was actually very ill for the trip, so I think she has this mental block about the parks. I'm sure once I get her there, it will be fine, but it's the in-between and her second guessing that is making this hard. Everything is booked now, though, so ain't no goin' back now!!!

 

[jenksdj]

When are you going? I can't wait to hear how this turns out!

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

When are you going? I can't wait to hear how this turns out!

We will be in the parks September 11, 12, and 13th (Tuesday-Thursday). I'll be sure to do a trip report with LOTS of pictures!

 

[Tara2004]

I am going 3 days. My girlfriend goes every weekend, and was a tour guide at disneyland. She said you do need 3 days. Great to hear she gave you anther half day at least

 

[Steamboat Philly]

Tell your sister, fine you want to only go 2 days no problem. But the rest of us will be going for 3 days.

Awesome!! LOL!!

 

[brenda1966]

Tell your sister, fine you want to only go 2 days no problem. But the rest of us will be going for 3 days.

Exactly! I'd get a 3 day hopper. What else are you going to do that last day? You have to check out of your hotel and go where? You can get a lot done in that half day if you are at rope drop. Sister can go do whatever she wants to do that day, but I'd be at DL. So glad she agreed! One thing about Disney parks is that it's okay to split up. If she'd rather go to DTD or something, it's cool.

 

[CourtFool]

Back in 2009 my wife planned the trip. We had not been since we were in high school back in 1988. I had very little interest in going. I just knew we were going to waste most of the time standing in line behind rude people. I was going just for our daughter. I knew she would enjoy it.

As soon as we stepped on to Main Street, I was instantly taken back to my childhood. I fell in love all over again. We went back in 2011 and I can not wait to get back in 2013.

Two days is not enough. Two and a half days is not enough and your sister will realize this after it is too late. I hope you both have a wonderful time.